Watsonville faces federal cuts to traffic safety study
jose.romo
WATSONVILLE, Calif. (KION-TV) — The city of Watsonville is facing the loss of significant grant money. This is after funds intended for a feasibility traffic impact study were taken away through the Big Beautiful Bill.
On Wednesday, the city announced the loss of a $2.3 million grant that would study the traffic, health, and economic impacts of large truck traffic around the city’s main roads.
“The purpose of the study was to evaluate those impacts and come up with solutions for how to address it, how to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety, how to help with the revitalization of downtown and the wider and address emissions near places like schools.” Justin Meek with the city of Watsonville says the study was planned to work with policies already in effect. He says a major concern was pedestrian fatalities which the city had already looked at through their vision zero plan.
Between 2017 and 2022, the California Office of Traffic Safety and Watsonville Police reported 177 pedestrians were injured or killed, while 61 cyclists also suffered from minor to fatal crashes. Similar data shows that a lot of these incidents occurred near Main Street, also known as State Route 152.
Angelina Martinez, who lives near State Route 152, says the major trailer traffic concerns her as it is a health risk. She adds that many in her age group choose to walk around the neighborhood, making and that the added traffic poses a safety risk.
Others like Rogelio Guerrero say not much can be done to change truck routes, as those are the main roads that connect the major highways.
“This hurdle will be overcome with continued effort by the city to find other opportunities in the future for addressing these harms and how to help,” added Meek.
He says that rather than an impact, this cut to funding poses a loss of an opportunity. he adds, however, the city remains committed to working with policies already in effect to address these concerns.