Members of the santa cruz county regional transportation commission narrowly voted on thursday, to spend 4-million dollars, to make progress on a long-stalled plan to expand highway-1. the vote, however, postponed planning on whether or not to move forward with the greater, 5-hundred million dollar project. The first phase is slated to cost 27-million dollars, and would include adding exit lanes (between soquel and 41st avenues), as well as build a bicycle and pedestrian bridge across the highway, at chanticleer avenue. the 4-million dollars, (approved by a vote of 6 to 5), would pay for planning costs and right-of-way purchases. Federal officials have threatened to rescind funding, because the project is taking so long. However, it will be further scrutinized, before moving forward.
