State Commission funds a historic $80 million for Santa Barbara transportation projects

SANTA BARBAR COUNTY, Calif. – A total of $80 million has been approved by the California Transportation Commission for seven projects in Santa Barbara County.

That is largest number of projects funded in a single year since the creation of the Active Transportation Program since it was signed into law by Governor Brown in 2013.

A notable number of state-wide active transportation projects received funding due to the inclusion of $1 billion in one-time state funds directed through the California Budget Act of 2022.

“I am excited the state was able to allocate crucial funding to communities throughout Santa Barbara County,” details State Senator Monique Limón, "$80 million of funding dedicated to active transportation will be invested into communities like Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, Lompoc, and other organizations throughout the county focused on expanding transportation. This level of collaboration between state officials and local governments is critical in creating opportunities that will benefit all in our communities."

The following detailed list of each of the seven projects was provided by Lauren Bianchi Klemann, the Government Affairs/Public Information Officer for the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments:

1. Isla Vista Bike and Pedestrian Improvements Project (Santa Barbara County) - ATP Award Amount: $7,107,000
   • This project includes curb extensions, sidewalks and crosswalks for pedestrians, and protected bike lanes, boulevards, lane extensions/conflict striping, and bike left-hand turn lanes to improve safety. The project is in an unincorporated neighborhood located south of El Colegio Road, west of Ocean Road, north of and including Del Playa Drive, and east of Camino Majorca within Santa Barbara County.          

2. Cliff Drive: Urban Highway to Complete Street Transformation Project (City of Santa Barbara) - ATP Award Amount: $27,191,000
   • This project includes the design and construction of 3.1 miles of new multi-use path along Cliff Drive from the Arroyo Burro Beach entrance to Castillo Street, and construction of 11 new pedestrian crossings to improve pedestrian and access to the new path.

3. Westside and Lower West Neighborhoods Active Transportation Plan Implementation Project (City of Santa Barbara) - ATP Award Amount $19,182,000
   • This project will include a separated bike path along Modoc Road, a new bike route connecting the Westside and Lower West, safety enhancements to 15 neighborhood crosswalks, sidewalk infill along six neighborhood streets, and lighting along San Andres Street and Modoc Road.

4. Milpas Street Crosswalk Safety and Sidewalk Widening Project (City of Santa Barbara) - ATP Award Amount: $7,995,000
   • This project creates a safe corridor for active transportation users by widening the sidewalks at street corners; installing curb extensions, lighting and high visibility crosswalks at intersections; mast-arm flasher at an intersection, and incorporating accessibility improvements.

5. Active Santa Maria Safe Routes to School Corridor Improvements Project (City of Santa Maria) - ATP Award Amount: $7,721,000
   • This project will construct active transportation improvements on three corridors serving five Santa Maria schools and Allan Hancock College. A combination of bicycle lanes and a Class III bicycle route on Fesler Street provide a low-stress alternative to Main Street from Blosser Road to Bradley Road. On Bradley Road, a protected bikeway and new shared-use path provide a connection between the new Fesler Street bikeway and existing bicycle lanes south of Main Street. New bicycle lanes and sharrows between Jones Street and Stowell Road close a gap between existing bicycle lanes on Bradley Road, creating a continuous north-south bikeway from Fesler Street to the southern end of Bradley Road at S. College Drive. A new Class I shared use path on Jones Street from College Drive to Suey Road extends an existing path to create a continuous off-street bikeway from Miller Street to Suey Road and providing a low-stress connection across the Highway 101 corridor.

6. Los Alamos Connected Community Project (Caltrans District 5) - ATP Award Amount: $8,075,000
   • On SR 135 from Main St. east of US 101/SR 135 junction to Den St. and along Centennial St. in the unincorporated rural community of Los Alamos, Santa Barbara County, CA. Construct pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure for 0.9 miles of SR 135 to connect residential areas to downtown community corridor and Olga Reed elementary school in Los Alamos.

7. City of Lompoc Walkability, Community Safety and School Investments Project (City of Lompoc) - ATP Award Amount: $2,795,000
   • This project will enhance pedestrian safety corridors to Lompoc High School, Lompoc Valley Middle School, Hapgood Elementary School, Clarence Ruth Elementary School, the Lompoc Family YMCA, the Skate Park, the Lompoc Aquatic Center, the newly renovated Lompoc Community Track and Field, the Half Century Senior Club and high density low-income housing which is prevalent in this area. Additionally, the project will infill missing sidewalks, add lighting, install five crossing improvements to include two flashing beacons, laddered crosswalks, curb ramps and speed calming signage. The project will also include pedestrian safety-related community outreach, education, and events as well as restorative justice staff, parent outreach, and SRTS Peace Builder training to ensure safe passage for youth at the four identified schools.