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Santa Cruz Beach Area Roundabouts Project Wins California Cities Award Contacts: Christophe J. Schneiter, Assistant Director of Public Works/City Engineer, (831) 420-5422 Janice Bisgaard, Community Relations Specialist, (831) 420-5166 SANTA CRUZ - March 10, 2016 — Today the City of Santa Cruz’s Beach Area Roundabouts Project was named Outstanding Local Streets and Roads Project by the League of California Cities. The award recognizes the project’s exceptional achievements to preserve and protect the public's investment in the local street and road system with the construction of two roundabouts at complicated beach intersections. “We’ve seen pronounced reduction in traffic congestion at two of our busiest beach intersections since the second of our roundabouts was completed,” said City of Santa Cruz Public Works Assistant Director Chris Schneiter. “And everyone loves the ocean themes incorporated into the project streetscape—especially the dolphins that point traffic in the right direction at the Wharf Roundabout.” The Wharf Intersection Roundabout was completed in June 2015 at the intersection of Pacific Avenue, Beach Street and the Municipal Wharf. The City’s Pacific/Center Roundabout Project (known as Depot Park Roundabout) was completed in 2011 at the intersection of Pacific Avenue, Center Street and West Cliff Drive. These are two of the City’s highest profile and busiest intersections. They not only link downtown with the beach area, but also serve as gateway to the Municipal Wharf and Monterey Bay. The City selected roundabouts as preferred transportation upgrades following an extensive public review process of options to improve traffic flow and safety at the intersections. Other factors that contributed to the choice of roundabouts included data showing that they require less maintenance, have lower yearly operational costs and a longer service life than traffic signals, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reducing vehicle idling time. The cost of construction of the Wharf Intersection Roundabout Project was approximately $2 million. The Pacific/Center Roundabout Project cost slightly over $1 million. Both projects were funded in the City’s Capital Improvements Program from traffic impact fees and Measure H paving funds; funding for the Pacific/Center Roundabout Project also included $750,000 from the federal American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009. City of Santa Cruz Public Works Director Mark Dettle and Senior Civil Engineer Joshua Spangrud accepted the League of California Cities award at today’s Public Works Officers Institute’s awards luncheon in Sacramento. The award was in the Safety or Intelligent Transportation System Project category. The competitive League of California Cities awards program highlights cities and counties that are employing projects, programs, practices and innovative technologies and materials to achieve safety, preservation and sustainability goals for the statewide local street and road system.
Santa Cruz Beach Area Roundabouts Project Wins California Cities Award
Contacts: Christophe J. Schneiter, Assistant Director of Public Works/City Engineer, (831) 420-5422 Janice Bisgaard, Community Relations Specialist, (831) 420-5166 SANTA CRUZ - March 10, 2016 — Today the City of Santa Cruz’s Beach Area Roundabouts Project was named Outstanding Local Streets and Roads Project by the League of California Cities. The award recognizes the project’s exceptional achievements to preserve and protect the public's investment in the local street and road system with the construction of two roundabouts at complicated beach intersections. “We’ve seen pronounced reduction in traffic congestion at two of our busiest beach intersections since the second of our roundabouts was completed,” said City of Santa Cruz Public Works Assistant Director Chris Schneiter. “And everyone loves the ocean themes incorporated into the project streetscape—especially the dolphins that point traffic in the right direction at the Wharf Roundabout.” The Wharf Intersection Roundabout was completed in June 2015 at the intersection of Pacific Avenue, Beach Street and the Municipal Wharf. The City’s Pacific/Center Roundabout Project (known as Depot Park Roundabout) was completed in 2011 at the intersection of Pacific Avenue, Center Street and West Cliff Drive. These are two of the City’s highest profile and busiest intersections. They not only link downtown with the beach area, but also serve as gateway to the Municipal Wharf and Monterey Bay. The City selected roundabouts as preferred transportation upgrades following an extensive public review process of options to improve traffic flow and safety at the intersections. Other factors that contributed to the choice of roundabouts included data showing that they require less maintenance, have lower yearly operational costs and a longer service life than traffic signals, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reducing vehicle idling time. The cost of construction of the Wharf Intersection Roundabout Project was approximately $2 million. The Pacific/Center Roundabout Project cost slightly over $1 million. Both projects were funded in the City’s Capital Improvements Program from traffic impact fees and Measure H paving funds; funding for the Pacific/Center Roundabout Project also included $750,000 from the federal American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009. City of Santa Cruz Public Works Director Mark Dettle and Senior Civil Engineer Joshua Spangrud accepted the League of California Cities award at today’s Public Works Officers Institute’s awards luncheon in Sacramento. The award was in the Safety or Intelligent Transportation System Project category. The competitive League of California Cities awards program highlights cities and counties that are employing projects, programs, practices and innovative technologies and materials to achieve safety, preservation and sustainability goals for the statewide local street and road system.