By Zach Friend
As we begin 2020 I wanted to provide an update on some of the more common requests for updates we receive. If you need any additional information, feel free to call me or stop by my office hours in Aptos, Corralitos, Watsonville and Seascape.
What is the status of the Aptos and La Selva Library Remodels?
As part of the voter-approved Measure S, varying funding is available to update libraries across the county.
Recently, we secured additional funding to fully address the needs at the Aptos Branch. Specifically, the Board of Supervisors approved an additional $1.45 million from the Library Fund for the Aptos Branch, which ensures that this location, used by many as a regional branch in our district, will have the funds necessary (even with the increased construction costs over the last year) to do the upgrades necessary to meet the public visioning process.
The County and the Library held a community meeting to discuss options for the library recently and work is expected to begin this year. Additionally, the Board of Supervisors approved the contract with C2 Builders to perform the La Selva Library Branch work.
Overall, $1.7 million has been allocated to this project, which is already underway. Both of these branches will be receiving the first significant upgrades in over a generation.
What is the status of the storm damage repairs on Valencia and McGregor?
Some good news on the Valencia storm damage repairs on the upper side (by Flume). This was approved for funding by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), including the secondary failure that occurred adjacent to the first failure.
The County’s design is complete and the project is with State Fish and Wildlife for permitting. Fish and Wildlife have told us they anticipate issuing permits in the spring, which would allow the County to go to bid for construction in the summer.
The state’s permitting process takes a minimum of 90 days. The lower Valencia damage, however, is waiting for approval from FHWA.
The County has completed initial plans, engineering, design and the required state and federal site visits and submitted months ago.
In my recent visits to Washington DC and Sacramento with our Public Works Director to speak to state and federal FHWA representatives we believe they will be issuing the approval soon.
Once issued, we will submit for permits through State Fish and Wildlife (like the upper damage) and then bid and construction.
The main delay from FHWA was on environmental review.
Since the project needs a retaining wall to rebuild the section that collapsed they spent about 18 months on the environmental review element of the project.
The storm damage repair on McGregor Drive is moving forward.
In December, the Board of Supervisors authorized the bidding process on this and bids were opened in early January.
Construction is expected in the spring and the proposal is to restore the roadway to its pre-disaster condition including construction of an engineered fill/vegetated rock slope protection embankment, guardrail, asphalt concrete dike, reconstructed roadway, erosion control and revegetation.
What road repairs are planned this year for Measure D and other funding?
For our district, Measure D funding (depending upon how sales taxes do in a given year) brings in approximately $900,000/year for local roads.
While SB 1 (gas tax) funding is currently being used for major storm damage repairs, at its peak in a few years it’s estimated to bring in about $4 million in new money to the entire unincorporated area. As a result, our district would see about about $1.3 million or so of that $4 million.
In the first year after Measure D was passed, La Selva saw road repairs. In 2019, Rio Del Mar received roadwork and this year Seacliff is slated for repairs. This is just for road repairs, bike lanes, pedestrian improvements and more were included throughout the district using Measure D funds.
However, in addition to Measure D we have secured funding for improvements in Corralitos as well as pedestrian improvements near Rio Del Mar Elementary and bike lane maintenance throughout the county.
Using Transportation Development Act (TDA) funds we have secured just under $100,000 for pedestrian improvements near RDM Elementary to fill a sidewalk gap and provide curb extension and crosswalk realignment (to reduce crossing distance) on Pinehurst and Greenbrier.
Additionally this year, $475,000 was set aside for bike lane maintenance from TDA funds for the county, including areas throughout our district. The last TDA funding element for our district is for $30,000 for the Street Smarts/Vision Zero campaign.
You may have seen some of these educational signs on lights throughout Santa Cruz and this will provide funding to bring these educational materials to our district.
In Corralitos, we secured about $1.1 million in Regional Surface Transportation Program Exchange funds to resurface all of Pioneer and Varni Road.
This is a significant project that is long overdue and the funding was secured by changing funding allocations at the Regional Transportation Commission to bring in a set formula to the County. We hope to do this project this year as well.
What is the status of the Mar Vista Bridge?
The long-promised Highway 1 Mar Vista Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing will provide a safe link between schools, the beach, residential neighborhoods. With the passage of Measure D the initial funding mechanism is secured.
Combined with state funding the project is 60 percent funded. Initial engineering and environmental has started and is anticipated to be finished at the end of 2020. Final design and environmental should be completed in mid-2022 with construction contracts awarded soon after and construction to begin in 2023.
What parks projects are planned for this year?
Some significant improvements are occurring at two Aptos area parks with potentially more planned in the south county. Specifically, at Seacliff Village Park and Hidden Beach Park in Rio Del Mar.
Our office, working with local philanthropists, County Parks and the non-profit Friends of Santa Cruz County Parks secured significant contributions to begin construction on Phase 2 of Seacliff Village Park. This new phase will provide a new skate feature as well as shade structures, restrooms and more to the park. The new skate feature, designed as skatable art, will provide kids in the mid and south county a new option for learning how to skate or practice their skills.
Lastly, we have worked with other local funders to help raise funds for upgrades to Hidden Beach Park. We held a well-attended community meeting in Rio Del Mar to discuss the upgrades and received great feedback on how to improve the park. The goal is to have features for multiple age groups so families with kids of different ages can use the park as well as adding greater accessibility to the park so kids of all abilities can enjoy Hidden Beach Park.
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As always, I appreciate hearing your thoughts on roads, parks, libraries or any other issues of interest. Feel free to visit me in my office hours or call me at 454-2200. http://zachfriend.com
