Traffic lights now operational at Trout Gulch Road and Soquel Drive in Aptos
After years of Trout Gulch Road and Soquel Drive being run by a 4-way stop, the traffic lights are now operational.
Residents and business owners in the area say they are hopeful this will improve the flow of traffic, some already seeing a difference. “It’s actually looking better, as far as I can see, than it was before with the stop signs,” says Aptos Resident Alex Shlafer. Resident Charlie Baird says “bottom line is when you have a lot of traffic coming two ways here, this is the only thing you can do otherwise it’s going to be chaos.”
Stacey Ross, another resident, says he is hopeful they will improve congestion, but the true test will be during the busy Summer months, “so far it looks to be working, they just came online so I guess we’ll have to see when we get the real traffic in here.”
Pedestrians saying the lights were not only needed for traffic control, but also for the safety of pedestrians, “I think it’s going to be a really good thing, i’m hopeful, and we have needed some lighting because trying to walk across the street here as a pedestrian it was terrifying.”
It’s not only pedestrians and drivers that have seen impacts from the construction in the area, Chelsea Smith, owner of Jet Set Bohemian, says businesses have taken a hit too. “The delay with all of the construction really tripped us up, because they did some paving right here in front of our store and actually blocked one entrance to the parking lot,” says Smith.
She’s hopeful this project will not only help with traffic but also bring new customers to their 25 year old shop, “I certainly believe that this project coupled with the other project that’s going on in Aptos will certainly bring people in that even though we’ve been here so long didn’t know we existed, so i’m pleased with that in terms of the business.”
Some residents did express concern about parts of the new intersection. One resident said drivers are not following some of the directional signs when it comes to where to stop at the lights, and some drivers block the cross walks and train tracks. He also tells KION he wishes the bus drop off area on Soquel Drive near Trout Gulch Road was wider because he sees buses often times blocking traffic when they stop.
