Green Valley Road Multi-Use Trail Unveiled
Bike Santa Cruz County and the Pajaro Valley community celebrated the ribbon cutting for the new Green Valley Road Multi-Use Trail on August 28th. The County of Santa Cruz project runs from Holohan Road at the Watsonville City Limits north to Casserly Road, passing the Pinto Lake parks and Amesti School. What was once a neglected and outdated facility is now a safe, protected Class 1 bike lane and pedestrian path, providing an active transportation option to access parks and schools in the Amesti area. It also links to the growing network of bike paths in Watsonville and the Pajaro Valley. The project even includes covered bus shelters for transit users and five public art installations along the two-mile route.
Addressing Road Safety. According to the Statewide Integrated Traffic Record System (SWITRS), between 2017 and 202, five people walking or biking were hit along this stretch. One person was killed, and three others were severely injured. This past November, a pedestrian was killed at the intersection of Green Valley Road and Amesti Road. These tragedies are part of a bigger pattern. As recently reported by Santa Cruz Local, people walking or biking in Watsonville die at a rate 70% higher than the county average, and that rate nearly doubled over the last decade. The new path directly addresses this crisis. It provides kids and families from the Amesti and Green Valley neighborhoods a protected way to reach Amesti Elementary School, Pinto Lake City Park, Mesa Village Park, and open space at Pinto Lake County Park. By reducing conflict points with car traffic, the trail will lessen the probability of accidents, ease congestion around schools and parks, and make it possible for more people to choose walking or biking as a safe transportation option. The Green Valley Road Multi-Purpose Trail also strengthens and expands Watsonville’s larger bike network.
Bike Santa Cruz County works to expand safe cycling facilities just like this one. Safe transportation infrastructure helps to build healthier and better-connected communities. The Green Valley Road Multi-Use Trail is a great example of achieving these objectives. Congratulations, County of Santa Cruz and Pajaro Valley!