Visualizing Sustainable Transportation in Santa Cruz County

View Future Transportation Options in 3-D

Visualizing Sustainable Transportation in Santa Cruz County

The Visualizing Sustainable Transportation in Santa Cruz County project (SCCRTC.org/VIS) will provide interactive virtual reality visualizations of potential short and long term transportation options for Santa Cruz County using an innovative OWLtm viewer. The goal of the project is to provide a fun and immersive community participation experience.

The visualizations demonstrate transportation and land use options that address congestion, city and county plans/projects, the passage of Measure D, discussions about priorities with community leaders, and state mandates to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Visualizations will highlight:

• Optimized use of existing streets through enhanced bicycle, pedestrian and transit facilities
• Expanded safe mobility options for all members of the community
• Options that decrease greenhouse gas emissions from vehicle miles traveled
• Walk-friendly, compact, mixed-use neighborhoods
• Options that decrease personal transportation expenses thereby increasing the amount of money that can be reinvested in the local economy

The OWLtm interactive virtual reality viewer includes site-specific visualizations and will be available at four locations:

• Phase 1
• Oct 4 – Nov 15: Soquel Drive @ Chanticleer, near the Sutter Surgery Center
• Oct 18 – Nov 29: Natural Bridges @ the railroad crossing near the Wrigley Building
• Phase 2, Spring 2018
• Watsonville
• 17th Avenue in Live Oak

Participants will be able to provide feedback about the short and long term visualizations via a short survey on the Owl viewer. Each visual will also be accessible through a “pocket owl” for smart phones, computers or other devices. The “pocket owl” will be available at SCCRTC.org/VIS approximately one week after the Owl viewers are up.  

The Visualizing Sustainable Transportation in Santa Cruz County project is coordinated with other RTC projects by providing graphics to describe what sustainable transportation options might look like. The Unified Corridor Investment Study is a separate project that addresses the voter-approved mandate in Measure D to assess environmental and economic benefits/impacts of transportation options on three parallel routes in Santa Cruz County: Highway 1, the rail line and Soquel Avenue-Drive/Freedom Boulevard.

For more information about the Visualizing Sustainable Transportation in Santa Cruz County project or to view the Soquel Drive/Chanticleer and West Santa Cruz pocket Owls, please visit:  SCCRTC.org/VIS

Sign up to get project updates by sending an email to info@sccrtc.org with “Vis” in the subject line.

The Sustainable Transportation Visualization for Santa Cruz County project was funded through a Caltrans Transit Planning for Sustainable Communities grant to help meet the state goal of expanded accessibility and multimodal options.

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