SBCAG to Unveil Proposed Safety and Mobility Improvements for State Route 166

The public is invited to weigh in on proposed improvements at upcoming workshops.

The Santa Barbara County Association of Governments will present proposed safety and mobility improvements on a 7.4 mile stretch of State Route 166 between Guadalupe and Santa Maria, during two upcoming community workshops.  

The workshops will take place on the following dates and locations: 

Santa Maria | Thursday, May 22
4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Santa Maria Veterans Memorial Hall
313 W Tunnell Street, Santa Maria
Workshop will be held in English, with consecutive interpretation available in English and Spanish. 

Guadalupe | Thursday, May 29
4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Guadalupe City Hall Auditorium
918 Obispo Steet, Guadalupe
Workshop will be held in English, with simultaneous interpretation available in English  and Spanish.

All residents and travelers who use State Route 166 between Guadalupe and Santa Maria are  encouraged to attend and share their input. Feedback gathered during these workshops will help  refine the proposed improvements and guide the final State Route 166 Corridor Study. 

We’ve listened closely to the concerns shared by the community about safety, mobility, and  environmental issues along the State Route 166 corridor between Guadalupe and Santa Maria,”  said SBCAG Executive Director Marjie KIRN. “These community workshops are an opportunity  to hear solutions that directly reflect the input from the community. Our goal is to work together  to improve the corridor and support a safer, healthier quality of life.” 

The proposed corridor improvements have been developed based on an extensive process of  community engagement, which included online surveys, interactive mapping tools, in-person  events, and data analysis of existing conditions since the fall of 2024.  

The final State Route 166 Corridor Study will serve as a foundation for securing grant funding to  implement these improvements. 

“The proposed improvements we’re sharing are the result of strong collaboration with community  members, local agencies, and public safety officials,” said Maya Kulkarni, transportation planner  for SBCAG. “We’ve built real momentum together, and I encourage everyone to stay involved as  we work to finalize the State Route 166 Corridor Study—these workshops are an important step toward making future improvements a reality.” 

Additionally, the proposed recommendations will be presented at a Stakeholder Advisory  Committee meeting at 1 p.m. on May 22 at the Santa Maria Public Works Operations Building,  810 W. Church Street. The committee includes representatives from organizations such as Bonipak Produce, the California Highway Patrol, the County Sheriff, the Grower-Shipper Association of  Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties, MOVE Santa Barbara County, and the Santa Maria  Valley Railroad. 

SBCAG was awarded a $250,000 Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant by Caltrans to carry  out this study in collaboration with the cities of Santa Maria and Guadalupe. The study is being  led by DKS Associates in partnership with Psomas and is expected to be considered for adoption  by the SBCAG Board of Directors in the fall of 2025. 

For more information or to subscribe to SBCAG news alerts, visit the project webpage at sbcag.org/project/sr-166-study, call (805) 600-4477, or email info@sbcag.org.