Green Valley Road Multi-Use Trail Unveiled

Bike Santa Cruz County and the Pajaro Valley community celebrated the ribbon cutting for the new Green Valley Road Multi-Use Trail on August 28th. The County of Santa Cruz project runs from Holohan Road at the Watsonville City Limits north to Casserly Road, passing the Pinto Lake parks and Amesti School. What was once a neglected and outdated facility is now a safe, protected Class 1 bike lane and pedestrian path, providing an active transportation option to access parks and schools in the Amesti area. It also links to the growing network of bike paths in Watsonville and the Pajaro Valley. The project even includes covered bus shelters for transit users and five public art installations along the two-mile route. Read more...

Murray Street Railroad Bridge Envisioned as Possible Cycling Route

Out of unintended consequences arise opportunities…maybe. The closure of the Murray Street Bridge has resulted in serious economic impacts to the lower Seabright business community, and the City Council just approved a number of concepts to study at their August 26th meeting. One of them is great news for cyclists: the temporary use of the rail bridge as an active transportation link from the Seabright to the Harbor for pedestrians, cyclists, and other rollers. A petition launched by Patrice Boyle of La Posta Restaurant (one of the affected businesses) has garnered over 2000 signatures to open the rail bridge for bike use. You can sign the petition here:

In the Media: Watsonville Vision Zero Project Progresses

Recent studies confirm that Watsonville has a disproportionately high number of pedestrian and cyclist deaths, primarily due to fast-moving traffic on wide, unsafe roads. City and county officials as well as safe streets advocates are pushing for positive change. Here are a few of the bike and pedestrian safety infrastructure concepts:

• A paved multi-use trail replacing a risky dirt path on Green Valley Road (Compete! See article on ribbon-cutting above)
• Green bike lanes throughout five major streets for better visibility
• A comprehensive Lee Road Trail project to expand trail connectivity and add a key bridge crossing

Feedback on Freedom Boulevard can be provided here: SURVEY

And, read more about the background and Vision Zero project here:

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