Residents urge for safety improvements at notorious Santa Cruz intersection

Santa Cruz, CA – Residents living near the intersection of Broadway and Cayuga Street in Santa Cruz are sounding the alarm over what they say is a consistently dangerous and crash-prone area. Frustrated by frequent accidents and what they see as a lack of immediate response, some neighbors have even installed their own warning signs in an effort to protect pedestrians and drivers alike.

David Hamilton, who lives just one house away from the intersection, says the problem has worsened in recent months, especially since the closure of the nearby Murray Street Bridge.

"I would say on a daily basis, you hear a lot of tire screeching and honking," Hamilton said.
"There was a really bad accident here a month or two ago. A car ended up three houses down, backwards in a driveway—it was going so fast it just spun out."

He’s not alone in his concern. Neighbor Peter Brook, who has lived on Cayuga for a year, says he's personally witnessed four crashes at the intersection during that time.

"It just seems like common sense that they would try to reduce the number of crashes on this corner because they happen so frequently," Brook said.

While a traffic light manages the intersection just one block away, Broadway and Cayuga remain unprotected by stop signs or signals—prompting residents to take safety into their own hands. A homemade sign recently appeared at the corner urging the city to install a four-way stop.

The intersection is also heavily trafficked by children and families, increasing concerns among those who live nearby.

"There’s kids that walk around here all the time, running out in front of cars without looking," Hamilton added. "You have to be super aware at this intersection because you never know what’s going to happen."

In a statement to KION News, the City of Santa Cruz acknowledged the problem and confirmed that improvements are coming. The intersection of Broadway and Cayuga is among 88 intersections slated for upgrades through a $2.1 million grant from the Highway Safety Improvement Program.

"The City uses collision data to guide safety improvements across Santa Cruz," the statement read. "Design development has not yet begun, but the goal will be to reduce speed and increase visibility."

City officials also emphasized that the planning process is still in its early stages and that the community will be involved as plans move forward.