Bridging the Highway at Mar Vista Drive
The prospect for a bike and pedestrian bridge across Highway 1 at Mar Vista Drive in Aptos took a small step forward on April 5th, when the Regional Transportation Commission voted to include a $7.5 million funding request in their bid for state transportation monies. If approved by the California Transportation Commission, the bridge would reconnect the Aptos neighborhood that is currently divided by Highway 1. An important transportation link, the bridge would allow pedestrians and bicyclists to get from neighborhoods south of the freeway to the commercial districts and schools to the north. In particular, the bridge would allow hundreds of school children to get to Mar Vista School and create a valuable connection to Cabrillo College from a future trail and train on the rail corridor.
People Power volunteers gathered hundreds of signed postcards in support of the bridge from parents of Mar Vista Elementary School students (including one from the school's principal), and other Aptos neighbors. Thanks to those who volunteered to collect signatures, as well as to Supervisor Ellen Pirie, who led the vote at the SCCRTC for the bridge. We look forward to working with Supervisor Pirie and the SCCRTC on projects like this bridge that have broad community support, unlike their highway widening projects which have been met with serious opposition at every turn.