Vine Hill Elementary to Get Sidewalks and Bike Lanes

The county will get $8.9 million in state and federal funds earmarked for transportation projects, including sidewalks and bike lanes at Vine Hill Elementary, and repairing damage to Nelson Road from last year's storm, including removing a massive landslide blocking the road.

The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission requested the funding from the California Transportation Commission at a meeting on March 29.

The projects reflect the broad multimodal transportation needs, the RTC reported. That includes preserving existing transportation facilities, reducing congestion, increasing safety, filling gaps in the bicycle and pedestrian network—especially near schools—and increasing access to transit.

The following approved projects are scheduled for construction around the county over the next five years:

• Sidewalks and Bike Lanes at Vine Hill Elementary School, Scotts Valley ($400,000)
• Storm Damage Repairs on Nelson Road ($1.2 million)
• Airport Boulevard sidewalk, travel and bicycle lane extensions near Freedom Bouelvard, Watsonville ($850,000)
• Highway 1, Soquel drive to 41st Avenue Auxiliary Lanes and Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge at Chanticleer, Design and Right-of-Way phases ($4 million)
• Highways 1/9 Intersection Improvements ($850,000)
• Storm Damage Repairs on Redwood Lodge ($850,000)
• Sidewalks on Park Avenue, Capitola ($200,000)
• Soquel Dr/Park Way Intersection Turn Lanes, Santa Cruz ($450,000)

The RTC reported that it originally selected the projects following a public hearing on Dec. 1, 2011.