Boulder Creek Street Improvements Move Closer to Reality

A long-planned effort to make Highway 9 safer and more walkable through Boulder Creek is advancing, with environmental review now underway and construction targeted for 2028, according to the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission. District 5 Supervisor Monica Martinez, Regional Transportation Director Sarah Cristiansen, and Congressman Jimmy Panetta have announced Community Project Funding the Congressman was able to secure from the Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Boulder Creek Complete Streets Improvements Project.

“Although Highway 9 is a lifeline for the San Lorenzo Valley, it also can be a major hazard for some of the communities on the road,” said Rep. Panetta. “By investing in the infrastructure along the roadways, this improvement project will ensure a slower highway and a safer main street for Boulder Creek. This is a big project that will take all levels of government coming together, so I’m proud to ensure that the federal government through the power of its purse played a part in funding the Boulder Creek Complete Streets Improvement Project.”

The Boulder Creek Complete Streets project would bring significant safety and accessibility upgrades to Highway 9 and Highway 236 through the heart of Boulder Creek, a stretch of road that doubles as the community’s main street. The improvements would include new and repaired sidewalks, bike lanes, crosswalk bulb-outs, center median islands, and better bus stops — changes planners say are long overdue for a corridor with a troubling safety record.

Boulder Creek Fire Chief Mark Bingham and BCBA President Tess Fitzgerald weigh in on the planned improvements to the downtown corridor.

“If you’ve ever tried to cross Highway 9 on a busy day, you know why we’re here. I especially want to thank Congressman Jimmy Panetta for securing funding for this project,” said BCBA President Tess Fitzgerald. “At the end of the day, this is about making Boulder Creek safer and easier for the people who live here, work here, and visit. When people feel safe spending time downtown, our businesses grow – and the whole community benefits.

A Road That Works Hard — and Shows It

Highway 9 is the lifeline of the San Lorenzo Valley, connecting the communities of Felton, Ben Lomond, Brookdale, and Boulder Creek while also serving as a regional route between Santa Cruz and Silicon Valley. But the road’s geography works against it. Narrow lanes wind through steep mountain terrain, bicycle and pedestrian facilities are sparse or missing altogether, and many bus stops lack any walkway access. Collision rates are high, and several choke points back up traffic regularly. Pavement, drainage infrastructure, and other assets are described by the RTC as being in disrepair.

The Complete Streets project is designed to address many of those problems at once, with a focus on making the commercial area of Boulder Creek safer and more accessible for people on foot, on bikes, and on buses — not just those in cars.

What Would Be Built

Project Highlights

• Filling gaps in the sidewalk network, and extending the sidewalk network through the commercial area
• New curb extensions/bulb-outs at crosswalks, center median islands, and other traffic calming measures
• Bike lanes/shoulders
• Transit stop improvements
• Measure D funds are being used to accelerate the project development process
• Construction expected to begin in 2028

The project proposes a package of improvements that includes filling sidewalk gaps and extending the network through Boulder Creek’s commercial district, new curb extensions at crosswalks to shorten pedestrian crossing distances, center median islands to slow traffic and improve turn movements, dedicated bike lanes and shoulders, upgraded transit stops, and new pedestrian lighting and signage. A project map (see below) identifies five improvement zones spread across the Boulder Creek area, with changes concentrated along the Highway 9 corridor near downtown and the local elementary school.

“I am so grateful to Congressman Panetta’s office for this funding,” said Santa Cruz County Supervisor Monica Martinez. “Highway 9 is the backbone of the San Lorenzo Valley. It is how most residents commute to their jobs; it’s a main evacuation route; and it’s used by tourists who come to visit our beautiful towns and open spaces – including the Big Basin State Park. Despite having only a population of 5,300, Boulder Creek’s main intersection sees nearly 17,000 trips every day and more than double the collision and injury rates of comparable California corridors. By expanding sidewalks, bike lanes, lighting, signage, and other critical safety measures, this project will help improve pedestrian and bicycle access to our elementary school, local businesses, library, and bus stops.” 

Where Things Stand

The project completed its initial planning phase — known as the Project Initiation Document — back in 2022. The environmental review phase launched in June 2025 and is expected to wrap up by December 2026. If that timeline holds and funding comes together, construction could begin in 2028.

Funding remains the project’s biggest hurdle. The estimated cost is $10.8 million. So far, $1.5 million has been secured through a federal earmark, and Measure D — the Santa Cruz County sales tax measure dedicated to transportation improvements — will contribute $2.4 million as a local match. That leaves $6.9 million still to be raised through a combination of state programs, safety and active transportation grants, and other sources. The RTC and Caltrans, which is leading project delivery, plan to use the secured funding to compete for those additional dollars.

What You Can Do

Community members who want to stay informed or weigh in on the project can contact the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission at (831) 460-3200 or visit www.sccrtc.org. Public input is typically welcomed during the environmental review phase, which is currently underway — making this a key window for residents to make their voices heard before the project design is finalized.