Section IV. How to Find More Information

4. Transportation Agencies, Providers, and Partners

There are many layers of government responsible for a variety of planning functions and each is unique in their scope. There are several available resources in this field and a great deal can be gleaned from their efforts and expertise. What follows is an overview of some "key player" agencies in our county.


 

 

 

 

The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (SCCRTC)

In the state of California, responsibility for transportation planning and coordination is assigned to regional transportation planning agencies. These agencies, including the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (referred to as "the Commission", "RTC" or "SCCRTC"), are required to periodically undertake long-range planning efforts, as a way to set the course for meeting the transportation needs of their respective regions and communities. The SCCRTC has a twelve member board of directors with representatives from the county, the four cities, and the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District. Caltrans serves as an advisory non-voting member of the Commission.

In addition to the Transportation Funding Task Force, The Commission currently has three advisory committees that provide recommendations on project funding and other issues. The first two are citizen advisory committees: the Bicycle Committee and the Elderly and Disabled Transportation Advisory Committee. The Interagency Technical Advisory Committee is composed of planning and public works representatives from all five local jurisdictions in addition to school, employer and transportation partner agencies.

Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District (Metro or SCMTD)

Santa Cruz Metro operates and maintains the countywide bus system and operates federally-mandated complementary paratransit services (ParaCruz) for those unable to use the fixed route bus system. Metro is governed by a board of 11 members representing the county and cities, plus one ex-officio member representing UCSC. Many of these Board members also sit on the Regional Transportation Commission. Funding for the bus system and the ParaCruz paratransit system is secured directly from state and federal sources, as well as through the RTC and a local half-cent sales tax dedicated to transit.

SCMTD: 831/425-8600

ParaCruz: 831/423-9380

California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)

Caltrans is responsible for the design, construction, maintenance, and operation of the state highway system and is an ex-officio member of the Regional Transportation Commission. Caltrans develops the Interregional Transportation Improvement Program (ITIP), which nominates interregional highway and rail projects for inclusion in the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) and prepares and implements the State Highway Operation Protection Program (SHOPP), which includes safety and maintenance projects on the state highway system.

Caltrans is also the lead agency on the development of highway Traffic Operations Systems- technological monitoring and information networks that provide motorists with information on highway conditions, and the California Highway Patrol and Caltrans with information on incidents and unusual traffic conditions. Caltrans District 5, based in San Luis Obispo, oversees state highway projects for Santa Cruz County and the Monterey Bay region.

831/423-0396


Local Jurisdictions: Cities and Counties

There are five general-purpose local jurisdictions in Santa Cruz County---the County of Santa Cruz and the cities of Capitola, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley and Watsonville. Each has its own governing body of elected officials, as well as planning and public works departments. Each jurisdiction also has its own General Plan, which sets the direction for land development and transportation networks, and for linking the impacts of the two. Each local jurisdiction is responsible for the development and maintenance of all non-state roadways and local bicycle facilities.

Jurisdictions receive some state and federal funds through the RTC and others directly from the state or federal government. Additionally, several local transportation projects are funded directly through redevelopment and general fund programs.

University of California at Santa Cruz (UCSC)

One of the University of California's nine campuses, UCSC funds most on-campus transportation projects through its own sources, and prepares its own Long Range Development Plan (LRDP), which includes a transportation element, and is similar to a city General Plan. The University also works in partnership with the Commission, and other local jurisdictions, such as the City and County of Santa Cruz, and the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District, on both on- and off-campus transportation improvements related to the mobility of its students, faculty, staff and visitors.

http://www2.ucsc.edu/taps/ 831/459-4543 or 459-2190

California Transportation Commission (CTC)

The California Transportation Commission is the transportation policy-making body for the state. Members are appointed by the Governor. The CTC works closely with Caltrans and oversees state-level transportation planning, policy and funding decisions. The California Transportation Commission, in consultation with Caltrans, decides how and when to allocate state funds for transportation projects through the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), State Highway Operation Protection Program (SHOPP) and Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation (EEM), and Proposition 116 program. Of funds available for programming in the STIP, 75% is allocated to Regional Transportation Planning Agencies (RTPAs) such as the SCCRTC for regionally significant projects, and 25% is allocated to state highway and road programs selected by Caltrans.

916/654-4245


Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments (AMBAG)

AMBAG is a voluntary association of 20 local jurisdictions in Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito Counties and serves as a forum for discussing and making recommendations on issues of regional significance. The agency serves as the region's Metropolitan Planning Organization, a federal designation that carries with it the responsibility for developing transportation plans and programs for the Monterey Bay region, so that federal transportation monies can be released to our local communities. The agency also has the responsibility for coordinating and analyzing the Regional Travel Demand Model, and ascertaining the air quality impacts of the projects cumulatively incorporated within transportation plans and programs.

831/883-3750

Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District

The air district oversees state and federal ambient air quality control in the Monterey Bay region by developing transportation regulations and control measures to reduce vehicle emissions. The air district also distributes vehicle registration fees collected by the Department of Motor Vehicles (known as AB 2766 funds) and Carl Moyer Funds. These funds are channeled back to the region as grants for emissions-reducing transportation projects.

Additional Regional, State, and Federal Partners

In addition to the partners mentioned above, many other regional, state and federal agencies contribute to transportation for Santa Cruz County residents and visitors. On a regional level, the Commission works closely with the Transportation Agency for Monterey County (TAMC), San Benito Council of Governments (SBCOG) and the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) in Santa Clara County to coordinate plans and projects that affect the entire region, especially for the community members who are traveling between counties. The Commission also works with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) regarding the impacts of Commission programs and policies on the road. The California Air Resource Board (CARB) works with the Commission to meet statewide air quality policy on a local level. Several locations in Santa Cruz County are in the coastal zone. The California Coastal Commission reviews amendments and appeals to applicable Local Coastal Program and Coastal Act policies for local projects, including transportation projects located in these zones to ensure conformance. The Commission works directly and indirectly with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Federal Transit Authority (FTA) to accomplish financial objectives and keep abreast of new highway and transit policy.

Lift Line/ Community Bridges

Photo of Lift Line drivers in front of a van.Lift Line is a program of Community Bridges, a nonprofit organization, providing and coordinating many accessible transportation services for county residents who are disabled, elderly or frail. The nonprofit organization offers door-to-door assistance from origin to destination. Lift Line operates several transportation programs for accessible travel including: Medi-Cal Service, Taxi Scrip, Medical Voucher Program, Senior Dining Center Transportation, Cabrillo Stroke Center Transportation, and Dominican Hospital/Non-Emergency Medical Transportation.

831/425-1557

Transportation Management Associations

The Santa Cruz Area and Pajaro Valley Transportation Management Associations (TMAs) are nonprofit organizations that maintain voluntary associations of employers to serve workplace transportation needs in the county, as well as promote traffic, pedestrian and bicycle safety. The TMA's Electric Bike Commuter Incentive Program provides Santa Cruz county residents safety training and rebates toward the purchase of an electric bicycle. The Emergency Ride Home program provides taxi vouchers for use in emergencies by employees using alternative transportation to travel to work.

Santa Cruz TMA: 831/423-6231

Pajaro Valley TMA: 831/763-7665

Bike to Work

Bike to Work (BTW) is a program of the Santa Cruz Area Transportation Management Association (TMA). The BTW program provides local employers, employees, students and residents with quality education, incentives, and services that assist in achieving their goal of increasing levels of cycling in Santa Cruz County.

831/423-3773


Community Traffic Safety Coalition

The Community Traffic Safety Coalition, operating under the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency, is a coalition of agencies and individuals that promotes bicycle and pedestrian safety, particularly for school children.

831/454-5018


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