Yesterday the Santa Cruz City Council UNANIMOUSLY approved the launch of a new Slow Streets program for at least 10 neighborhoods in Santa Cruz by the end of July with more to follow!
Council members SANDY BROWN and KATHERINE BEIERS were the earliest supporters and the actual motion and second came from the newest Council member RENEE GOLDER and Vice Mayor DONNA MEYERS, both of whom also signed this petition.
THESE SLOW STREETS WILL BE SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE CITY based on applications and proposals submitted by the neighborhoods themselves. City staff informed Council members yesterday and today that NO STREET WILL BE EXCLUDED FROM CONSIDERATION except for arterials like Mission, Ocean, Bay, Soquel and Water. City staff is hoping to have the online applications available for neighborhoods by next Friday.
Slow Streets have been championed countywide by BIKE SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, the SIERRA CLUB and ECOLOGY ACTION, and were first proposed for the City of Santa Cruz due to the initiative of the TRANSPORTATION and PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSION.
In response to the Commission's leadership, nearly 1,600 people SIGNED THIS PETITION in support of Slow Streets - INCLUDING YOU! - plus environmental and transportation leaders and community champions representing 40 NEIGHBORHOODS throughout the City from Beach Flats to Prospect Heights and Arana Gulch to the Western Limits neighborhood.
Although the Commission recommended that $200,000 be set aside to make Slow Streets a success, CITY STAFF COMMITTED to make sure 10 Slow Streets are in place by the end of July with more to follow thereafter for only $30,000.
We will keep you informed on staff's and neighborhood progress on fulfilling the Commission's and Council's direction.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Slow Streets have been launched in dozens of cities and hundreds of neighborhoods during the pandemic to encourage safe outdoor walking, riding and rolling near people's homes while maintaining appropriate physical distancing.
Most Slow Streets elsewhere are simply placards at the end of respective blocks or street segments asking drivers to voluntarily respect local traffic only to allow increased areas for walkers, bikers and rollers on the streets themselves, ESPECIALLY WHERE THERE ARE NO SIDEWALKS. Emergency response vehicles (fire, police and ambulances) retain priority use of all public streets when needed.