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MyspaceThe Santa Barbara Association of Governments (SBCAG)-the board tasked with overseeing regional traffic issues-reaffirmed the Highway 101 widening project as its top priority, even if it means shuffling some money and other transportation projects around. As much of the funding for the project, anticipated to cost more than $400 million and being done in several different stages, is coming from federal and state sources, the emphasis has been on going after and securing those funds to keep the widening on schedule. Heading to the backburner are several projects that also require state and federal matching funds.
Other projects-nine or so in total and including the Highway 101 Santa Maria River Bridge and Carpinteria circulation improvements-don’t require matching funds, and will be completed using money from Measure A, the voter-approved measure that will bring $1 billion to the county for transportation use over the next 30 years. Since these won’t impair SBCAG’s ability to go after funds for the widening, these will be completed first.
Also a top priority is annual funding divided between the North and South County agencies that goes toward local street and transportation improvements-fixing potholes, for example-as well as money for carpools, bus transit, and the Safe Routes to School program. This funding is guaranteed each year, as the money will be taken off the top. Meanwhile, the board decided it will aggressively pursue state and federal funds for the Highway 101 project, which will expand the highway to three lanes from Milpas Street to Ventura County. SBCAG staff estimate that all projects planned for the 30-year life of Measure A will be completed in that time span.
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Comments
At the rate things are going, they are going to expand the 101 to the point where we sea creatures are going to be displaced.
sixdolphins (anonymous profile)
December 24, 2009 at 3:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Widening the freeway again? What an ordinary thing to do!
DonMcDermott (anonymous profile)
December 24, 2009 at 6:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We need to boost funding for SB MTD and build more bike-only paths.
moretrailsplease (anonymous profile)
December 24, 2009 at 9:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Chris you missed a big chunk of the story here. 101 already WAS a priority. What this SPLIT decision of the SBCAG board did was make it harder for the non-101 projects to even COMPETE for federal and state dollars--APART from the priority 101 already was. I'm surprised cause normally on a split vote you will try to discern some of the nuances of the meeting and voices of the dissenters--who happened to be the mayors of all the south coast cities and 2nd Dist Supervisor [except Armendariz who got a perk in the deal] and Carbajal who-well, no more words are needed..
sbsleuth99 (anonymous profile)
December 24, 2009 at 9:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Does this mean that SBCAG is taking back the $1.5 million "loaned" from the widening project to CalTrans for the suicide barrier?
Kratatoa (anonymous profile)
December 25, 2009 at 2:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
the money would be better spent on birth control
richardsinclair (anonymous profile)
December 25, 2009 at 7:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If the 101 widening project really is the priority transportation/traffic safety project for Caltrans and SBCAG, why have they conspired to divert $1.5 million away from the project in order to try to force our community to accept the truly awful plan to put massive suicide barriers on our scenic and historic Cold Spring Bridge?
The details about this Caltrans/SBCAG scam are set forth in full at www.cscbfriends.com
Hopefully the Indy will give full attention to this important issue in days to come.
marcmcginnes (anonymous profile)
December 25, 2009 at 7:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The subject of this article concerns regional transportation, which the101 In Motion process gave direction to, but Measure A neglected, and simply gave money to the same old solutions. No wonder everyone is upset, confused, and going off point. It's about insanity , and how Albert Einstein once said "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results". Think about this quote for a second and ask yourself, does this quote apply to the way regional transportation is being planned by SBCAG?
Commuter rail could be up and running in a couple of years, while SBCAG expects people to wait 20+ years for a road solution. Commuter rail polled equally with road widening, but the Supervisors seem disinterested in actually solving the congestion problem. Using their strategy, they will be out of office before road widening is completed. That's safe, and doesn't require any political risk on their part. This assures their reelection, but does a disservice to those in the county who look to them for leadership.
GlennYago (anonymous profile)
December 25, 2009 at 9:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"the money would be better spent on birth control" -Richard Sinclair-
That's a nice idea and makes sense, but what you're suggesting would actually solve the problem and politicians would rather avoid the problem than confront it. Watching the local intelligentsia come up with their various ways of expanding the freeway and paving over yet more land is like watching people arrange deck chairs on a sinking ship.
billclausen (anonymous profile)
December 30, 2009 at 3:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)