City Of Santa Cruz 'Slow Streets' Locations Announced

Press release from the City of Santa Cruz:

August 13, 2020

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — The City of Santa Cruz today announced the list of streets that will participate in the Slow Streets program that limits vehicular traffic and was developed as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to restrictions related to the pandemic, more residents are staying home and walking and biking in their neighborhoods. Due to crowding on sidewalks, it can be difficult to maintain the recommended 6 feet of social distance, resulting in use of roadways to ensure social distancing. Slow Streets, an extension of the City’s GO Santa Cruz program, provides additional space and increased safety by allowing designated streets to be used as a shared space for pedestrian and bicycle traffic.

Designated Slow Streets are not closed to vehicles. Added signage will be used to help minimize through vehicle traffic and prioritize walking and biking. Based on nominations submitted by City residents, 11 streets have been selected for the first phase of the project:

• Caledonia between Soquel and Broadway
• Darwin/Owen between Hanover and Hall
• Escalona between Bay and Highland
• Getchell between Delaware and West Cliff
• Grandview between Southview Terrace and Western
• Jenne between Blackburn and Chestnut
• May between Coulson and Water
• Melrose between Trevethan and Stanford
• Modesto/Wanzer between Fair and Swanton
• Oxford between Woodrow and Almar
• Trevethan between Eastgate and Roxas

“We are excited to see community members take such a great interest in the Slow Streets program,” said Transportation Planner Claire Gallogly. “Through this initiative, we are not only providing more space to allow for social distancing, but delivering a safer walking and biking environment for residents.”

While the current nomination period is closed, nominations are being accepted for potential future phases of the project. To learn more about the program, visit www.cityofsantacruz.com/slowstreets.

GO Santa Cruz is part of the City’s ongoing effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and play an active role in addressing climate change. The City is a national leader in reducing single-occupant car trips and has achieved the second highest rate of bike commuting in the U.S.

More information is available at www.cityofsantacruz.com/GoSantaCruz and www.facebook.com/GOSantaCruzCA.

This press release was produced by the City of Santa Cruz. The views expressed here are the author’s own.