By Jon Chown
The Scotts Valley City Council on June 3 approved an updated five-year transportation improvement plan that outlines how the city expects to spend Measure D sales tax revenues through fiscal year 2030-31.
The plan, adopted through Resolution No. 1923.9, is required under Measure D, the countywide transportation sales tax approved by Santa Cruz County voters in November 2016. The measure provides funding for road maintenance and transportation improvements, including pavement, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, for a 30-year period.
Under the measure’s accountability requirements, agencies receiving funds must annually update and adopt a five-year program of projects following a public hearing. The plans are revised each year to reflect actual expenditures, updated revenue forecasts, project schedules and cost estimates.
According to city documents, Scotts Valley expects to receive approximately $2 million in Measure D neighborhood project revenues between fiscal years 2026-27 and 2030-31. Annual revenues are projected to increase from about $373,000 in 2026-27 to about $419,000 in 2030-31.
The largest project in the plan is a long-term improvement program for Scotts Valley Drive. The project, estimated at $300,000 in Measure D funding, includes work on digouts, manholes, surface sealing and Americans with Disabilities Act improvements. The city plans to spend $275,000 on the project during fiscal year 2026-27. Additional funding is expected from Regional Transportation Commission grants, Senate Bill 1 road funds and local gas tax revenues.
A second corridor project on Mount Hermon Road is slated to receive $225,000 in Measure D funding. Planned improvements include pavement digouts, crack sealing, slurry seals and intersection rework. The city expects to spend $200,000 on the project during fiscal year 2026-27, supplemented by Regional Transportation Commission grants, SB 1 funds and gas tax revenues.
The five-year plan also continues Scotts Valley’s annual street maintenance program, which is expected to receive approximately $833,333 in Measure D funding. The ongoing program includes pavement preservation work such as surface sealing, overlays and repairs. The city anticipates spending $333,333 on the program during fiscal year 2029-30.
Two additional projects are scheduled for later years of the plan. A Janis Way improvement project, including pavement rehabilitation, stormwater mitigation work and utility relocation, is expected to receive $750,000 in Measure D funding, with expenditures planned in fiscal years 2027-28 and 2028-29.
The city also plans improvements on Lockewood Lane between Lockewood Lane and the city limits. The project includes pavement digouts, surface sealing and striping and is expected to receive $100,000 in Measure D funding, with construction anticipated during fiscal year 2027-28.
Vice Mayor Steve Clarke said he agreed with priorities, as presented, but said the city really needed to get more serious about improving the north end of Scotts Valley Drive at Granite Creek. “I would like us start to look towards the future of what the confluence of intersections might look like, especially with some housing projects coming on board and the anticipated traffic that these will bring to that area,” he said. “There’s some very specific safety concerns I have.”
The updated five-year project list is incorporated into Scotts Valley’s Capital Improvement Program and was made available for public review on the city’s website before council consideration. The council reviewed the plan during a public hearing before approving the updated project list.
Measure D revenues are administered by the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission and are generated through a half-cent countywide sales tax approved by voters in 2016. The tax began generating revenue in April 2017 and will remain in effect for 30 years.