Anonymous
Source: City of Goleta
The Planning Commission discussion of the Goleta Train Depot 2019 Station Area Master Plan(SAMP) has moved to the meeting of December 9, 2019.
The Goleta Train Depot Project (Project) is the development of a new multi-modal train station at the location of the existing Amtrak platform with the intent to increase rail ridership and reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. Through the completion of a full-service station, the project will improve connections to bus transit, accommodate transit service to/from the Santa Barbara Airport and the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB), add new bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and allow accommodation for potential future additional train storage that will support increased commuter rail needs. These improvements will create a new safer, more functional, and inviting rail station in Goleta. The Project site is adjacent to the existing Amtrak platform at the northern end of South La Patera Lane.
The completed Goleta Train Depot Station Area Master Plan (SAMP) examines the existing site, surrounding area characteristics, and the existing mobility network, and includes recommendations informed by public input for on-site and off-site accessibility improvements to create a successful multi-modal train depot. It was prepared by collecting and utilizing community input, examining the opportunities and constraints of the Depot and surrounding area, and reviewing the existing mobility network. Subsequent phases of the Project include the preliminary architectural and engineering design of facilities and infrastructure, environmental review and analysis, the acquisition of additional transit vehicles, and construction of the Depot and off-site improvements, including enhanced bicycle and pedestrian improvements along La Patera Lane (as a separate project).
The SAMP is the initial phase of the new Goleta Train Depot Project. It is intended to determine the appropriate recommendations and provide guidelines to be implemented in the design of a successful multi-modal train Depot. The consulting firm of Anil Verma Associates, Inc. has been brought on board to lead the design process for the Goleta Train Depot. Future public meetings will be scheduled during this process to provide the public with opportunities to provide input.
The Planning Commission staff report with Station Area Master Plan will be available at least 72 hours prior to the meeting at: https://tinyurl.com/
The December 9, 2019 Planning Commission meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m. at Goleta Council Chambers located at 130 Cremona Street, Suite B. If you are not able to attend in person, you can watch the meeting on Channel 19 or on our website at https://tinyurl.com/
For more information go to https://tinyurl.com/
Offer regular free shuttle that goes to the Marketplace, Calle Real stores/restaurants, Fairview Farm, Goleta Beach, Goleta Monarch Butterfly Grove, Coal Oil Point Reserve Nature Center at UCSB. Sell nature books by local authors like Joan Calder (monarch butterflies) and Joan Lentz (birds). Offer a sign up for a tour of Goodland Organics (Jay Ruskey) on Farren Road, Cherimoyas, Hass avocados, and he grows coffee beans and you can sample his coffee, and sample his coffee IN the new train station! Help the environment; More trains, fewer planes.
One glance at the plan and it’s immediately obvious that the overall station size needs to double, including increased lockable storage for bikes and e-bikes. If you want workers and students to use the train, you have to make it as frictionless as possible.
I took the train from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo, and spent several hours exploring SLO and then got back on another train to Santa Barbara, same day. In Goleta, have a ‘left luggage’ facility, either a staffed facility or self-service lockers or both. People could leave their luggage and explore Goleta for the day…and spend some money…and get back on another train to continue their journey.
Katy Perry, from Goleta. Open a restaurant (the former Elephant Bar location is available, and near the train station). Call it “ROAR!” Have a Katy Perry shuttle from train station to restaurant. Katy has the most twitter followers in the world. She could tell everyone about the importance of taking the train instead of airplane. Serve vegan food. Have a Climate Change gift shop. Profits could support wildlife organizations. Have a live webcam in the restaurant for people around the world to see what’s happening at ROAR! in Goleta, California.