Public Comment Period on Highway 1 Auxiliary Lanes, Bus on Shoulder, and Coastal Rail Trail Segment 12 Project Draft Environmental Impact Report Now Open

The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission and Caltrans released the Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment (DEIR/EA) for the proposed Highway 1 Auxiliary Lane and Bus-on-Shoulder Project from Freedom to State Park, which includes Segment 12 of the Coastal Rail Trail today. The 45-day public review and comment period is open through June 2, 2023.

The project will include multimodal improvements including enhancing traffic and safety operations on Highway 1, constructing auxiliary lanes and a bus-on-shoulder facility, and Segment 12 of the Coastal Rail Trail providing 1.2 miles of bicycle and pedestrian trail with four overcrossings. The DEIR/EA identifies the project’s potential impacts and potential avoidance, minimization and mitigation measures.

Both virtual and in-person public open houses will be held to provide the public with the opportunity to learn more about the project and submit comments before a final design is selected. Written comments may also be submitted by mail to Lara Bertaina, Department of Transportation, 50 Higuera Street, San Luis Obispo, CA, or by email to lara.bertaina@dot.ca.gov. All comments must be received by 5 p.m. on June 2, 2023.

Virtual Public Hearing
Date: May 2, 2023
Time: 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Place: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMoceurqzgrH91-n8Hgf3LeH0PWx3JGUME3

In-Person Public Hearing
Date: May 4, 2023 (in-person)
Time: 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Place: Rio Sands Hotel, 116 Aptos Beach Dr., Aptos.

The Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment are available at https://bit.ly/StatePark-FreedomBlvd, the Capitola Branch Library at 2005 Wharf Road in Capitola, the Live Oak Library at 2380 Portola Drive in Santa Cruz, the Watsonville Public Library at 275 Main Street Suite 100 in Watsonville, and County of Santa Cruz Public Works at 701 Ocean Street, 4th Floor in Santa Cruz.

The document and other information are available for review and copying at the Caltrans District 5 Office at 50 Higuera Street in San Luis Obispo on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The document is also available online at the Caltrans District 5 website: https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-5.