Santa Cruz Rail Trail Segment 7/Phase II Awarded $9 Million Grant

Press release from the City of Santa Cruz:

March 24, 2021

SANTA CRUZ — Today the City of Santa Cruz was awarded a $9 million Active Transportation Program Cycle 5 grant from Caltrans for construction of the Coastal Rail Trail Segment 7/Phase II. The project will create .8 miles of paved, multi-use path from Bay and California streets to Pacific Avenue with construction expected to begin in the fall.

The Segment 7/Phase II project furthers implementation of the largest active transportation project in Santa Cruz County, offering an important path towards long term mode shift. It connects to the recently completed Coastal Rail Trail Segment 7/Phase I, which serves over 600 active transportation users per day as measured by automated counter in 2021.

The project is entirely located within a disadvantaged community (DAC) area which is the lowest income census tract in the City of Santa Cruz. It includes an innovative “vertical” non-infrastructure program at Bay View Elementary School, providing active transportation education and encouragement at every grade level for the first time in Santa Cruz City Schools

The Segment 7/Phase II project grant is matched with Measure D tax funds, passed by over two-thirds of Santa Cruz County voters in 2016.

When the Segment 7/Phase II project is completed, there will be 2 miles of Coastal Rail Trail in Santa Cruz from Natural Bridges Drive to Pacific Avenue connecting over 30,000 residents who live within one mile of the trail to schools, work, beaches, shopping and other activity centers.

The project is one of 20 Coastal Rail Trail segments that altogether will provide a 32-mile long separated bicycle/pedestrian path along the coast and is part of the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission’s Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail Network Master Plan.

This press release was produced by the City of Santa Cruz. The views expressed here are the author’s own.