RTC Launches Online Survey to Gather Input on Aesthetic Design Elements for Hwy 1 Aux Lanes, Bus-on-Shoulder and Coastal Rail Trail Segment 12 Project

The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) is seeking community feedback on concepts for aesthetic design elements as part of the Highway 1 Auxiliary Lanes, Bus-on-Shoulder Facility (State Park Drive to Freedom Boulevard) & Coastal Rail Trail Segment 12 project. On Dec. 5, 2023, the RTC hosted an open house at the Rio Sands Hotel in Aptos where more than 65 community members were in attendance. Immediately after the open house, the RTC launched an online survey to gain additional public feedback on the proposed aesthetic design elements.

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. There are many highway and rail trail features in the project area that are being considered for aesthetic elements to effectively blend with the character of the town of Aptos, including:

• Pedestrian bridge railings and screening
• Soundwalls
• Retaining wall treatments
• Murals and public art
• Fencing and privacy barriers

A video presentation detailing the aesthetic treatments being considered is available here:

After watching the video presentation, community members are invited to take an online survey to provide their feedback. The online survey will be available until Dec. 31, 2023 at www.bit.ly/Highway1-Aesthetics.

To learn more about the project, visit www.bit.ly/StatePark-FreedomBlvd or email info@sccrtc.org.