Santa Cruz County’s cities and the county government should move more quickly to improve pedestrian safety by adopting formal Vision Zero action plans and taking a more proactive approach to maintaining sidewalks, crosswalks and traffic infrastructure, according to a new Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury report.
The report, titled ‘Walking in the County of Santa Cruz is Not for the Faint of Heart,’ concludes that while local governments have embraced the principles of Vision Zero—a strategy aimed at eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries—they have yet to implement formal action plans with measurable goals and timelines.
The grand jury found that Santa Cruz County consistently ranks among California’s worst counties for pedestrian fatalities and serious injuries despite recent investments in transportation improvements.
“Pedestrian fatalities and serious injuries are a persistent public safety issue in the County of Santa Cruz,” the report states. “While the County and its cities have adopted modern transportation policies and safety frameworks, pedestrian safety outcomes remain poor relative to other California counties.”
The report cites Office of Traffic Safety data showing Santa Cruz County ranked among the top 20% of California counties for pedestrians killed or seriously injured in five of the seven years between 2017 and 2023. Watsonville fared even worse, ranking among the 10 worst California cities of comparable size in six of those seven years, including Number 1 in 2019.
The report says the county, Watsonville and Santa Cruz have all committed to pursuing Vision Zero through the Community Traffic Safety Coalition but have not adopted formal action plans.
According to the grand jury, doing so would establish measurable benchmarks, improve accountability and make local jurisdictions eligible for additional federal transportation grants.
The report also points to gaps in pedestrian infrastructure, including deteriorating sidewalks, faded crosswalk markings and incomplete sidewalk networks.
It cites the Highway 1 Whale Bridge as an example of successful infrastructure that still leaves pedestrians vulnerable because sidewalks disappear at one end, forcing people to navigate busy commercial driveways.
The grand jury also found that local governments rely largely on residents to report sidewalk hazards and faded pavement markings, and that many people are unaware of how to report those problems.
In addition, it says the cost of sidewalk repairs—which are typically the responsibility of adjacent property owners under California law—can discourage people from reporting hazards.
Watsonville was singled out for offering a loan program to help homeowners pay for sidewalk repairs, which the report suggests other jurisdictions consider.
The report also examines traffic enforcement, noting that Watsonville has one officer dedicated to traffic enforcement, while Santa Cruz has none. Both agencies focus much of their traffic enforcement on driving under the influence because of limited staffing.
The grand jury recommends that local officials periodically review crash data to ensure enforcement efforts strike an appropriate balance between DUI enforcement and speeding violations, another leading contributor to pedestrian deaths and serious injuries.
Among its recommendations for Watsonville, the grand jury urges the City Council to direct its Public Works and Police departments to work with the County Health Services Agency to develop and publish a Vision Zero action plan by June 1, 2027.
It also recommends expanding public outreach about reporting sidewalk hazards, adopting an annual review of sidewalks and faded pavement markings, and requiring the police chief to annually review pedestrian injury data to ensure enforcement priorities align with Vision Zero goals.
The report makes similar recommendations to the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors and the Santa Cruz City Council, including developing Vision Zero action plans, increasing public education, proactively identifying sidewalk hazards and considering financial assistance programs for sidewalk repairs.
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, the Watsonville City Council and the Santa Cruz City Council are required to respond to the grand jury’s findings and recommendations within 90 days.
