Bay and Hill St. Intersection Quick-Build

Rendering of intersection plan at Bay and Hill St.

The City of Capitola recently launched a short-term safety enhancement project at the Bay Avenue and Hill Street intersection. This initiative focuses on improveing safety for all users of the intersection, including drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists. This quick-build project is part of a larger corridor study examining intersections along Bay Avenue from Highway 1 to Capitola Village.

Upcoming Update:

Staff will provide an update on this project at the City Council meeting on November 21, 2024 at 6:00 pm. The public is welcome to attend and provide feedback.

Key Changes Include:

Reduced Travel Lanes: Two travel lanes have been removed to decrease congestion and reduce the number of vehicles entering the intersection simultaneously.
Pedestrian Safety: Sidewalks have been extended with blue paint, shortening pedestrian crossing distances and minimizing the time spent in traffic paths.
Bicycle Safety: New buffered bike lanes, marked with green paint, provide greater separation between cyclists and motor vehicles.

The City is open to feedback as these changes represent a significant shift in the intersection's design.

Project Updates:

Construction Start: July 17, 202
Bollard Installation: August 7, 2024
City Council Update: An update on this project will be provided at the City Council meeting on November 21, 2024. The public is welcome to attend and provide feedback

Background information:

The Bay Avenue and Hill Street intersection is a key all-way stop connecting Highway 1 and Capitola Village, with frequent concerns about pedestrian safety due to heavy traffic.
The City's FY 2023-24 budget allocated $50,000 for improvements at this intersection.
In September 2023, an ad-hoc subcommittee was formed to explore short-term solutions and gather public feedback.
In November 2023, the City amended its contract with Kimley Horn to develop quick-build traffic safety improvements and conduct updated traffic analysis for potential long-term enhancements.
A community meeting in November 2023 highlighted safety concerns along the Bay Avenue corridor.
Early in 2024, the City installed lighted stop signs, pole reflectors, and re-striped the crosswalk with reflective paint based on City Council direction.
The initial analysis of long-term options for Bay Avenue is expected by late summer or early fall 2024.
On February 22, 2024, the City Council approved the construction of the quick-build project at Bay Avenue and Hill Street.