Anonymous
(Photos: Edhat reader/ Google Maps)
Source: City of Santa Barbara
The queuing from Chick fil-A’s drive-through onto State Street (3707 State Street) is a serious safety and traffic congestion issue that the city is very concerned about. City Staff, including the Attorney’s Office, have expressed to Chick-fil-A representatives the serious nature of this nuisance occurrence, emphasizing the safety concern and the on-going traffic congestion back-ups that have been occurring on a daily basis.
The City has insisted that the nuisance to the public must be eliminated. Staff has been working with Chick-fil-A’s corporate offices in the hopes of producing short and long-term solutions to eliminate the queuing onto State Street. Chick-fil-A representatives have acknowledged responsibility for addressing the public safety concerns and are actively pursuing options to address the situation both on a temporary and long-term basis. City staff has encouraged Chick fil-A to expedite a resolution.
In the meantime, the City is asking for your help to prevent traffic collisions and congestion. Please do not stop on State Street to queue into Chick-fil-A. Queuing in the street is not only dangerous and a blockage to normal State Street travel, but it is also illegal and is a significant fine if ticketed.
What about the 99 Cent Store? Why are they just focusing on Chick-fil-A. Do more city officials live on upper State Street than Haley?
“A serious safety and traffic concern the city is seriously concerned about”…since this establishment has been open almost a decade ago.
If the city is serious about talking this talk, then please target other problem spots such as 99 cent plus store parking lot on Haley, and City parking lot #4 on Chapala between Figueroa St. and Anapamu St.
Yes, exactly! The 99 cent store causes similar problems. Not quite the cluster that occurs at Chik fil a but a mess that needs attention.
The answer to this is very simple: station a couple of PD officers on the sidewalk and cite every single motorist who queues up there. No courtesy warnings—everyone gets cited. People know they shouldn’t queue up (it’s posted), but they do it anyway. The chicken place has known about this problem since day one, but refuses to address the issue. Perhaps cite them daily as well for maintaining a public nuisance, which it most certainly is.
>Please do not stop on State Street to queue into Chick-fil-A
uh, sorry “City of Santa Barbara.” It’s not my fault you people have apparently 0 urban planning expertise (which we already knew.) If I want chick-fil-a, I’m going to wait in the line that YOU created
The answer is to ticket people for doing something that the city and the private business made necessary? Uh , sorry NO THANKS. The answer is absolutely not to create even more of a police state. Did you even think before typing this?
Rex, totally agree…and honestly, i don’t need some fast food hog blocking my way…it’s illegal period. no way around that.
what?? 99cent store (hardly 99c any longer) has traffic issues? i’ve never seen this and live near by.
then again i walk downtown and not drive. but i’ve never seen a line of cars like i do at CFA
City OKs CFA drive-thru then tells CFA drive-thru not OK. Your government at work.
You’re not paying attention then ‘zerohawk’ fitting screen name by the way.
I drive by the 99 cent parking lot daily and it’s regularly backed up sometimes to State St.
Lazy people as there’s a public lot with spare spaces right across the street. Ticketing the drivers is the solution unfortunately the problem with instant tickets for anyone waiting at either location is that innocent people get stuck in that lane and can’t get out as the other lane picks up speed
Maybe they should find another location since they are so popular maybe the old Sears store.
CA drivers love their cars sooooo much and have no problem running the engine to stay in line to order lunch. Pretty amazing really. If I want fast food that much, I just drive in, park, walk in, and order. Easy.
I love it! The city is concerned about traffic. Ha ha ha. If the city were truly concerned about traffic congestion, they would have stopped approving all these housing projects that are being built.
I’ve driven by CFA hundreds of times. After the first couple of times i learned to just use the left lane(state is 2 lanes in each direction in this stretch). Has not been an issue since.
I also have been caught in the RH lane a few times, but learned to “stay left.” We have not seen anything in the way of traffic outside of CFA. Just wait until people get onto their Mac-n-Cheese (made daily with four types of cheese, 450 Calories, 29g fat, 28g carbs, and 28g protein…unhealthy, but worth every creamy bite that passes thyne lips, and onto hips).
FINALLY. How many years has this been a problem now? Bet something happened there and the City got sued and lost. About time they do something about it!! I hope it’s successful!
City Planning Dept. = Shills for Developers. Half the Council too. They are reducing and eliminating parking requirements all over town. We ain’t seen nothing yet!
I vote with my pocket book, and I’ll never patronize Chick-fail-A.
Weren’t they supposed to be boycotted? It would be ironic if the overcrowding of chick fil a led to its demise. I feel bad for the Rusty’s drivers who are either returning from a delivery or on the way out of their parking lot and have to wait because of the line blocking the driveway. CFA is ok, but it better not impede my piping hot delivery of the GOAT SB pizza place, or that boycott will be back ON.
Bottom line is that CFA has a product that a LOT of people want. They are super successful in the extremely competitive fast -food business. Most businesses would love to have CFAs too many customers “problem.”
My motto is: fast food is like smoking because it’s expensive and not good for your health. I might make an exception for CFA because I hear it’s really tasty.
Why can’t they make a second drive thru like the McDonald’s in Goleta did? At least take a look out how it works for them.
I may or may not sometimes go in the exit to avoid the queue
…and no one is concerned about the idiotic “median planters” the City built on upper State years ago that now limits and impedes traffic…? Those poor ambulance and fire engine drivers have no where to go 70% of the time on upper State
Traffic studies for drive thru restaurants are not accurate. Very pro-developer/owner. Their numbers are always questioned at planning commission meetings but staff always says no problem. Chick needs to be required to hire a guard to keep the line from forming on State St. Or they need to be made to shut down the drive thru until this traffic hazard can be corrected. The onus should be on the owner, not the driving public. That is pathetic. Mistake made at In and Out in Goleta. Did the County require the change that was made? It’s confusing as it looks like a temporary fix there. I remember when the new Starbucks was before the PC. Staff again said the traffic studies said everything was kosher. PC’s questioned it but to no available. Sorry to hear that too is a mess.
The City will not have any resolutions. The public works and transportation department is nearly incompetent if not just fully wasting funds. Staff turns over faster than the chick filet deep fries an original sammich with waffle fries. Perhaps the Cathy crew (Truett not murillo) can set up a remote drive through in the sears lot.
This evening, driving back from Goleta toward downtown Santa Barbara, I was among those who knew to get in the left lane. Tonight I stopped and let three drivers get out from behind that line of vehicles blocking the right lane. Seeing those drive-thru vehicles blocking that right lane YET AGAIN made me so pissed off I said to myself, “Okay. That does it. Tomorrow I am sending an email to SBPD and telling them that this nonsense needs to stop.” Then, I come home and find this on Edhat. Yep. THANK GAWD something will be done about this ridiculousness.
I wouldn’t rely on the City to do anything but have incompetent staff harp on what Chick Fil A and anyone who drives on upper state already realize. They don’t have solutions or anyone creative to think of opportunities. Maybe they’ll add another Roman numeral to the city code and drive more businesses away.
Too bad the photo wasn’t taken during one of the times when there is a line of cars backed up in the right lane of State St nearly to Hitchcock. Happens daily around lunchtime, maybe later, too.
Link to KEYT story that aired Thursday:
https://keyt.com/news/traffic/2020/01/23/chick-fil-a-traffic-causes-chaos/
Please don’t tell me bulb-outs are coming.
So if it’s illegal to stop on State Street by Chic Fil A, and line up to turn into the restaurant….Let’s get a cop or two out there…..to ticket and get these people off the entrance to the restaurant. To me, it would seem that it’s a better use of the police time doing this rather than giving a citation to some poor homeless guy on the street for standing….or sitting! Jezz, what a crazy community we live in! I can’t wait to retire and get out of here!
My neighbor said that since the one CFA has done so well, that there are plans to put another across from SMHS, and another somewhere along Milpas. I do not know if this is true, but that certainly would be the best of two worlds (more CFA locations and less traffic on State St.). A win-win for everyone.
I wish Santa Barbara would focus more on the aggressive homeless and panhandlers – as well as all of the gang violence and retaliations. Traffic is important – but there is a lot more important crime going down all around us.
From an update to an ex-SB’er:
“Click on “life at Estancia” button for aerial video of development.
https://www.estanciasantabarbara.com/
In the still, before playing the video? The building at lower right, with the wide driveway? Chic Fil A. It’s in the local news…”
It’s gonna be even more fun on upper State when Estancia is full! 😉
Interesting timing, as I saw an online ad for Estancia for the first time today. It’s the condo development across State from Hitchcock/Jack in the Box; the old hotel and Cattleman’s Inn restaurant. You think traffic is bad NOW!
SBPD: Next time I see a line blocking the right lane outside CFA, I want to see officers out there ticketing each and every driver who is part of that log jam.
Traffic? What about the chickens?
In and Out, has huge numbers at lunch..
very organized…
That chickens are terminal.
The condos have been there already for a year or two… It doesn’t block the road with traffic. Chik fil a is bad all around… Unhealthy, close minded owners and a traffic impeder too!
So astute to make a comparison to In-n-Out, which can literally handle four times as many car lengths in the drive-through, compared to CFA.
When your hot your hot very good food Appreciate there quality and standards The city can not inhibit progress or financial gains so it is not simple Swash the island or thin the sidewalk they spent all the monies on and make a new lane, we need to stop picking on success and work with them There success is our success .
“you’re” “their” and what is “swash?”
Actually, this lane of bumper to bumper frozen-in-place traffic is just what our homeless need. Why isn’t some enterprising soul panhandling at those curbed cars?
Enjoy your sandwich with a side of expensive ticket!
Some poor driver that gets stuck in that lane, might now even be going to ChickFile. Fist couple times I got stuck, I had no idea what was happening . I thought there was some kind of accident!! So, WHY would I get a ticket for that…… I’m NOT in line to go into Chic.
I thought after 45 years here it would work out just fine. Now it’s full of amazonians working downtown. Overly inflated prices on everything. And traffic at chic fil a. And the career I chose doesn’t pay me 100k so yeah it sucks.
Simple solution. One traffic officer stationed nearby. First car that creates a street stoppage of more than (?) cars gets a ticket.
CFA, build a staff of about 5 part-time people who direct traffic during peak demand times.
Hire from within, too. Any lazy ones, issue warnings. Accept more apps, Interview, and you’ll be prepared when things go haywire.
Cooks be ready to hand out your specials during those same hours. Make extra to satisfy the need. Have a cook assigned to cooking odd requests. A beverage person should keep them coming, and fresh! Teamwork really does work.
Great idea. Two officers for 7 days – with benefits that shouldn’t cost the city more the 300K a year.
Don’t just blame the City and CFA – how about the patrons?! Thinking that it is fine to park on State St just to get some fast food. How they just sit there clogging up traffic – safety in numbers I guess – just hide among all of the other law-breakers.
this, all this. in the end, the patrons are to blame. the fix also lies in their hands.
I cant believe they had a high paid city employee say that if your craving a chicken sandwich and the line is long go some where else for food-Thats the city’s solution (what a joke) where do I apply
I agree with those that fault the city planners. The city staff allowed this problem to be created in the first place because of their inability to accurately asses the impact of the original proposal.
And the winner for the “Santa Barbara Whines” award goes to the venerable Edhat for their “Santa Barbara to Tackle Chick-fil-A Traffic Congestion” thread.
A sign will do NO GOOD until they start issuing tickets.
Don’t forget not only does CF create a traffic mess but they also hate the LBGTQ’s and the ABCDEFGs, just saying.
Have a great weekend!!
ps: I had their chicken sando and is was not that great……….
The sad thing is the City will NOT enforce the law at that location. Wimps!
I agree, Rex, BUT the City will not issue tickets due to no spine.
There probably isn’t enough parking on site to accommodate everyone that wants to eat during lunch time. Need to move to a bigger site with adequate parking. They probably won’t ticket the customers but sending a cop over there to move people along during the jams would make the business figure out a solution.
So you can criticize, but if anyone else does it is a whine? Double standard much?
the cops would make all the money needed to pay a couple of them to spend a day or two ticketing everyone who is blocking the street…do that a couple of times a month. Some people just need to be educated via their pocket book….
Make it a double drive thru. Problem solved.
Business is TOO GOOD at the drive-in fast-food….. must punish business! The solution is to cater to the people who want to stay in their cars and get food….. so open up MORE drive-thru options!
Problem not solved, unfortunately. That would block the entire entrance, which is an issue because the exit driveway is a single lane (no room for a second entrance) and the entire last section of parking lot is set up with angled parking, even if a second entrance did fit.
The city is really only concerned about their income. Approving new development provides income for the city through property tax and sales tax. Traffic issue doesn’t really cost them anything so not their concern.
Similarities to what’s going on in the Senate right now…
Oh sorry. Yeah, they could re-do the whole parking lot, get rid of the planters and the picnic areas and get it done.
Never been to CFA but from what I hear they are very slow in the delivery of food. Perhaps better planning on CFA’s part, i.e. having the most popular items ready to go during the known busy times, would speed the process. I imagine that most people order the same things. Not really rocket science.
Book ’em, Danno!
“ALL” of the traffic congestion (& air pollution) on State St. between Hitchcock and La Cumbre is the “entire” fault of the City Planning dept ! …who continue to approve SO many BIG developments in an area that has no alternative access streets ! Whole Foods, The Marc, Grace Village, Estancia, Chick-Fil-A, Gardens on Hope (plus the Rug place on Hope is approved for a very large develpment to come ! They are basically saying “screw you” if you have a home in this neighborhood 🙁
Let’s hope when the SBPD is citing those blocking the right lane while trying to get into the Chick-Fil-A drivethru are also ticketed for looking at their cellphones. You know they are.
I agree with you, but how many people do you personally know that have been ticketed for using their cell phone behind the wheel? It’s a joke because the local SBPD, SBSO & CHP never do! Look at all the people with their phones out at stoplights, while driving, etc. Joke!
Wanna make Fast Food truly fast? Require online ordering (and payment) in advance. Then notify the customer in the same manner when their order is ready. The real problem (IMHO) is that many people are terribly slow in deciding what they want. Then there is the fumbling for money or CCs at the window to get the payment part taken care of. Then comes the inevitable delay in getting the order ready to go. The whole “system” is terribly inefficient. Personally I prefer to park and go inside when getting takeout food (and not just at CFA).
This definitely deserves all the attention it’s getting. Nothing wrong with our priorities in this town!
Until the City orders the SBPD to ticket aggressively, nothing will change other than thousands going in to enjoy chicken offerings. Come on City of SB; show us who’s wearing “The Big Boy Pants.”
The chickens are tender, fried, yummy, tasty to dip in the sauces, happy to satiate a person’s hunger, …
That isn’t going to happen because it’s the SBPD. They rather be nailing the outlaw drivers with window tint using their speedy motorcycle to chase them down.
If that’s the case, is CFA on the stock market because I’ll buy shares now before the meteoric rise.
CFA needs to send their managers & lead people to IN N Out to see how efficiency in action actually works. They are as slow as a slug trudging through molasses in the dead of a Minnesota winter when it comes to getting food out.
Forget Burger King. CFA blows them away in all areas.
The stupid city never saw this situation in adavnce and now reaps the benefits.
I don’t think ticketing folks who may or may not be in the jam up to buy CFA products (I love their homemade lemonade!). Possibly the city could put out some sort of “Event Ahead” or “Merge Left” sign with traffic cones to guide those folks who don’t want to get stuck in traffic for no reason. They do this at Earl Warren, Farmer’s Market (Tuesdays on State St., and Saturdays on Santa Barbara St.), as well as the SB Bowl. So, it’s not like that’d be out of the question. That way, people can get their chicken products, people won’t get stuck in traffic, and the city gets their $$$. Win-win-win, in my opinion.
Eliminate the drive thru and you will reduce the traffic problem. Better yet, don’t allow drive thru’s in congested areas. Address these issues before issuing a permit. The traffic impact reports currently used are a joke and it isn’t just Santa Barbara with this problem.
How about blaming the entitled customers who think it’s acceptable to block a lane of traffic because they are too lazy to get out of their vehicles? These drivers are right up there with those that hold up traffic to wait for a parking spot 20 feet closer to a store. Or those that hold up 10 cars so they can make an impossible left turn
I read yesterday that CFA loads their food with MSG. That’s why, reportedly, it tastes so good. BTW Monosodium Glutamate is actually safe to eat. It is naturally occurring in many foods and has less sodium than table salt. The trashing of it originally in Chinese food was the result of racism against Asians.
Ginger1, The action I take is not going to CFA. Not being part of the problem is being part of the solution.
Hopefully, the situation with the cars backing up on State can be fixed without the need for lawyers. I don’t know what else CFA can do aside from shutting down. Even stories about the “dreaded” MSG (harmless….unless you’re gobbling piles of it like you are deranged). CFA sales continue to skyrocket across the entire nation. More and more franchises are opening….possibly a couple more in SB. The owners and workers at CFA are apparently quite satisfied with their work and pay. Hey, if a person does not want to eat donuts, KFC, bacon, gluten, meat, or whatever, all the power to them. But, don’t tell me what to eat, or what businesses not to support due to some political disagreement.