Public Hearings on Highway 101 Congestion from Carpinteria to Santa Barbara

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Source: SBCAG

Two public hearings are set for June 2 and 16, 2022 to talk with residents about updates to a long-term congestion relief plan along the U.S. 101 corridor from Carpinteria to Santa Barbara. The draft Santa Barbara U.S. 101 Comprehensive Multimodal Corridor Plan (draft plan) expands on previous congestion relief strategies by adding bike, pedestrian, bus, and zero emission vehicle improvements that increase alternative transportation choices for the traveling public

The public can view and download the draft plan at www.sbcag.org/documents, or directly at www.bit.ly/3lrvUWd, which is available for review and feedback until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 22, 2022.

The public hearings provide several in-person and remote, virtual participation choices for residents and commuters to learn more about the draft plan and provide feedback. The dates/times of the hearings are:

5 p.m., Thursday, June 2 – Public Hearing

  • In-person at the SBCAG Office, Manzanita Conference Room, 260 N. San Antonio, Rd. Santa Barbara, CA, or
  • Zoom meeting at Webinar ID: 824 9800 2594; Passcode: 200558; or
  • Telephone: 1 (669) 900 9128

10 a.m., Thursday, June 16 – Public Hearing at SBCAG Board of Directors Meeting

  • In-person at the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors Hearing Room, 105 E. Anapamu Street, 4th Floor, Santa Barbara, CA, or
  • This hearing will take place simultaneously with the SBCAG Board of Directors meeting, details on how to participate remotely will be published on the SBCAG Board agenda at least 48 prior to the meeting online at www.sbcag.org

The updated draft plan is to document on-going regional efforts that align with the State’s transportation climate action goals. It is also to be ready for all available State funding opportunities.

Santa Barbara County Association of Government’s (SBCAG) number one countywide transportation priority is to fully fund and finish construction of the Montecito and Santa Barbara segments of the Highway 101 Carpinteria to Santa Barbara project. 

“There are seven miles currently under construction along U.S. 101 to help increase public transportation and rideshare choices through the communities of Carpinteria, Toro Canyon, Summerland with 12 local projects to improve transit opportunities and bicycle, pedestrian, and coastal access support the overall congestion relief strategy,” said Marjie Kirn, Executive Director of SBCAG. “Two and a half miles remain to be fully funded. The updated draft plan is the blueprint we need to achieve a transportation future that is safe, equitable and resilient to meet the needs not only for Santa Barbara County, but in the central coast and beyond.”

Without the congestion relief measures identified in the draft plan, daily traffic on U.S. 101 through the south coast is expected to increase by between 12 and 94 percent between 2010 to 2040, depending on the location. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 commuter statistics (LEHD), 1.7 percent of Ventura County residents (approximately 14,892 people) commute to work in Santa Barbara County. This inter-county imbalance leads to increased transportation demands on U.S. 101, with related increases in congestion.

Added congestion relief priorities called for in the draft plan include an electric bus fleet for Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District and contactless payment systems for the Coastal Express operated by Ventura County Transportation Commission. Increased bicycle and pedestrian projects within the City of Santa Barbara as well as the County unincorporated areas such as a project to connect Sheffield Drive to Ortega Hill in Montecito. Additionally, the draft plan includes incorporating recommendations from the Central Coast Zero Emission Strategy to implement zero emission vehicle charging stations in priority areas along the U.S. 101 corridor.

Comments on the draft Santa Barbara U.S. 101 Multimodal Corridor Plan may also be submitted in writing until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 22, 2022. Written comments can be submitted via U.S. Postal Service to 260 N. San Antonio Road, Suite B, Santa Barbara, CA 93110; or electronically by emailing info@sbcag.org.

Residents who require accommodations to participate in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act or to request a Spanish-language interpreter should contact SBCAG by telephone at (805) 961-8900 or email at info@sbcag.org by Monday, May 30, 2022, for the Thursday, June 2 public hearing or by Monday, June 13 for the Thursday, June 16 public hearing.

ATTACHMENT (link provided)

  1. Draft Santa Barbara U.S. 101 Multimodal Corridor Plan
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21 Comments

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Chip of SB
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May 23, 2022 11:13 AM
Public Hearings on Highway 101 Congestion from Carpinteria to Santa Barbara

Based on the topics these meetings are focused on, I think we can count on more and more congestion in the years ahead. More lanes should have been added 20-30 years ago, and I suspect the next freeway expansion project will come 20-30 years too late as well. We need a statewide campaign to expand our freeways and roads in a coordinated manner until congestion is eliminated. Having an appropriate level of freeway capacity to meet demand helps foster strong economic activity and it’s crucial to to public safety because it facilitates orderly evacuation in the event of an emergency.

CoastWatch
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May 25, 2022 05:57 PM
Public Hearings on Highway 101 Congestion from Carpinteria to Santa Barbara

@SACJON--- LOL! Yeah, lets encourage "Free" rides like the old Trolly that ran up and down State with BUMS on it... That's AMERICAN! I can just see a professional woman dressed to go to work sitting next to an urban camper going to get his free hot meal at the Rescue Mission in SB... Get out of your "bubble" and get a sense of reality...Go down to Cacique and Milpas for the day!

26tpi
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May 23, 2022 07:50 PM
Public Hearings on Highway 101 Congestion from Carpinteria to Santa Barbara

I’m with BB,….. lets all wonder how more affordable housing and traffic congestion correlate. You have time to ponder these thoughts while waiting through the 2nd traffic light. After that puzzle is solved, we can switch thinking to the expected water rationing!

Gary Mussell
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May 24, 2022 09:05 AM
Public Hearings on Highway 101 Congestion from Carpinteria to Santa Barbara

We cannot keep adding lanes to handle anticipated congestion. People love their cars and the freedom they imply, but they are ruining our cities. Electric cars may reduce pollution, but they are still cars. The gas tax becomes irrelevant when only half the cars use gasoline. We have to find viable alternatives that people will use. People seem loathe to use public transportation in California but some form of it must be created or else find a way we all just work out of our homes.

Channelfog
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May 24, 2022 09:07 AM
Public Hearings on Highway 101 Congestion from Carpinteria to Santa Barbara

Let us not forget that the widening decades ago, was thwarted by Montecito residents, and a certain politician with a building named after her, who were unwilling to give up their "Sylvan entrance" to Montecito. A sylvan entrance they eventually lost anyway. NIMBY and local politics always seem to get in the way of needed progress.

CreekMoe
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May 24, 2022 12:21 PM
Public Hearings on Highway 101 Congestion from Carpinteria to Santa Barbara

People must still be amazed that SB stopped the 101 from becoming a freeway thru town.
And left the string of traffic lights for decades. SB needs to look to OC to see how a modern
city deals with traffic. Just need to widen the 101 to 8 or 10 lanes. Eminent domain the old
shacks and junk from last century. Think PROGRESS.

Or build a new freeway up in the foothills to bypass SB. Then drivers will have a great view of
the city and harbor lights.

Or connect Ventura to Lompoc with an off shore freeway?

jgr
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May 24, 2022 12:25 PM
Public Hearings on Highway 101 Congestion from Carpinteria to Santa Barbara

We need to build an all-new freeway on the hillside above Santa Barbara, Montecito and Carpinteria so through traffic doesn't need to use the current "in-town" 101 freeway. Where there's a will there's a way! It's what cities on the Mediterranean have built and even Ensenada has just completed one around the hills on the north side of town.

yacht rocked
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May 24, 2022 04:03 PM
Public Hearings on Highway 101 Congestion from Carpinteria to Santa Barbara

I think it's a "be careful what you ask for" idea. The Bay Area did the same thing with Highway 280 from San Jose to San Francisco, and whatever open spaces were left between the two highways gradually filled in with housing and other building development. Now the 280 is just as congested as the 101 much of the time, and wildlife (except Coyotes) was pushed further into the hills.

drbigness
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May 24, 2022 03:14 PM
Public Hearings on Highway 101 Congestion from Carpinteria to Santa Barbara

i proposed a hill-side route years ago, but billions of real estate property destroyed= loss of taxes and residences. why not pay musk to tunnel from summerland to noleta? also where is the funding schedule to 3rd lane fairview to storke, a nightmare on weekends and holidays? does anyone know status?

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