Tag archives: traffic

What is to be Gained
By Montecito Journal   |   February 13, 2024

Dear Editor [Gwyn Lurie], You wrote, “And I say, what do we have to lose by giving him [Roy Lee] a chance to prove it? Seems not much.” (Montecito Journal, Feb. 1-8, 2024) It’s not a chance of losing anything. It’s a chance to gain a lot by electing Roy Lee 1st District County Supervisor! […]

Highway 101 Construction Continues through Montecito and Summerland
By Montecito Journal   |   January 30, 2024

Construction activities on Highway 101 are ongoing in the Montecito, Summerland, and Padaro segments. Work includes roadway, drainage, bridge, and sound wall improvements.  The recent rains have altered the closure schedule and subsequent scheduling of crews for the work at the southbound off-ramp at San Ysidro Road. The off-ramp closure will begin as early as […]

Highway 101 Construction Continues Across Multiple Segments
By Montecito Journal   |   January 16, 2024

Work is ongoing along several stretches of Highway 101 between Carpinteria and Montecito. The project team recently received approval to begin work on the Santa Barbara segment between Olive Mill Road and Sycamore Creek. In preparation for the Santa Barbara work, the team scheduled an earlier closure of the southbound San Ysidro off-ramp to avoid […]

Town Hall Meetings for Los Patos Roundabout 
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   November 7, 2023

The City of Santa Barbara has announced two upcoming town hall meetings regarding the impending roundabout slated for the intersection of Los Patos Way and East Cabrillo Boulevard. The first is this week, Thursday, November 2, at 5:30 pm via Zoom. The second is next week, in person, at the Palm Park Beach House at […]

Highway 101 Construction Continues
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   October 3, 2023

While progress continues on both roundabouts in Montecito, crews are prepping for the start of the highway widening through Montecito, building new safety railings and retaining walls for both sides of the San Ysidro overcrossings, clearing vegetation, setting temporary barriers, and working on temporary electricity connections for the start of freeway improvements.  Part of that […]

San Ysidro Overcrossing Opens
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   September 5, 2023

This past weekend marked an important milestone in the construction of the San Ysidro Roundabout: the roundabout was opened for partial usage, and the overpass, an important thoroughfare in Montecito, was reopened, triggering the closure of the temporary fire station that was erected earlier this summer on Hill Road. “It entailed unbelievable collaboration for what […]

It Works… But Does It Quirk?
By Gwyn Lurie   |   September 5, 2023

Gwyn Lurie Reflects on What We’ve Gained and Lost with Our New Roundabouts Let me start by saying I’m not anti-progress. But driving through Montecito’s recent road “improvements,” I have to admit to some feelings of nostalgia… and loss. For those not aware of the origin of our new roundabouts bookending Coast Village Road, and […]

Lots of Cones, but No Ice Cream
By Ernie Witham   |   July 11, 2023

I was at my computer looking at one of the local online news services when I spotted an exciting headline. “There’s no construction scheduled on Hollister Ave. today,” I yelled to my wife. Pat ran into the kitchen and grabbed the car keys. “To the waterfront for lunch and ice cream,” she said in a […]

Highway 101 Construction Timing
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   June 6, 2023

The project team behind the 101 expansion and associated projects in Montecito are making the rounds this week, preparing the community for impending traffic delays. Representatives for the project, along with spokesperson Kirsten Ayars, will be at the Montecito Inn this week, on Thursday, June 1, at 4 pm, to discuss the staging timeline for […]

Roundabout Partially Open 
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   May 30, 2023

A new traffic pattern was in effect last week at the intersection of Olive Mill Road, Coast Village Road, North Jameson Lane, and Highway 101, marking a significant turning point in the construction of the Olive Mill Roundabout. On Wednesday, May 17, the roundabout was opened partially to traffic, while construction work continues on the […]

San Ysidro Roundabout Construction to Begin
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   March 14, 2023

Community members are invited to a meeting at Montecito Union School this Thursday, March 9, to learn about the construction staging for the San Ysidro Roundabout, which begins Monday, March 13. Here’s what you need to know.  The first phase of work will begin in the northwest corner of the intersection of North Jameson Lane […]

Olive Mill Roundabout Receives Final Approval
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   November 22, 2022

On Monday, November 14, the Montecito Board of Architectural Review and City of Santa Barbara Architectural Review Board held a joint hearing to consider the Olive Mill Roundabout for final design approval. The meeting was a follow-up to another joint hearing earlier this month, when several details about the project, including size of the olive […]

Olive Mill Roundabout Kicks Off
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   November 15, 2022

On Friday, November 4, community leaders and elected officials celebrated the kick-off for the Olive Mill Roundabout project. Construction will begin late November and go through summer 2023.  The roundabout will improve traffic flow at the intersection at Olive Mill Road, Coast Village Road, North Jameson Lane, the northbound Highway 101 off-ramp at Olive Mill […]

Prepare for Construction Delays
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   October 25, 2022

The project team behind the 101 expansion and associated projects in Montecito are making the rounds this week and next, preparing the community for impending traffic delays. Representatives from Caltrans and SBCAG, along with spokesperson Kirsten Ayars, will be at the Coast Village Business Association this week, followed by a public meeting next Tuesday, October […]

Parklet Discussion
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   August 23, 2022

Last Friday morning, a group of 30 business owners, property owners, employees, and restaurant patrons gathered at the conference room of Montecito Inn to discuss the fate of parklets on Coast Village Road. A recent letter sent to the Santa Barbara City Council signed by over 25 Coast Village Road business and property owners sparked […]

New Carpool Lanes Open
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   June 28, 2022

On Friday, June 17, community leaders marked the opening of the new freeway carpool lanes and project completion with a community celebration featuring local transit riders alongside Congressman Salud Carbajal, State Senator Monique Limón, Supervisor Das Williams, Carpinteria Mayor Wade Nomura, and local neighbors. This is the first completed segment of the Highway 101: Carpinteria […]

Upcoming Road Closures
By Sharon Byrne   |   March 17, 2022

After a water main break this Tuesday, March 15, in the Bike Lane of North Jameson Lane at Loureyro Road, there was a lane closure set up at this location for most of the day. Here are some of the other road closures to be aware of:  Wednesday to Friday, March 16-18; 600 – 663 […]

Why the Montecito Traffic & Transportation Summit is Critical
By Sharon Byrne   |   November 2, 2021

The Montecito Association is hosting a Roads, Traffic, and Transportation Summit on November 3 at 3 pm via Zoom. We have invited all affected agencies to attend this meeting and are opening this to the public. The following agencies operate and serve the following jurisdictions within Montecito: —101 construction and management, Highways 144, and 192 […]

Why the Montecito Traffic & Transportation Summit is Critical
By Sharon Byrne   |   October 29, 2021

The Montecito Association is hosting a Roads, Traffic, and Transportation Summit on November 3 at 3 pm via Zoom. We have invited all affected agencies to attend this meeting and are opening this to the public. The following agencies operate and serve the following jurisdictions within Montecito: —101 construction and management, Highways 144, and 192 […]

Order in Court
By Ashleigh Brilliant   |   July 22, 2021

I’ve only been in court twice in my life, and the first time, in 1956, resulted in a jail sentence. I was 21, recently immigrated from England, and eager for new American experiences. Driving my first car, I had received a ticket for going over an occupied pedestrian crossing. (Since then, I’ve mostly been a […]