Transportation News: Safer Roads and Infrastructure Improvements

Dear District 5 Resident,

In a mountain community like ours, the roads we travel are more than just routes, they are lifelines. Whether commuting to work or dropping kids off at school, safe and reliable transportation is essential to our daily lives—and in times of emergency, we rely on our roads to provide critical access when it matters most.

That’s why I am pleased to share updates on key efforts underway to improve our roadways and protect everyone who uses them. Thanks to new federal funding secured by Congressman Jimmy Panetta, Boulder Creek will receive critical infrastructure upgrades to enhance safety and accessibility for drivers, pedestrians, families, and local businesses.

Beyond infrastructure, safety remains a key focus. Read more below about Caltrans’ effort to lower speed limits in SLV, county-led education and outreach for young children and youth, and simple steps we can all take—like properly securing loads—to prevent dangerous roadway debris.

Thank you for doing your part to keep our roads safe!

In community,

[officialname]

Santa Cruz County Supervisor, District 5

Congressman Jimmy Panetta Secures Federal Funds for Road Infrastructure Improvements in Boulder Creek

Photo: Supervisor Martinez joins Congressman Panetta and local leaders to announce funding for road infrastructure improvements.

Last week, I joined Congressman Jimmy Panetta and local leaders to announce $850,000 in federal funding for the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) to fund the Boulder Creek Complete Streets Improvement Project, which will improve critical road infrastructure along Highway 9 and Highway 236.

As you know, Highway 9 is the backbone of our community—we use it to commute to work every day; it’s a main evacuation route; and it’s used by tourists who come to visit our beautiful towns and open spaces. Yet, it has also seen a tragic series of pedestrian and bicycle collisions. Boulder Creek’s main intersection sees nearly 17,000 trips every day and more than double the collision and injury rates of comparable California corridors.

These funds will provide important infrastructure improvements like expanded sidewalks, bike lanes, lighting and signage, and other critical safety measures. Not only will these improvements make our community safer; they will also enhance our daily lives and help support local businesses.

I am so grateful to Congressman Panetta for securing this funding. Construction for Boulder Creek Complete Streets Improvement Project is expected to begin in 2028. To learn more, check out this RTC factsheet.

Highway 9 Updates: Speed Limit Reductions and Road Work

Speed Limits Reduced on Segments of Highway 9
You may have noticed that speed limits along segments of Highway 9 have been reduced as part of an effort to improve safety for motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists. This change follows an engineering and traffic survey conducted by Caltrans, which evaluated nearly 12 miles of Highway 9. The survey focused on speeding limits, collision history, roadway conditions, issues involving pedestrians and bicyclists, and others.

Here are the speed reductions in SLV to keep an eye out for:

Felton: South of San Lorenzo Ave to just south of Hillside Avenue reduced from 35 mph to 30 mph
Ben Lomond: Downtown area reduced from 30 mph to 25 mph
Brookdale: North of Brookdale for approximately one mile reduced from 35 mph to 30 mph

Be Prepared for Road Work on Highway 9 April 6-10
This week, travelers will encounter daytime one-way reversing traffic control on Highway 9 at multiple locations Monday through Friday. Please be aware and allow for extra travel time. See Caltrans' announcement for more information.

North of Boulder Creek:
- For the Kings Creek Bridge Replacement (Post Mile 15.41 to 15.55) and Highway 9 San Lorenzo River Bridge Replacement (Post Mile 13.58 to 13.69), a temporary signal will be installed Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. for 24/7 traffic control at these locations.
Between Brookdale and Junction 236:
- For Upper Drainage and Erosion Control Improvements between Cascade Avenue and Irwin Way near Brookdale (Post Mile 11.66), a temporary signal will be installed Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for 24/7 traffic control at this location.
North of Graham Hill Road:
- For Felton Pedestrian Safety Improvements north of Graham Hill Road (Post Mile 6.5) overnight traffic control will be installed from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for utility relocation work.

Summer 2026: Resurfacing Smaller Neighborhood Roads in SLV

Photo courtesy of Santa Cruz County Community, Development and Infrastructure.

Every year, the Department of Public Works prioritizes roads for repaving using a portion of funds generated by Measure D, a one-half cent sales tax that provides a steady, direct source of local funding for a range of road and transportation projects. Much of the County’s road maintenance relies on state and federal grant funding, but it is harder to obtain grant funding for smaller neighborhood and local access roads. When voters passed Measure D in 2016, a portion of the County’s revenue was designated for maintenance of these less-travelled roads so they don’t always get left behind. Measure D funds can also be used as matching funds to bring grant money in for larger projects, stretching our tax dollars further.

This summer in District 5, the Department of Public Works will resurface Irwin Way in Boulder Creek and Larkspur Street, Riverside Road, and Fern Street in Brookdale. In 2027, portions of Bear Creek Road (from Highway 9 to Post Mile 7) in Boulder Creek will also be resurfaced. In addition to being the regular commute for hundreds of SLV residents, Bear Creek Road is also an important evacuation route in emergencies.

Check out the Measure D Five Year Plan for FY 2025-2026 for more information (see page eight for District Five).

Measure D funding is still very limited (it would take 100 years to resurface all County roads using only this revenue) so roads are prioritized by need, but bit by bit the County is doing what it can. In the meantime, you can report a pothole or problem that needs to be immediately addressed here.

Traffic Safety Education and Outreach in District 5 Schools

Photo: Seniors at Scotts Valley High School receive presentation on risks of driving under the influence.

Teaching young people about traffic safety rules and the danger of impaired driving is also essential to protecting our community and making our roads safer for everyone. This year, thanks to funding from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) (awarded to the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency, Public Health Division), schools in our district will receive important traffic safety education.

So far, junior and senior classes at Scotts Valley High School received presentations on the risks associated with driving under the influence. Future plans include working with retailers in District Five to limit youth access to alcohol through the Responsible Merchant Award Program.

Similarly, outreach in elementary schools is underway by Ecology Action (with funding from OTS and the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission) to help children learn the skills they need to navigate our roads safely. Programs like Walk Safe (2nd grade) and Bike Safe (5th grade) have been conducted across four elementary schools to date, with another scheduled once construction is complete.

Tie Down Your Loads! Help Keep Our Roads Safe

Graphic courtesy of Santa Cruz County Community, Development and Infrastructure.

Do you have a load of furniture, debris, or trash that you need to bring to the landfill? Did you know that unsecured loads not only pose a serious threat to the safety of drivers; they also can lead to fines and cause littering in the environment.

If you need a refresher on how to properly secure items from shifting, falling, or blowing out of the vehicle, check out this County resource: Cover Your Load – It’s the Law. Next time grab a large tarp and secure items directly to your vehicle with ropes, bungee cords, netting or straps. Help keep our roads safe and free of litter!

Office Hours

A few appointments are still available for my next In-District Office Hours on April 30 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Highlands Park Senior & Community Center in Ben Lomond.

If you would like to reserve a 15-minute timeslot in advance, click here. Drop-in visitors are still welcome and will be seen in order of arrival as time allows between or after reservations.

If you have a problem that requires more than 15 minutes or you cannot come during the time listed above, contact my staff at fifth.district@santacruzcountyca.gov or call 831-454-2200.

Transportation News: Safer Roads and Infrastructure Improvements

District 5 Team

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