CityofGoleta
One Vehicle Lane in Each Direction Began July 12
There is a new traffic pattern in Old Town along Hollister Avenue. Fairview Avenue to Kinman Avenue is now one lane in each direction. Last night, July 11, crews updated the traffic pattern from two-vehicle lanes in each direction to one-vehicle lane in each direction.
Next week crews will continue installing new parking signs, wheel stops at the back-in angled parking stalls and finalize striping. This work is anticipated to be completed by Friday, July 19. Utility manhole and valve adjustments will occur from Monday, July 15 through Friday, July 26.
As a reminder, Old Town is Open for Business during construction. Please show your support! Public parking is available for free at three designated public parking lots: Community West Bank (corner of Pine Avenue and Hollister Avenue), Orange Avenue Lot, and Carson Street (between Orange Avenue and Fairview Avenue).
When the project is finished, the public can look forward to increased parking spaces. To prepare for the new back-in, angled parking, watch this short video with simple steps on how to reverse, angle park: https://youtu.be/yBpYQpAaNlc.
Schedule and specific activities are subject to change.
During construction, please drive with caution and use alternative routes when possible. Share the road with pedestrians and bicyclists.
The Hollister Avenue Interim Striping Project is part of the City’s largest capital improvement project, Project Connect, which broke ground earlier this year in March 2024.
Once completed, the Hollister Avenue Interim Striping Project will feature:
- One vehicle lane in each direction
- Painted median
- Dedicated bike lanes in each direction
- Back-in, angled 90-minute parking along the north side of Hollister Avenue
- Improved pavement
- New traffic signals
For additional information or questions, please email Connect@CityofGoleta.org, call 805-690-5116 or visit www.CityofGoleta.org/ProjectConnect.
About Project Connect
Project Connect is a multi-year project that will enhance pedestrian access and safety, improve road conditions, and build critical linkage throughout Goleta while increasing stormwater flow capacity in San Jose Creek under Hollister Bridge.
The large-scale construction project includes Ekwill Street & Fowler Road Extensions, Hollister Avenue Bridge Replacement Project, two new roundabouts on Hollister Avenue at the Highway 217 interchange, the Hollister Avenue Interim Striping Project, and San Jose Creek flood control capacity improvements. Project completion is anticipated in 2026 when drivers and pedestrians will have increased east-west access across Old Town Goleta.
The City understands that projects such as this can be inconvenient, and we appreciate your patience.
My first impression of the new pattern is a very positive one. I was a little nervous about backing into a spot, but it went well (other my hatchback bumping one of the Hollister high curbs.) I walked up and down the street and visited three businesses. My plan is to hang out more than I usually do in Old Town to support the businesses through this transition. As a mostly cyclist/pedestrian, I am very excited about these changes. The receipts will prove me either right or wrong. As of today, I think this project is going to be a winner for all of us.
I worked in Old Town for years. This is a debacle. I will never go there now.
That is quite a commitment to boycott an entire mile of businesses. You are hard core. I plan to do the opposite — Old Town is going to be my first choice for dining, shopping, and hanging out. I hope you’ll reconsider.
So… Punish the businesses for a decision the city government made? Oookay
They have created a shit show downtown. Hopefully they will come to realize their mistake and repaint it before the end of the month!!
They’ll need some sort of study, costing the taxpayers more money, before doubling down and gaslighting the public with everyone loves it.
I was on a committee that studied this plan way back. More than 20 years ago. It was not an out-of-the-blue idea. I learned from one of the business owners that a lot of businesses didn’t feel consulted. That’s unfortunate if true. Since I follow a lot of transportation stuff, I kept getting notes from the City inviting the public to council meetings about it. Understandably, most business owners work so hard, they might have missed all of the notices.
This is a positive change, I’m so excited for it! Old Town is a small area but it has so much potential to be quaint. This will make it safer and easier to access the shops since there is notoriously little shopping. Maybe it will become less of a commuter route, and more for people that are intending to go to Old Town, which would be nice.
Notoriously little shopping? From Fairview to Kellogg there were exactly 2 empty storefronts when this change was implemented. Way lower vacancy rate than state street or Calle Real. But because they aren’t the shops you like, they should reconfigure the whole town?
I don’t get how back in parking is safer. It seems to me that you don’t see a spot until you pass it and then quickly need to slow down to back in – that’s if someone left enough room for you to start backing in. I forsee cars crossing over from the opposite side of the street to take parking. Makes not sense to me. Thankfully don’t have to be in Goleta often.
That’s a well thought out & informed opinion given that you haven’t yet been on the street to find out firsthand whether or not it works. But, hey, don’t let a little thing like experience & information stop you from posting. smh
Hey it’s “Hawaiian style” parking, hang loose! Seriously though I’m not sure how you arrive at this. The angle actually increases your view, that is, you can see more surface area of each parked car. An empty spot stands out more and is less likely to be hidden by a larger adjacently parked vehicle. I can understand the trepidation about backing in. Hopefully you don’t have a stiff neck! It takes some practice especially if you don’t have a back up camera. If you do have one, like most cars on the road, backing in is super easy. But the biggest advantage is when you leave the parking spot. You are much better positioned to see oncoming traffic and will slow it down much less because no one has to wait for you to maneuver out and change gears.
All the parking at East Beach has been this way for 5 years now. There were loud complaints by a few before the change was made but it’s worked out fine.
It really makes more sense, if you think about it. When parking, you are already in the street, so people can see and go around you as you back in. When leaving the parking spot, you can see oncoming traffic. Much safer. We just have to get used to it.