By Jon Chown
FELTON — A new sidewalk along Highway 9 from downtown Felton to San Lorenzo Valley High School is expected to be completed in August 2027, but residents are raising concerns about bicycle routes and traffic and noise issues during construction.
Caltrans officials presented a review of State Route 9 safety improvements and answered questions during an Oct. 22 town hall meeting at San Lorenzo Valley High School’s Performing Arts Center. The meeting was hosted by Santa Cruz County Supervisor Monica Martinez, whose district includes Felton.
Construction on the Felton Pedestrian Safety Improvement Project began in July. The work includes a sidewalk along the southbound side of Highway 9 between the Graham Hill Road intersection and the San Lorenzo Valley school campus. The work is being performed by Graniterock, with Caltrans overseeing it.
Caltrans project manager Matt Welker said the sidewalk will be 4 to 6 feet wide, depending on available space. Most sections will be 6 feet wide, but hillsides, walls and property lines will force some areas to be narrower. The project also includes a paved shoulder at least 4 feet wide for bicycles, three retaining walls, wheelchair-accessible ramps and a new bus stop near the high school.
The project follows years of planning and discussions involving Caltrans, the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission, the county and the San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District. Welker said three concerns repeatedly came up during those discussions: providing safer routes for students, improving places to walk and ride bicycles, and preserving the community’s rural character.
San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District Superintendent Chris Schirmeier said the district has worked with Caltrans for six or seven years on transportation improvements in the valley. He said safer pedestrian access to the schools has been one of the most common requests from parents and residents. The campus includes an elementary school, middle school and high school, making pedestrian safety especially important.
Supervisor Martinez, who lives in Felton and has two children attending San Lorenzo Valley Middle School, said improving student safety is a major reason she supports the project.
“We’ve had some really tragic incidents in this section of Highway nine,” Martinez said.
But a number of residents at the town hall questioned whether the planned bicycle improvements would really be safe, especially for children traveling to school.
Joni Martin, who regularly bicycles to the school campus from a neighborhood near Fall Creek Drive, asked why the project does not provide a two-way bicycle path.
She said families in her neighborhood often travel along Fall Creek Drive to avoid spending more time on Highway 9, but still have to travel a short distance along the highway to reach the schools.
The planned southbound bicycle shoulder would help riders leaving the campus, but would not provide the same route for those traveling north toward school.
Welker said there is not enough room to provide a two-way bicycle path that meets state design standards, and while some sections have room for wider shoulders, the narrow highway limits what Caltrans can build.
“One of the biggest challenges we’ve had … is how constrained that is,” Welker said.
Another resident, Ben Rodenberg, questioned whether the 4-foot bicycle shoulder would provide enough safe riding space and asked whether the 4-foot space includes the concrete gutter next to the sidewalk. If it did, he would not feel comfortable riding there with his children because gutters collect debris.
Caltrans official Paul Valadao acknowledged that it does, in some areas. Valadao said the narrow roadway presents difficult choices.
“The solution we’re putting forward is as much benefit as we can put forward in a corridor that is constrained,” Valadao said.
Jen Buell, another parent who walks or bicycles with her children to school, asked whether bicyclists could use the new sidewalk when heading north toward the school campus.
A California Highway Patrol officer identified as Jacob said officers could use their judgment when dealing with bicyclists on sidewalks, particularly when safety is a concern. However, he could not promise that riders would not be stopped.
Construction Creates Traffic Problems
Residents also raised concerns about traffic backups, blocked views and the placement of construction equipment. Large construction trucks parked near the intersection with Highway 9 have created dangerous conditions. The trucks block drivers’ views and leave a narrow opening for vehicles entering and leaving Fall Creek Drive, one resident said.
Caltrans senior transportation engineer Ian Uhen said he would discuss the problem with the contractor and look for ways to improve visibility and access.
Another resident, Peter Shakra, questioned whether traffic signals at the Graham Hill Road intersection could be adjusted to reduce delays caused by construction. He said the loss of a traffic lane near Rocky’s Cafe has made the intersection less efficient, particularly for drivers leaving the valley. He suggested providing longer green lights for outbound traffic during the morning and early afternoon, then adjusting the signals for drivers returning home later in the day.
Valadao said traffic engineers would look at the concern and determine whether additional changes could help.
Supervisor Martinez said her office has received dozens, possibly hundreds, of calls and emails about the project. She said her staff has been passing those concerns to Caltrans, resulting in some changes to construction barriers and traffic signals.
Caltrans officials warned residents to expect continued noise, vibration, traffic control and occasional lane or shoulder closures as work continues.
Welker said the construction schedule was planned around the school year and the mountain’s winter weather. However, storms or other unexpected problems could delay the August 2027 completion date.
More Highway 9 Projects Planned
Sarah Christensen, executive director of the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission, said the current sidewalk project is part of a larger effort to improve transportation throughout San Lorenzo Valley. She said the half-cent Measure D sales tax, approved by voters in 2016, includes $10 million set aside specifically for improvements in San Lorenzo Valley. Those funds can also help the county seek additional grants for projects.
Christensen said the RTC is working with Caltrans on another Felton Complete Streets project that will connect with the sidewalk now under construction. That project will include improvements near the school campus and downtown Felton, but is still a couple of years away.
The RTC is also working on a Boulder Creek Complete Streets project. Christensen said Boulder Creek was given priority because of safety concerns and poor pavement conditions. The agency has received federal funding secured through Rep. Jimmy Panetta’s office for engineering and environmental work. Funding for construction is still being sought.
Other Highway 9 work includes drainage improvements, bridge replacements near Boulder Creek, future paving projects and a fish passage project at Waterman Gap.mCaltrans officials encouraged residents to use the state’s QuickMap service for current road conditions and its lane closure reporting system for planned closures.
Welker acknowledged that construction has been difficult for residents but said the finished project should provide a safer connection between downtown Felton and the schools.
“When it’s finished, we hope that you and your family can enjoy a safe, convenient, and comfortable walk to school,” he said.