Hi everyone — Patrice Boyle here, owner of La Posta and organizer of the Murray Street Rail Bridge Petition.
We have real progress to share.
The City has announced that the Murray Street Bridge will transition to one-lane, two-way traffic beginning as early as mid-day on Monday, March 2.
After months of sustained advocacy from business owners, residents, and more than 1,300 petition signers, City Hall is restoring two-way access across the harbor.
From the beginning, our goal was simple: reconnect Seabright, the Harbor, and the rest of Santa Cruz.
Along the way, our community proposed solutions — including temporary pedestrian and cyclist access over the rail bridge — because the status quo was not acceptable. The message was clear: isolation was hurting small businesses and dividing neighborhoods.
That message finally broke through.
Under the new configuration, traffic will alternate eastbound and westbound using temporary automated signals at each end of the bridge. It will not eliminate congestion, and there may still be delays. But it restores critical connectivity and brings much-needed relief.
This happened because you took action.
- You signed.
- You shared.
- You showed up.
- You insisted that three years of disconnection was not an acceptable answer.
There are still challenges ahead. A second full closure is scheduled for June through mid-September 2026, along with two shorter closures in 2027. We will continue to monitor how those phases are handled and advocate for our community.
But today, we recognize progress.
When small businesses and residents stand together, it matters.
Thank you for being part of this effort.
Patrice Boyle
Owner, La Posta
Organizer, Murray Street Rail Bridge Petition
https://www.santacruzca.gov/City-News-Press-Releases/MSB-Two-Way-3.2.26