A lot of bike projects have been trotted out and shouted about over the last few years. Here’s a progress report on where things stand.
Rail Trail
What it is:
A 32-mile ribbon of coastal railroad that could serve as an uninterrupted corridor for paved bike lanes.
First proposed:
1991
Supporters love it because:
The commuter trail is a cornerstone of a set of 16 carbon-reducing suggesetions for the city endorsed by People Power, Transition Santa Cruz, Think Local First’s Peter Beckmann, and County Treasurer Fred Keeley.
Opponents hate it because:
Former County Supervisor Jan Beautz and other conservatives opposed the RTC’s rail purchase for a variety of reasons including cost. “I don’t think it’s financially viable,” says Beautz. Future support will likely hinge on how much funding the project secures.
Price tag:
Estimated $32 million. $7 million in funding has been secured, including $4.5 million from federal appropriations for the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail that will include the Rail Trail.
What’s next:
The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission’s purchase of the Union Pacific rail line, which began last spring, waits in escrow pending Caltrans approval. A master plan is underway, and construction could begin in 2014.
Pogonip Multi-Use Trail
What it is:
A 4-foot-wide,1.5-mile dirt path for dog walkers, mountain bikers and equestrians that would connect Golf Club Drive to the U-Con trail at the northern end of Pogonip and provide an alternative route to Highway 9 through woodlands that are currently used by drug dealers and addicts.
First proposed:
2009
Supporters love it because:
Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz (MBOSC), the Horseman’s Association and Take Back Santa Cruz hope traffic along the scenic redwood path will scare heroin junkies away from the city’s greenbelt and save the park from going up in a drug den blaze.
Opponents hate it because:
Former mayor Celia Scott is one of several environmentalists concerned that the multi-use trail will bring in extreme sport enthusiasts with little respect for the park. The local Sierra Club questions the path’s transportation and public safety benefits.
Price tag:
No estimates. Parks and Recreation is mum about figures because planning is still in its infancy. MBOSC is applying for a $200,000 grant to fund the final trail design.
What’s next:
MBOSC is organizing a massive clean-up with Transition Santa Cruz which they hope will further publicize the project.
Arana Gulch Multi-Use Trail
What it is:
An 8-foot wide, two-mile paved path would link Broadway and Frederick streets to Brommer and Seventh Avenue. The multi-use path is part of a master plan that was voted down by the California Coastal Commission last year.
First proposed:
1997
Supporters love it because:
People Power’s Micah Posner and other bike advocates say the shortcut will appeal to many potential bike commuters who currently drive and save them from cycling down dangerous streets like Soquel Avenue by bisecting a large chunk of once-unusable space.
Opponents hate it because:
The Friends of Arana Gulch and the California Native Plant Society worry that cyclists will trample the endangered Santa Cruz Tarplant like ants over a slice of summer watermelon. The city is currently negotiating a second round of mitigation plans with the CNPS and the Coastal Commission staff.
Price:
$4 million. $2.9 million has been secured from Transportation Enhancement Funds and the Regional Surface Transportation Program Exchange. Check back for updates.
What’s next:
The city hopes to bring the plan to the Coastal Commission by December for another vote. Three commissioners who opposed the project in the 5-5 vote have vacated their seats.
King Street Project
What it is:
A bike-friendly route parallel to Mission Street. One popular proposal is for a “bike boulevard” similar to those in Berkeley. Diverters—perhaps planters or barriers—would allow cyclists and pedestrians to pass but send cars on a zigzagging route that could include streets like Escalona Drive.
first proposed:
2008
Supporters love it because:
People Power says it will give cyclists an alternative to dangerous Mission Street. Tawn Kennedy of Greenways to School says the boulevard would provide a quick route to Bayview Elementary, Mission Hill Middle School and Santa Cruz High.
Opponents hate it because:
While some neighbors like the idea, others are waiting to see the plan, which could send heavy traffic snaking through quiet streets.
Price tag:
No estimates. In March Public Works applied for a $325,000 state transportation grant to fund the next stage of planning.
What’s next:
More Discussion. If the city secures the transportation grant it hopes to, Public Works will begin a study of traffic on the street.
