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Broad community participation is critical to the success of 101 In Motion. The launch event also kicked off the public outreach program planned for the project, by announcing the first set of community workshops:
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Tuesday, March 9 - Each meeting
will start at 6:00 p.m. with a one-hour open house session where
participants can learn about 101 In Motion and speak one-on-one
with project team members. At 7:00 p.m. there will be a short
presentation and a community brainstorming session, where participants
will have an opportunity to share ideas. We encourage everyone
to participate.
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Officials from the City of Santa Maria, Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG), Allan Hancock College and Caltrans held a ribbon cutting event on February 26 near the Route 101/Stowell Road Interchange to celebrate the completion of the Stowell Road Mosaic Tower project. |
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This project was a joint effort of the City of Santa Maria, who sponsored the project, and student and faculty at Allan Hancock College. It also adds the final aesthetic element to the new interchange and bridge completed by SBCAG under the Measure D Highway Program in late 2002. "Completion of the Mosaic Tower project adds the finishing touches to this critical interchange project,"said Larry Lavagnino, the Mayor of Santa Maria. The Stowell and Donovan Road interchanges were both completed using reserves from Measure D, a local sales tax specifically dedicated to fund transportation projects. |
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SBCAG Executive Director, Jim Kemp, stated "Measure D has had an enormous impact by generating over $250 million to improve our transportation system in the county, with tight fiscal times ahead, Measure D will provide a source of reliable revenue to our local agencies over the next few years." For more information regarding this Stowell Road Mosaic Tower ribbon cutting event call Fred Luna at 961-8926. |
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On February 20 SBCAG launched a newly redesigned website, with a fresh new look and enhanced navigation that will make it easier for visitors to access important information. Visitors will be able to learn about current and future SBCAG projects, research planning and transportation issues, access board and committee agendas and staff reports, view a calendar of upcoming events, and sign up for SBCAG's monthly newsletter NewsWire. |
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There are also useful links to other SBCAG programs, such as the Clean Air Express service, the 101 in Motion website, and the Traffic Solutions program. Visit www.sbcag.org to experience the new and improved countywide resource. |
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CASA NUEVA, MAKING A GREEN STATEMENT
Casa Nueva, the first "green building" constructed by the County of Santa Barbara, officially opened its doors in July 2003. It has become home to three countywide agencies including, the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG), Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) and the county Child Welfare Services division (CWS).
The County of Santa Barbara pursued a new direction in architecture with the Casa Nueva project and fulfilled the overall goal of utilizing sustainable building practices. As a result of this charge, Casa Nueva has many features that qualify as environmentally friendly. To conserve water resources, Casa Nueva was landscaped with native and other drought tolerant plantings and low or no flow fixtures were installed in bathrooms. A storm water management plan and a bio-swale was created in the courtyard to pre-treat storm water runoff.
The building materials used to construct Casa Nueva were chosen with sustainability and energy efficiency in mind. The steel came from highly recyclable materials and can be used again when the building is no longer needed. The use of old growth wood was purposely avoided when possible and those elements that required wood were produced using a sustainable source; maple, bamboo, ipe and pao lope. The carpeting is a recycled modular material making it possible to replace incrementally and its self adhesive nature doesn't emit harmful gases. The building uses a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system that's able to run on fresh air, which saves energy. Cooling and heating operations work together with the outside temperature to provide a comfortable climate inside. The sails are more than a design element and serve to cool the roof top and keep the intake air at a lower temperature. The use of natural light and operable windows makes it possible for the building users to benefit from the Santa Barbara climate.
An open house has been organized for Wednesday, March 17, from 2:00-4:30 p.m. to provide the opportunity for the community to come view the new Casa Nueva building and all of its unique features.
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UNMET TRANSIT NEEDS PUBLIC HEARING
The SBCAG Board held hearings in Santa Maria and in Santa Barbara to receive comments from the public regarding unmet transit needs in Santa Barbara County. SBCAG is required under the State Transportation Development Act to complete an assessment of transit needs each year.
Pedro Lopez, Jesus Estrada and other members of the United Mextic Farm Workers requested assistance in providing journey to work transportation for their members. Mr. Lopez and Mr. Estrada explained through an interpreter, that there is a great need for transit from their communities to their field jobs.
Petra Löwen, representing the Santa Barbara County Transit Advisory Committee (SBCTAC), thanked the SBCAG Board and public transit agencies for the improvements to transit service, but noted that there were still service issues to be considered including:
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Increase in service and route frequency for all transit agencies
• Expand intercommunity transit to include service between Buellton
and Lompoc
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Expand and enhance transit service between Fairview at Cathedral
Oaks and Old Town Goleta
• Provide additional South Coast fixed route service to meet the
needs of senior citizens
• Provide bike racks on all MTD buses so as to promote multi-modal
transportation options
Alex Pujo, representing the Coalition for Sustainable Transportation (COAST), noted that transit service needs in the North County still exist and encouraged improvements in transit services for all residents in the North County, particularly, service for farm workers in the Santa Maria Valley, better marketing of transit services and intercommunity service between all cities.
In
addition to citizen testimony, Steve Maas of MTD commented on some of
the recent service improvements, including the purchase of several thirty
foot buses that will be outfitted with bike racks and be able to accommodate
two wheel chair passengers. For more information regarding Unmet Transit
Needs, please contact Ruth Garcia at rgarcia@sbcag.org
| March 2 | North County Transit Advisory Committee | NCTAC |
1:30 PM |
| March 3 | Southcoast Subregional Planning Committee | SCSPC | 2:00
PM MTD |
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March 8 (rescheduled from March 4) |
Technical Transportation Advisory Committee |
TTAC |
3:00
PM SBCAG office |
| March 12 | South Coast Transit Advisory Committee | SCTAC | 1:30
PM Westside Community Center 423 W. Victoria Street Santa Barbara |
| March 18 | SBCAG Board | SBCAG BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
8:30 AM |
All meetings are open to the public. Individuals needing special accommodations to participate in the meeting should contact SBCAG at least three work days prior to the scheduled meeting. Various other meetings, workshops, and public hearings are held periodically. For meeting locations, agendas or questions, call SBCAG at (805) 961-8900 or visit sbcag.org/Meetings
A NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR CLEAN AIR
The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) is sponsoring a new program through the Santa Barbara County Education Office Teachers Network. The goal is to encourage development and sharing of lesson plans and activities to increase student awareness and understanding of air quality and air pollution, including alternative transportation and the transportation-air quality connection.
The mini-grants program is open to all county public school K-12 teachers; applications go through the County Education Office. All the info is here: www.sbcapcd.org/teachers, and listed under "Grants -- Specialized Awards" on the County Education Office website here: www.sbceo.org/~impact2/.
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REFER
A FRIEND TO CLEAN AIR EXPRESS
Refer a friend
to the Clean Air Express and receive a $30 value Santa Barbara Axxess
coupon card with thousands of dollars of savings and two-for-one
offers at dozens of local restaurants. If your friend purchases
a Clean Air Express pass, you will be sent a FREE Axxess
card (while supplies last). Contact Scott Spaulding at |
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| March 20 |
Goleta |
11:00 to
4:00 p.m. at Stow Grove Park |
INFORMATION REQUESTS FILLED
January
2004
| Countywide Bike Map | 541 |
| Regional Transit | 3 |
| Bicycle Class Attendees | 15 |
| Carpool Matchlist | 13 |
PROGRAM UPDATES
BICYCLE SAFETY TRAINING
Join our certified bicycle safety trainers and learn the basics of bicycling for transportation. Bicycle Safety Training classes are provided to the community free of charge. Contact Erika Lindemann for more information about how you can enroll: elindemann@sbcag.org
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RAYTHEON SYSTEMS ENHANCES BICYCLE PARKING
Santa Barbara's largest private employer, Raytheon Systems, has recently made their covered bicycle parking facility more secure by adding chain-link fencing, barbed wire and a locked door with a combination known only to Raytheon bicycle commuters. Security guards stationed nearby watch over the bike cage, adding to the new protective measures designed to encourage commuters to jump on their bike instead of into their car.
Raytheon
has always been a big supporter of Traffic Solutions' programs and has
a large number of bicycle commuters, in addition to many vanpoolers,
carpoolers and Clean Air Express riders. Traffic Solutions encourages
other Santa Barbara County employers to follow Raytheon's lead and ensure
that employees who commute by bicycle have access to secure bicycle
parking. Providing secure parking for bicycles is a great way to encourage
recreational riders (with expensive bicycles) to commute to work by
bike. For advice about the most effective and economic ways to provide
your employees with secure bicycle parking give our Bicycle Coordinator,
Erika Lindemann, a call at
961-8919 or email her at elindemann@sbcag.org
Send an email with your name and address to shannon@sbcag.org to get a Santa Barbara County Bike map or Transit map mailed to you, please specify how many you would like.