Press Releases

For Immediate Release

Successful Highway 17 Safety Program Wins Three-Year Extension

Funding agreement between Santa Cruz County and Bay Area transportation commissions

CONTACT:

Linda Lee, MTC SAFE
510.817.5825

Réka Goode, MTC SAFE
510.464.7706

OAKLAND, Calif., Dec. 16, 2002...A dramatic reduction in collisions during the past three years on Highway 17 in Santa Clara County and through the Santa Cruz Mountains has prompted two regional agencies – the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (SCCRTC) and the San Francisco Bay Area’s Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) Service Authority for Freeways and Expressways (SAFE) – to approve funding for a three-year extension of the "Safe on 17"project.

MTC SAFE and SCCRTC are each contributing $50,000 annually from fiscal year 2002—03 through 2004—05 to pay for a total of 2,000 hours of additional CHP enforcement each year along Highway 17, with half of the additional patrols coming from the CHP’s San Jose office and the other half from the Santa Cruz CHP office.

"As MTC SAFE’s representative for the cities of Santa Clara County, I am particularly glad we are able to fund this important effort to make the vital highway link between Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties a safer place to travel," said MTC Commissioner and Santa Clara City Councilmember John McLemore.

The initial three-year "Safe on 17" project was funded by the state Office of Traffic Safety (OTS). During the years 1999—2001, when the OTS grant funds were used to provide extra CHP enforcement on Highway 17, total collisions decreased by 59 percent and injury collisions decreased by 67 percent from the base year 1998. During the same period, a task force comprised of representatives from the SCCRTC, MTC SAFE, as well as the CHP, Caltrans, local law enforcement and fire departments, legislators’ offices and the media launched a campaign to educate the public, distributing brochures and bumper stickers, issuing press releases, and using highway signs to urge motorists to slow down and drive safely. In addition, Caltrans repaved the highway and made other safety improvements.

MTC is the regional transportation planning, financing and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. MTC commissioners also administer the Bay Area SAFE, which operates the region’s roadside motorist aid call box network and the Freeway Service Patrol fleet of roving tow trucks. MTC SAFE derives its revenues from the $1 vehicle registration surcharge levied in the nine Bay Area counties.

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