Public Notice

Public Hearings Set to Talk Long-Term Solutions to Relieve Congestion on the U.S. 101 from Carpinteria to Santa Barbara

May 20, 2022

An updated congestion relief draft plan for the U.S. 101 in the south coast adds local bike, pedestrian, bus, and zero emission vehicle improvements to several existing multimodal enhancements that are part of the U.S. 101 Carpinteria to Santa Barbara project.

Santa Barbara, Calif. – Two public hearings are set for June 2 and 16, 2022 to talk with residents about updates to a long-term congestion relief plan along the U.S. 101 corridor from Carpinteria to Santa Barbara. The draft Santa Barbara U.S. 101 Comprehensive Multimodal Corridor Plan (draft plan) expands on previous congestion relief strategies by adding bike, pedestrian, bus, and zero emission vehicle improvements that increase alternative transportation choices for the traveling public.

The public can view and download the draft plan at www.sbcag.org/documents, or directly at www.bit.ly/3lrvUWd, which is available for review and feedback until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 22, 2022.

The public hearings provide several in-person and remote, virtual participation choices for residents and commuters to learn more about the draft plan and provide feedback. The dates/times of the hearings are:

5 p.m., Thursday, June 2 – Public Hearing

• In-person at the SBCAG Office, Manzanita Conference Room, 260 N. San Antonio, Rd. Santa Barbara, CA, or
• Zoom meeting at Webinar ID: 824 9800 2594; Passcode: 200558; or
• Telephone: 1 (669) 900 9128

10 a.m., Thursday, June 16 – Public Hearing at SBCAG Board of Directors Meeting

• In-person at the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors Hearing Room, 105 E. Anapamu Street, 4th Floor, Santa Barbara, CA, or
• This hearing will take place simultaneously with the SBCAG Board of Directors meeting, details on how to participate remotely will be published on the SBCAG Board agenda at least 48 prior to the meeting online at www.sbcag.org

The updated draft plan is to document on-going regional efforts that align with the State’s transportation climate action goals. It is also to be ready for all available State funding opportunities.

Santa Barbara County Association of Government’s (SBCAG) number one countywide transportation priority is to fully fund and finish construction of the Montecito and Santa Barbara segments of the Highway 101 Carpinteria to Santa Barbara project.

“There are seven miles currently under construction along U.S. 101 to help increase public transportation and rideshare choices through the communities of Carpinteria, Toro Canyon, Summerland with 12 local projects to improve transit opportunities and bicycle, pedestrian, and coastal access support the overall congestion relief strategy,” said Marjie Kirn, Executive Director of SBCAG. “Two and a half miles remain to be fully funded. The updated draft plan is the blueprint we need to achieve a transportation future that is safe, equitable and resilient to meet the needs not only for Santa Barbara County, but in the central coast and beyond.”

Without the congestion relief measures identified in the draft plan, daily traffic on U.S. 101 through the south coast is expected to increase by between 12 and 94 percent between 2010 to 2040, depending on the location. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 commuter statistics (LEHD), 1.7 percent of Ventura County residents (approximately 14,892 people) commute to work in Santa Barbara County. This inter-county imbalance leads to increased transportation demands on U.S. 101, with related increases in congestion.

Added congestion relief priorities called for in the draft plan include an electric bus fleet for Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District and contactless payment systems for the Coastal Express operated by Ventura County Transportation Commission. Increased bicycle and pedestrian projects within the City of Santa Barbara as well as the County unincorporated areas such as a project to connect Sheffield Drive to Ortega Hill in Montecito. Additionally, the draft plan includes incorporating recommendations from the Central Coast Zero Emission Strategy to implement zero emission vehicle charging stations in priority areas along the U.S. 101 corridor.

Comments on the draft Santa Barbara U.S. 101 Multimodal Corridor Plan may also be submitted in writing until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 22, 2022. Written comments can be submitted via U.S. Postal Service to 260 N. San Antonio Road, Suite B, Santa Barbara, CA 93110; or electronically by emailing info@sbcag.org.

Residents who require accommodations to participate in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act or to request a Spanish-language interpreter should contact SBCAG by telephone at (805) 961-8900 or email at info@sbcag.org by Monday, May 30, 2022, for the Thursday, June 2 public hearing or by Monday, June 13 for the Thursday, June 16 public hearing.

Draft Santa Barbara U.S. 101 Multimodal Corridor Plan