State of the Roads: Transportation Updates and Upcoming Town Hall

Dear District 5 Resident,

We all know the importance of reliable transportation in our rural, forest communities: While we may have more room to spread out, living up in the mountains means that access to everyday essentials like groceries, doctors, and medicine requires travelling miles of roads.

Maintaining our roads and repairing damaged infrastructure is critical for our day-to-day survival, and there is a lot being done on both County roads and state Highway 9. To learn more about current road projects and priorities in District Five, and how to report common road-related problems like potholes and flooding, I encourage you to join County staff and Caltrans at my upcoming State of the Roads Town Hall at 6 p.m. on November 13.

I also invite you to join me in taking part in the County’s first “Week Without Driving.” Not only does driving have negative health effects (contributing to carbon emissions and sedentary lifestyles) but many people – thousands of County residents – can’t drive. It’s important to keep these members of our community - students, seniors, those who can’t afford a reliable car – in mind and continue to work towards better public transportation and safer routes for active transportation, like walking or biking. Even if most of us can’t ditch our cars for a whole week, I encourage you to try changing your commute to walk, bike, carpool, or take the bus, and consider how you might go about your days without driving if you had to.

For my part, I kicked off a “Week Without Driving” by riding the METRO. While I won’t be riding the bus all week, it was also a good reminder that I could use this service more often.

For more information on my upcoming town hall, a Week Without Driving, and other road-related items, keep reading.

In community,

[officialname]

Santa Cruz County Supervisor, District 5

Save the Date: State of the Roads Town Hall November 13

On November 13, I will be hosting a State of the Roads Town Hall. The event will feature a panel of representatives from the Santa Cruz County Department of Public Works, Office of Response, Recovery & Resilience, and Caltrans, who will give an overview of current road improvement projects, future priorities, and tools for reporting problems. Stay tuned for more details!

When: Thursday, November 13 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Where: Ben Lomond, Highlands Park Senior & Community Center

Ready for a Challenge that Benefits You and the Planet? Try a Week (or Maybe a Day) Without Driving

This week, the County of Santa Cruz is inviting residents to participate in its first-ever Week Without Driving – a weeklong challenge to explore alternative ways of getting around. This campaign is part of a national effort organized by America Walks and Disability Rights Washington to encourage people to experience life without driving a personal car, raise awareness about transportation equity, and encourage healthier active transportation and environmentally sustainable transportation options.

As part of this campaign, I joined other local leaders for a ride on the METRO from Scotts Valley Metro Station to Emeline Avenue in Santa Cruz. METRO route 34 is part of new routes and improvements for San Lorenzo Valley.

Supervisor Martinez joins local leaders on METRO for Week Without Driving Campaign.

I realize that, for those of us living in the mountains, going a week without driving (or even a day) could be pretty disruptive. Just getting to the nearest bus stop can be a trek, and narrow bike lanes and the absence of sidewalks can make it feel unsafe to use alternative modes of transportation. But some people don’t have a choice, and it’s important to keep these people in mind when we are making decisions about road improvements and public transportation.

If nothing else, this week I encourage you to actively reflect on what it would be like to go about your life without a car and how that experience could be improved. But, better yet, give it a try – even for just for one day, or just one part of your day – ride your bike, carpool to soccer practice, or take the bus!

To facilitate this effort, on October 1, the Santa Cruz METRO will be offering free fares in support of California Clean Air Day.

METRO Announcements

METRO Launches New Routes and Improvements In District Five

I am pleased to share that Santa Cruz METRO is offering new routes, improved connections, and schedule adjustments to enhance rider experience and operational efficiency in District Five. Key service changes include:

Route 35X – Santa Cruz/Boulder Creek Express: New express service operating from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., replacing most Route 35 trips during that timeframe.
Route 34 – Scotts Valley Drive/Emeline: New route replacing Route 4 to Emeline and Route 35 on Scotts Valley Drive before 6:00 p.m. Select trips will serve Vine Hill Elementary and Scotts Valley High Schools, addressing a service request from Scotts Valley Unified School District (SVUSD).
Highway 17 Express – Direct trips between Santa Cruz and San Jose will increase from 10 to 16. Trips serving Scotts Valley will be reduced from 17 to 13; however, four trips per day in each direction will operate exclusively between Scotts Valley and San Jose, also serving Scotts Valley Drive.

Other route changes and improvements in Santa Cruz:

Route 16 – UCSC via Main Gate: School-term-only service resumes with distinct schedules for Monday/Wednesday/Friday and Tuesday/Thursday.
Route 55 - Will now serve Aptos Village via Soquel Drive, replacing service along Highway 1.

METRO Wins Award for "One Ride at a Time" Campaign

I want to congratulate METRO for receiving the 2025 AdWheel Grand Award from the American Public Transportation Association for its “One Ride at a Time Campaign,” which creates public awareness about how Santa Cruz County residents can support local environmental initiatives by simply riding the bus.

As part of the GO Santa Cruz ride-sharing incentive program a financial contribution is made to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and the Bay of Life Fund for every ride logged through the program. The iconic images of whales, sea otters, redwoods and other nature from the Monterey Bay area depicted on METRO buses serve as a reminder of the natural beauty that METRO riders help to protect with every ride.

Caltrans Road Improvements Scheduled for Highway 9

Earlier this month, Caltrans started work to improve road stability, safety, and drainage along Highway 9, between Willow Brook Drive in Ben Lomond and the northern junction with Highway 236 in Boulder Creek. This work includes slope repair, retaining wall construction, culvert replacement, and roadway paving.

Work is expected to continue into September, 2026, with varying schedules for road closures. In 2025, residents can expect:

Monday through Thursday: Single lane closures from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
Friday through Sunday: No lane closure after 6:00 a.m. on Fridays until 9:00 p.m. on Sunday (until 8:00 p.m. north of Highway 236, Big Basin Way)

Traffic impacts include 5-to-10-minute delays. Emergency vehicles will continue to be given priority access.

For questions and feedback about this work, contact the Caltrans Public Affairs Office at (805) 549-3318 or via email at info-d5@dot.ca.gov.

Federal Disaster Relief for Damages from 2023 and 2024 Winter Storms

United States Representative Jimmy Panetta has helped to secure nearly $15 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for local governments to help repair and restore infrastructure damaged during the 2023 and 2024 winter storms. The funding package includes $5.3 million for Santa Cruz County and $1.6 million for the City of Santa Cruz.

The majority of funds for Santa Cruz County will help reduce the debt taken on for critical work already done, including $1.9 million in repairs for nine culverts and adjoining roads across the County that were washed out or collapsed, and $1.1 million for emergency operations like running shelters, conducting evacuations, and urgent road and levee repairs.

However, I am pleased to share that $2.1 million will allow the County to move forward with permanent repairs for Mountain Charlie Road, which was devastated by a landslide in February 2024, isolating households, disrupting access to essential services, lengthening commutes, and impeding emergency access. Although a temporary road has helped address these issues, the new funds will pay to fully restore the county roadway, providing a safer, more secure avenue to the community of Mountain Charlie Road. Stay tuned for more details and timelines.

Despite the $5.3 million in FEMA reimbursements, the County is still carrying tens of millions of dollars of debt for unpaid FEMA claims, some dating back to 2017. The further it gets from 2017, the less likely it will be that these claims are reimbursed, so we appreciate Congressman Panetta’s commitment and consistent advocacy for timely FEMA reimbursements and expanded federal disaster programs.

Sign Up to Receive County Road Notifications

Stay informed about future road closures so you can plan accordingly. Sign up to receive Road Impact Notifications for District Five so you aren’t caught off guard! Even if you aren’t signed up, you can find past notifications linked on the Santa Cruz County Community Development and Infrastructure website.

Got a Problem? Report It!

Help the County learn about problems by reporting things like potholes, road hazards, and downed signs through the My Santa Cruz County App (Android, Apple) or online dashboard. Some problems require a little more time to address, but even with more difficult issues, it is helpful to receive these reports so we can prioritize unresolved problems affecting residents.