Survey Responses as of 7/7/25
63 of 182 postcards send
Congratulations to us.
We received a 34% response on the Traffic Survey. This is BIG!
Updates
10/24/25
Follow-up email to Nathan Nguyen, Director of Public Works
nnguyen@santacruzca.gov
I asked for an update, as it has been two months since I heard from the City.
Hello Nathan,
It’s been a couple of months, and we are not seeing any changes in re-painting road lines, cross walk upgrades, etc. It is still very difficult to cross Ocean St at the Jewell street crosswalk. Yesterday afternoon, we stood at the crosswalk and counted 12 cars that passed without even slowing down. Unless I was my arms and step into the street, it seems that no-one even realizes that there is a cross walk there. New Paint is needed and flashing lights would certainly stop cars. It works at every other crosswalk I have used that has flashing lights.
Please let us know where our neighborhoods request stands. I understand that there is a process but I am getting a lot of negative feedback from my neighbors that "the City doesn’t care about traffic until someone dies”. I don’t believe that is at all true, ,but I would hate to see a tragedy happen and then something gets done.
Standing by for an update!
Thank you,
Paul
9/8/25
My Response to City Staff
(see links in City Email)
Hello Matt,
Thank you for reaching out. I appreciate that, as do the 63 neighbors who got involved in this effort (now Ocean Street has far more than just one request)! Hope that helps us get on your funding list ASAP.
Literally, every day I cross Ocean Street at Jewell St, I have to wave my hands like a “mad man” to get people to recognize that there is a cross walk. Once across the street, then we have to navigate toward Ocean St Ext, where we walk our dog. I also wave my arms as I am walking down the sidewalk to get people to recognize their speed and that pedestrians are on the sidewalk. This is the same stretch of sidewalk where drivers have lost control (twice (that I am aware of) taking out 60+ feet of the cemetery’s fencing, and damaging tomb stones).
If you have not walked down Ocean St Ext, you really need to do so. It is the most peaceful street in Santa Cruz. Neighbors wave to each other, and people are friendly and relaxed because of its natural beauty. Because of this, many of the residents who live in the condos and homes along Ocean St, walk to OSE. Some have decided to walk through the cemetery in order to avoid the stretch of sidewalk I just described.
Road paint is far more affordable than many of the suggests that were made. Perhaps re-striping the stretch of Ocean St from Felker to Graham Hill could be done before the rainy season, when it will be even more difficult to see the worn lines, curbs, and crosswalks!
Again, thank you, and know that I am speaking for the 63 people who completed our neighborhood survey. Many who received my post card may have not even read it, so I assume you have at least another 20-30 people who feel the same as the rest of us.
I look forward to hearing back from you and other City officials with findings and plans to make our streets safe for ALL. I will share your email with the neighbors, via our website,
Cheers,
Paul
On Sep 8, 2025, at 1:36 PM, Matt Starkey <mstarkey@santacruzca.gov> wrote:
Good Afternoon Paul,
I’ve received and reviewed your email regarding the roadway and crossing conditions on Ocean Street, north of Highway 1. In the short term, our police department will be making an additional effort regarding speed enforcement.
I appreciate the suggestions for speed-feedback signs and rectangular rapid flashing beacons, those are good suggestions, and paired with other features, could be effective on the roadway. We tabulate these requests and apply every-other year to Caltrans for funding to make these types of improvements. We’ll add this location to the list.
We do get a lot of these requests, so we prioritize them with our Active Transportation Plan, Traffic Calming Requests, and Local Roadway Safety Plan. Ocean Street was only applied for by a single person, out of over 300 requests, in our recent Traffic Calming call for projects. We do have funding to do another call for projects, so stay tuned for that effort. Our Active Transportation Plan is prioritizing policies around pedestrian facilities and crossings are a key item we’ve heard are important to prioritize.
Thanks again for the suggestions and commitment to improving the City’s roadways.
Active Transportation Plan:
Traffic Calming:
Warm Regards,
Matt Starkey, P.E.
(he/him)
Transportation Manager
City of Santa Cruz | Department of Public Works/Transportation
809 Center Street, Room 201, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Direct: 831-420-5182
Email: mstarkey@santacruzca.gov
Web: cityofsantacruz.com
9/2/25
Heard back from City Staff
Response from City. Our issue has been assigned to the Director of Public Works, who is working with his staff (Transportation Engineering and SCPD Traffic Lieutenant) to review our requests and to assess our streets, traffic, speed, and measures to mitigate this issue. I will follow up on 9/8/25 to get an update.
8/1/25
I sent the results of survey, and a link to our website to City Council, City Manager, Public Works Director, and the City Mayor.
7/29/25
Council Meeting Update
I learned that the public cannot add an item to the City Council agenda, it has to be added by City staff or council members.
7/14/25
Council Meeting
I will attempt to get our issue (item) on the City Council Agenda for either 8/12/25 or 8/26/25. Because there are no meetings in July, the 8/12 agenda may already be full. I will check with the City Clerk for a recommendation.
If you are interested in attending the Council meeting, please send me an email and I will contract you directly once we are on the agenda with further instructions.
4/30/25 - Added additional Accident Report that was provided by a neighbor.
4/30/25 - Added additional photos of accidents that were provided by a neighbor.
Thank you!