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State
Funding Shortages Delay Projects in 2004
Regional
Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP)
The SBCAG Board approved a 2004 RTIP at its March meeting which reflected the need to delay many planned transportation improvements due to major reductions in state funding. The RTIP identifies highway, road and bikeway projects to be funded from the region's share of state and federal gas tax funds during the next five years. Continued diversion of transportation funds to address the state's ongoing budget crisis has resulted in a shortage of revenues needed to complete projects on schedule.
The board approved staff's recommended "Hybrid B" option for the RTIP which shuffles project schedules to meet state mandated annual funding targets. Under this option the board:
- Programmed several local projects that are ready for construction in the 04/05 fiscal year.
- Delayed the 101/Santa Maria six lane project to the 05/06 fiscal year and the 101/Milpas-Hot Springs operational improvement project to the 06/07 fiscal year.
- Gave priority for funding to the 101/Milpas/Hot Springs project in the year it is ready to go to construction.
- Shifted six State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) funded projects totaling $3.527 million to the federal Transportation Enhancement program and uses the available STIP funds for improvements on Route 246 between Buellton and Lompoc.
- Directed staff to evaluate the feasibility of an interim project, after the Route 246 widening environmental document is completed, and return to the Board with an interim project recommendation.
The 2004 RTIP will be submitted to the California Transportation Commission for approval and inclusion in the 2004 STIP scheduled for adoption later this summer.
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SBCAG Board Discusses the Future of Measure D
On
Thursday, March 11, the SBCAG Board held a workshop in Buellton to discuss
whether efforts should begin to extend Measure, Santa Barbara County's
half cent transportation sales tax. Measure
D was approved by county voters in 1989 and is set to expire in
2009. The tax generates approximately $28 million per year for transportation
projects in Santa Barbara County. Since its inception, nearly $183 million
has been used to repair local streets, $1.2 million has been used to
support specialized transit operators serving the county, and $120 million
has been used to fund improvements to interchanges and highways in the
county.
An extension of Measure D for up to 30 years would require approval
of a county ballot measure by a 2/3 majority of voters. The workshop
focused on whether SBCAG should begin a renewal effort that would include
educating the community on transportation funding needs, developing
an expenditure plan identifying projects that would be funded with future
sales tax revenues and drafting a ballot measure that could be placed
before the voters as early as March 2006.
Board
members expressed concern that a vote on a county split, which could
also be on the ballot in 2006, would seriously impact public support
for extending Measure D. They directed staff to seek out opportunities
to inform the public and interest groups on the successes of the current
measure in the event that an extension is placed on the ballot after
the county split issue is resolved. Staff was also directed to bring
information to the Board in the future highlighting efforts to extend
transportation sales taxes measures in other counties.
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Commuters could find some relief from the 101 traffic congestion if a federal funding request submitted to Congresswoman Lois Capps office is approved. The request for $800,000 from the FY 2004-05 federal budget was approved by the SBCAG board at its March 18 meeting. The South Coast 101 Corridor Operations and Management project could include several low-cost components to smooth freeway traffic flow between Goleta and Carpinteria including:
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A 511 Traveler Information hotline that provides real-time information about accidents, highway conditions, construction detours, weather, etc.
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A three-year freeway service patrol pilot program, which will allow accidents and vehicle breakdowns which disrupt traffic flow to be cleared quickly by tow trucks that roam the freeway during peak traffic periods.
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A highway surveillance system which monitors the corridor for traffic congestion and accidents.
Use
of such Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) strategies is common
in urban areas throughout the country to reduce congestion and improve
freeway operations.
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By coincidence, the open house for Casa Nueva on St. Patrick's Day. Maybe it wasn't such a coincidence, but the green feeling was present as visitors meandered through the recently constructed green building that serves as SBCAG's new home. Having an open house gave community leaders, neighbors, and other curious visitors an opportunity to learn more about the building and experience some of its unique, environmentally friendly features. Supervisor Rose was present to cut the ribbon and explained that Casa Nueva has set a precedent for other new construction in the county. |
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Guests
arriving at the event |
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SBCAG is a Census Affiliate Center that assists the Census Bureau in local census activities and dissemination of data, which includes an extensive transportation planning database. To date, SBCAG has received parts one and two of the three part Census Transportation Planning Package (CTPP). This database contains Place of Residence and Place of Work data. Part three that describes Place of Residence to Place of Work Flows is anticipated to be released in the near future.
In addition, the Census Bureau has recently released the Local Employment Dynamics Program that includes Quarterly Workforce Indicators which provide information on employment for workers in different industries, age, and sex groups. This tool is useful for determining on a countywide basis, what employees are getting paid and what jobs are being created and lost.
Recent
and anticipated Census data releases include the School District Tabulation
that provides data disaggregated into county school districts. The Special
Tabulation on Aging is anticipated this summer and provides data for
the older segment of the population. For more information about the
Census program, CLICK HERE.
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| March 30 | North County Transit Advisory Committee | NCTAC |
10:30 PM |
| March 30 | Santa
Barbara County Transit Advisory Council |
SBCTAC |
1:30 PM |
| April 1 |
Technical Transportation Advisory Committee |
TTAC | 9:00
AM Buellton City Council Chambers 140 West Highway 246 |
| April 7 | Southcoast Subregional Planning Committee | SCSPC |
2:00 PM |
| April 15 | 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
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Download
a brochure for your office |
Family
Bicycle Day coming to Santa Maria on April 17th, 2004 SBCAG Traffic Solutions has teamed up with Marian Medical Center CHW in Santa Maria for Santa Barbara County's first-ever Family Bicycle Day. The event will take place on: Saturday,
April 17th, 2004 from 10 AM to 12 noon, in Marian Medical Center's
Education Center's parking lot at 1410 East Main St. |
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The event is designed to teach children and parents the most important components for riding a bicycle safely and comfortably. Free and low-cost helmets will be available, courtesy of the County of Santa Barbara Emergency Medical Services. The helmets are priced on a sliding scale of only $0 to $9! Volunteers will be on hand to help fit and size all helmets. A trained bicycle mechanic will also be present to help perform basic bicycle maintenance. Participants will then be taught to navigate a bicycle skills course that will teach basic stopping and scanning techniques as well as techniques to avoid common hazards such as rocks and car doors. Prizes will be given to participants and refreshments will be served! The day will be lead by League Cycling Instructors certified and insured by the national bicycling advocacy group the League of American Bicyclists. Traffic Solutions offers many types of bicycle education for all ages and settings. Visit www.trafficsolutions.info/images/Bicycling/BikeEdBrochure.PDF to download a brochure. For
more information and to sign-up call Erika Lindemann at 963-SAVE
(7283) or via email at elindemann@sbcag.org |
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REFER
A FRIEND TO CLEAN AIR EXPRESS 805-961-8920 to qualify for this prize. |
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| April 17 | Family Bicycle Day |
10:00 - 12:00 |
| April 18 |
Santa Barbara |
11:00 to
4:00 p.m. |
INFORMATION REQUESTS FILLED
February
2004
| Countywide Bike Map | 1138 |
| Regional Transit | 127 |
| Bicycle Class Attendees | 8 |
| Carpool Matchlist | 9 |
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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Traffic Solutions at Goleta Earth Day
On Saturday, March 20, the City of Goleta held an Earth Day celebration that was enjoyed by many visitors of all ages. This all-day event provided Traffic Solutions staff the opportunity to introduce a variety of commute options into the general public. It's not surprising that the most sought after item was Traffic Solutions' Santa Barbara County Bike map. Other programs of interest were the Clean Air Express and the Kids Care for Clean Air calendars. Often those who picked up Clean Air Express information were getting it for family or friends who live in the north county and work on the South Coast.
The
City of Santa Barbara Earth Day festival is scheduled for Sunday, April
18. Traffic Solutions will be there to provide information about
various types of commute options and community enhancing programs.
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.