Transportation Planning
SBCAG to Unveil Proposed Safety and Mobility Improvements for State Route 166
May 12, 2025
The public is invited to weigh in on proposed improvements at upcoming workshops.
The Santa Barbara County Association of Governments will present proposed safety and mobility improvements on a 7.4 mile stretch of State Route 166 between Guadalupe and Santa Maria, during two upcoming community workshops.
The workshops will take place on the following dates and locations:
Santa Maria | Thursday, May 22 | 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. | Santa Maria Veterans Memorial Hall, 313 W Tunnell Street, Santa Maria. Workshop will be held in English, with consecutive interpretation available in English and Spanish.
Guadalupe | Thursday, May 29 | 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. | Guadalupe City Hall Auditorium, 918 Obispo Steet, Guadalupe. Workshop will be held in English, with simultaneous interpretation available in English and Spanish.
All residents and travelers who use State Route 166 between Guadalupe and Santa Maria are encouraged to attend and share their input. Feedback gathered during these workshops will help refine the proposed improvements and guide the final State Route 166 Corridor Study.
We’ve listened closely to the concerns shared by the community about safety, mobility, and environmental issues along the State Route 166 corridor between Guadalupe and Santa Maria,” said SBCAG Executive Director Marjie KIRN. “These community workshops are an opportunity to hear solutions that directly reflect the input from the community. Our goal is to work together to improve the corridor and support a safer, healthier quality of life.”
The proposed corridor improvements have been developed based on an extensive process of community engagement, which included online surveys, interactive mapping tools, in-person events, and data analysis of existing conditions since the fall of 2024.
The final State Route 166 Corridor Study will serve as a foundation for securing grant funding to implement these improvements.
“The proposed improvements we’re sharing are the result of strong collaboration with community members, local agencies, and public safety officials,” said Maya Kulkarni, transportation planner for SBCAG. “We’ve built real momentum together, and I encourage everyone to stay involved as we work to finalize the State Route 166 Corridor Study—these workshops are an important step toward making future improvements a reality.”
Additionally, the proposed recommendations will be presented at a Stakeholder Advisory Committee meeting at 1 p.m. on May 22 at the Santa Maria Public Works Operations Building, 810 W. Church Street. The committee includes representatives from organizations such as Bonipak Produce, the California Highway Patrol, the County Sheriff, the Grower-Shipper Association of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties, MOVE Santa Barbara County, and the Santa Maria Valley Railroad.
SBCAG was awarded a $250,000 Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant by Caltrans to carry out this study in collaboration with the cities of Santa Maria and Guadalupe. The study is being led by DKS Associates in partnership with Psomas and is expected to be considered for adoption by the SBCAG Board of Directors in the fall of 2025.
