Staff has designed concept improvement plans for the Bay Corridor improvements between California Street and Mission Street and will be delivered in two phases.   

The first phase proposes to improve the section between California Street and the east end of Bayview Elementary and will be completed in 2026-27 in coordination with a Caltrans project along Mission Street. The project will resurface Bay Street, as well as install new bus boarding islands and ADA compliant curb ramps.  

The striping plan for the first phase proposes to add a green two-way separated bike lane on the south side of Bay Street that safely connects to the sidewalk of Bayview Elementary and Rail trail Segment 7. The striping along Bayview Elementary will remain the same and will be improved in phase two. The concept striping plans for Phase 1 are shown above. 

The second phase proposes to improve the section between Mission Street and the east end of Bayview Elementary. The proposed improvements include a protected two-way bike facility and separate pedestrian sidewalk along the frontage of Bayview Elementary. Staff has approached the Santa Cruz City School District and community with the proposed improvements and support the project. Phase two also proposes to improve the intersection of Bay Street and Mission Street by installing ADA curb ramps, continental crosswalks and new traffic signal equipment. The concept improvement plans for phase two are shown above. 

The portion of improvements at Bay Street and Mission Street is in Caltrans right-of-way. Staff has approached Caltrans with implementing the phase two improvements in conjunction with Caltrans’ Capital Preventative Maintenance (CAPM) pavement rehabilitation project. The CAPM project is anticipated to begin in 2026/27.