Road Improvements Between San Ysidro and Olive Mill

Source: SB Roads

Padaro Segment of Highway 101: Carpinteria to Santa Barbara Begins Construction June 6, 2021

The start of the Highway 101: Padaro project was celebrated today by community leaders and elected officials. Construction will officially begin on Sunday night, June 6, 2021. This will be the third of five segments under construction as part of the Highway 101: Carpinteria to Santa Barbara project that will add peak-period, carpool lanes, replace creek bridges, and improve safety between Carpinteria and Santa Barbara.

Caltrans and the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments also announced the reprogramming of $50 million to accelerate freeway improvements between San Ysidro and Olive Mill Roads to correspond with local roundabout projects in the same area.

Today’s ceremony featured the unveiling of a Blue Star Memorial Highway sign by Congressman Salud Carbajal, veterans groups, Blue Star Mothers of America, the Channel Islands Garden Club, and the Carpinteria Valley Historical Museum (see photo below).

“Having driven this area for many years, we do not need to remind anyone of the need for congestion relief. The implementation of our “lane and train” solution is incredible to see after so many years working as a community to make these important changes occur. Of special benefit is that we are bringing history along with us as we celebrate a renewed tribute to veterans,” said Congressman Salud Carbajal. “I am pleased to celebrate our Blue Star Memorial Highway with our local community members who have served our country, support our active duty and veteran soldiers, and continue to show their support by helping fund these signs.”

In the 1930s, local Boy Scouts planted oak trees and laid plaques for World War I Veterans. Over the years, many of the trees perished and the plaques went missing. The new Blue Star Memorial Highway will add 108 new oak trees grown from the acorns of the original 1930s oaks, include a specially designed median safety barrier with oak leaves and blue star plaques, and feature new signs denoting the area for drivers.

The start of the Highway 101: Padaro project signifies the construction of seven and a half miles of congestion-relief work between Carpinteria and Summerland. The project cost is approximately $200 million. $173 million of construction funds for the Highway 101: Padaro project from the Senate Bill 1 (SB1) Solutions for Congested Corridors Program, Regional Gas Tax Program, State Highway Operations and Protection Program (SHOPP), and other state and federal gas taxes. Measure A contributes approximately $27 million to the project.

“Senate Bill 1 aims to improve public safety to fix roads, freeways, and bridges along with expanding public transit systems throughout California. Without its investment, the Highway 101: Carpinteria to Santa Barbara project could not make the progress we see today to improve safety on our highway, expand walking and biking access, and provide incentives for people to opt-out of traffic congestion with new carpool lanes. This is an exciting time for our community and shows the essential value of strong partnerships between local communities and the state,” said Senator Monique Limón.

Each segment of this important project contains unique aspects that go beyond fixing traffic congestion. In addition to the Blue Star Memorial Highway, there is a new, separated bikeway that will connect Santa Claus Lane with Carpinteria Avenue.

After the Highway 101: Padaro kick-off, community leaders took an electric bike tour to preview the upcoming Santa Claus Lane Bikeway.

“The Santa Claus Lane Bikeway will be an amazing new connection for fun, carbon-free transportation on our coast. It will also provide a new customer connection for businesses in Carpinteria and along Santa Claus Lane,” said First District County Supervisor and Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) Vice-Chair Das Williams.

“In another important step forward, Caltrans was able to reprogram approximately $50 million to accelerate improvements on Highway 101 between San Ysidro and Olive Mill Roads in Montecito,” added California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) District 5 Director Tim Gubbins.

The accelerated work between San Ysidro and Olive Mill Roads will include new peak-period carpool lanes that will tie into lanes planned in the Montecito and Santa Barbara segments. Updated freeway on- and off-ramps and new auxiliary lanes, or lanes that connect on- and off-ramps, will be built in this area. There are also three proposed sound walls. The Montecito and Santa Barbara segments, including the accelerated work, will be reviewed as part of the local permitting process occurring this spring and summer.

“Our project team has been diligently working to listen to our community and deliver these needed congestion-relief improvements as soon as possible,” said SBCAG Executive Director Marjie Kirn. “We know that highway traffic congestion affects negatively impacts our communities including spilling over onto local streets and roads. Thanks to Santa Barbara County’s local transportation sales tax, Measure A, we are able leverage state and federal funds to bring about transportation options for pedestrians, bicyclists, public transit riders and drivers.”

In the fall of 2022, SBCAG and Caltrans will apply for state funding for the remaining segments in Montecito and Santa Barbara to complete construction in the corridor. The California Transportation Commission will vote on SB1 funding awards in 2023.

Construction on the Padaro segment will begin on the night of June 6. Please expect to see initial safety fencing, grading, safety barriers to shift lanes, and work to build up outside shoulders. Then lanes will be shifted, and construction will focus on the median area of US 101. The public is encouraged to find more information and sign up for biweekly construction updates on the project’s website at www.SBROADS.com, or by calling (805) 845.5112, or emailing info@SBROADS.com.

The Highway 101: Carpinteria to Santa Barbara project is a partnership between Caltrans, the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments, County of Santa Barbara, and the City of Carpinteria with state funding approved by the California Transportation Commission.