California Transportation Commission allocation provides a significant investment in the local economy. New funding benefits high-priority, multimodal transportation opportunities such as the Highway 101 Carpinteria project, coastal access improvements, and multi-use trails. 

The California Transportation Commission (CTC) allocated $107.54 million to SBCAG at their March CTC meeting which was originally scheduled to be held in Santa Barbara, California. The CTC meeting was held via teleconference in response to Governor Newsom’s March 17, 2020 Executive Order N-29-20 related to COVID-19. The funding supports high-priority multimodal transportation projects in Santa Barbara County to relieve congestion in the U.S. 101 Corridor. A significant portion of the state funding comes from Senate Bill 1, known as the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017. SBCAG, in partnership with Caltrans, was able to leverage this state funding due to Measure A, Santa Barbara County’s local transportation sales tax to support local government partners in the construction of five projects benefiting the public and local economy. 

“We are very grateful to receive this funding from the California Transportation Commission,” said Gregg Hart, Chair of SBCAG Board of Directors. “Now, more than ever, as we are faced with impacts on health and the economy as a result of COVID-19, we recognize the critical role transportation projects will provide in creating jobs and in helping to foster economic growth.”

The following is a list of the CTC funded projects for Santa Barbara County: 

Highway 101: Carpinteria 
$105.5 million 
The project will add a peak-period carpool lane to the freeway in each direction within the City of Carpinteria between Bailard Avenue and the southbound Highway 101 on-ramp at Santa Claus Lane. The new lanes will tie into recently added third lanes to the south and upcoming projects to the north. New bridges will be built over Franklin and Santa Monica Creeks. There will be freeway on- and off-ramp improvements at Santa Monica Road, Carpinteria Avenue, and Reynolds Avenue. Six new sound walls will be constructed to reduce freeway noise for neighbors. On local streets, there will be improvements to the intersections at Santa Monica Road and Via Real, Reynolds and Carpinteria Avenues; and Bailard Avenue and the freeway ramps. $96 million is designated for capital costs, highway and landscaping. Construction starts April 5, more information avaiable via the SBROADS.com website. 

Santa Claus Lane Class I Bike Path 
$410,000
The project will construct a Class I Bike Path adjacent to the southbound lanes of US 101 between Estero Street, near Carpinteria Avenue off-ramp in the City of Carpinteria, and Sand Point Road in the County of Santa Barbara.

Rincon Multi-use Trail 
$802,000
The Project will construct a multi-use pedestrian and bicycle Class I path connecting Carpinteria Avenue to Rincon County Beach Park

Summerland Area Coastal Access Improvements 
$600,000
The project is located in the County of Santa Barbara, near the community of Summerland. This project will construct 0.4 miles of sidewalk and add coastal access parking along Wallace Avenue. This project will also construct 0.4 miles of sidewalk to complete a gap in California Coastal Trail between Greenwell Drive and North Padaro Lane and add a Class I multi-purpose path.

North Padaro Lane Coastal Access Improvements 
$180,000
The project will construct 0.2 miles of sidewalk to complete a gap in California Coastal Trail between Highway 101 and Loon Point Beach Parking area where coastal access exists. This project will also add coastal trail signage along North Padaro Lane and for vertical access to beach.

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About the California Transportation Commission
The California Transportation Commission is an independent public agency responsible for programming and allocating state and federal transportation funds used in the construction of highway, intercity passenger rail, active transportation, transit, and aeronautic improvements throughout California. 

Highway 101 Ribbon Cutting & Groundbreaking, Santa Ynez Valley Traffic Circulation and Traffic Study Community Meeting, Open Streets Santa Maria, and  Santa Ynez River Trail Alignment Study Community Meeting among the public events postponed.

SBCAG in coordination with City partners, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, Caltrans, and the California Transportation Commission has postponed community meetings and special events through the end of March and early April per the latest health order from the County of Santa Barbara, guidelines from Governor Newsom and the California Department of Public Health in response to COVID-19.
 
While no cases have been officially reported yet in Santa Barbara County, SBCAG recognizes the importance of taking necessary actions to ensure that all members of the public have the opportunity to fully participate in these community gatherings. SBCAG acknowledges the significance of California Department of Public Health’s guidance on implementing aggressive strategies that create social distance and those that reduce close contact of people not regularly together, including limiting gatherings, that have proven effective in prior pandemics at delaying rates of transmission and reducing illness and death.
 
Thoughtful planning and coordination has gone into organizing these community meetings and events for the benefit of communities and residents of Santa Barbara County. SBCAG looks forward to rescheduling these events when attendance of all members of the community is possible.
 
Listed below are the following public events that have been postponed:

• March 25-16: California Transportation Commission will no longer be holding their March 25 and 26 meeting in Santa Barbara. The regular meeting agenda and information on how to participate will be posted on Friday, March 13 on their website. SBCAG is working closely with the California Transportation Commission on scheduling a future meeting in Santa Barbara. In consultation with the Commission, Caltrans, and the City of Carpinteria. The corresponding special events related to the Commission’s visit will be postponed.

• March 26: Ribbon Cutting / Groundbreaking for the U.S. 101 Linden and Casitas Project & U.S. 101: Carpinteria.

• March 26: Santa Ynez Valley Traffic Circulation and Safety Study Community Meeting in Solvang (rescheduled to May).

• March 29: Open Streets Santa Maria (rescheduled to October 25).

• April 7: Santa Ynez River Trail Alignment Study in Buellton (rescheduled to May).

 
While SBCAG has postponed all upcoming non-essential community meetings and special events through April, the SBCAG Board of Directors will conduct their regular scheduled meeting on March 19 as an essential meeting of the legislative body. The agenda is available on the SBCAG website. Consistent with the Governors Executive Order N 25-20 related to COVID-19, SBCAG is required to notice at least one publicly accessible location from which members of the public shall have the right to observe and offer public comment at the public meeting. The meeting location is the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors Hearing Room at 105 E. Anapamu St, 4th floor in Santa Barbara, or the public can participate using the remote video testimony system located at the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors Hearing Room, 511 E. Lakeside Parkway in Santa Maria. The County of Santa Barbara has implemented social distancing requirements in their board hearing rooms that will be applied to the SBCAG’s regularly scheduled meeting. Additionally, the public can submit written public comment to 260 N. San Antonia Road, Suite B, Santa Barbara, CA 93110, or electronically via email at sbcaginfo@sbcag.org prior to the meeting. SBCAG Board of Directors meetings are televised live on County of Santa Barbara Television (CSBTV) Channel 20. Rebroadcast of this SBCAG meeting will be at 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 21 and 5 p.m. on Monday, March 23.
 
The public is reminded to stay informed and follow the guidance of the Santa Barbara Public Health Department that has been working to urge the community of taking steps to take to protect their health and the health of those around them, including:

• Wash your hands with soap and water
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Stay away from work, school or other people if you become sick with respiratory symptoms like fever and cough
• Get vaccinated for the flu every year

 
For more information about COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019), please visit the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department website or call the Public Health Department information line at 805-681-4373 (recorded information in English and Spanish). For the most up to date information regarding the novel coronavirus on the national level, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

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