I. Current State

Since the 1950's transportation planning in Santa Cruz County (SCC) and the United States as a whole has centered around the use of the personal automobile. Personal automobile use is largely subsidized by all levels of government. The federal government spends 30 billion dollars of public tax money (not including gas tax funds) on road construction alone.1 Car parking is both subsidized and required by law at the local level. Other costs of the automobile borne by the population at large include: traffic accidents (which are the leading cause of death for people under age 35), highway police and emergency services, health problems, lost property and environmental degradation. No other mode of transportation is subsidized anywhere near this degree, even on a per person basis.

Cars are not a sustainable mode of transportation in SCC. Personal automobiles are currently a major source of air pollution in the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District, as well as a significant source of land and water pollution. Approximately 60% of the air pollution in the Monterey Bay area is caused by autos. Cars take up more than 50% of our city space while traffic congestion, particularly during rush hour, has reached gridlock levels. Switching over to other modes of transportation has become a necessity, and local planners are searching for ways to accomplish this without upsetting a society and economy largely based on personal automobile use. The federal government allows a small percentage of funds to be used by local governments on alternative transportation. Local people are searching for transportation alternatives and many have stopped using cars for economic, health related, or ethical reasons.

A local bus system has been partially funded, but because it is not subsidized to the extent of personal car use, bus service remains comparatively inconvenient and expensive. Over the past several years federal funding for bus services has decreased. A plan for passenger rail service from Santa Cruz to Watsonville and possibly San Jose is currently being discussed by the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission. Perhaps the most encouraging increase in appropriate transportation has been in bicycle use, which has risen by several percentage points over the past 10 years to over 5% of all trips in Santa Cruz City (more than bus use or car pooling), despite a transportation infrastructure unsuited to bicycle or pedestrian use. Private citizens and businesses have formed groups such as People Power, Bike to Work, and Transportation Management Associations to advocate the use of more appropriate transportation and very small positive changes have begun to occur in local planning, particularly in the area of bicycle lanes and bike parking facilities.

II. Desired State

As a community we make the most efficient use of the existing transportation system, while at the same time encourage automobile trip reduction. Traffic congestion is noticeably reduced and air quality is improved. State emissions for vehicles are monitored and penalties severe enough to effectively deter violations are enforced. Public policy encourages pedestrian and transit-oriented development, with higher densities and mixed uses along mass transit routes (rail and bus) thereby reducing dependence on gasoline powered autos.

Public subsidies are shifted from funding highway construction, road maintenance, policing traffic, and publicly funded parking to developing and promoting transportation alternatives. In accordance with the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, more public transportation resources are made available to support the use of clean, alternative modes of transportation.

New development is oriented toward energy efficient public transit - conveniently designed to support pedestrians, bikes and mass transit (including ultralight rail and bike-carrying transit), rather than gasoline fueled cars. Caltrans bikeway standards are improved by greater use of contra flow bike lanes, wide curb lanes, parallel bikeways on state highways where safety standards can be met, and by other bikeway standard upgrades.

Ecotourism thrives, showcasing alternative clean modes of transportation, as well as an extensive interconnected transit network. Certain roadways are dedicated to ultralight vehicles, and there is general promotion of electric, natural gas, and human-powered vehicles. In the immediate future, innovative clean fuel and retrofitting technologies are supported and promoted for the upgrade of existing automobiles, to aid in the transition period. Eventually, existing neighborhoods could be rebuilt or modified to enhance the use of non-polluting transportation.

III. Goals for the Year 2000

A. Increase public awareness about personal and societal transportation choices, including walking, bicycling, rail and bus use, car pooling and telecommuting.

B. Enact legislation requiring car drivers to pay a higher percentage of the true costs of driving, thus lowering general taxes and fees among the community at large.

C. Fund and phase in the transition to energy efficient modes of transportation that are based on renewable resources.

D. Convert 10% of government vehicles to alternative fuel, and utilize low emission vehicles.

E. Decrease personal automobile use (miles driven) countywide by 5%, thus reducing traffic congestion and air pollution and bettering the health and welfare of all citizens.

F. Fully comply with the California Clean Air Act standards for air pollution, including particulate matter.

IV. What Has Been Done

A. Increasing vehicle occupancy transit ridership:

1. County programs encourage alternative commuting: a) Transportation Reduction Incentive Program (TRIP) for county employees, managed by General Services Department.b) Transportation Reduction Ordinance & Program (Mar, '94) encourages local employers to develop voluntary programs to reduce traffic congestion (managed by the County Planning Dept.).
2. Commuter Bus over the hill on Hwy 17 to Santa Clara County between Scotts Valley & San Jose beginning in 1989 and between Dominican Hospital, Santa Cruz & San Jose intercity train depot since '92.
3. Commute Solutions - Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (SCCRTC) provides ride-matching services, park & ride locations, & literature on commute alternatives. Staff is available for employer transp. fairs and will provide info on commute alternatives. RideShare Week is planned every October in cooperation with community members. (408) 429-POOL.
4. Park and Rides Lots are increasing in number; three new contract lots along the hwy #1 / 17 transp. corridor, capable of holding up to 140 spaces, are planned by 1999.
5. Van Pools - SCCRTC assists employers with forming vanpools & facilitates several independent vanpools in the county.
6. Santa Cruz Area Transportation Management Association, started in 1990, is a non-profit membership organization of local employers and property owners working to promote and encourage more efficient use of the transportation system. Programs for members' employees include: a) Commuter Club discounts and incentives; b) Emergency Ride Home; & c) Bike Loan program. The TMA also publishes a newsletter and offers transportation planning technical services.
7. Pajaro Valley Transportation Management Association, started in 19941 is providing the following alternative transportation support services to employers: a) Commuter Club program; b) Emergency Ride Home program; & c) Employee Transportation Coordinator network meetings.
8. Summer Wharf Shuttle service in S.C. City. (Hopefully the Beach shuttle service will start up again when the current Beach Area Plan is adopted.)

B. Supporting Bicycle Use & Alternative Transportation:

1. The Hub was formed Feb, 95 to house alternative transportation groups (Ped X, Bike to Work, People Power, Growing Cycles, & SCC Cycling Club) located at 2048 N. Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz.
2. Employee Bicycle Facilities (i.e. bike racks, bike locks, and showers at participating businesses): Several area employers provide secured bicycle parking (including bike lockers or bike cages) as well as shower and changing facilities to encourage bicycle commuters. TMA member employers who have, large bicycling populations include: Silicon Systems, SCO, Santa Cruz City, & SCCRTC's Bike Secure program.
3. Employee check out of bicycles & safety gear for short commute trips during work hours or lunch periods at county buildings.
4. Bike to Work Week is an annual event started in 1988; it is coordinated by Santa Cruz County Cycling Club to increase awareness & participation.
5. Bicycle sensitive detectors for most Santa Cruz City traffic signals: The City of Santa Cruz has a comprehensive Bike Loop program that includes loop detectors at bicycle preferred locations. The county is also enhancing their program to other areas.
6. Recreational bicycle facilities: a) There are currently -25 miles of bicycle lanes and paths in Santa Cruz City. b) A Bike Map is currently being compiled by the Santa Cruz Regional Bicycle Committee, available in the fall of 1997.
7. The SCCRTC's Bike Committee developed the County Bike Plans & will also assist Scotts Valley, Santa Cruz, Watsonville, & Capitola with their development of their plans. (Contact: Julie Munnerlyn, 460-3201, M-Th)
8. UCSC Alternative Transportation/Bike Programs: a) The UCSC Bicycle Program cosponsors bicycle maintenance classes through UCSC OPERS (Office of Physical Educ., Recreation, & Sports) and continues to offer excellent bike safety education for the campus community. b) UCSC Bike Shower Program - faculty & staff who commute by bike are offered free access to shower facilities & secure bike parking close to work locations. c) UCSC Bus Pass Program - UCSC Transportation & Parking Services offers all staff & faculty free bus passes for use on Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District busses. UCSC students pay a quarterly transportation fee & are issued bus passes that allow them unlimited access to SCMTD busses. d) UCSC Vanpool Program - for its staff, faculty & students. It began in 1990 and now operates seven 15 passenger vans from mid, south & north SCC & San Jose.
9. Cabrillo college encourages staff and students to use a bus by offering a seasonal bus pass and emergency ride home.
10. implementing primary pedestrian system of sidewalk on main arterial and collector streets, as well as to and from schools, parks, and commercial areas.
11. Use and evaluation of methane-powered vehicles.
12. Conversion of light duty trucks to flexible fuel and compressed natural gas (CNG)/gasoline use a) 10% of County vehicles now run on alternative fuel, which meets mandated requirements. b) The City of Santa Cruz is in the process of applying for air district grant funds to purchase CNG fleet vehicles and parking control scooters. CNG use should increase once fueling becomes more practical; two fueling sites have recently been constructed.
13. A local Ultra-Lite Rail Committee was set up in '95; it is still in preliminary design stages. The intent is to have the train be solar powered. A newsletter has been circulated and is available. [See Section VI]
    
14. Rail and long term investment studies: a) In 1996, three demo trains (Return of the Suntan Special, The Coastal Cruzer, & The First Night Trolley) demonstrated the possibilities of passenger rail- service in SCC. b) Intercity Recreational Rail Study (summer weekend service from San Jose via Watsonville) - received by SCCRTC in 1996 and has been accepted. c) A Major Transportation Investment Study of 8 alternatives is being conducted by SCCRTC; public meetings on the study results are expected in Fall, '97.

C. Proactive Innovation:

1. The Household EcoTeam Program helped participants to reduce automobile use as one of six action areas. The program is now handled by Ecology Action and in the process of transitioning to a locally-based program called EarthTeams.
2. Pilot work program on alternative work schedules in some county departments (e.g. County Council).
3. Businesses are beginning to explore telecommuting 1 day/week and/or encourage employees to use alternative transportation on a regular basis.
4. Santa Cruz County Supervisors passed Resolution 367-95, the first Pro-Zero Emissions Vehicle Resolution in the United States.

V. Suggested Actions for Further Progress

A. Advocacy:

1. Individuals, businesses, public and private entities could give increased support to the educational efforts of Bikes are Good Business, Bike to Work Week, People Power!, the Santa Cruz and Pajaro Valley Transportation Management Associations, the Santa Cruz Commute Solutions program, Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (SCCRTC), and the National Bicycle Greenway, among others.
2. Create a center for appropriate transportation to centralize and strengthen advocacy efforts and to provide resource materials with the support of SCCRTC, city governments, and other public and private entities.
3. Work to amend County & City General Plans to encourage "mixed use," pedestrian & transit-oriented development.

B. Ending Car Subsidies:

1. Pass legislation to strongly encourage voluntary trip reduction, perhaps including incentives.
2. Local representatives to state and federal governments could request more significant gasoline taxes at the state and federal level, to be used for the costs of the personal automobile infrastructure.
3. Pass an ordinance or county measure through an open process lead by the Energy Commission /SCCRTC for county and city governments to increase gas taxes.
4. County and city governments could eliminate or reduce ordinances that require businesses to provide car parking.
5. County and city governments could discontinue the use of public funds to provide car parking and promote Transportation Demand Management such as carpooling, cycling, free transit passes, etc.
6. Investigate the possibility of drivers 'pay per use' directly through the annual registration process or a tax on gasoline, so drivers would pay fees based on the number of miles driven each year, thereby placing the financial burden for highway and road maintenance more directly on the users.
7. A toll booth could be placed on Highway #17. Tolls collected would be used for its maintenance.

C. Creating a New Transportation Infrastructure:

1. An expanded bus network with cheaper fares could be fully funded. This could include some smaller buses and family bus pass plans. Investigate full service, increased ridership plan.
2. Transit buses could increase the bicycle capacity of their racks and/or allow bikes on buses (as is done in Santa Clara County).
3. All trains could allow bicycles to be taken on cars. All stations should provide secure bicycle parking.
4. Transit buses could use natural gas.
5. Natural gas filling stations (either publicly or privately owned) for transit buses could also sell natural gas fuel for individual use and provide fuel retrofitting services.
6. Heavy or light gauge, affordable passenger rail service from Santa Cruz to Watsonville, (to connect with state service in Salinas) could be implemented by the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission and funded by various public and private agencies.
7. All new rail service could connect with existing bus and rail services.
8. Investigate and consider funding development of a solar ultra-light rail train or trolley system.
9. Eliminate personal car use on Pacific Avenue in the Pacific Garden Mall area of Santa Cruz for select trial periods. Study and confer with businesses and community as to time for trial period.
10. Gradually eliminate all personal car use in downtown Santa Cruz and other cities, to be completed by the year 2010, with the phase in of the shuttle and other transportation options.
11. Develop and implement a county wide bikeway network on which bicycles and other human-powered transport would have the right of way. This network would be planned for transportation use, though of course, recreational use would be permitted.
12. Support reauthorization of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA), which allows states and cities to shift federal transportation funding from highway construction to alternative transportation projects, like replacing diesel buses with clean fuel vehicles.

D. Increasing air quality and transportation/energy efficiency:

1. Support the EPA proposal to strengthen the Clean Air Act standards to a level sufficient to protect those suffering from asthma and other respiratory diseases, esp. in ref. to populated areas. [See also Energy, Transp., & Biod./Eco.M.]
2. Support legislation to: a) replace our current car emissions testing program with a better controlled system of testing-only stations; b) require more realistic dynamometers testing, with simulated acceleration & deceleration; c) have cars tested more often; and d) repeal the maximum repair cost limit for emission controls, which includes a buy-back program for older vehicles.
3. Institute a challenge contest or campaign, encouraging businesses, community groups, and others to participate in trip reduction and energy efficient modes of transportation.
4. Install roadside cameras to catch worst smog offenders.
5. Investigate and support new technologies and alternative modes of transportation that are clean, efficient, safe, convenient, and are based on renewable resources.
6. Investigate solar electric, hydrogen, and other alternative fuels, as well as personal rapid transit systems. Lobby for a full research program at the state and federal levels.
7. Participate in and strengthen access to information and resources via communication technology, reducing the necessity for travel. (eg. electronic networking and telecommuting)

VI. Useful Resources & References:

• Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments (AMBAG), P.O. Box 838, Marina, CA 93933; Tel: (408) 883-3750; Fax: 883-3755 - (transportation planning).
• Bike to Work Week, P.O. Box 8402, Santa Cruz, 95061; (408) 423-3773 (a project of SCCCC, which coordinates annual events).
• Bikes are Good Business, Jessica Denevan, 731- 36th Ave. Santa Cruz, 95062; (408) 464-BAGB (educates employees & employers about bicycle commuting).
• City of Santa Cruz, Public Works Dept., Cheryl Schmitt, (408) 429-3646 (works with transportation issues).
• Commute Solutions, (408) 429-POOL (free carpool & vanpool matching services; info. on all alternative transportation modes in SCC).
• Growing Cycles, Harry Baker, P.O. Box 288, Santa Cruz, CA 95061; (408) 457-BIKE (youth educ. project of the SCCCC - kids rebuild/recycle bicycles with the help of volunteer mentors).
• Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District, 24580 Silver Cloud Ct., Monterey, CA 93940; Tel: (408) 647-9411 - (serving Santa Cruz, Monterey, & San Benito counties).
• National Bicycle Greenway, Martin Kreig, P.O. Box 3346, Santa Cruz, CA 95063; Tel: (408) 426-8830; Email: cycleam@bikeroute.com; Web: "www.bikeroute.com' (building the consciousness for a coast to coast bicycle highway).
• Pajaro Valley Transportation Management Association, Bob Dwyer, P.O. Box I-,48, Watsonville, CA 95077; Tel: (408) 763-7665; Fax: 728-5300.
• Pedaler's Express, P.O. Box 427, Santa Cruz, CA 95061; (408) 426-BIKE (SCC's only pollution-free delivery service).
• People Power!, Ron Goodman, 226 Jeter St., Santa Cruz, 95060; (408) 425-8851 (SCC's advocate for human powered transportation).
• Santa Cruz Area Transportation Management Association, P.O. Box 842,5, Santa Cruz, CA 95061; location: 911 Center St., Ste. D, Santa Cruz; Tel: (408) 423-6231; Fax: 423-3895, Carolyn O'Donnell.
• Santa Cruz Regional Bicycle Coordinator & Bicycle Committee, (408) 460-3200 (bikeway maps & route planning, & bike parking subsidies).
• Santa Cruz County Cycling Club (SCCCC), Dale Wickenheiser, P.O. 8342, S.C. 95061; (408) 423-0829.
• Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (SCCRTC), Tel: (408) 460-3200; Fax: 460-3215; 1523 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (a transportation planning & congestion management agency).
• Santa Cruz County Traffic Safety Coalition, Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency: 1080 Emeline Ave., Santa Cruz, CA, 95060; (408) 454-4622.
• UCSC Alternative Transp./Bike Program, Candace Ward, 1156 High St., TAPS Trailer, Santa Cruz, CA 95064; Tel: (408) 459-5495; Fax: 459-3878; Web: "http://www2.ucsc.edu/taps/proto.html".
• Ultra-Lite Rail Committee, Ron Swenson, P.O. Box 7080, Santa Cruz, CA 95061; (408) 425-8523; Web: www.ecotopia.com/ulr.

Documentation.

1. National Highway Statistics, Federal Highway Administration, 1990.

Contributors: Former Chairpersons Jessica Denevan & Bill LeBon, Teresa Buika, Tegan Speiser, Carolyn O'Donnell, Frank Barron, Micah Posner, Rob Wheeler, Martin Krieg, Ron Swenson, Paul McGrath, Mike Ossipoff, Buryl Payne, Bob Dunn, Diana Nikkel, Jim Denevan, Candace Ward, Cory Irimes, Cathie Crow, Pat Dellin, Julie Munnerlyn, Chris Schneiter, & Nick Papadakis. (Compiled & Edited by: Jeanne Nordland)