RTC Agenda - SCCRTC

Santa Cruz County Regional 

Transportation Commission 

AGENDA 

Thursday, February 2, 2012 

9:00 a.m. 

NOTE 

See the last page for details about access for people with disabilities and meeting broadcasts. 

En Español 

Para información sobre servicios de traducción al español, diríjase a la última página. 

AGENDAS ONLINE 

To receive email notification when the RTC meeting agenda packet is posted on our website, 

please call (831) 460-3200 or email info@sccrtc.org to subscribe. 

COMMISSION MEMBERSHIP 

NOTE LOCATION THIS MONTH 

City of Watsonville Council Chambers 

275 Main St. 

Watsonville CA 95076 

Caltrans (ex-officio) Rich Krumholz 

City of Capitola Kirby Nicol 

City of Santa Cruz Don Lane 

City of Scotts Valley Randy Johnson 

City of Watsonville Eduardo Montesino 

County of Santa Cruz Ellen Pirie 

County of Santa Cruz John Leopold 

County of Santa Cruz Mark Stone 

County of Santa Cruz Neal Coonerty 

County of Santa Cruz Greg Caput 

Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District Dene Bustichi 

Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District Lynn Robinson 

Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District Norm Hagen 

The majority of the Commission constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business. 

Article 8 Transportation Development Act Claims – only City and County representatives vote 

Article 4 Transportation Development Act Claims, Policy Issues, and SAFE – all 12 members vote

SCCRTC Agenda February 2, 2012 2 

1. Roll call 

2. Oral communications 

Any member of the public may address the Commission for a period not to exceed three 

minutes on any item within the jurisdiction of the Commission that is not already on the 

agenda. The Commission will listen to all communication, but in compliance with State law, 

may not take action on items that are not on the agenda 

Speakers are requested to sign the sign-in sheet so that their names can be accurately 

recorded in the minutes of the meeting. 

3. Additions or deletions to consent and regular agendas 

CONSENT AGENDA 

All items appearing on the consent agenda are considered to be minor or non-controversial 

and will be acted upon in one motion if no member of the RTC or public wishes an item be 

removed and discussed on the regular agenda. Members of the Commission may raise 

questions, seek clarification or add directions to Consent Agenda items without removing the 

item from the Consent Agenda as long as no other Commissioner objects to the change. 

MINUTES 

4. Approve draft minutes of the January 5, 2012 SCCRTC special meeting 

5. Approve draft minutes of the January 12, 2012 SCCRTC meeting 

6. Approve draft minutes of the September 14, 2011 Santa Cruz County Traffic 

Operations System Oversight Committee and Safe on 17 Task Force meeting 

POLICY ITEMS 

No consent items 

PROJECTS and PLANNING ITEMS 


BUDGET AND EXPENDITURES ITEMS 

7. Accept status report on Transportation Development Act (TDA) revenues 

8. Accept fiscal year (FY) 20010-11 fiscal audit for SCCRTC (enclosed separately 

for Commissioners)


ADMINISTRATION ITEMS 


INFORMATION/OTHER ITEMS 

9. Accept monthly meeting schedule 

10. Accept correspondence log 

11. Accept letters from SCCRTC committees and staff to other agencies - none 

12. Accept miscellaneous written comments from the public on SCCRTC projects 

and transportation issues 

13. Accept information items-none 

14. Commissioner reports - oral reports 

REGULAR AGENDA 

15. Director’s report – oral report 

(George Dondero, Executive Director) 

16. Caltrans report and consider action items 

a. 2012 SHOPP projects update 

b. Construction projects report-will distribute at meeting 

17. 2012 Commissioners and committee appointments 

(George Dondero, Executive Director) 

a. Staff report 

b. 2012 Commissioner roster 

18. Highway 1 Soquel/Morrissey Auxiliary Lanes project update 

(Kim Schultz, Senior Transportation Planner) 


b. Project Milestone Schedule Display 

c. Environmental Features Display 

d. Landscape Improvement Plans for La Fonda Avenue Bridge Area 

e. Landscape Improvement Plans for the Morrissey Interchange Area 

19. Monterey Bay 511 Traveler Information System Feasibility Study 

(Tegan Speiser, Senior Transportation Planner and Ginger Dykaar, 

Transportation Planner)



b. Features and Costs of 511 Models 

c. Executive Summary of the Monterey Bay Area 511 Feasibility Study 

20. RTC website update 

(Tegan Speiser, Senior Transportation Planner and Nathan Luedtke, 

Transportation Planning Technician) 


b. RTC website usage statistics 

21. Social Media update 

(Karena Pushnik, Senior Transportation Planner) 


b. RTC Facebook page analytics 

c. RTC Website analytics 

22. Review of items to be discussed in closed session 

CLOSED SESSION 

23. Conference with Real Property Negotiator Pursuant to Government Code 

54956.8 for acquisition of the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line Property: Santa 

Cruz Branch Rail Line from Watsonville Junction to Davenport 

Agency Negotiator: Paul Chrisman, Miller & Owen 

Negotiation Parties: SCCRTC, Union Pacific 

Under Negotiation: Price and Terms 

24. Report on closed session 

OPEN SESSION 

25. Adjourn to special meeting of the Service Authority for Freeway Emergencies 

No agenda items this month 

26. Next Meetings 

The next SCCRTC meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 2, 2012 at 9:00 

a.m. at the County Board of Supervisors Chambers, 701 Ocean St., Santa 

Cruz, CA.


The next Transportation Policy Workshop meeting is scheduled for Thursday, 

February 16, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. at the SCCRTC Offices, 1523 Pacific Avenue, 

Santa Cruz, CA. 

HOW TO REACH US 

Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission 

1523 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 

phone: (831) 460-3200 / fax (831) 460-3215 

Watsonville Office 

275 Main Street, Suite 450, Watsonville. CA 95076 

(831) 768-8012 

email: info@sccrtc.org / website: www.sccrtc.org 

HOW TO STAY INFORMED ABOUT RTC MEETINGS, AGENDAS & NEWS 

Broadcasts: Many of the meetings are broadcast live. Meetings are cablecast by Community 

Television of Santa Cruz. Community TV’s channels and schedule can be found online 

(www.communitytv.org) or by calling (831) 425-8848. 

Agenda packets: Complete agenda packets are available at the RTC office, on the RTC website 

(www.sccrtc.org), and at the following public libraries: 

- Aptos Branch Library - Branciforte Library 

- Central Branch Library - Scotts Valley Library 

- Watsonville Library 

For information regarding library locations and hours, please check online at 

www.santacruzpl.org or www.watsonville.lib.ca.us. 

On-line viewing: The SCCRTC encourages the reduction of paper waste and therefore makes 

meeting materials available online. Those receiving paper agendas may sign up to receive email 

notification when complete agenda packet materials are posted to our website by sending a 

request to info@sccrtc.org. Agendas are typically posted 5 days prior to each meeting. 

Newsletters: To sign up for E-News updates on specific SCCRTC projects, go to 

www.sccrtc.org/enews. 

HOW TO REQUEST 

ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES 

The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission does not discriminate on 

the basis of disability and no person shall, by reason of a disability, be denied the 

benefits of its services, programs, or activities. This meeting location is an accessible


facility. If you wish to attend this meeting and require special assistance in order to 

participate, please contact RTC staff at 460-3200 (CRS 800/735-2929) at least three 

working days in advance of this meeting to make arrangements. People with disabilities 

may request a copy of the agenda in an alternative format. As a courtesy to those 

person affected, Please attend the meeting smoke and scent-free. 

SERVICIOS DE TRADUCCIÓN/ TRANSLATION SERVICES 

Si gusta estar presente o participar en esta junta de la Comisión Regional de 

Transporte del Condado de Santa Cruz y necesita información o servicios de 

traducción al español por favor llame por lo menos con tres días laborables de 

anticipo al (831) 460-3200 para hacer los arreglos necesarios. (Spanish language 

translation is available on an as needed basis.) Please make advance arrangements (at 

least three days in advance) by calling (831) 460-3200. 

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1. Roll call 



SPECIAL MEETING 

MINUTES 

Thursday, January 5, 2012 

9:00 a.m. 

The meeting was called to order at 9:03 am 

Members present: 

Lynn Robinson Kirby Nicol 

Don Lane Randy Johnson 

Eduardo Montesino Ellen Pirie 

John Leopold Donna Ziel 

Neal Coonerty Greg Caput 

Daniel Dodge Siobhan Saunders 

Ron Graves 

Staff present: 

George Dondero (by phone) Cory Caletti 

Luis Mendez Karena Pushnik 

Elena Loya Kim Shultz 


NOTE LOCATION 

SCCRTC Conference Room 

1523 Pacific Avenue 

Santa Cruz, CA 95060 

Jack nelson, quoted from the book “Storms of My Grandchildren: The Truth 

About the Coming Climate Catastrophe and Our Last Chance to Save Humanity” 

saying that if business continues as usual, 20% of the earth’s species will 

become extinct and human lives will be impacted. He said that although our 

region has done a good job on climate change, we need to do a lot more. 

3. Additions or deletions to consent and regular agendas

Deputy Director Luis Mendez noted add-on pages for item 4. 

None 



4. Highway 1 Soquel/Morrissey Auxiliary Lanes Project 

Deputy Director Luis Mendez commented that this is the first time the RTC is 

awarding a construction project and thanked Caltrans, the local jurisdiction’s 

Public Works department staff, Senior Transportation Planner, Kim Shultz and 

consultants for their good work in getting the project to this point. He also 

thanked the Commission for taking on this additional responsibility and said that 

this will be helpful in future undertakings. 

Senior Transportation Planner, Kim Shultz acknowledged everyone involved in 

bringing this project to this phase. He thanked Bruce Shewchuk of Parsons 

Brinckerhoff who will be directing the work and Caltrans Resident Engineer, 

Siobhan Saunders who will make sure the project adheres to Caltrans standards. 

Mr. Shultz reported that 4 contractors submitted bids and all are qualified. Staff 

and consultants recommend hiring RGW, who is the lowest bidder coming in at 

$9,938,639 which is 22% below the engineer’s estimate. Staff also recommends 

that a policy for contract change orders including an ad-hoc committee to review 

and approve larger contract change orders be established. 

Commissioners asked about RGW’s experience and references and 

implementation of Bicycle Committee recommendations to alleviate construction 

impacts. Commissioners also expressed concerns over the low 5% contingency 

for the construction contract, the fact that RGW and its subcontractors are not 

local firms, approval of contract change orders without review by the full 

Commission. 

RTC staff, Caltrans staff and consultants responded that RGW is a reputable 

company with local experience on projects managed by Parsons and Caltrans; 

that RTC staff has been discussing the implementation of Bicycle Committee 

recommendations with City of Santa Cruz and County staff; that RTC staff is 

working with Caltrans on the possibility of establishing a more robust 

contingency; that because state funds are used for the project preference for 

local contractors and subcontractors cannot be exercised; that contractors tend 

to use local union halls to hire the necessary work force; that a quick approval 

of contract change orders is necessary to minimize project delays and cost 

increases; that details of all contract change orders will be reported to the full 

Commission; and that staff and the ad-hoc committee may decide that a 

particular change order should go to the full Commission before approval. 

Executive Director George Dondero joined the meeting via telephone.

Bonnie Morr, United Transportation Union, thanked the Commission for 

discussing the need to hire local residents. She asked what the process was to 

ensure local contractors were given a fair chance. 

Jack Nelson reiterated his opposition to the project and said that commuters 

using Hwy 1 for short trips should be using alternative transportation modes. He 

noted that his opinion is that long term impacts were not analyzed sufficiently. 

William Menchine, alternate on the RTC Bike Committee said that his concern 

is that Brookwood drive falls outside of this project and it seems to be orphaned. 

He said that it is currently used for East bound vehicle traffic and used 

unofficially by pedestrians and cyclist in the opposite direction to get through 

their neighborhoods. The concern is that there will be considerably more traffic 

and no convenient way to get to the Prospect Height’s neighborhood that isn’t 

circuitous. 

Commissioner Pirie motioned to accept the staff recommendations and added 

that staff return to the Commission with the increased amount for the 

contingency fund and that the request for bicycle detours on Brookwood be 

incorporated if possible. Commissioner Montesino seconded the motion to: 

1. Approve the attached resolution (Attachment 2) authorizing the Executive 

Director to execute a contract with RGW Construction, in the amount of 

$9,938,639 for the construction of the Highway 1 Soquel/Morrissey Auxiliary 

Lanes Project and establish a contingency fund in the amount of $496,930 

representing 5% of the contract price for administration of Contract Change 

Orders; and, 

2. Approve the proposed Contract Change Order (CCO) procedures 

(Attachment 3) for effective management of construction activities and 

authorize the Chair to appoint 4 members of the RTC to serve on an ad-hoc 

committee to review CCO’s of $100,000 or more; and, 

3. Approve the attached resolution (Attachment 4) authorizing the Executive 

Director to execute contracts with: 

a. the California Highway Patrol in an amount not to exceed $50,000 for 

Construction Zone Enhanced Enforcement Program activities; and, 

b. the law firm of Hefner, Stark and Marois LLP, in an amount not to 

exceed $40,000 for legal support services associated with preparing 

and executing the construction bid and contract documents. 

The motion passed with Commissioner Caput voting in opposition.

5. Highway 1 Soquel/Morrissey Auxiliary Lanes Project – Public Outreach Plan 

Senior Transportation Planner, Karena Pushnik announced the Highway 1 

Auxiliary Lanes project kick-off meeting scheduled for Thursday, January 19, 

2012 at DeLaveaga Elementary School and encouraged Commissioner to 

attend and to invite constituents and the public. 

Ms. Pushnik also reported on some of the outreach efforts that staff has 

undertaken to ensure residents in the area are notified of possible impacts. 

She noted that staff is still working with Delaveage Elementary and Harbor 

High school on the impacts anticipated by the work that will be performed on 

the La Fonda bridge beginning the day after school ends. The work is 

anticipated to be completed by April 2013. Ms. Pushnik also noted that staff 

has implemented a system to log complaints and respond to them in a timely 

manner. 

Commissioners discussed their role in the outreach efforts and the project 

completion timeline. Staff noted that traffic lanes will not be closed during day 

time hours. Commissioners also discussed a possible need to hold more 

outreach meetings. Staff will notify Commissioner of a possible outreach event 

sometime in May. 

Bonnie Morr requested that staff keep the Santa Cruz METRO informed of any 

road closures. 

6. Review of items to be discussed in closed session 

PUBLIC COMMENTS: 

Bonnie Morr, United Transportation Union (UTU) representativeread a letter 

delivered to the RTC written by James Jones, UTU Legislative Director. The 

letter is to clarify the position of the UTU as it relates to the purchase of the 

rail line in Santa Cruz County. Ms. Morr stated that UTU supported the 

purchase with the understanding that union jobs would not be affected. She 

said that because Sierra Northern is a non-union employer, union jobs have in 

fact been affected especially in the Watsonville yard. She asked that the RTC 

represent the support from UTU appropriately. 

Darren Jessup, railroad conductor and brakemen representative, said that 

the rail line employees at the Watsonville yard have already lost work due to 

the non-union policy of Sierra Northern. He noted that Watsonville yard union 

employees were not the only union employees affected but that it has spread 

throughout the state. He noted that Santa Cruz County is a union friendly 

County and asked that this concern be addressed promptly.


The Commission adjourned to closed session at 10:29 am. 


54956.8 relating to the acquisition of the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line right-ofway 

from Watsonville Junction to Davenport 


Negotiation Parties: SCCRTC, Sierra Northern Railway, Union Pacific 


OPEN SESSION 

The Commission reconvened in public session at 11:24 am. 

8. Report on closed session-none 

9. The meeting adjourned at 11:25 am. 

The next SCCRTC meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 12, 2012 at 

9:00 a.m. at the Santa Cruz City Council Chambers, 809 Center Street, City of 

Santa Cruz 

Respectfully submitted, 

Yesenia Parra, Staff 

ATTENDEES 

Louis Bottini United Transit Union 

Jack Nelson Resident 

Harold Mettet 

Bruce Shewchuk Parsons Brinckerhoff 

Bonnie Morr United Transit Union 

William Menchine Cyclist/RTC Bike committee 

Darren Jessup Railroad conductor

1. Roll call 



MINUTES 

Thursday, January 12, 2012 

9:00 a.m. 

The meeting was called to order at 9:03 a.m. 

Members present: 

Aileen Loe Kirby Nicol 

Don Lane Randy Johnson 

Eduardo Montesino Ellen Pirie 

John Leopold Donna Ziel (Alt.) 

Neal Coonerty Greg Caput 

Dene Bustichi Lynn Robinson 

Daniel Dodge (Alt.) 

Staff present: 

George Dondero Yesenia Parra 

Luis Mendez Grace Blakeslee 

Karena Pushnik Rachel Blakeslee 

Elena Loya Kim Shultz 


NOTE LOCATION THIS MONTH 

City of Santa Cruz Council Chambers 

809 Center Street 

Santa Cruz CA 95060 

Jack Nelson clarified his comments of the previous RTC meeting stating that to 

continue burning fossil fuels at the current rate would by the end of the century 

create impacts to the atmosphere and climate change that would lead to the 

extinction of 20% of earth’s species. Mr. Nelson added that with regards to 

climate change and its impacts, we should listen to the scientists and not feel 

that climate change is not a problem because we do not see immediate negative 

impacts. 

3. Additions or deletions to consent and regular agendas

Executive Director George Dondero said that there was an add-on page for item 

17 and that there would be no close session. Deputy Director Luis Mendez 

distributed a confidential memo regarding the rail line purchase project. 

MINUTES 


(Leopold, Montesino) unanimous 

4. Approved draft minutes of the December 1, 2011 SCCRTC meeting 

POLICY ITEMS 


PROJECTS and PLANNING ITEMS 

5. Approved recommendation on Proposition 1B Transit Security Funds for Santa 

Cruz METRO (Resolution #10-12) 

BUDGET AND EXPENDITURES ITEMS 

6. Accepted status report on Transportation Development Act (TDA) revenues 

7. Approved funding agreement for Monterey Bay origin and destination study 

(Resolution #12-12) 

ADMINISTRATION ITEMS 


INFORMATION/OTHER ITEMS 

8. Accepted monthly meeting schedule 

9. Accepted correspondence log 

10. Accepted letters from SCCRTC committees and staff to other agencies - none 

11. Accepted miscellaneous written comments from the public on SCCRTC projects 

and transportation issues 

12. Accepted information items 

a. “Federal judge blocks Calif. low-carbon fuels rule” – Sacramento Bee, 

December 29, 2011

. “California Supreme Court hands Gov. Brown a win on redevelopment” – 

Sacramento Bee, December 30, 2011 

13. Commissioner reports -none 

14. Director’s report – oral report 


Executive Director George Dondero reported that over 200 people attended the 

Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail (MBSST) network workshops held in 

December and that staff received valuable input. He thanked Commissioners 

for attending these workshops. Staff will provide an update to the Commission 

soon. He also noted that the release of the master plan is scheduled for 

summer 2012. Additional public outreach will be scheduled after the release of 

the draft plan. 

Mr. Dondero reported that the Contract with RGW, for the Highway 1 Soquel to 

Morrissey Auxiliary Lanes project is being processed and that an informational 

kick off meeting to inform the public about what to expect during construction 

is scheduled for January 19. The Vegetation removal is scheduled for February, 

weather permitting. 

Mr. Dondero said that the RTC Transportation Café Spanish episode is 

currently airing on Community TV. He thanked Luis Mendez, Yesenia Parra and 

Commissioner Montesino for their participation. He noted that the next episode 

will be taped this afternoon. 

Commissioner Leopold thanked staff for the work that was done for the MBSST 

network workshops and said the material presented at the workshop worked 

well to show what the trail might look like. 

Responding to a question, Senior Transportation Planner, Kim Shultz said that 

the replacement ratio for the vegetation removal of the Highway 1 Soquel to 

Morrissey Auxiliary Lanes project is 3 to 1. Senior Transportation Planner, 

Karena Pushnik added that a display will be available at the January 19 th 

meeting showing the details of the proposed landscaping. 

15. Caltrans report and consider action items 

Aileen Loe said that Caltrans has awarded a contract to Pavex in San Jose for 

the Hwy 1 rehabilitation project in Watsonville. She noted that although Pavex 

is based in San Jose this particular project will be handled from their 

Watsonville office and a number of the employees are Watsonville residents. 

She reminded Commissioners and staff that Caltrans is currently accepting 

grant applications for the safe routes to school program and transportation 

planning grants. She also noted that Caltrans will be hosting a transportation

planning grants workshop on February 10, 2012 at the Monterey Conference 

Center. 

Commissioner Pirie arrived. 

16. Regional Transportation Plan Sustainability Framework and Goal and Policy 

Development 

Transportation Planner Grace Blakeslee said that an update of the Regional 

Transportation Plan (RTP) is currently underway and is scheduled for adoption 

in 2014. In order to support integrate sustainability principles into the next 

RTP, staff has been working with the North American Sustainable 

Transportation Council (STC) to develop a tool for evaluating sustainable 

outcomes in transportation plans. The tool will focus on a “Triple Bottom Line 

Concept” consisting of three values: the planet, people and prosperity. The 

outcome of this work will assist the RTC in assessing future transportation 

needs, addressing SB375 and will support the sustainable community strategy 

work that is being done by AMBAG. Ms. Blakeslee also thanked Commissioner 

Leopold for participating in the Sustainable Transportation and Rating System 

(STARS) workshop. 

Commissioner Johnson arrived. 

Peter Hurley, STC representative discussed the components in each of the 

“Triple Bottom Line” values. He said that people will change how they move 

around if they are given more and better choices. 

Commissioner Leopold thanked staff for offering the workshop and said that 

the sustainability exercise that was done during the workshop should be done 

at one of the RTC’s Transportation Policy Workshop meetings. 

Responding to questions, Mr. Hurley said that the 12 credits developed by the 

RTC STARS technical advisory committee, were used as the foundation for the 

“Triple Bottom Line” concept. Peter said that the manual for the 12 credits is 

available on the RTC website. He also noted that STC is working to ensure that 

the process to apply for certification is not cumbersome. 

Commissioner Alternate Dodge arrived. 

Commissioners discussed the use of the 12 credits in the future and the 

funding required to use the 12 credits.. 

Ms. Blakeslee said that the goals and policies for the regional transportation 

plan will be developed using the STARS analysis and that staff will bring them 

to the Commission for final approval.

Jack Nelson said he endorsed this proposal. He said that the requirement 

from SB375 reminds him of how hard it was for advocates of recycling to 

implement the concept until the government came down with a mandate. 

Commissioner Pirie motioned and Commissioner Leopold seconded to approve 

the staff recommendations to: 

1. Approve the sustainability framework as the basis for developing the next 

Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) goals and policies. 

2. Amend the FY11/12 budget to shift the remaining Highway 1 High Occupancy 

Vehicle Lanes STARS funds to the Regional Transportation Plan STARS 

analysis. 

3. Approve the attached resolution( 11-12) authorizing the Executive Director to 

amend the RTC agreement with the North American Sustainable 

Transportation Council (STC) for work related to the RTP to increase the 

maximum amount by $36,500 and include the tasks required to identify 

those strategies most likely to achieve sustainable transportation plan goals. 

4. Direct staff to incorporate the strategies identified by the North American 

Sustainable Transportation Council (STC) for achieving sustainable outcomes 

into the development of draft RTP policies. 

The motion passed unanimously. 

17. Adoption of the 2012 State and Federal Legislative Programs 

Senior Transportation Planner Rachel Moriconi gave an update on the key 

legislative issues related to transportation in 2012 including continued 

challenges for transportation funding and a significant level of uncertainty 

regarding the proposed two-year federal transportation reauthorization bill. 

Ms. Moriconi noted that amendments to this bill could be a challenge given 

that this bill is already viewed as a compromise at the federal level. 

Commissioners asked questions regarding specific items on the legislative 

agendas and the Governor’s budget. Staff responded to Commissioners’ 

questions and will provide additional information regarding the state 

legislative agenda item addressing measures and funding for access to Medi- 

Cal Adult Day Health Care. 

Commissioner Leopold moved and Commissioner Caput seconded to approve 

staff recommendations to: 

1. Adopt the State and Federal Legislative Programs for 2012 including 

identification of any new legislative issues the RTC should pursue or monitor 

in 2012; and

2. Ratify positions on Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21 st Century, outlined in 

a draft letter to Senator Boxer. 

The motion passed unanimously. 

18. On-Board Transit Ridership Study – Release Request for Proposals 

Transportation Planner Grace Blakeslee said that the RTC and the Santa Cruz 

METRO have received a transit planning grant. The purpose of the grant is to 

conduct an on-board transit survey to support the development of AMBAG’s 

Travel Demand model and planning efforts of RTC and Santa Cruz METRO. She 

said that a consultant will be hired to work with staff from the RTC and METRO 

to create and conduct the survey. 

Commissioner Robinson moved and Commissioner Ziel seconded to approve 

the staff recommendation to release a request for proposals (RFP) to conduct 

an on-board transit ridership survey. The motion passed unanimously. 

19. Review of items to be discussed in closed session-none 



54956.8 for acquisition of the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line Property: Santa 

Cruz Branch Rail Line from Watsonville Junction to Davenport 


Negotiation Parties: SCCRTC, Union Pacific 


21. Report on closed session-none 

OPEN SESSION 

22. Adjourn to special meeting of the Service Authority for Freeway Emergencies 

No agenda items this month 

23. Next Meetings 

The meeting adjourned at 10:21 a.m. 

The next SCCRTC meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 2, 2011 at 9:00 

a.m. at the Watsonville City Council Chambers, 275 Main St., Watsonville, CA.

The next Transportation Policy Workshop meeting is scheduled for Thursday, 

February 16, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. at the SCCRTC Offices, 1523 Pacific Avenue, 

Santa Cruz, CA. 

Respectfully submitted, 

Yesenia Parra, Staff 

Jack Nelson 

Paul Elerich 

Peter Scott 

ATTENDEES 

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JOINT MEETING OF 

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY TRAFFIC OPERATIONS SYSTEMS (TOS) OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE 

AND 

SAFE ON 17 TASK FORCE 

DRAFT MINUTES 

Wednesday, September 14, 2011 

10:00-12:30 


1523 Pacific Ave. 

Santa Cruz, CA 95060 

TOS Oversight Committee and Safe on 17 Task Force Meeting Participants 

Amanda Snowden, San Jose CHP 

Ramin Bolourchian, Caltrans District 4 TMC 

Matt Olson, Santa Cruz CHP 

Susana Cruz, Caltrans District 5 Public Affairs (teleconference) 

Russell Ellingworth, Caltrans District 5 Maintenance 

Shawn Enjily, Caltrans District 4 Design 

Sarah Jackson, Santa Cruz CHP 

Dan Herron, Caltrans District 5 (teleconference) 

Julie Gonzalez, Caltrans District 5 (teleconference) 

Ernesto Raminez, Caltrans District 4 

Jose Velasquez, Caltrans District 4 

Bernard Walik, Caltrans District 4 

Pranav Shah, Caltrans District 4 Traffic Systems 

Earl Sherman, Caltrans District 4 Maintenance 

Tom Barnett, Caltrans District 5 

Colin Jones, Caltrans District 5 

Scott Morris, Caltrans District 5 

Lt. Bishop, San Jose CHP 

Joanna Fox, Metropolitan Transportation Commission 

Richard Blacksten, Caltrans District 4 

Frank Bauer, Santa Cruz Metro 

Donna Ziel, Representing Santa Cruz County Supervisor Mark Stone 

Janean Reynolds, San Jose CHP 

Mark Ballentine, Caltrans District 5 

Luis Mendez, Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission 

Ginger Dykaar, Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission 

1. Introductions – Introductions were made 

2. Additions or Deletions to the Agenda – Item 6 was removed from the agenda. 

3. Reviewed and Accepted Minutes of the March 23, 2011 Joint TOS Oversight 

Committee and Safe on 17 Meeting

4. Received Information Items 

Ginger Dykaar presented the following items. 

The 2010 Safe on 17 Annual Report was completed and distributed with the meeting packet. 

The report reviews the work done by the CHP, Caltrans, RTC, MTC and other stakeholders on 

the Highway 17 safety corridor. The number of injury and fatal collisions for 2010 was 164 

injury and 2 fatal which is just over our goal by one collision. Extra CHP enforcement was 

drastically reduced during 2010 due to the Governor’s directive to cease use of funds for 

overtime. 

The FSP program is running smoothly. Our state funding allocation for this year has not been 

determined yet but we were assured that it will be comparable to previous years. The RTC 

extended the current contract with Ladd’s towing for Hwy 17 for an additional 2 years which will 

allow us to procure contracts for both Hwy 1 and 17 at the same time reducing the staff work 

required. 

The RTC and TAMC have been working closely with ICx Consulting on a 511 feasibility study for 

the Monterey Bay Area. The recommendations will be presented to both boards this fall. 

The June episode of the RTC’s Community TV show (The Transportation Café) focused on 

Highway Safety. Deb Larson from Caltrans and Ginger Dykaar from RTC were interviewed by 

Randy Johnson – an RTC commissioner. Much of the discussion was about the Safe on 17 Task 

Force and the work that has been accomplished over the last decade by the various partners. 

Officer Shore from CHP also provided a public service announcement about safe driving 

practices. 

5. Received Update on California Highway Patrol Safe on 17 Program Statistics and 

Public Information Efforts 

Lt. Bishop stated that the collision statistics for the San Jose side of Hwy 17 this year were 

slightly higher due to a moratorium on overtime from the Governor’s office particularly during 

wet weather months. Once the moratorium was removed, overtime citations were greatly 

increased and effective in reducing collisions. Regular citations were lower than typical in May 

and June likely due to training of new officers. 

Captain Olson stated that even though the funds for extra enforcement are local, the Governor’s 

office will not exempt these programs from the moratorium. 

Officer Jackson discussed the collision statistics for the Santa Cruz County side of Hwy 17. She 

noted that the moratorium on overtime occurred during the winter rainy season when extra 

enforcement typically is increased due to increased collision rates during rainy weather. Officers 

responded to an increase in collisions on the highway by increasing their enforcement during 

their regular time in order to make up for loss of overtime enforcement.

Santa Cruz CHP offers a Start Smart Driver Education class at least once per month. Safety on 

Highway 17 is always discussed. Safe Driving Practice Brochures will be handed out at the Santa 

Cruz County fair this week. San Jose CHP takes every option to promote safe driving practices 

particularly on Hwy 17 at public events. 

6. Item 6 FSP Service Schedule removed from agenda 

7. Received Update on Caltrans Process for Proposing Safety Projects 

Scott Morris, Caltrans District 5 Traffic Safety, discussed the Caltrans Highway Safety 

Improvement Program. This program ensures that funds will be spent on locations that will get 

the most benefit to highway users and is designed to reduce the severity and number of 

collisions on the highway. Caltrans keeps a database of collisions. Reports generated from this 

data include the Wet Collisions Report, Run off the Road Report, Wrong Way Collisions Report, 

and Cross Centerline Report. Investigations are triggered for locations where collisions go over 

a threshold and recommendations follow. If a project is recommended, funding could come 

from SHOPP or HSIP. Safety improvements are the top priority of SHOPP. After a project is 

initiated, project initiation and environmental documents are created. If a project is approved, 

the project moves onto design and construction. The typical timeline is 1 year for completion of 

the project initiation document, 1 year for the environmental document, 1 year for design, and 

1 year for construction for a typical size project. 

8. Received Update on Caltrans District 4 Highway 17 Wet Weather Project 

Shawn Enjily stated that the wet weather project is progressing well. Almost the entire northern 

half of the project has been completed. The median barrier, cross culverts, and drainage near 

barrier work is done. The contractor is working to complete paving before the weather gets 

below 50˚ F. Construction on the southern half of the project has not begun. Public feedback is 

positive. People feel that delay during construction is worth the improvements. The project 

could be completed as early as February, 2012. 

9. Received Update on Caltrans District 5 Highway 17 Projects 

Susana Cruz, PIO from Caltrans District 5, stated that the contractor for the guardrail upgrades 

project from Scotts Valley to the summit has gone bankrupt and the project has gone out for 

rebid. The project should be completed in spring 2012. The Vinehill Wet Weather Improvement 

Project is 90% complete but the contractor also went bankrupt and the remainder of the 

projecthas gone out for rebid. The Santa’s Village Road Guardrail Project is going well and 

should be completed by the end of this calendar year. 

Scott Morris, Caltrans District 5, discussed the new candidate project on Hwy 17 which includes 

improvements to three locations between mile post (MP) 8.2 and 10.1: a shoulder widening and 

installation of a retaining wall near Sugar Loaf in the NB direction (MP 8.5/8.6), installation of

concrete guardrails and paving the pullout just south of Glenwood Cutoff in the SB direction (MP 

8.8/9.1), and shoulder widening to 10 feet and installation of a retaining wall in the NB direction 

north of Laurel Road (MP 9.5/9.7). The timeline for the project north of Laurel Road has been 

accelerated by 1 year and thus construction is planned to start July 2014. Construction for the 

other 2 locations is planned to start July 2015. A dynamic curve warning sign will be installed in 

the SB direction before Laurel Curve and a flashing beacon will be installed in the NB direction 

on the speed limit sign just north of Laurel Road. The sign and beacon are estimated to be 

installed by the end of 2012. 

Shawn Enjily mentioned that road improvements such as widening the shoulders and increasing 

the line of sight can give people the sense that they can go faster. Luis Mendez and Lt Bishop 

stated that this highlights the importance of enforcement and education to help ensure safe 

driving behavior. Luis suggested that the discussion about closing the median barrier at Laurel 

Road could be addressed again but realizes the difficulties with this solution. 

Captain Olson suggested increasing the length of the median barrier further towards the 

intersection of Laurel Road. Caltrans stated that would decrease the number of vehicles that 

could fit into the left turn lane and would decrease the line of sight for people coming out of 

Laurel taking a left to go southbound. Officer Jackson wondered what other solutions would be 

possible as this area is so dangerous. Traffic volumes for left turns onto Laurel and left turns 

from Laurel are small. Shawn said that an overpass for so few people is not feasible. Captain 

Olson stated that if the volume of traffic onto and off of Laurel Road is so small, why is there 

not a barrier given the number of collisions there. Discussion ensued on options for accessing 

the Laurel Road area, which was agreed are not much better. 

Ginger Dykaar reviewed the collision and planned projects map for the Laurel Curve area. 

Captain Olson communicated that the locations of collisions are not exact because the Officer at 

the collision takes a GPS reading at a safe location in the vicinity of the collision. 

Ginger Dykaar mentioned that in following up from the meeting in March, 2011 she drafted a 

letter to Caltrans from the Safe on 17 task force expressing appreciation for the improvements 

that have been made on Hwy 17 and support for the projects in the vicinity of Laurel Curve as 

the high collision rates in this area still warrant attention. The letter notes that the wider 

shoulder will also be beneficial to CHP and FSP operators so they can pull completely off the 

highway. Caltrans suggested adding Caltrans maintenance to agencies that would benefit from 

a wider shoulder. Officer Jackson stated that there were three officers (not two) that were hit 

by motorists in the vicinity of Laurel Curve. The task force approved sending the letter to 

Caltrans.

10. Received Update on Operations of TOS 

Ramin Bolourchian stated that installation of communication software at the Caltrans District 4 

TMC is progressing. The TOS elements that are prioritized are the changeable message signs 

and the closed circuit TV’s. The highway advisory radio is not a priority but will be hooked up to 

the communications software eventually. Ginger will schedule a tour of the TMC for any 

interested members of the Safe on 17 Task Force. 

There were no concerns by the members of the task force about the use of the changeable 

message signs or the sigalerts. Luis Mendez expressed appreciation for the replacement of 

bulbs in the signs. Caltrans maintenance noted that the graffiti on the CMS at the summit in the 

NB direction was removed. Captain Olson stated that the CMS’s and the sigalerts made a big 

difference during the wrong way collision on Hwy 17 near Hwy 1. 

11. Received Updates on Traffic Operations Systems 

Julie Gonzalez from Caltrans District 5 discussed the installation of the microwave vehicle 

detection systems (MVDS). There are currently 32 on Highway 1 and Highway 17 that have 

been installed and 13 are activated and reporting to the district. The next step will be publishing 

the data to PeMs. The Park Ave to Fishhook datat should be published to PeMs within a week. 

The remaining MVDS’s should be reporting to PeMs by the end of the year. 

12. Received Update on CHP Highway 129 Safety Corridor 

Captain Olson discussed that the injury collisions were up a bit on Hwy 129. There was no extra 

enforcement on Hwy 129 during the moratorium imposed by the Governor similar to Hwy 17. 

Captain Olson plans to speak to truck companies to discuss safety practices along Hwy 129. 

The CHP submitted a grant to the Office of Traffic Safety for additional funding for Hwy 129 

Safety Corridor but it was denied. 

13. Received Additional Items 

Caltrans District 5 Maintenance requested San Jose CHP to work with them to discuss options 

for detouring traffic for maintenance on the Santa Clara side of Hwy 17. Captain Snowden, San 

Jose CHP, agreed. 

14. Approved Next Meeting Date: Joint Safe on 17 Task Force & TOS Oversight 

Committee Meeting – Wednesday, March 14, 2011 10:00 to 12:30 at San Jose 

California Highway Patrol, 2020 Junction Ave, San Jose, CA 95131 

Respectively submitted by ______________________________ 

Ginger Dykaar

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION 

TDA REVENUE REPORT 

FY 2011-2012 

CUMULATIVE 

FY10-11 FY11-12 FY11-12 DIFFERENCE % OF 

ACTUAL ESTIMATE ACTUAL AS % OF ACTUAL TO 

MONTH REVENUE REVENUE REVENUE DIFFERENCE PROJECTION PROJECTION 

JULY 410,500 499,800 499,800 0 0.00% 100.00% 

AUGUST 547,300 547,300 666,400 119,100 21.76% 111.37% 

SEPTEMBER 819,955 779,955 699,895 -80,060 -10.26% 102.14% 

OCTOBER 458,300 498,300 486,400 -11,900 -2.39% 101.17% 

NOVEMBER 611,000 611,000 648,500 37,500 6.14% 102.20% 

DECEMBER 776,432 736,433 804,308 67,875 9.22% 103.61% 

JANUARY 502,700 479,259 510,100 30,841 6.44% 103.93% 

FEBRUARY 670,300 639,012 

MARCH 510,760 625,623 

APRIL 412,600 396,653 

MAY 605,300 579,581 

JUNE 631,612 624,034 

TOTAL 6,956,759 7,016,950 4,315,403 163,356 2.33% 61% 

Note: 

\\Rtcserv2\shared\RTC\TC2012\0212\[TDA Report.xlsx]FY2012

TO: Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) 

FROM: Daniel Nikuna, Fiscal Officer 

RE: FY2010-11 Fiscal Audit for the SCCRTC 

RECOMMENDATIONS 

AGENDA: February 2, 2012 

Staff recommends that the Regional Transportation Commission accept the SCCRTC 

FY2010-2011 audited financial statements (enclosed separately for 

Commissioners). 

BACKGROUND 

The Commission is required by state law to undergo an annual financial audit. 

Moss, Levy & Hartzheim, performed the FY 2010-2011 fiscal audit for the 

Commission; this audit is enclosed separately for Commissioners. Moss, Levy & 

Hartzheim also performed the audit of Transportation Development Act (TDA) funds 

of the Cities of Scotts Valley and Santa Cruz for its own TDA fund and the passthrough 

claims on behalf of Community Bridges and the Volunteer Center. Brown 

Armstrong, CPAs performed the audit of the Santa Cruz Metropolitan District 

(SCMTD). The other claimants – City of Watsonville and Santa Cruz County, were 

not audited because they did not receive TDA funds during the reporting period. 

DISCUSSION 

The Commission received a clean opinion from the Auditor and no major concerns 

were raised which would require changes to the SCCRTC internal controls and 

accounting practices. The audit reports of the Cities of Scotts Valley and Santa 

Cruz; and the SCMTD are also unqualified. 

The Management Discussion & Analysis Section of the SCCRTC audit report contains 

extensive financial highlights with comparison to the prior fiscal year. The TDA 

revenues grew by 325,222 (5%) over FY2009-2010 to $6,957,059. However, the 

TDA receipts are $1,092,303 (13.6%) below FY2006-2007, the peak year with 

$8,048,362 in total TDA revenues (see Audit page 15). The State provided 60% of 

the funding in FY2010-2011 (Page 12). 

In FY2010-2011 the RTC implemented the Governmental Accounting Standard 

Board (GASB) Statement No. 54, which deals with fund balance reporting and 

governmental fund type definitions. The Fund Balance, which had been classified as 

either Reserved or Unreserved in prior years now has three categories:

FY2010-11 Fiscal Audit Page 2 

Nonspendable, Restricted and Unassigned (page 20). GASB 54 is introduced on 

page 8 and discussed in detail in Note 1 of the Basic Financial Statements on pages 

37 and 38 (L and O). Overall, the RTC is financially healthy, but challenges remain 

on the revenues side for the future. The reports are public documents and are 

available at the Commission’s office and on the website (www.sccrtc.org). 

SUMMARY 

The FY2010-2011 Commission’s audit has been completed and is ready for review. 

The Commission received a clean opinion from the auditor and no changes are 

required to internal controls. Staff recommends that the Commission accept the 

audit report. 

Enclosure: FY2010-2011 SCCRTC Fiscal Audit (enclosed separately for 

Commissioners) 

S:\RTC\TC2012\0212\2011 Fiscal Audit.docx

Meeting 

Date 


THREE MONTH MEETING SCHEDULE 

SEPTEMBER 2011 

through 

NOVEMBER 2011 

(Revised 9/2/11) 

All meetings are subject to cancellation when there are no 

action items to be considered by the board or committee 

Meeting Day Meeting Type 

Meeting 

Time 

Meeting 

Place 

02/09/12 Thursday Budget and Administration/Personnel Committee 3:30 pm Commission Offices 

02/13/12 Monday Bicycle Committee 6:30 pm Commission Offices 

02/14/12 Tuesday Elderly & Disabled Transportation Advisory Committee 1:30 pm Commission Offices 

02/16/12 Thursday Transportation Policy Workshop 9:00 am Commission Offices 

02/16/12 Thursday Interagency Technical Advisory Committee 1:30 pm Commission Offices 

03/01/12 Thursday Regional Transportation Commission 9:00 am 

County Board of Supervisor 

Chambers 

03/12/12 Monday Bicycle Committee - Cancelled 6:30 pm Commission Offices 



04/05/12 Thursday Regional Transportation Commission 9:00 am 

County Board of Supervisor 

Chambers 

04/09/12 Monday Bicycle Committee 6:30 pm Commission Offices 

04/10/12 Tuesday Elderly & Disabled Transportation Advisory Committee 1:30 pm 

Commission Offices 

or alternate location 

04/12/12 Thursday Budget and Administration/Personnel Committee 3:30 pm Commission Offices 



Commission Offices - 1523 Pacific Ave - Santa Cruz CA 95060 

Board of Supervisors Chambers/CAO Conference Room/RDA Conf Room - 701 Ocean St - Santa Cruz CA 95060 

City of Capitola - Council Chambers - 420 Capitola Ave - Capitola CA 95010 

City of Santa Cruz - Council Chambers - 809 Center St - Santa Cruz CA 95060 

City of Scotts Valley - Council Chambers - 1 Civic Center Dr - Scotts Valley CA 95066 

City of Watsonville - Council Chambers - 275 Main St Ste 400 - Watsonville CA 95076 

212\[3month meeting schedule.xlsx]Sheet1

Date Letter 

Rec'd/Sent 

Format Incoming/ 

Outgoing 

12/15/11 Letter I Kimberleigh Toci 

12/20/11 Email I 

12/21/11 Email I 

12/21/11 Email I 

Correspondence Log 

February 2, 2012 

Response First Last Organization First Last Organization Subject 

CC 

12/20/11 

CC 

12/21/11 

CJ 

12/21/11 

First American Title 

Company 

Torgny Nilsson 

Sierra Northern 

Railway 

Escrow No. NCS-138073-SF 

SCCRTC Rob Hart MBSSTN Project 

SCCRTC Neil Conner MBSSTN Project 

SCCRTC James Peterson MBSSTN Project 

01/04/12 Letter I Sam Farr California State Congress James (J.P.) Jones 

01/10/12 Email I 

01/12/12 Email I 

CC 

01/23/12 

KP 

01/12/12 

TO FROM 

SCCRTC Schar 

United Transportation 

Union 

SCCRTC Ryan Hoffman Rail Trail 

Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line 

Hwy 1 Soquel/Morrissey 

Auxiliary Lanes Project 

1

Date Letter 

Rec'd/Sent 


Outgoing 

01/15/12 Email I 

01/17/12 Email I 



TO FROM 


CJ 

01/15/12 

KP 

01/17/12 

01/18/12 Letter I Donn Miyahara 

01/18/12 Email I 

01/19/12 Email I 

01/19/12 Email I 

01/19/12 Email I 

KP 

01/18/12 

KP 

01/19/12 

KP 

01/19/12 

KP 

01/19/12 

SCCRTC Michael Weaver Hwy 17 

SCCRTC Michelle Fodge City of Scotts Valley 

Department of 

Transportation 

Luis Mendez SCCRTC 

SCCRTC Paul and Sue Stephens 

SCCRTC Paul Franklin 

SCCRTC Connie Gabriel Wilson 

SCCRTC Catherine O'Kelly 



Payment for STIP Planning, 

Programming & Monitoring 









2

Date Letter 

Rec'd/Sent 


Outgoing 

01/19/12 Email I 

01/21/12 Email I 

01/22/12 Email I 

01/22/12 Email I 

S:\correslogfy1112\[1202.xlsx]Sheet1 



TO FROM 


KP 

01/19/12 

KP 

01/23/12 

CJ 

01/23/12 

KP 

01/23/12 

SCCRTC Aleta Lewis 

SCCRTC Juliana Cheng 

SCCRTC Dan Bolger 

SCCRTC Tina May 









3

From: Ryan Hoffman [mailto:santaryancruz@gmail.com] 

Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2012 12:57 PM 

To: info@sccrtc.org 

Subject: Getting Involved with Rail Trail 

Greetings- 

I've just moved back to Santa Cruz, and want to see the rail-trail move forward - how can I help? Could 

care less about the train service, but after living in Sacramento and spending time in Austin, I am a big 

believer in pedestrian transport corridors. Thanks! -Ryan (530) 304-3912 

****** 

Hello Ryan Hoffman – 

We received your email supporting the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail Network. 

Currently, we’re in the preliminary phase of alignment analysis. Future phases will include defining trail 

amenities, prioritizing trail projects, developing a trail management/maintenance protocol and 

environmental assessment. 

In terms of how you can help, I’ve added your name to the enews group for this project so you’ll hear 

directly from the RTC about future workshops and opportunities to review draft plans. I’m also sending 

a copy of this email to the Friends of the Rail Trail, an advocacy group that will likely spearhead 

volunteer work on this project. You may want to go directly to their website: http://santacruztrail.org/ 

A hearty thank you for your interest in this exciting project! 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Karena Pushnik, Senior Planner/Public Information Coordinator 


Santa Cruz Office (main) 831.460.3210 | Watsonville 831.768.8012 

1523 Pacific Avenue | Santa Cruz, CA 95060 

Follow our social networks for the latest RTC news

-----Original Message----- 

From: Paul [mailto:paul@paulwho.org] 



Subject: Highway 1 detour traffic management 

Friends, 

Please know that the intersection at Rooney / Pacheco / Morrissey is a minor nightmare every 

school day morning from 8:00-8:30. I believe you will have many community members 

screaming bloody murder if the La Fonda bridge traffic detour makes this situation any worse. If 

you can't swing a traffic signal at that intersection, then you would serve yourselves and the 

community very well to hire a traffic "cop" to work that intersection for about 30 minutes each 

morning. 

Sincerely, 

Paul Franklin 

****** 

Karena Pushnik 

RTC | 831.460.3210 


From: Karena Pushnik 

Sent: Friday, January 20, 2012 5:14 PM 

To: 'paul@paulwho.org' 

Subject: FW: Highway 1 detour traffic management-Paul Franklin 

Hello Paul Franklin - 

Your comments regarding the Morrissey/Rooney/Pacheco intersection were received and echo 

some of the comments by those who attended the public meeting last night at DeLaveaga 

Elementary School. I appreciate you proposing solutions. The RTC heard these concerns will 

meet with the City of Santa Cruz and the school to explore options for the intersection as well as 

ways to increase the use of driving alternatives. 

I've added you to the Enews list for this project. Thank you for your comments. 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Karena Pushnik, Senior Planner/Public Information Coordinator Santa Cruz County Regional 

Transportation Commission Santa Cruz Office (main) 831.460.3210 | Watsonville 831.768.8012 



From: Tsapling [mailto:Tsapling@comcast.net] 

Sent: Sunday, January 22, 2012 11:21 AM 

To: Karena Pushnik 

Subject: Hwy 1 Morrissey Soquel project and wildlife 

I was at the neighborhood meeting and live in the Prospect Heights neighborhood. 

I was hoping when you started cutting down trees that you would start at Morrissey and 

move towards Soquel so that any displaced wildlife would be pushed into the Arana Gulch 

green belt and not the other way round which would push the displaced wildlife into the 

suburb which could be dangerous for the animals and for the people. 

I talked to a man at the meeting but I don't know if he was the one in charge of cutting 

down trees. Since you are the contact person between the neighbors and the working crews, 

please relay the idea to the person in charge of that aspect of the project. Thank you. 

Tina K May 

****** 

Hello Tina M Kay – 

Your suggestion regarding the direction the trees are cut was received. I will forward your idea to the 

contractors, but it may be too late to change the contract specifications. 

Thank you for your thoughtful suggestion. 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 






From: Connie Gabriel Wilson [mailto:camt@cruzio.com] 

Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2012 10:58 AM 


Subject: Re: Hwy 1 Soquel/Morrissey Auxiliary Lane project Begins - Meeting Jan 19 

Thanks Karena 

As I am unable to attend tonights meeting I have a few comments. 

We live in the area of the initial project and I am glad they will be replanting ASAP as it has really impacted our 

home life. We have always had freeway noise but now it is accentuated much more. We tried to have caltrans 

complete a soundwall over the market street bridge area. They stated the noise levels did not indicate that need. We 

live here and it is much noisier. 

So my comments ( and I did attend the meeting a Harbor High awhile back) are in concern for the high school 

students and faculty. It may be that double paned windows will be placed and air conditioning so the doors do not 

need to remain open( sad statement ) but what about when they want to go outside and get some fresh air??? It will 

be unbearable and communication impacted. 

I realize economics plays a role in these decisions but the just widen and not deal with all of the other ramifications 

seems unwise and detrimental. I know the economics played a part in both the Soquel and morrissey interchanges 

too. They both need reconfiguration and nothing was done. Very disappointing. 

As to the vegetation I am concerned that with the widening there will be very little dirt or area to replant. And it will 

be years before we reap any benefit. 

It has been a big impact on our lives as we now not only hear the freeway moreso but also see it from our house. 

Thanks for taking my comments. I hope that this next phase takes in consideration the people impacted and their 

daily lives. 

Sincerely, 

Connie Wilson 

****** 

From: Karena Pushnik 


To: 'camt@cruzio.com' 

Subject: FW: Hwy 1 Soquel/Morrissey Auxiliary Lane project Begins - Connie Wilson 

Hi Connie – 

Your comments on the Soquel/Morrissey Auxiliary Lane Project were received. The display boards at the meeting will be 

available at our office if you’d like to come by, or we’ll post them on our website next week. We have two boards that show 

details of the landscaping plan, including a plant list. Removed trees will be replaced at a 3 to 1 ratio, and the majority of 

replaced vegetation will be with native plants. 

As you indicate, state and federal environmental laws and regulations dictate where noise attenuation -- such as soundwalls 

or double paned windows – will be included as part of the project. Federal law establishes specific criteria and requires an 

assessment of both feasibility and reasonableness. State law compares ‘no build’ (existing) to ‘build’ (w/ project). Sound was 

assessed as part of the environmental analysis phase completed in September 2009 and the final environmental document 

was upheld in court in March 2011. Mitigation based on projected impacts includes soundwalls on northbound side of the 

highway near 25 residences and interior acoustic treatment at two locations, a school and residence. In addition, the auxiliary 

lanes will be overlaid with open-graded asphalt which reduces vehicle tire noise. Regardless, funding constraints throughout 

the state of California dictate that dollars designated for transportation projects provide noise abatement only when it meets 

legally defined criteria. Noise abatement exceeding what is legally defined is considered an enhancement and would need to 

be funded from a different source. 

Thank you for your comments. 

. . . . . . . . 

Karena Pushnik 

RTC | 831.460.3210


From: dan bolger [mailto:dahnb2010@comcast.net] 

Sent: Sunday, January 22, 2012 10:44 AM 


Subject: hwy 1 new project: I AM IN FAVOR 

From: dan bolger 

Subject: hwy 1 new project: I AM IN FAVOR 

Message Body: 

Dear RTC, 

I just wanted to state my 100% support of the Hwy 1 Morrissey to Soquel widening 

and new La Fonda bridge. 

The negative people will make more noise but Hwy 1 expansion is long over-due 

and I look forward to it. 

Thanks 

Dan Bolger 

1750 15th Avenue 

Santa Cruz 95062 

ps I am also in favor of bike-lanes, alt transportation, etc but hwy 1 has needed 

this for 20 years. 

-- 

This mail is sent via contact form on SCCRTC http://sccrtc.org 

****** 

Thank you for your comments. They will be made available to the Commission for 

their review. 

Please visit the SCCRTC website at www.sccrtc.org for information on the 

Commission and its activities. 

Thank you again 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Cathy Judd, Administrative Assistant II 


Santa Cruz 831.460.3200 | Watsonville 831.768.8012 



From: Michelle Fodge [mailto:mfodge@scottsvalley.org] 

Sent: Tuesday, January 17, 2012 9:12 AM 

To: Regional Transportation Commission 

Subject: ?Continue Aux Info? - RE: Hwy 1 Soquel/Morrissey Auxiliary Lane project Begins - Meeting Jan 19 

Hi RTC Staff, 

Will project construction require closing down the Morrissey Avenue northbound Hwy 1 on-ramp and southbound Hwy 

1 off-ramp? 

By looking at the project FAQ sheet, it looked liked these ramps will remain open during construction. 

Best Regards, 

Michelle Fodge, AICP 

Senior Planner 

City of Scotts Valley 

One Civic Center Drive 

Scotts Valley, CA 95066 

phone: (831) 440-5632 

fax: (831) 438-2793 

website: www.scottsvalley.org 

****** 

Hello Michelle Fodge – 

Your email regarding impacts to Morrissey Avenue from the Highway 1 Soquel/Morrissey Auxiliary Lanes Project was 

received. 

Regarding your specific question, there are no plans to close the Morrissey Avenue on or off ramps as part of this 

project. During the 6-8 months when the La Fonda Bridge will be removed and reconstructed, vehicle traffic will be 

detoured to Morrissey Boulevard. 

I’ve added your email to the enews distribution list for this project. If you don’t find the enews to be helpful, you may 

remove your name at any point. 


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 






From: Paul/Sue Stephens [mailto:pbstephens@gmail.com] 

Sent: Wednesday, January 18, 2012 11:33 AM 


Subject: Freeway construction and DeLaveaga neighborhood 

To: The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission 

I am unable to attend the meeting to be held at DeLaveage Elementary tomorrow, Thursday, January 19, 

however, it is important to convey to you my concerns regarding the project construction. 

I live at 1154 Prospect Hts, a street that will be greatly impacted by the highway construction. 

At our end of Prospect Hts the streets we have available are Brookwood, a one-way street going out of our 

area, and we have La Fonda street and bridge which is a very major way for our neighborhood to get in and 

out. Prospect Hts. is already greatly impacted on a normal work day because many cars use this as an alternate 

route to the slow freeway traffic. It is easy to imagine the increase in traffic that will happen with this 

construction in our neighborhood. It will be a huge problem with La Fonda bridge gone for 6-8 months. 

Drivers even in our neighborhood as well as northbound freeway traffic will try to come up Brookwood the 

wrong way. We saw this with the last construction especially when traffic on the freeway is backed up. 

What is the solution for our neighborhood? Some brain storming on your part needs to take place to help our 

neighborhood survive this construction. One thing for sure is when we begin to complain about traffic 

problems we get the help we need particularly when drivers are coming up La Fonda the wrong way. 

Sincerely, 

Suzanne Stephens 

****** 

Hello Suzanne Stephens – 

Your email detailing concern about Brookwood Way was received. 

The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) is aware of the issue and is working with the City and 

County of Santa Cruz on potential options. Bicyclists have also contacted the RTC with similar concerns and requesting 

the option to have a counter flow lane. As you know, the creek floods periodically complicating the situation. Solutions 

determined by the public works agencies for the responsible jurisdictions in conjunction with the RTC will be 

communicated to residents well before the La Fonda Bride is removed (currently scheduled for June 2012). 

I’ve added your name to the enews list, so you’ll receive regular communication about project construction activities. 

Thank you for your email! 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 






From: Catherine O'Kelly [mailto:catherinesv@cruzio.com] 



Subject: What a waste of money! 

What a shame that the freeway project has been approved. What a colossal waste of 

money!!! 

You watch, the backup on Highway 1 heading towards Cabrillo College at 6:00PM will 

not lesson one degree. And for the next 13 months or so, we have to deal with 

construction yet again! 

Your meeting tonight is at a school that no one even knows is there, on the north side of 

the freeway. 

I have just one question: how many trees will be cut down for this project? 

Catherine at catherinesv@cruzio.com 

****** 

Catherine O’Kelly – 

Your comments on the Highway 1 Soquel/Morrissey Auxiliary Lanes project were received and will be 

forwarded to your decision makers, the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) 

for their consideration. 

In response to your question about the trees: Approximately 200 trees will be removed, many of which 

are non-native and invasive species, and more than 600 will be planted, the majority of which are 

California native species, making the replacement ratio more than 3 to 1. 


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 






From: Schar [mailto:scharshere@yahoo.com] 

Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2012 12:12 PM 

To: Regional Transportation Commission 

Subject: Continue Aux info Please..read my comments.. 

AND continue any info on the rail/trail project. 

I contacted the Surface Transportation board in DC months ago to learn never would they allow a hike/bike trail 

alongside those tracks from Watsonville to Davenport! The tracks are dedicated to commercial use! Only if/when 

every commercial user chooses to transport their goods along Hwy. 1 instead on the rail tracks, thereby making 

that highway traffic a nightmare, adding to more fossil fuel issues, and making their cost of shipping much greater 

for the commercial businesses, will there be an opportunity to buy that land strip providing the land owners on each 

side of the tracks don't gain right of way first, as is the practice nationwide. 

Why does the RTC and the Posner Posse continue to allow Santa Cruzans to believe there ever could be such a trail 

across narrow, dangerous, unkempt trestles and alongside roadbeds not wide enough for even pedestrian hikers to 

use. If people use those narrow dirt areas now for hiking or biking they are trespassers; pure and simple, and can 

be arrested. 

With Sierra Nevada having left the plan..can we taxpayers now HOPE you will listen to the facts from DC, and hear 

the citizens howl about not wanting to use tax money on a train to nowhere? 

****** 

Thank you for your comments. They will be made available to the Commission for their review. 

Please visit the SCCRTC website at www.sccrtc.org for information on the Commission and its activities. 

The RTC is purchasing the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line for preservation and to serve a multitude of 

transportation purposes as we move into the future. Along with a commitment to freight and passenger rail 

service, the RTC is also committed to exploring the facility’s suitability for a multi-use bicycle/pedestrian trail. A 

Master Plan for the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail Network is being developed right now and the rail 

right of way is likely to form the spine of that network. Many issues related to constructing a bicycle and 

pedestrian trail adjacent to the operational rail line are being evaluated, right of way width, geographic and 

environmental constraints being just a few. A draft master plan will be released sometime this summer at 

which time we hope you will review the RTC’s finding and provide input. 

Thank you again. 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Cory Caletti, Senior Transportation Planner 

Regional Transportation Commission 

831.460.3201 



From: aletalew@netzero.net [mailto:aletalew@netzero.net] 



Subject: Delaveaga Meeting 

Karena, 

Just wanted to say thanks to you all for the great informative meeting. I 

appreciate you all taking time to help us all understand how the project will 

proceed. I will look forward to future e-mails about current construction 

updates. 

Sincerely, 

Aleta Lewis 

(I asked about the shuttle for students to Harbor at the end of the meeting. I 

made sure to write on the sign in sheet that I was one of the parents who need 

info about the shuttle.) 

****** 

Aleta Lewis - 

I really appreciate your kind comments about the project information meeting. 

I've got you on the shuttle list and I've also added you to the enews list for 

general construction updates. We'll be working out the details of the shuttle in 

the next few months and will keep you posted. 

Thank you! 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 






From: DeoxyJANHH@aol.com [mailto:DeoxyJANHH@aol.com] 

Sent: Saturday, January 21, 2012 1:26 PM 

To: DeoxyJANHH@aol.com; Regional Transportation Commission; Matt Leal; Karena Pushnik; imendez@sccrtc.org; Kim Shultz; 

mathews@cruzio.com; Tsapling@comcast.net; sibley@electricsheepcompany.com 

Subject: Re: Santa Cruz Musician RhanWilson& LaFond overpass/Hwy 1 widening info 

Hello All: 

Santa Cruz Musician Rhan Wilson was one of the drummers whom had received his music education at 

Harbor High School when there was a Concert and Marching and Pep band during all these football and 

basketball games. Rhan, Ron at the time in high school,also marched on the 1948 La Fonda overpass as I 

did plus thirty something other band members, including flag girls, banner carriers etc. If not of those type 

of free high school marching band and music training's, I won't have the opportunities to march with the 

adult Watsonville Adult Marching and Concert Band , today's Watsonville Community Band,for fifteen plus 

years including the once a life time experience of performing at the White House in 1996 and marched in 

the mile long National Independence Parade in Washington D.C. Performing and traveling with the 

Watsonville Band through out Europe. I also had the opportunities to represent the "U.S.A. music culture" 

by traveling across and performed in Europe joining other small ensembles lead by university music 

professors and even attended music clinics onboard the S.S. Norway, a ship three inches longer than the 

Titanic which also known as S.S. France that transport WW II troops. 

If not of that type of training by marching across the 1948 La Fonda overpass, special evening marching 

practices in the Oakway and Prospect Heights neighborhood on LaFonda Ave, I won't have the know how 

and the courage to go back to march with special "All County Town Band" put together by then Santa Cruz 

High School Big Red Band Conductor/Director, Mr. "Mac" McElroy and marched and performed in the 

Santa Cruz 1776-1976 Bicentennial Town Band where one of the square that my mother contributed for 

the Bicentennial Quilt which was taken down from display several years ago from the wall of the Central 

Branch Public Library to make way for the fundraising used books store, was dedicated by politicians at the 

time of that 1776-1976 Bicentennial Parade. 

I am just expressing my sentimental values and memories over the La Fonda Overpass without the metal 

fencing at first to stop students from tossing chewing gums, waving to drivers passing underneath on the 

freeway etc. The La Fonda Overpass with two engravings of "1948" on both ends of the overpass. U.S. 

had fallen behind the World in Science and Technology today in 2012. I see a value of keeping a piece of 

heavy duty 1948 technology, the 1948 technology in building a cement overpass which with hold the 6.9 

Loma Prieta Earthquake and did not collapse. The preservation of 1948 material science of the cement 

used to build the overpass back in 1948. And the men power etc. used back in 1948 to build NOT ONLY 

the La Fonda Overpass but also the then Branceforte overpass,the then Soquel Ave. Overpass and soon 

and probably some years down the road, the Capitola Ave. overpass up the hill from Soquel Village, which 

was also built on the same year-1948. 

Thank you for the attentions. I hope that you will at least glance through this email and take some 

considerations in volunteering to keep a piece or two pieces of cement technology used right after WWII, in 

the year of 1948. And the added on fence later, after there was a Harbor High School in 1968 or 9 on the 

former swamp-dump ground with Arana Gultch on the perimeter along the side, the far end of the tennis 

courts, the swimming pool, the former outdoor basketball courts, the running track of the football field and 

the baseball field before it goes underneath the intersection of La Fonda and Soquel Ave. into that giant 

cement conduit and goes underneath Soquel Ave. towards the Soquel Ave. entrance to the parking lot of 

Jeffery's.....where flooding occurred in the past. 

Sincerely, 

Juliana Cheng 

deoxyjanhh@aol.com 

(831)471-9391 or (831)427-0377

P.S. My band teacher-Mr. "Bob" Simmons is still around town. I do not know how he arranged the around 

neighborhood across the 1948 La Fonda Overpass marching practices. No CHP or Policemen were 

needed to block off the neighborhood marching rehearsals and across the 1948 La Fonda Overpass. 

In a message dated 1/20/2012 5:55:26 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, DeoxyJANHH@aol.com writes: 

Hello All: 

Thank you for informing the Prospect Heights and Morrisey Off Ram neighborhoods on the Hwy 1 widening 

project to make Santa Cruz looks more like that of a noisy big city's of San Jose in order to ease the one 

hour or so of rush hour Hwy 1 traffic congestions at the "fish hook area". 

I am Juliana Cheng, the one whom one of you told me to walk out to Morrisey Blvd. to take the bus... First 

of all, I have to walk all the way down Morrisey Blvd., cross the overpass to the Post Office area on Soquel 

Ave if not 24 hours fitness area on Water Street to catch the metro bus. It took me at least thirty minutes 

nowadays to walk that distance, with two to three days of recovery time after that "journey" or outing. I live 

on Woodcrest Place since 1972 near Fairland Way which can turn into a "stream" with little water falls 

here and there during down pours rainy seasons wet winter years. I live across Fairland way from English 

Drive on Woodcrest,same street on English drive in the old section of the "same street" with different name 

of Woodcrest which turned into Molly Way then Prospect Heights. The new sections or developments 

built in the 1980's -English Drive,was once a meadow where neighborhood kids played catch ball along 

with "landfilled" sections on today's Oakwood Court.(new extension of Oakway). My younger siblings had 

walked to DeLaveaga Elementary School and B-40 Junior High before our parents bought a car to use 

after they passed the driver license tests. We were immigrants, newly arrived from British HongKong at the 

time.My parents were refugees from China. Fled first from the Japanese invasion then the Communist 

Chinese occupations. They fled just because my parents were "educated", happened to know a little bit of 

the English language and other "incorrect" "ancestral" reasons such as went to Catholic school in the 

1930's China for an example. 

Back in the 1980's, 1970's,there were NOT that many Harbor High school students who drove a car to 

school. There was a metro bus stop at that corner of the street on Harbor High School "old entrance" near 

where the chain is today. Where the termite infested Harbor High School sign "carved" out from redwood 

by one of the 1970's students. It was once located on the other side of that house which is in the way of 

Harbor High school all these years since Harbor High was found in 1969,but at least they had chopped 

down that tall redwood or pine tree for safety reasons. There are several Harbor High School year books, 

from 1969 to 1970's at the Central Branch Santa Cruz Public Library Reference Desk which you can go 

take a look of the BARE hillsides with only few vegetation growing on the sandy/clay whitish yellow hill side 

raising up from the lower campus of Harbor High up to the Highway One level before there was a tennis 

court and swimming pool but a "tend to be soggy and muddy" lawn area for archery during PE class. The 

Archery PE class later moved to the today's second softball/baseball field area using the eucolyptus trees 

area as backings for 'missed targets' archery lessons. Harbor was well known as a wide opened free 

campus without fence. On other six weeks P.E. sessions, we , the Misses, used the field to play "powder 

puff"/flagged football for fund raising purposes. At times, "mud" foodball on today's football or baseball field 

area of Harbor High's lower campus. 

I live in the same resident during the 1982 nonstop rain storms for two or more weeks. The 1976 snow 

storm. The 1989 6.9 earthquake.The two fugitives locked down the past several years. I also walk on 

Brookwood Drive frequently nowadays during day time to walk to the other bus stops near Dominican 

Hospital. It was a two ways narrow country road back then in the 1970's when we moved into the 

neighborhood. It was NOT as safe to walk through that road because there were these serial killers back 

then and nowadays, there can be dirty looking street persons passing through once awhile. Thanks GOD 

for protections. Brookwood Drive flooded many times over the years when there are downpours and Arana 

Gultch outlet, possibly the other end of the 10 feet tunnel found on Harbor High School lower campus 

behind the tennis court, was blocked by trees and other debris. There used to be a metal bars type of gate 

there. We as Harbor High School Biology class students back in the 1970's, had to take water sample from 

the creek which run through the lower campus perimeter below Soquel Ave and 7th Ave. to test for 

bacteria level of the creek weekly if not daily.

Our backyard on Woodcrest is 3 feet lower than the neighbor's on Fairland Way. In 2008, there were still 

visits by hungry deer when our backyard fence was downed. Last year or two years ago after a winter rain, 

I found a baby newt if not salamander which could cried out loud! During some down pours, a stream with 

tiny water falls could be found running down the east side of our place running down the flower bed 

,soaked soils area out onto the driveway , flowed slanted down to the gutter on curb side down to the 

lowest area on the middle of the "turn around area" near 146 Woodcrest place,where once, it turned into a 

pond in on of the rainstorms during 1990's. The Gobels's who lived on the ocean side of Woodcrest. Mrs 

Gobel had showed me the "creek" that ran behind her art studio. I think it is that big oak tree on the middle 

of Oak Way where there is an outlet for neighborhood's rain water. I am concern that filling up the craves 

between the houses on Oakway will eventually block the flow of rain water during heavy down pours 

going down hill from the neighborhood collected and rushing down just below DeLaveaga Park. Filling up 

the craves between the houses on Oakway to build the sound wall and retaining wall might block the 

channel for water to go to wherever the drainage system run off is located downhill there on Oakway and 

might cause backup of water and flooding might occur in the neighborhood up hill, such as on our street- 

Woodcrest. Flooding might be caused indirectly by the yet to be built,retaining and sound walls on the 

widening of Hwy 1 project by filling up the rain water run offs/outlets with dirt from the widening project. 

I lived in the neighborhood since 1973. As former student at Harbor High School, under the instructions of 

Biology teachers such as Mr. Bynton and Mr. Murray, we had to take water samples to test for bacteria 

level in the creek/Arana gultch which comes through that 118 inches "tunnel". I have concern that the new 

sound wall and retaining wall will block off the 10 feet tunnel water way for the creek below Hwy One 

crossing into the Harbor High Campus. I am still concern that the walls will cause more flooding problem on 

Brookwood Drive which was the line of rescue and transport by the National Guards up at DeLaveaga Park 

at the time, after the Loma Prieta Earthquake in 1989. 

One of the speakers last night told me that the water will run off on Soquel Ave.!!!! NO NO NO! Apparently, 

he does not know that the Arana Gultch runs thirty feet below Soquel Ave. from around 7 Ave. area 

downhill on Soquel Ave. to La Fonda and Soquel Ave. intersection where there is a newly installed pump 

station and the road goes back up hill. Another intersection where flooding happened in the past, and hope 

that no more after the widening project is completed. When we moved into the neighborhood in 1973, there 

was only one horse and several houses on upper Brookwood Drive. The road to the shooting and archery 

range in De Laveaga Park.No neighborhood like that of today's but just a huge meadow plus a dump 

ground on where today's English Drive and Oakwood Court is. Brookwood was a two way narrow country 

road where drivers can pass each others with courtesy. Other intersections where flooding if not the 

formation of a temporary pond that I can remember are: Parkway and Morrisey Blvd.; Soquel Ave. and La 

Fonda; Middle of Woodcrest Place; Morrisey and Prospect Height; road close to pedestrians-Holly way 

between La Fonda and Morrisey. Last but not least, Brookwood which goes all the way underneath Hwy 

1, to Harbor High School's lower campus. 

Hope the engineers will take these informations into considerations if not already did. Oh, as of Dec. 30th 

2011,there is a giant bird nest, possibly from hawks' on the top of a pine tree which is to be taken down 

soon. It is on the upper campus of Harbor High school side of Hwy one across the street from that housein-the-way 

since Harbor High was built in 1969. For sentimental values because I remember the elderly 

couples waved at the then Harbor High School marching band which just marched up the hill from F4, 

make a right turn onto the 1948 La Fonda Overpass, another right turn onto Oakway, started playing a 

march..made a left turn down Fairland another left onto Woodcrest to show off to my grandma made a 

round up Molly way, Prospect and back down La Fonda, cross the 1948 La Fonda overpass, another left 

down the hill back to a couple rounds around the lower parking lot to return to the parking lot area in front 

of the band room. I am also wondering if it is possible to save the two 1948 engravings on the old La 

Fonda overcross for show and tell to future students interested in engineering. One needs to know the 

history of how things are done back then in order to improve the building materials which might be mixed 

from the then Davenport Cement Plant where my Uncle Sing worked as a chemist for over twenty years. I 

and perhaps there are others who like to wonder about the modern marvel from the past, like how come

the historic Branceforti overpass,soon to be history, La Fonda Overpass and Capitola Ave Overpass and 

the then old Soquel Ave to Soquel Drive over pass,all were built on the same year of 1948! 

Sincerely, 

Juliana Cheng 

(831)427-0377 or (831)471-9391 if one of the lines is busy. 

P.S. I took several local history classes at Cabrillo College from Mr. Sandy Lydon before he retired from 

teaching. I am back to volunteering with MAH, the Evergreen Cemetery project where I documented all the 

Chinese headstones many of which were made out of cement that made me wonder if the cement used on 

the 1948 La Fonda Overpass were from the local cement plant in Davenport. By the way, my Uncle Sing 

who worked at the cement plant for over twenty years, did not die from cancer. He lived to be his 80's. I am 

raising more concerns and voice because I am on MediCare early, also got onto SSDI benefits. I NO 

LONGER HAS THE STRENGTH TO WALK THE DISTANCE OF 30 MINUTES TO CATCH THE BUS TO 

GO TO CABRILLO COLLEGE AND COMPETE WITH 20 YEARS OLD or go grocery shopping and carry 

over ten pounds in my backpack and walk another 30 minutes home. Or walk around the current sound 

wall on Hwy 1 to the other side of the freeway across Morrisey Overpass, to Santa Cruz Community 

Church on Roxas Street on some Sundays to save gasoline expenses. Sorry to tell you that I am ten to 

fifteen years older than I look. My last full time job ended in 2004. Worked part time here and there until 

Nov. 2008 when I had to go through a medically necessary major surgery with complications....Hence 

today's weaker me.....unable to go back to waitressing / busperson type of work as before the surgery in 

Nov. of 2008. 

****** 

Dear Juliana Chang – 

Your voicemail and three emails regarding the Highway 1 Soquel/Morrissey Auxiliary Lanes project were received. Thank you 

for the interesting history about your experience and family ties to the La Fonda Bridge, and your ideas for preserving historic 

components of the bridge. I will explore options with both the Museum of Art and History and the building contractor. Your 

drainage and bird nest comments are also noted. 

We’ve added your email to the distribution list so you’ll receive timely enews construction information. 

Thank you again for your interest. 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 






Route 


Post 

Miles PPNO Project Description Project Name 

17 7.0/7.3 8100 

17 6.0/12.6 7007 

17 6.1/6.6 4001 

1 R0.0/R10.2 0075 

9 14.4 2320 

17 11 2323 

PROGRAMMED/FUNDED SHOPP PROJECTS/Jan 2012 Semi-Annual List 

Near Scotts Valley from 0.1 mile south of West Vinehill 

Road to 0.1 mile south of Vinehill road. Correct super 

elevation, improve drainage facilities, and replace Open 

Grade Asphalt Concrete. 

Near Scotts Valley at various locations from Santa's 

Village Road to the Santa Clara County line. Construct 

Current 

Project 

Phase 

Ready To 

List 

(Target) 

Vinehill Wet Weather 

Improvements CON 12/2/2008(A)* 

new guardrail and retaining walls and upgrade guard rail 

, crash cushions, end treatments. (Combines 05-0L700 SCR 17 Guard Rail 

& 05-0L760) 

Upgrades CON 7/28/2009(A)* 

On State Route 17 in Santa Cruz County near the City 

of Scotts Valley from 0.3 mile north of Santa's Village 

Road to 0.02 mile south of Crescent Drive. Construct 

concrete guard rail. 

Programmed in 08/09 FY 



Santa Village Road Guard 

Rail CON 3/25/2010(A)* 

Near the city of Santa Cruz, from Pajaro River Bridge to 

North Aptos Underpass. Rehabilitate pavement. 

Near Bolder Creek, north of Boulder Creek Bridge; also 

on Route 236 (PM 17.4) north of Route 9. Reconstruct 

Watsonville CAPM PS&E/RW 6/15/11(A)* 

embankments. 

Near Lexington Hills, 1.5 miles south of from the Santa 

Clara county line. Stabilize roadway and repair drainage 

SCR Various Slides CON N/A 

system. SCR Rte 17 Slide CON N/A 

NOTE: For general informaton about the SHOPP program 

contact Cindy Simeroth at (805) 549-3050 or by email at cindy_simeroth@dot.ca.gov 

*List is provided in January and July of each year. 1 

Project Manager Phone 

# Email 

Cost ($1,000) 

CON/RW 

Steve Digrazia 805-549-3437 

steve_digrazia@dot.ca.gov $1,788 Award/$11 


steve_digrazia@dot.ca.gov $6,160 Award/$17 

Luis Duazo 805-542-4678 

luis_duazo @dot.ca.gov $1,568 Award/$113 

Luis Duazo 805-542-4678 

luis_duazo @dot.ca.gov $16,944 Vote/$15 

Lance Gorman (805) 549-3315 

lance_gorman@dot.ca.gov 

Lance Gorman (805) 549-3315 

lance_gorman@dot.ca.gov 

$500 ER Deleg 

Award/$15 

$350 Deleg Award/ 

$20 

Jan_12_SCCRTC_ SHOPP_ REV_012012 

Updated: Jan, 2012

Route 


Post 


9 8.0/8.8 1937 

1 17.4/26.0 1963 

1 17.5/18.2 2246 

129 3.5 N/A 

1 26.8/36.3 1964 

1 R0.0/R17.0 2278 

9 1.7/23.9 1988 

VAR VAR 2235 

1 9.0/17.6 2271 

17 11.04 2332 


Current 

Project 

Phase 

Ready To 

List 

(Target) 

Near Ben Lomond, at and near Holiday Lane. Guardrail 

upgrade and stabilize shoulder. Holiday Lane Viaduct PS&E/RW 12/21/11(A)* 

Near the city of Santa Cruz from the San Lorenzo River 

Bridge to Laguna Road. Install guardrail and crash 

cushions. 

In Santa Cruz County from north of Rte 9 to north of 

High Street Pedestrian Overcorssing. Install concrete 

median barrier. 

In Santa Cruz Co at PM 3.54, near Watsonville, 1.5 km 

east of Coward Creek Bridge. Culvert replacement 

Santa Cruz 1 Guardrail 

Upgrade PS&E/RW 3/26/2012 

Santa Cruz Highway 1 

Median Barrier, 9 to Mission PS&E/RW 8/31/11(A)* 

Coward Creek Bridge 

Culvert Replacement PS&E/RW 12/15/2011 

Near the city of Santa Cruz from Laguna Road to 

Waddell Creek Bridge. Upgrade guardrail and drainage Laguna Road Guardrail 

facilities. 

Upgrade PS&E/RW 7/9/2012 

Near the city of Santa Cruz, from the MON county line 

to Rte 17; also in MON County from Carmel River 

Bridge to the Santa Cruz county line. Upgrade guardrail 

and crash cushions. (Note: CON funded with OTS 

fund of $2.5m - not shown) SCR 1 Guardrail Upgrades CON 4/282011 

Near Boulder Creek, from 0.3 mile south of Rincon 

Creek Bridge to the San Mateo County line at various 

locations. Storm water mitigation. 

SCr 9 San Lorenzo River 

Source Control PS&E/RW 4/1/2013 

In Santa Cruz and Monterey counties at various 

locations on routes 1, 9, 17, 68, 129, 152, 218, and 236. 

Upgrade pedestrian curb ramps and minor sidewalks. Santa Cruz/Monterey ADA PS&E/RW 3/16/2013 

Near Aptos, from South Aptos Underpass to Roaring 

Camp RR crossing. Upgrade guardrail, guardrail end 

treatments, and drainage features. 



Santa Cruz 1, ENV, RR, 

Guardrails PS&E/RW 1/2/2013 

Near Scotts Valley, between Woodwardia Highway and 

Glenwood Drive. Construct retaining wall. Summit Slide Repair PA&ED 2/22/2012 





# Email 

Cost ($1,000) 

CON/RW 


steve_digrazia@dot.ca.gov $2,193/$4 

Luis Duazo 805-542-4678 

luis_duazo @dot.ca.gov $2,769/$14 

Luis Duazo 805-542-4678 

luis_duazo @dot.ca.gov $1,313 Vote/$3 

Luis Duazo 805-542-4678 

luis_duazo @dot.ca.gov $828/$1 



Luis Duazo 805-542-4678 

luis_duazo @dot.ca.gov $1 Award/$15 



Luis Duazo 805-542-4678 


Luis Duazo 805-542-4678 





Updated: Jan, 2012

Route 


Post 


1 8.0/17.5 9000 

129 9.5/10.0 2285 

1 31.6/36.3 9900 


Near Santa Cruz, from 0.4 mile south of Freedom Blvd 

to 0.4 mile north of Ocean Street. Install CCTV and 

signs. 

In Santa Cruz County, west of Chittenden Road. 

Improve roadway alignment. 

In Santa Cruz County at Scott Creek Bridge #36-0031 

and Waddell Creek Bridge #36-0065. Bridge 

replacement. LONG LEAD (Note: Prj will be fully 

programmed in the 2012 SHOPP) 


Current 

Project 

Phase 

Ready To 

List 

(Target) 

SCR Traffic Surveillance 

Station-CC TV PS&E/RW 4/15/2013 

Hwy 129 Curve 

Realignment PA&ED 6/1/2014 

MISCELLANEOUS 

Scott Creek and Waddell 

Creek Bridge Replacement PA&ED 10/1/2015 

(A)* = Actual date RTL was achieved. 

Minor A Projects 

Note: Construction Award or Vote costs are actuals;otherwise Construction costs are estimates. 





# Email 

Cost ($1,000) 

CON/RW 

Luis Duazo 805-542-4678 


Luis Duazo 805-542-4678 





Updated: Jan, 2012


FROM: George Dondero, Executive Director 


RE: Welcome new commissioners and committee appointments 


Staff recommends that the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) 

communicate individual preferences regarding serving on the RTC’s Budget and 

Administration/Personnel Committee to the RTC Chair or Executive Director by 

February 17, 2011; and 

BACKGROUND 

The RTC rules and regulations indicate that the RTC will make committee 

appointments at their March meeting. The RTC has historically welcomed new 

Commissioners and has requested that Commissioners inform the Commission 

Chair of their interest in serving on a committee during the February RTC meeting. 

DISCUSSION 

Attachment 1 is the 2012 Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission 

roster. The Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District (METRO) has received nominees 

to serve on the RTC for 2012 and is scheduled to make its appointments at its 

January 27, 2012 meeting. Staff will provide an oral report regarding newly 

appointed METRO representatives and distribute a final RTC roster at the RTC 

meeting on February 2, 2012. Please inform staff of any needed corrections. 

In the past, when there were several new Commissioners, committee members and 

alternates, staff held an RTC orientation for new Commissioners and committee 

members. If individual Commissioners or alternates wish to meet with staff, please 

contact staff directly to schedule a meeting. 

Preferences for Committee Appointments 

As established in the RTC’s Rules and Regulations, Commissioner appointments to 

Committees are made annually at the March RTC meeting by the Chair with 

concurrence of the RTC. There is one standing RTC committee which involves 

Commissioner appointments, the Budget and Administration/Personnel (B&A/P) 

Committee.

Welcome new Commissioners and Committee appointments February 2, 2012 Page 2 

The Budget & Administration/Personnel Committee serves to review and monitor 

issues relating to the budget, work program, and other administrative and 

personnel functions of the RTC and makes recommendations to the Commission 

regarding such items. The committee also functions as the Personnel Committee to 

review personnel matters. The 2011 members of the Budget and 

Administration/Personnel Committee are: 

Member Alternate 

Eduardo Montesino Daniel Dodge 

Neal Coonerty Andy Schiffrin 

John Leopold Steve Lustgarden 

Ellen Pirie Robin Musitelli 

Greg Caput Martin Garcia 

Mark Stone Donna Ziel 

Staff recommends that Commissioners wishing to be appointed or 

reappointed to this committee inform the RTC Chair or Executive Director 

by February 17, 2012. 

The next meeting of the B&A/P committee is scheduled for February 9, 2012at the 

RTC offices. Reappointments and/or new appointments of interested Commissioners 

will be made at the March 1, 2012 RTC meeting and confirmed by the RTC. These 

appointments will remain in effect for one year until the Chair makes new 

appointments in March 2013. 

SUMMARY 

The RTC has one standing Commissioner committee, the Budget and 

Administration/Personnel Committee (B&A/P). Staff recommends that individual 

Commissioners inform the Chair or Executive Director of their interest in continuing 

to serve on or being newly appointed to the Budget and Administration/Personnel 

Committee by February 17, 2012. The RTC Chair will reappoint existing or appoint 

new members at the March RTC meeting and the RTC will consider confirming those 

appointments. 

Attachments: 

1. 2012 Preliminary Commission Roster 

S:\RTC\TC2012\0212\New Commissioners\New Commiss and Committee appts.docx

2012 

ROSTER 

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION 

AND SERVICE AUTHORITY FOR FREEWAY EMERGENCIES 

Member Representing Alternate 

Rich Krumholz Caltrans District 5 ExOfficio Aileen Loe 

Kirby Nicol City of Capitola Dennis Norton 

Don Lane City of Santa Cruz David Terrazas 

Randy Johnson City of Scotts Valley Donna Lind 

Eduardo Montesino City of Watsonville Daniel Dodge 

Ellen Pirie County of Santa Cruz Robin Musitelli 

Greg Caput County of Santa Cruz Martin Garcia 

John Leopold County of Santa Cruz Steve Lustgarden 

Mark Stone County of Santa Cruz Donna Ziel 

Neal Coonerty County of Santa Cruz Andy Schiffrin 

Dene Bustichi SC Metro-Pending Ron Graves - Alternate #1 (pending) 

Norm Hagen SC Metro-Pending Daniel Dodge- Alternate - #2(pending) 

Lynn Robinson SC Metro-Pending Michelle Hinkle - Alternate - #3 (pending) 

Kirby Nicol, Chair 

Neal Coonerty, Vice Chair

TO: Regional Transportation Commission 

FROM: Kim Shultz, Senior Transportation Planner 


RE: Highway 1 Soquel/Morrissey Auxiliary Lanes Project Update 


This item is for information only. 

BACKGROUND 

On January 5, 2012, the RTC authorized a construction contract with RGW 

Construction for work to begin on the Highway 1 Soquel/Morrissey Auxiliary Lanes 

project. The RTC is managing this project, in partnership with Caltrans, to ensure: 

Direct involvement in critical decisions regarding the project 

Proactive construction management 

Community accountability and community relations. 

In keeping with these goals and in anticitpation of work beginning, the project team 

planned and hosted a public kick-off meeting on January 19 th in the Community 

Room at DeLaveaga Elementary School. 

DISCUSSION 

Public Kick-off Meeting 

The public meeting was attended by more than 70 people including area residents, 

business people, and public agency representatives. As previously described, the 

meeting format included an open house and display period which allowed interested 

parties to ask questions of team members on an individual basis, as well as a brief 

presentation providing an overview of the project and a question and answer 

period. RTC staff and consultants advised the community of the upcoming work 

effort, responded to concerns and took suggestions to minimize community 

impacts. 

Display boards used at the meeting can best be seen on the project webpage found 

on RTC’s website at www.sccrtc.org/projects/streets-highways/highway-1-auxlanes/ 

and include: Project Milestone Schedule (Attachment 1); an Environmental 

Features Display highlighting significant elements of he project (Attachment 2); and

Highway 1 Soquel/Morrissey Auxiliary Lanes Project Page 2 

2 displays showing select sections of the landscape plans, including the w Plant List 

(Attachments 3 and 4). 

Questions and recommendations from the public included project phasing, detour 

plans; methods to reduce community impacts upon removal of the La Fonda 

Avenue Overcrossing, proposed shuttle service, access to area schools, vegetation 

removal, impacts to wildlife, landscape improvement plans, noise from 

construction, current and future traffic, and soundwall construction. Staff 

encouraged interested parties to register to receive Enews bulletins or to check the 

RTC’s website at www.sccrtc.org as the single most effective way to stay informed 

about the project in an efficient and environmentally sensitive manner. 

Vegetation Removal and Landscape Plans 

The first step in the project, expected to get underway in the last week of January, 

may well be the most dramatic for many people due to the aesthetic impact of the 

downing of trees and clearing of vegetation. This work must be done to allow 

construction to proceed including upgrading drainage systems to reduce stormwater 

pollution, re-establish erosion control and install proper irrigation for new 

landscaping. The construction management staff has surveyed the area and 

estimate nearly 200 trees will be removed. Removed trees will be replaced at a 3 to 

1 ratio, and the majority of replaced vegetation will be with native plants, as shown 

in the highlighted section of the plant list shown on Attachment 3. Replacement 

trees include over 160 Santa Cruz Coast Redwoods, 190 Coast Live Oaks, Douglas 

Fir, Catalina Ironwood, and Lemonade Berry and Padific Wax Myrtle shrubs. As 

previously mentioned the landscape work will immediately follow the roadway and 

bridge construction work as part of this project and not be subject to delay. 

Suggestions to Minimize Construction Impacts 

Staff continues to work with the City of Santa Cruz regarding the possibility of 

implementing suggestions made by the RTC Bicycle Committee. Staff will also 

investigate the possibility of implementing suggestions made at the public kick-off 

meeting such as increased shuttle service, traffic officer, etc. 

Attachments: 

1. Project Milestone Schedule Display 

2. Environmental Features Diplay 

3. Landscape Improvement Plans for La Fonda Avenue Bridge Area 

4. Landscape Improvement Plans for the Morrissey Interchange Area 

S:\RTC\TC2011\1011\Hwy1\StaffReport-120105.docx

Due to their large size, the Highway 1 

Soquel/Morrissey Auxiliary Lanes Project Maps 

are posted as a separate PDF. 

You can find them at: 

http://www.sccrtc.org/wp-content/uploads/ 

2012/01/2012-02-12-rtc-meeting-agenda-hwy-1maps.pdf


FROM: Tegan Speiser, Sr. Transportation Planner 

Ginger Dykaar, Transportation Planner 


RE: Monterey Bay Area 511 Traveler Information System Feasibility Study 

RECOMMENDATION 

Staff recommends that the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC): 

1. Accept report on the Monterey Bay Area 511 Traveler Information System 

Feasibility Study; and 

2. Approve moving to the next stage of the Monterey Bay Area 511 System 

planning process – production of an implementation plan. 

BACKGROUND 

The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) and the 

Transportation Agency for Monterey County (TAMC) received a Caltrans Partnership 

Planning grant to prepare a Feasibility Study and Implementation Plan for a Monterey 

Bay Area 511 Traveler Information System (The 511 Plan). The consulting firm, ICx 

Transportation Group, was contracted to assist with the preparation of the report. At 

today’s meeting, RTC Commissioners will receive a presentation on the findings of Part 

I of this project, the 511 Feasibility Study, which was prepared over the past year. 

A wide range of traveler information can be provided over a 511 system, including 

real-time traffic conditions on highways and roads; transit schedules and real-time 

transit arrival information; carpool matching services; bike/pedestrian resources; and 

transportation impacts from weather, special events and emergency situations. 511 

can be accessed by phone, internet, and mobile devices. 

Traveler information systems can benefit the transportation system and its users by 

optimizing the use of the existing transportation infrastructure enabling people to 

make more informed choices for how and when they travel, increasing customer 

satisfaction with the transportation system by providing easy access to a wide variety 

of traveler information in a single location, fostering sustainability and reducing 

greenhouse gases, and enhancing the economy by helping to move residents, visitors 

and goods more efficiently. 

As of today, 511 is available in 35 states. In California, regional 511 systems exist in 

the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, Northern California, Los Angeles, the Inland 

Empire, San Luis Obispo, and San Diego, with San Joaquin County soon to join the

Monterey Bay Area 511 Traveler Information System Page 2 

Sacramento system. A Monterey Bay Area 511 system could close the gap in traveler 

information services on the Central Coast. 

DISCUSSION 

Public Input 

Part I of The 511 Plan, the Feasibility Study, investigated the need for a traveler 

information system for the Monterey Bay Area by conducting approximately 60 

stakeholder interviews and collecting around 200 public opinion surveys. Interviews 

were conducted with representatives of numerous stakeholder groups including 

elected officials, business organizations, agriculture, employers, law enforcement, 

tourism, and community groups. The majority of people who participated in interviews 

or who took the survey expressed an interest in a 511 traveler information system. 

From the outreach, the information most desired was real-time traffic conditions, but 

there also was interest in many other kinds of traveler information including collisions, 

construction, transit schedules, real-time transit and emergency information as well as 

multi-modal resources for biking and walking. Despite the recent proliferation of 

private websites and apps, the need for centralized, reliable multi-modal information 

that can be updated quickly in response to emergencies was identified. Both the 

stakeholders and the public expressed interest in receiving the information via a 

website, phone and mobile devices. 

Evaluation of Models 

As part of the Feasibility Study, the project team identified a number of models that 

can be used to deliver traveler information to the public. The various models are: 

contracting for full deployment of a 511 system (phone and web), including acquiring 

new data where needed; building a 511 system in-house; sharing resources with 

another 511 system; creating a web-based traveler information hub bringing together 

existing information currently available in many different locations; building an 

advertiser and/or sponsor-supported system with no public costs; and doing nothing. 

To help determine which model can best meet the needs of a 511 system for the 

Monterey Bay Area, each model was set against evaluation criteria measuring the cost 

to deploy and operate a system, the ranges of functionality available, and the 

expandability and scalability of a system. In addition, factors such as the level of risks 

involved and how well user needs would be met were used in the evaluation process. 

Key Findings and Next Steps 

This study found that there is a need for a 511 traveler information system and that it 

is feasible to implement such a service for the Monterey Bay Area. The analysis 

further determined that a deployment that takes advantage of existing resources and 

makes traveler information available in a centralized location would add significant 

value at a relatively low cost. 

Specifically, a partnership between the RTC and TAMC and either the Bay Area’s 

Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) or the Sacramento Area Council of 

Governments (SACOG) was found to be the most suitable, cost-effective way to 

deliver 511 services to the region. By using their existing 511 system’s infrastructure,


a partnership with either MTC or SACOG would provide the Monterey Bay Area with a 

511 phone system, a website with a traffic map and multimodal transportation 

information, along with personalized route reports, and text and email notifications for 

subscribers. The phone system would include CHP incident data, Caltrans construction 

locations, and emergency information (and in the case of MTC, travel times). The 

traffic map web page would include color-coded traffic speeds and congestion data, 

transit routes and stops, CHP incidents, Caltrans construction locations, closed caption 

TV videos, changeable message sign messages, and emergency information. The 

website would also include multimodal information such as a transit trip planner, 

rideshare information, and bicycling and pedestrian resources. A table summarizing 

the features and costs for partnering with either SACOG or MTC is provided as 

Attachment 1. The full deployment and web hub models are provided for comparison 

purposes. 

Start up costs for deploying a 511 service in the Monterey Bay Area range from 

$493,000 by partnering with SACOG to $825,825 with an MTC partnership. Annual 

operating costs range from $184,000 to $420,800 respectively. These costs would be 

split between TAMC and the RTC, although the exact cost sharing formula has yet to 

be determined. Part 2 of this project, developing a 511 Implementation Plan, will 

further refine the selected features as well as develop a phasing plan for 

implementation which could potentially affect the amount and timing of funds needed. 

Building and implementing a 511 system can qualify under a variety of transportation 

funding sources, but resources available for on-going operations costs are more 

limited. Staff will return to a future RTC meeting with information about potential 

funding options. 

Another key finding is to proceed with Part 2 of this planning effort, the 

Implementation Plan, which will lay out the next steps required to pursue a 

partnership among RTC, TAMC and SACOG or MTC for launching a 511 system for the 

Monterey Bay Region. This will entail: refining costs and obligations for each 

participating entity; defining specific services to be rendered; pursuing funding 

sources; developing agreements with partners and telecommunication carriers; 

refining the schedule for phased implementation; and developing marketing and 

outreach strategies. The Implementation Plan is expected to take approximately 6 

months to complete. Agreements, budget and workplan requirements for the 511 

project will be brought to the Commission for approval. Therefore, staff 

recommends that the RTC approve moving to the next stage of the Monterey 

Bay Area 511 System planning process – production of an implementation 

plan. 

The complete Monterey Bay Area 511 Feasibility Study can be found online at 

http://sccrtc.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/draft-511-feasibility-study.pdf. The 

Executive Summary is included as Attachment 2. 

SUMMARY 

The Feasibility Analysis for a 511 Traveler Information System for the Monterey Bay 

Area has shown that it is feasible to implement a 511 system in our region by 

partnering with either the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) or the 

Bay Area’s Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) using these systems’ 

existing 511 infrastructure. This partnership would provide the Monterey Bay Area


with a 511 phone system, a website with a traffic map and multimodal transportation 

information, along with personalized route reports, text and email notifications for 

subscribers. The next phase of this planning effort, the implementation plan, will lay 

out the next steps required to pursue a partnership among RTC, TAMC and SACOG or 

MTC for deployment of a 511 system for the Monterey Bay region and further analyze 

costs and phasing. Staff recommends proceeding to the production of the 

implementation plan. 

Attachment 

1. Features and Costs of 511 Models 

2. Executive Summary of the Monterey Bay Area 511 Feasibility Study 

S:\RTC\TC2012\0212\511-feasibity-study\511-staff-report-feb-2012.docx

Features and Costs of 511 Models Attachment 1 

Full Deployment SACOG Partnership MTC Partnership Web Hub 

Deployment Cost $ 1,538,600 $ 493,000 $ 825,825 $ 214,110 

Annual Operations Cost $ 583,600 $ 184,000 $ 420,800 $ 129,555 

Telephone Features 

All phone features in this 

partnership combine MBA 

highways with SF Bay Area 

highways No telephone 

Voice Activated X X X ‐‐‐ 

Real‐time traffic speed for 

Available once Caltrans 

detection equipment 

highways 

Point‐to‐Point real‐time driving 

X 

operational in PeMs X ‐‐‐ 

times for highways ‐‐‐ ‐‐‐ X ‐‐‐ 

Highway Incidents X X X ‐‐‐ 

Highway Construction X X X ‐‐‐ 

Transfer to Transit Agencies X X X ‐‐‐ 

Transfer to Rideshare Agencies X X X ‐‐‐ 

Emergency Information 

Ability for MBA to Manually Enter 

X X X ‐‐‐ 

Incident Data 

Ability for MBA to Manually Enter 

‐‐‐ X ‐‐‐ ‐‐‐ 

Emergency Information ‐‐‐ X ‐‐‐ ‐‐‐ 

Web Features 

Map Page with 

Model 

• Real‐time color coded traffic 

Google Traffic layer (and PeMs 

layer once Caltrans detection 

Google traffic or other 

speed for highways X 

equipment operational) X 

traffic map provider 

• Highway Incidents X X X X 

• Highway Construction X X X X 

• Live traffic camera videos on 

Videos embedded on 

traffic map 

• Changeable message sign 

X X X 

website but not on map 

information 

• Transit routes and stop 

X X X ‐‐‐ 

information on traffic map 

• Emergency information banner 

X X ‐‐‐ ‐‐‐ 

above traffic map 

Point‐to‐Point real‐time driving 

X X X X 

times on highways ‐‐‐ ‐‐‐ X ‐‐‐ 

Embedded Transit Trip Planner X X X X 

Transit schedule information 

Multimodal information for 

X X X X 

rideshare, bike, walk 

Ability for MBA to manually enter 

X X X X 

incident data for map ‐‐‐ X ‐‐‐ ‐‐‐ 

Ability to manually enter 

emergency information for map 

Mobile Devices 

Website optimized for viewing on 

‐‐‐ X X ‐‐‐ 

mobile device X X X X 

One mobile application 

Personalized Notifications 

X X X X 

Text and email notifications for 

Available once Caltrans 

detection equipment 

traffic speed on routes of interest 

Text and email notifications for 

incident and construction data on 

X 

operational in PeMs X ‐‐‐ 

routes of interest X X X ‐‐‐

Executive Summary 

This 511 Plan evaluates the feasibility of developing a traveler information system for Santa 

Cruz and Monterey Counties (referred to in this document as “the Monterey Bay Area.”) A 

nationally recognized brand for traveler information, 511 can be accessed by phone, internet, 

and mobile devices. A wide range of traveler information can be provided over a 511 system, 

including real-time traffic conditions on highways and roads; transit schedules and real-time 

transit arrival information; carpool matching services, and bike/pedestrian resources; and 

transportation impacts from weather, special events and emergency situations. 

As of April 2011, 511 is available in 35 states. 

In California, 511 systems exist in the San 

Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, Northern 

California, Los Angeles, the Inland Empire, San 

Luis Obispo and San Diego, with San Joaquin 

County soon to join the Sacramento system. A 

Monterey Bay Area 511 system could close the 

gap in traveler information systems on the 

Central Coast. 

Traveler information systems can benefit the 

transportation system and its users, by reducing 

stress and improving satisfaction with the travel 

experience, reducing congestion and therefore 

travel time, increasing mobility and 

accessibility, and enhancing the economy. 

The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation 

Commission and the Transportation Agency for 

Monterey County developed this 511 Plan with 

input from key stakeholders that represent a 

broad range of transportation system users, 

participants of an online survey, and members 

of the public. The feedback received helped to 

assess the need for a traveler information 

system for the Monterey Bay area, as well as 

identify the most desirable features of such a 

system for this region and a set of project goals. 

Based on the input generated, a list of project 

objectives was identified: 

PROJECT GOALS 

Determine the feasibility of 

implementing a 511 system in the 

Monterey Bay Area that: 

1. Enables a high level of customer 

satisfaction with the transportation 

system. 

2. Optimizes the use of existing 

transportation infrastructure. 

3. Fosters sustainability and improves 

the environment by reducing vehicle 

miles traveled. 

4. Enhances the economy by moving 

more people and goods more 

efficiently. 

5. Fosters the safe use of the 

transportation system. 

6. Applies and leverages advances in 

technology. 

7. Builds public-private partnerships and 

improves interagency coordination. 

8. Explores a wide range of funding 

scenarios for supporting 511 service 

in region. 

Consider a 511 traveler information system that provides real-time traffic conditions and 

multi-modal information. 

Consider providing, to the greatest extent feasible, a traveler information system that 

can gather all relevant information into one source (“one-stop shop”). 

Ensure that any 511 system deployed takes advantage of existing resources to the 

greatest extent feasible (“low-hanging fruit”). 

RTC/TAMC page viii Summary of Results 

ICx Transportation Group January 2012

Provide significant benefits to the traveling public while deploying a system that is safe 

to operate. 

Consider planning and building a system to first focus on the needs of the greatest 

number of people and target markets (“biggest bang for the buck”). 

The project team identified a number of models that could be used to deliver traveler 

information to the public. The various models are contracting for full deployment of a 511 

system (phone and web); building a 511 system in-house; sharing resources with another 511 

system; creating a web-based traveler information hub with existing information that is 

currently available in many different locations; building an advertiser- and sponsor-supported 

system so that there are no public costs; and doing nothing. 

To help the RTC and TAMC determine which model best meets the goals and objectives of this 

511 Plan, each model was set against evaluation criteria measuring the cost to deploy and 

operate a system, the ranges of functionality available, and the expandability and scalability of 

a system. In addition to these criteria, factors such as the level of risks involved and how well 

user needs would be met were used in the selection process. 

This analysis found that it is feasible to implement a 511 system for the region. Due to the 

challenge of securing sufficient funding to develop a customized system from scratch, a 

deployment that takes advantage of existing resources and makes traveler information available 

in a centralized location would add value at a relatively low cost. The key finding is for the RTC 

and TAMC to partner together with either the Sacramento Area Council of Governments 

(SACOG) or the San Francisco Bay Area Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) using 

the selected agency’s existing 511 system infrastructure. 

In either case, a partnership would provide the Monterey Bay Area with a 511 phone system, 

and a website with a traffic map and multimodal transportation information, along with the 

option for personalized route notifications of highway conditions for subscribers. The phone 

system would include information about traffic speeds, highway incidents and emergency 

situations. The traffic map web-page would include traffic speed on highways and some local 

roads, incidents, videos of current traffic conditions, messages currently displayed on 

changeable message signs, and emergency information. The website would also provide access 

to multimodal information such as a transit trip planner, rideshare information, and bicycling 

and pedestrian resources. 

The TAMC Board of Directors and RTC Commissioners will receive presentations on the findings 

of the Feasibility Analysis at their January and February 2012 meetings. The key finding is to 

proceed with Part II of this joint planning project -- to develop an Implementation Plan for 

delivering 511 services in the Monterey Bay Area by partnering with either SACOG or MTC. The 

elements in Part II include: finalizing the decision regarding which agency to partner with and 

building this new partnership; refining costs and obligations for each participating entity; 

defining specific services to be rendered; pursuing funding sources; developing a strategy for 

working with telecommunication carriers; refining the schedule for phased implementation; 

developing marketing and outreach strategies; and creating a set of evaluation criteria to 

measure performance. The Implementation Plan is expected to take approximately six to nine 

months to complete. As quickly as a year after completing the Feasibility Analysis and 

Implementation Plan, Monterey Bay Area travelers could enjoy an indispensable 511 traveler 

information resource. 

RTC/TAMC page ix Summary of Results 

ICx Transportation Group January 2012


FROM: Tegan Speiser, Sr. Transportation Planner 

RE: New Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) Websites 

RECOMMENDATIONS – This item is for information only. 

BACKGROUND 


Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) staff worked with a local firm, Monarch Media, 

to develop two new websites for the RTC; one site for the RTC’s planning, funding, project 

and policy roles and another to help the public successfully navigate and use the 

transportation system. A preview of the beta sites was provided to the Commission at its 

June 2011 TPW meeting, with the public launch a month later in July 2011. At today’s 

meeting, a brief tour of the new websites sccrtc.org and commutesolutions.org will be 

provided by the RTC web team: Yesenia Parra, Nathan Luedtke and Tegan Speiser. 

DISCUSSION 

Work for the Commission’s new websites began with research on which topics and pages 

were most frequently visited on existing RTC websites, an online user survey, and focus 

groups. Analysis of this market research resulted in the design features, navigation and 

organization of information on the new sites. 

Both of the new sites use WordPress, an open source publishing platform. This platform 

allows for easy updating and administration and permits a large number of RTC staff 

members to keep the website content up to date within their respective areas of 

responsibility. 

Features of the new websites include: built-in search capability throughout the site; 

integration between the RTC and Commute Solutions websites; a modern, attractive 

design; an online bicycle and pedestrian hazard report; a blog of RTC news and events; 

and flexibility to add new pages and features to the website as needed. Information on 

use of the new websites is provided in Attachment 1. 

SUMMARY 

A tour of the RTC’s new websites sccrtc.org and commutesolutions.org will be provided at 

today’s RTC meeting by the web team. 

Attachment 1: RTC Website Usage 

\\rtcserv2\shared\rtc\tc2012\0212\2012-02-02-website-staff-report.docx

RTC Website Usage 

Attachment 1 

The RTC uses Google Analytics to track how many people access the new sites, what 

pages they visit, and how they use the site. Each time someone uses a computer or 

other device to access www.sccrtc.org or www.commutesolutions.org, that access 

counts as one “visit,” no matter how many individual pages they view or how long they 

stay on the site. 

Average Daily Visits Average Daily Visits 

Old Sites New Sites 

________(Nov 10-Jan 11) (Nov 11-Jan 12) 

sccrtc.org 580 2,447 

commutesolutions.org 331 414 

Since the redesigned sites went live in July 2011, there have been 15,838 visits to 

sccrtc.org and 3,853 visits to commutesolutions.org. 

MOST POPULAR PAGES on SCCRTC.ORG 

(According to Google Analytics “pageviews” between 7/1/11 to 1/22/12) 

1. /homepage 

2. /meetings/commission/agendas/ 

3. /about/opportunities/employment/ 

4. /services/bike/ 

5. /projects/multi-modal/monterey-bay-sanctuary-scenic-trail/ 

6. /about/opportunities/rfp/ 

7. /projects/streets-highways/highway-1-aux-lanes/ 

8. /services/hazard-reports/ 

9. /about/staff-directory/ 

10. /draft-santa-cruz-branch-line-structural-assessment/ 

MOST POPULAR PAGES on COMMUTESOLUTIONS.ORG 

(According to Google Analytics “pageviews” between 7/1/11 to 1/22/12) 

1. /homepage 

2. /calc.htm 

3. /commute/cost-calculator/ 

4. /get-around/bicycle/ 

5. /get-around/drive/traffic/ 

6. /commute/carpooling/match/ 

7. /commute/vanpool/ 

8. /commute/carpooling/cash-for-carpools/ 

9. /commute/cost-calculator/ 

10./get-around/bus/


FROM: Karena Pushnik, Senior Transportation Planner 

Amy Naranjo, Transportation Planning Technician 

RE: Social Media Use Follow Up 



Staff recommends that the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) receive follow 

up information about the use of social media channels by RTC staff and the public. 

BACKGROUND 

In August 2011, the RTC approved a Social Media Use Policy and Procedures for 

Commissioners, staff and users to follow when engaging in social media channels such 

as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Google Plus. “Social media” refers to media 

designed to disseminate content (text, images, audio, and video) through social 

interaction, created using highly accessible and scalable web-publishing techniques. 

In October 2011, the RTC launched a Facebook page which currently uses various 

communication methods to provide information to the public and solicit input on RTC 

projects, programs, policies, services and activities. Use of social media channels 

helps the RTC’s goals of increasing agency transparency and modernizing its outreach 

mechanisms including the agency website. 

DISCUSSION 

In October 2011, the RTC launched a Facebook page. The primary goal for the RTC’s 

Facebook page is to drive traffic to the RTC and/or Commute Solutions websites where 

detailed information about programs and projects resides. Thus far, the RTC has 

posted information about the following topics (with the most current topics first): 

Highway 1 Soquel/Morrissey Auxiliary Lane Project Informational Meeting 

Administrative Assistant Job Announcement 

Federal Rail Agency Decision 

Arana Gulch Decision by the California Coastal Commission 

2012 RTIP Adoption 

Pedestrian/Bicycle Design Workshop 

Sustainability and the RTP Workshop 

Complete Streets Workshop 

Sanctuary Scenic Trail Workshop Series 

Guide for Specialized Transportation 

Rideshare Month and Challenge 

Bicycle and Pedestrian Hazard Report goes Interactive 

Pedestrian Safety Guest Editorial in Sentinel 

Auxiliary Lane Funding released by state

RTC Social Media Use Page 2 

New RTC website 

Watsonville Office Ribbon Cutting 

Pedestrian Safety Work Group Outreach Campaign 

Transportation Café 

Terms of Use for Facebook 

Bicycle Map 

In addition, three other agencies/groups have cross-posted on our page: 

Tuolumne County Transit – True Cost of Driving calculator 

Street Smarts – Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail Network 

Caltrans – Live Cameras in Santa Cruz County 

Currently, there are 71 “friends” following the RTC’s Facebook page. While this 

represents a decent following, the number has been stagnant for a number of weeks. 

Actual numbers of viewers on the RTC’s Facebook page may be greater because 

recent changes to business Facebook site allow people to visit the site, without 

becoming a friend. Staff is looking at similar transportation agency Facebook uses to 

get ideas for boosting use. Ideas include: posting more varied forms of information 

(e.g. articles and video) and cross posting from other entity’s relevant Facebook 

posts. 

Comments on the RTC’s Facebook page have been mainly to “like” or give a thumbs 

up to various posts. Staff continues to monitor the page and respond in a timely 

fashion to posts. Staff time for this social media medium has been minimal and 

generally less than the estimated 2 hours per week of a Transportation Planner 

Technician’s time and 1 hour per week of the Public Outreach Coordinator’s time. This 

will fluctuate based on the level of discussion the site generates. 

Attached are analytic pages from both Facebook and the RTC websites showing use 

patterns (Attachments 1 and 2, respectively). The website analytics indicate that the 

following occurred since the RTC launched its Facebook page: 144 visits to the RTC 

site occurred based on a referral from Facebook, those visitors looked at an average 

of two web pages on the site, and that 44% of them were new visitors to the RTC site. 

Although these numbers are modest, they validate the goal for the Facebook site to 

drive traffic to the website. 

SUMMARY 

The Regional Transportation Commission’s Facebook page received an initial surge of 

interest, has leveled off, but is meeting the goal of encouraging visitors to the RTC 

website. Staff is exploring new avenues to continue to expand the circle of reach of 

this medium. Overall, it appears to be an easy and inexpensive way to expand the 

effectiveness of the RTC and Commute Solutions websites where the public can find a 

depth of information about local transportation projects and programs. 

Attachments: 

1. RTC Facebook Page Analytics 

2. RTC Website Analytics 

\\rtcserv2\Shared\RTC\TC2011\1011\Social Media\SocMedPolicy0111‐Staff Rpt.docx

1/17/12 – 1/24/12 

Total Likes: The number of unique people who like our page 

1/13/12 – 1/20/12 

Friends of Fans: The number of unique people who were friends with people who liked our page (as of 1/20/12) 

People Talking About This: The number of unique users who have created a “story” about our page in a seven-day period (as of 1/14/12-1/20/12). A story is 

created when someone likes our page; posts to our page wall; likes, comments, or shares a post; mentions our page in a post; or tags our page in a photo 

Weekly Total Reach: The number of unique people who have seen any content associated with our page in a seven-day period (as of 1/14/12-1/20/12) 

Posts: The size of the bubbles represent the number of posts our page published each day (from 12/23/11 – 1/19/12)

RTC Agenda - SCCRTC

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