WATSONVILLE — The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission approved a five-year plan Thursday that outlines projects throughout the county that will be funded by Measure D.
The commission voted to approve the plan during a meeting in the Watsonville City Council Chambers, with Commissioner Randy Johnson dissenting.
Measure D, the transportation improvement ballot measure, passed by more than two-thirds of Santa Cruz County voters in November.
Among the projects included in the five-year plan are auxiliary lanes on Highway 1 from 41st Avenue to Soquel Drive, expected to begin construction in 2021. Construction on auxiliary lanes from Park Avenue to Bay-Porter and State Park Drive to Park Avenue are estimated to begin in 2023 or 2024, according to a report by Karena Pushnik, senior transportation planner.
Maintenance of rail infrastructure and constructing trails (including in Watsonville from Lee Road to Walker Street) are also listed in the plan.
The plan also calls for expanded Lift Line paratransit service.
Commissioner Ryan Coonerty called the plan “good news,” saying “people’s lives are going to be better” through expanded biking options, improved roads and more access to Life Line.
“This is a tremendous investment with a lot of different approaches,” he said.
Commissioner Oscar Rios agreed, citing chronic Highway 1 congestion that will be addressed in the plan.
“People want some kind of relief,” he said. “I think we are moving in the right direction.”
Johnson questioned why the RTC is looking to spend money fixing railroad infrastructure when there is currently no funds for rail service available. He suggested putting a ballot measure to voters in an upcoming election asking them if they support rail service.
“I can’t support putting money into rail infrastructure until we know we have the absolute support of the people,” Johnson said. “I want to see real actual support rather than people talking about support.”
Measure D is a 30-year half-cent local sales tax which began collection in April. Funds are expected to be available to projects in August.
To view the five-year plan, visit www.sccrtc.org/move.
