Hi Everyone,

I hope you’ve all been doing well. It’s been a little while since my last update, but I wanted to share a few important developments.

Coalition for Street Safety Meeting — Today at 5:30 PM

Kevin Norton, one of our fellow co-petitioners, has been helping organize a coalition of residents ahead of the Santa Cruz City budget hearing scheduled for May 26. Kevin has been deeply involved in advocating for improved safety along Bay Street.

From Kevin:

Data indicates that since 2017, when the city first identified the Bay Street Corridor project in the Active Transportation Plan, dozens of people have been injured and at least one person has been killed on Bay Street.

A coalition of residents is organizing ahead of the Santa Cruz City budget hearing on May 26 to advocate for stronger investment in safer streets and quick-build transportation safety projects, including protected bike lanes. You do not need to be a City of Santa Cruz resident to participate. The group will coordinate public comments, organize turnout, and discuss ways Santa Cruz can move more quickly on street safety improvements.

When: Thursday, May 21 at 5:30 PM

RSVP Calendar Invite 
Where: Abbott Square (patio near the MAH Museum)

Questions? Contact Kevin at kwnorton@gmail.com

Updates Since My Last Post

I recently received a response from Claire Gallogly, the City Transportation Planner, regarding the Bay/Meder intersection.

Claire shared the following update:

“We have been reviewing both recent and past collisions, conducting field meetings, and evaluating options for changes at the Bay/Meder intersection. After review by Police, Fire, Public Works, City Management, and Councilmembers Kalantari-Johnson, Newsome, and Golder, we are proposing to close the left-turn movement from Meder onto Bay.

We plan to bring this proposal to the Transportation and Public Works Commission in June and to City Council in August, with implementation planned before UCSC returns in the fall. 

With this change, drivers would still be able to turn from Bay onto Meder from both directions. Those exiting Meder toward UCSC would instead turn right and make a U-turn at the signal at Nobel/Iowa. This change can be implemented quickly and cost-effectively and would address the issue.”

While this is not a complete solution, it is encouraging to see movement toward addressing the ongoing safety concerns at this intersection.

• If you are able to attend tonight’s meeting, it would be a valuable opportunity to help ensure the full scope of community concerns is represented ahead of the May 26 budget hearing.
• If you cannot attend, you can still share your concerns directly through the Safe Streets for All Santa Cruz Action Page.
• Lastly, in case you missed it, the Santa Cruz Lookout published an article last month about Nate, the student involved in the accident that inspired this petition, including a heartfelt reflection from his childhood friend.

Thank you all again for your continued engagement with this petition. I hope that there will be further updates after the budget meeting on the 26th! 

Your Neighbor, 

Chari