Carpool lane project back on track
A judge from the Santa Barbara Superior Court ruled Tuesday morning in favor of moving forward on the South Coast 101 HOV Lanes Project.
The court upheld a Revised Environmental Impact Report (EIR) which focuses specifically on the topic of intersections analysis. The ruling by Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Thomas Anderle removes the final remaining hurdle on the South Coast 101 HOV Lanes Project.
Marjie Kirn, Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) Executive Director, says this will help the progress on the SBCAG and Caltrans’ 101 HOV Lanes Project.
“In the last month we’ve made tremendous progress on the SBCAG’s promised ‘lane & train’ solution to congestion on US 101,” said Kirn. “In March, SBCAG, and Caltrans received $226 million for the HOV project from the California Transportation Commission, in April, SBCAG started a new peak hour rail service connecting Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, and today the court’s decision resolves all the legal challenges to the project. SBCAG’s ‘lane and train’ solution is making progress as promised.”
The project proposed includes new high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes in each direction of U.S. Highway 101 between Bailard Avenue in the City of Carpinteria and Sycamore Creek (north of Salinas Street) in the City of Santa Barbara. The project would also reconstruct two interchanges at Sheffield Drive and Cabrillo Boulevard/Hot Springs Road, including replacing the left-side ramps with new right-side ones.
“I am pleased this important upgrade of US 101 will move forward allowing increased mobility for thousands of motorists on the south coast. It is great news for travelers that construction on this project is now on the horizon,” said Caltrans Acting District Director Richard Rosales.
The South Coast 101 HOV Lanes Project is estimated to cost $350 million.
For more information on this project click here, or residents may also call the District 5 Public Affairs Unit at (805) 549-3237.
