The Complete Streets Initiative
Complete Streets are streets designed for real life—where people drive, walk, bike, take transit, use wheelchairs, push strollers, and cross the street every day. In simple terms, they make everyday trips feel safer, calmer, and easier for everyone, no matter your age, ability, or how you get around.
Introducing Complete Streets
Ecology Action has been helping communities put Complete Streets into practice for years—bringing the partners, planning support, and on-the-ground implementation together to make streets safer and more welcoming for everyone.
Learn More about Complete Streets
February 11, 2026
Complete Streets, in Simple Terms: What It Means for Your Everyday Trips
Most of us use the same streets in different ways, like driving to work, walking the dog, pushing a stroller, catching the […]
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February 26, 2026
The Safety Shift: Why Complete Streets Help Us When Behavior Isn’t Perfect
We’ve all had a close call: a sun glare hitting the windshield at just the wrong angle, a confusing intersection layout, or […]
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Progress in our region
The Complete Streets Initiative is more than just ideas, its about action. Our partners are creatively applying Complete Streets principles in a variety of projects. Check out impact stories from the collaborative below.
UC Santa Cruz
Upgrading Bike and Pedestrian Safety
Well done UC Santa Cruz for investing in two transportation corridors on campus to slow traffic speed and increase visibility for pedestrians on McLaughlin Drive and limit cut through traffic on a busy pedestrian and bicycle thoroughfare on Steinhart Way.
City of Santa Cruz
Bay Street Corridor Infrastructure for all
A comprehensive example of how re-designing streets to prioritize all road users — from second graders getting to school to senior citizens accessing parks and services — creates a more livable and safe community for us all.
City of Watsonville
Downtown Watsonville Complete Streets Plan
The City of Watsonville is currently exploring funding opportunities to build the Main Street Complete Street that was envisioned by the community during the Downtown Specific Plan process, bringing the vision of safer and more connected downtown Watsonville one step closer to reality.
City of Scotts Valley
Scotts Valley Drive Complete Streets Project
Improving Scotts Valley Drive with fresh pavement, buffered bike lanes, and pedestrian upgrades to support safer travel for everyone.
City of Capitola
Bay Avenue Corridor Plan Exploring Roundabouts
Temporary, quick-build improvements at Bay and Hill Streets tested safer crossings, protected bike lanes, and traffic calming to inform long-term intersection solutions.
County of Santa Cruz
Soquel Drive Buffered Bike Lane & Congestion Mitigation Project
Improving Soquel Drive with buffered bike lanes, safer crossings, and transit upgrades to reduce congestion and support walking, biking, and transit.
Learn more
October 18, 2024
World Class Mobility: How a Journey to the Netherlands is Steering Santa Cruz County Toward a Better Future
It’s been 34 years since the first Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report warned us about the escalating dangers of […]
May 10, 2023
ThinkBike Workshop Report Released
Over two days in September, a group of elected officials, traffic engineers, and bike advocates from Santa Cruz County gathered […]
November 6, 2025
Santa Cruz Bikeway Pilot : A Community-Driven Win for Active Transportation
Santa Cruz just took a bold step toward a cleaner, safer, and more connected future with the successful launch of […]
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For more information, reach out
Matt Miller
Director, Mobility Transformation
matt.miller@ecoact.orgThe Complete Streets Collaborative
The Collaborative—made up of local leaders, including elected officials, city planners, and transportation experts—traveled to the Netherlands to experience one of the world’s most successful mobility systems firsthand. Representatives from the Cities of Watsonville, Scotts Valley, Capitola, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County, UC Santa Cruz, the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission, the Transportation Agency of Monterey County, and the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments joined the trip. Beyond expert presentations, the real value came from **seeing, feeling, and experiencing** the infrastructure that makes Dutch streets safe, efficient, and people friendly. These insights aren’t just ideas—they’re blueprints for the transformative changes we’re bringing to Santa Cruz County and beyond.
Project partners
By bringing together the best minds in urban planning, mobility, and policy, we’re turning bold ideas into real solutions that improve daily life in Santa Cruz County and our region.
