Improving Pedestrian Safety, By Zach Friend, Second District Supervisor

FEATURED COLUMNIST Improving Pedestrian Safety

As we’ve seen from the pandemic, many more people are using their neighborhood streets and areas to walk and it has highlighted the ongoing need for additional pedestrian safety measures.

County Public Works in conjunction with our office has focused on some key initial locations for improvements with more planned. These projects were mainly funded through grants. Here’s an overview of the recent projects.

New Beacon Crosswalks

One way to improve crosswalk safety is to have a beacon/lit crosswalk. These crosswalks have signs on either end that will start to flash when a button is pressed by the pedestrian. New beacon crosswalks were installed in Seascape, Seacliff, the Aptos Village area and in the Buena Vista/ Calabasas area.

For example, two new beacon crosswalks -- Buena Vista and Miller and Buena Vista and Calabasas -- were installed to help with the many pedestrians that use the area to access the bus stop and also the school.

Another was placed on Seascape and Racquet Club providing a safe crossing for residents accessing the shopping center, walking to and from the resort or the sports club. Additionally, a crosswalk was placed at Seacliff and El Camino Del Mar — which is used by many residents walking to and from the beach and the bluffs.

A beacon crosswalk is also planned soon for Soquel Drive by the Rancho Del Mar shopping center to improve the mid-block crossing at that location. In addition to these crosswalks that were completed in the last few weeks, earlier this year a beacon crosswalk was placed at the crosswalk located at Trout Gulch and

Cathedral, which is used by pedestrians accessing the Aptos Village and when school is in session by students walking to the elementary school.

Public Works is in the process of applying for additional grant funding to add even more of these beacon crosswalks in our area.

New Pedestrian Paths

New paths to improve pedestrian safety have been installed (or are in process) in the south county area. A new walking path replacement project on Green Valley Road by Pinto Lake Park was completed recently to improve the safety and accessibility for the many residents that use the park and also walk along Green Valley Road. A second path project is in the works on Buena Vista by Calabasas. This path is used by local residents and many school children walking to and from the school and METRO bus stops in the area. By Zach Friend, Second District Supervisor

Requests for that pathway came from a community meeting we held in the area with the CHP, Public Works and City of Watsonville representatives. This path will complement the new beacon crosswalks around Buena Vista and Miller and Buena Vista and Calabasas that were mentioned above.

The County is looking currently into options for improving pedestrian safety options in Corralitos (beyond the changes made recently on Amesti) specifically looking at ways to improve access in the stretch between Varni and the market.

Future Projects

Recently, the County (partnering with Ecology Action) held two virtual meetings regarding the creation of the first Active Transportation Plan for the unincorporated area of our County.

In our district, the plan focused on Aptos, Rio Del Mar, La Selva as well as Corralitos, Amesti area and the greater Green Valley corridor.

The Active Transportation Plan helps provide a guide for future pedestrian and

bike options to make it easier and safer to engage in these activities. Additionally, having a local plan helps position the County more favorably for state and federal funding options.

If you’d like to obtain more information or to share your comments online, visit: https://ecoact.org/poweredbyme/

The long-planned Mar Vista bridge crossing is also closer to reality. You can review the concept and provide feedback at from a link on the main page of the Regional Transportation Commission’s website at www.sccrtc.org. n •••

As always, I appreciate any feedback you may have on this (or any other County issue). I’m maintaining regular updates on social media at www.facebook.com/supervisorfriend and I’ve been hosting regular tele-townhalls with County and community leaders on most Tuesday nights from 6-7 pm. The call in information for the town halls is 454-2222 with the Meeting ID: 145384# — you are welcome to speak about any issue during the town halls or you can always call me at 454-2200. The next town hall will be Nov. 10.