The new sidewalks and bike lanes along Eaton Street should be completed next week.
The new sidewalks and bike lanes along Eaton Street should be completed next week. After years on the drawing board, the project gained sudden urgency following Gov. Jerry Brown’s threats to seize the redevelopment monies allocated to this project. While there are other redevelopment projects on the way, the sudden loss of funds to the state could make the Eaton Street project the last that is actually completed by the RDA.
The project was intended to enhance the safety of pedestrians and cyclists on bicycle on the street, which connects Santa Cruz with Live Oak. The new sidewalk runs along the south side of the street, and the bike lanes run on both sides. Should there still be money available, the county plans to use redevelopment funds to widen nearby Murray Street Bridge and add bike lanes there as well.
The good news for the Eaton Street project was that it was completed under budget and ahead of schedule. Though the RDA originally allocated $715,000 for it, it only cost $626,000. Read more at the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
