CityofSantaBarbara
Source: City of Santa Barbara
The City of Santa Barbara invites community members to join Mayor Randy Rowse and the Santa Barbara City Council for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the Las Positas and Modoc Roads Multiuse Path and Phase II of the Arroyo Burro Open Space Restoration Project.
The City’s Transportation Planning and Parking Division (Public Works Department) and Creeks Division (Parks and Recreation Department) are hosting the event on Thursday, March 3, at 8:30 a.m. at the Arroyo Burro Open Space. Please note parking is not available along Las Positas Road. Attendees should park at the Open Space entrance at 599 Alan Road and walk to the ceremony site where the footbridge meets the Multiuse Path, or bike to the event on the path.
The Multiuse Path project included the construction of a 2.6-mile long pathway for bicyclists and pedestrians along Modoc Road, from Calle de Los Amigos to Las Positas Road, and along Las Positas Road from Modoc Road to Cliff Drive.
“We are excited to provide a safe route for bicyclists and pedestrians, improving access to surrounding neighborhoods, parks, and the beach,” said Jessica Grant, Interim Public Works Downtown Manager. “The project also is part of the Coast Bike Route connecting Goleta to Ventura.”
The creek restoration project included improvements along Arroyo Burro and the Campanil drainage, a tributary to Arroyo Burro. Over 2,600 native plants and 350 native trees were planted, enhancing wildlife habitat and park aesthetics. A new footbridge was also installed over Arroyo Burro, connecting travelers on the Multiuse Path with the park.
“Completing Phase II of this restoration project will help to improve water quality in the creek and downstream at Arroyo Burro Beach,” said Cameron Benson, Creeks Restoration/Clean Water Manager. “We are excited to connect Multiuse Path users with the park, and look forward to community members enjoying the creek from new viewing platforms on the footbridge.”
Funding for the Las Positas and Modoc Roads Multiuse Path was provided by the California Active Transportation Program (ATP), and through Measure C. The project construction cost was $15.5 million. Phase II of the Arroyo Burro Open Space Restoration was funded by Santa Barbara County Coastal Resource Enhancement Fund (CREF), and by hotel visitors through Measure B. The project construction cost was approximately $1.3 million.
For more information on the Multiuse Path, contact Jessica Grant at (805) 897-2542 or JGrant@SantaBarbaraCA.gov.
For more information on the creek restoration project, contact Erin Markey at (805) 560-7549 or EMarkey@SantaBarbaraCA.gov.
A beautiful and lasting community benefit. Expensive? Perhaps but well worth it in the longer view. This is the sort of thing that makes civil society much better and shows the appropriate role of government and public service. But please do not decide that this project justifies more rapacious adventures in “bike lanes” through residential neighborhoods that threaten the quality of life of those who live in congested areas and who depend on things like street parking to survive. Street parking, particularly on the Westside, is a critical resource for people who need their vehicles for their businesses and practical access to life.
Beautiful and appropriate project that many can enjoy. It is the right place. Great job!
I do agree with RHS about “bike lanes” through the old residential neighborhoods – such as is soon to come to Sola Street. And I am still waiting to see much bike traffic on the Cota Street bike lane. I rarely see even one cyclist. The Sola Street will cause other problems and will not enhance the neighborhood. Cota St is not aesthetically pleasing and and it is detrimental to businesses along the route (Arnoldi’s). The Bath and Castillo street bike lanes work great – but links the other direction are not necessary and are misguided.
With you on the ill-planned Cota bike lane.
I love how you guys are coming unglued about parking on Cota. There are only 6 houses where the bike lane went in and at most 12 on-street spaces removed. And all of those houses have off-street parking. And what businesses on Cota is it detrimental to? Do you same people complain about the lack of handicapped people using special parking spaces at the grocery store?
As the Government authorizes more density in residential neighborhoods with granny flats and allowing build-ons without requiring off-street parking be provided….. at the same time they pretend we need to remove whole blocks of parking spaces to accommodate bicycles. The reconfiguration of Cota Street is a joke, bicyclists are not using it and it mostly negatively affects those who live and work along that corridor.
EHDAT – No one is “unglued”. It is a reasonable community discussion of how taxpayer money is spent and evaluation of benefit. it’s much more than the parking issue and not at all similar to HC spaces in parking lots.