Santa Cruz Beach Area Roundabouts
Location
Pacific Avenue
City or County Responsible for Project
City of Santa Cruz
Category
Complete Streets and Multi-Modal Mobility Projects
Author
Christophe J. Schneiter
Public Works
809 Center Street
831-420-5422
831-420-5161
Project Description
The Santa Cruz Beach and South of Laurel Comprehensive Area Plan adopted by the Santa Cruz City Council in October 1998 recognized the special role Pacific Avenue occupies in the City of Santa Cruz. As the City’s Main Street, Pacific Avenue is a crucial link between Downtown and the Beach area, home of the world famous Boardwalk and Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf. The plan recommended that the City develop two roundabouts, one at Pacific Avenue and Center Street (constructed 2011) and the other at Pacific Avenue and Beach Street (entry to the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf and constructed in 2015) intersections. The City had developed the Depot multi-modal park with soccer fields at the Pacific Avenue and Center Street intersection and recently constructed the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Visitor Center at Pacific Avenue and Beach Street. The roundabouts went through an extensive public review and approval process, as roundabouts were relatively unknown intersection improvement solutions in 2005 in our community. The intersection modifications improved traffic flow, bike and pedestrian access and safety, and supports the City’s climate action goals to reduce transportation related greenhouse gases. The roundabouts create a very attractive gateway to Monterey Bay while addressing multi-modal safety and efficiency well into the future. Many naysayers have been won over by the reduction in congestion and the thematic and decorative streetscape features. Both roundabouts include depictions of ocean life common in Monterey Bay. They also have unique operational features. The Pacific-Center roundabout incorporates the main entrance to Depot Park and the Pacific-Beach roundabout incorporates a railroad through the northern side, a cycle-track (2-way bicycle facility) on the southern side and the entrance-exit gates to the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf. Agency and public cooperation and coordination efforts were extensive, time consuming and ultimately successful. The projects were funded from a combination of federal Stimulus, Gas Tax, Measure H Paving, Developers Fees, Utility Enterprise and General Capital Improvement Funds. The projects provided the City an opportunity to bring pavement, access ramps, sidewalks, lighting, storm drain, water and sewer facilities to current standards and capacity, and address system preservation. Pavement reconstruction and overlays went well beyond the intersection improvements.
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