Santa Barbara Eastside Sees More Lighting and Traffic Safety Improvements

The Santa Barbara Eastside now has both brighter and safer streets.

The first phase of a long list of projects is very noticeable to residents who travel in the busy area of town bordered by Milpas St., Salinas St. and Highway 101.

Santa Barbara Supervising Transportation Engineer, Derrick Bailey says community meetings revealed needs in many locations. Federal, state and local funds were put together to make the projects a reality.

They include new pedestrian islands in the crossing areas, and special blinking lights at crosswalks where residents and drivers have had dangerous encounters.

Bailey says drivers will likely slow when they see the islands, and that will make the area safer especially in or near school zones.

“They are being designed to be very low profiled, so they won’t be jarring if you do happen to drive over them. They are being built with rolled curbs, so they won’t be damaging to cars,” said Bailey.

Improvements have been years in the planning, but the city wanted to make sure drivers, walkers and bike riders could still have the easiest access possible through the area.

“We have competing interests. We want to keep traffic moving yet we do want pedestrians to get across the street safely. These improvements will help with that,” said Bailey.

There are also over 200 new lights going in. Some have been installed and have improved illumination for the often darkened area. Lighting has been a big complaint from residents in recent years. Many walk or ride bikes to and from work before sunrise and after sunset.

Project Planner Jessica Grant said, “it really changes the feel. The lighting is directed downward towards the street, and the sidewalk area.”

Studies have shown the area needed many improvements when it came to lighting and the city coordinated its efforts with Edison to use existing systems, with upgrades. “The Eastside is a walking community and I think they will feel more comfortable when they go to and from their destinations, in their neighborhood,” said Grant.

She also said the area is going to see more bridge projects that will include safety rails and walkways where they do not exist now. Some streets also need sidewalks and only have dirt paths. Funding for those projects has also been found and will be used to finish off areas that have been in need of improvements for years.

Overall the Eastside is getting a renewal that many community leaders have pushed for, and in some cases protested on street corners to get their message across.

In recent years, there have also been crosswalk improvements by the Public Works Department on Milpas St. in locations where pedestrians have struggled to get across the busy street. Those blinking crosswalk lights, and heavy police enforcement have significantly reduced injury accidents.