The Santa Cruz Riverwalk’s 5 mile loop was completed in 2017 with the construction of the Branciforte Creek Bicycle Pedestrian Bridge. On January 24, this project and its engineer -City Engineer/Assistant Public Works Director Chris Schneiter (pictured here, left) – each received an American Public Works Association award. Read more in this press release from the City of Santa Cruz Public Works Department:
City of Santa Cruz Honored with Two American Public Works Association Awards
SANTA CRUZ —The American Public Works Association Monterey Bay Chapter awarded the City of Santa Cruz “2018 Project of the Year” (Value Under $5 Million) for the Branciforte Creek Bicycle Pedestrian Bridge and Multi-Use Trail Project and “2018 Public Works Person of the Year” to City Engineer/Assistant Public Works Director Chris Schneiter at a ceremony on Jan. 24.
Public Works Director Mark Dettle is pleased with the double industry recognition. “Chris and his engineering staff have been responsible for hundreds of major improvements in our City over 30 years now—everything from retrofitting and replacing our bridges to the reconstruction of downtown after the Loma Prieta quake to the Branciforte Bike Ped Bridge that earned us 2018 Project of the Year.”
Schneiter’s infrastructure accomplishments began in 1987. They include construction of Depot Park, renovation of historic City Hall, Arana Gulch Bridge and Multi-Use Trail Project, San Lorenzo River Bike/Pedestrian Bridge and Highway 1 underpass path, various bike lane, cycle track, erosion control and traffic signal projects, Wharf and Depot Park roundabouts, three refuse cells and storm water bypass tunnels at the Resource Recovery Facility, Front/Soquel and Locust/Cedar downtown parking structures and the Secondary Treatment Upgrade of the Wastewater Treatment Facility.
Schneiter’s award-winning Branciforte Bicycle Pedestrian Bridge and Multi-Use Trail Project included teamwork by Project Manager Nathan Nguyen, Transportation Planner Claire Fliesler, City Arborist Leslie Keedy, TRC Solutions Designer Mark Imbriani, WSP Construction Manager Bruce Shewchuk and Graniterock Project Engineer Matt Wadiak.
Constructed in 2017, the Branciforte Creek Bicycle Pedestrian Bridge and Multi-Use Trail Project completes the gap in the 5-mile Riverwalk system providing a fully separate pathway for pedestrians and cyclists that keeps them safe from motor vehicle traffic. The project is helping to increase walking, biking and safety in Santa Cruz and supports the City’s new Go Santa Cruz initiative which includes ongoing work to expand active transportation facilities and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The project construction was funded with a $1.8 million California State Active Transportation Program grant and $400,000 in local Gas Tax funds.
The annual American Public Works Association Monterey Bay Chapter Awards are based on a competitive process. Additional honors included “2018 Project of the Year” (Value Over $5 Million) awarded to Caltrans District 5’s Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge and “2018 Project of the Year” (Environmental) to Monterey County’s Elkhorn Road Emergency Storm Damage Repair.