Daily Archives: August 2, 2022

San Jose Creek Bike Path Project Moving Forward to Design

The City is moving forward with the long-awaited San Jose Creek Bike Path Project. The San Jose Creek Bike Path – Northern and Southern Segments project is wrapping up the Conceptual Design and Environmental Review phases of the project and is slated to move into the Final Design and Right of Way phases by early next year.

The purpose of the project is to complete two important path segments for a continuous safe link in the regional active transportation network from Calle Real to the Atascadero Creek Trail (Obern Trail/Coast Route). The project would construct a Class I bikeway (path) to close the 2.5- mile gap between the County (Cathedral Oaks Road) and Goleta Crosstown Route in the north and the County’s Obern Trail/Coast Route in the south. The path would connect the Calle Real commercial and residential areas on the north side of US 101 to commercial and residential areas within the Goleta Old Town area to the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) and the Coast Route. Four significant barriers to north-south regional connectivity would be removed by crossing under US 101 and Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) bridges, crossing over San Jose Creek and crossing under SR 217 on the south end.

Project Description:

The project begins on Calle Real extending south along the west side of San Jose Creek to Armitos Avenue, then continues south from Ekwill Street (south of Hollister Avenue) along SR 217 to the Coast Route/Goleta Beach The two segments of the path total nearly one and a half miles in length.

The Northern Segment begins on Calle Real near the south end of North Kellogg Avenue. Heading east, then south, the path goes under US 101 and the railroad bridge over San Jose Creek along the west bank. Bicyclists and pedestrians can then travel west through Jonny D. Wallis Park to access South Kellogg Avenue to connect to the beginning of the Southern Segment just north of Kellogg Way (new Ekwill Street).

The Southern Segment is approximately 1 mile long. The Southern Segment would extend from the bicycle facilities on South Kellogg Avenue, continue between the southern/eastern bank of San Jose Creek, outside the top of bank and the active channel of San Jose Creek, and the SR 217 southbound shoulder, and ultimately connect to the existing Class I Atascadero Creek Bikeway (Obern Trail/Coast Route). The project would cross over the San Jose Creek channel on the north end and would cross under SR 217 on the south end (southern terminus).

The path is typically 8 to 14 feet wide, with 2-foot wide shoulders and typical design speed of 20 mph. The Southern Segment includes a concrete barrier 2 feet in width to separate the path from SR 217 traffic. A 14-foot wide by 8-foot high by 144-foot long box culvert with solar lighting would likely be utilized to provide access under SR 217 at the southern terminus of the project.

The project will require coordination with many agencies including Caltrans, Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR), County of Santa Barbara, and permitting agencies such as the California Coastal Commission to name a few.

A Draft Initial Study with a Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) for California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) which identifies and discusses potential impacts, mitigation measures, monitoring requirements, and residual impacts for identified environmental issue areas was put out for public circulation with the public comment period closing on August 1, 2022. After addressing public comments on the draft document, Public Works plans to bring the final IS/MND to City Council for approval at the September 20, 2022, meeting. The agenda will be available in advance of the meeting at www.CityofGoleta.org/GoletaMeetings.

The project will be partially funded through a grant received from the Active Transportation Program (ATP). As the project moves forward to the design phase there will be additional opportunities for public comment.

Visit the project webpage for more information.

Project map

Goleta to Use Measure A Funding for Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Projects

The City of Goleta is pleased to report that newly awarded Measure A Funding will be used for construction projects aimed at improving bicycle and pedestrian access and safety.  The Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) awarded the City of Goleta two important Capital Improvement Program projects through Cycle 5 of the Measure A South Coast Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian competitive grant program.  The grant program will contribute funding to the construction phase for a portion of the San Jose Creek Bike Path Northern and Southern Segments project as well as funding for the construction phase of the Hollister Old Town Interim Striping Project.

The Measure A grant funds would contribute to the construction of a portion of the Northern Segment of the overall San Jose Creek Multipurpose Path Project. This portion of the project consists of the extents of the bike path which falls within the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) right of way at the US 101 bridge crossing. Caltrans will begin the construction for the replacement of the US 101 Bridge over San Jose Creek early next year. Public Works staff worked closely with Caltrans to include the design of the bike path components into the Caltrans bridge replacement project bid documents. Caltrans will be the lead agency for the overall project construction including the construction of the portion of the bike path which falls within the limits of the bridge replacement project. This strategy produces many benefits to both projects (bridge and bike path) including reduction of impacts to the creek and surrounding environment and reduction in project cost. The City will reimburse Caltrans for the construction cost of the bike path specific components through the execution of a cooperative agreement with Caltrans. The Measure A grant funds will contribute approximately 50% of the construction costs up to a maximum of $438,000.

The Measure A grant funding will also be applied to the construction of the portions of work which will benefit bicycle and pedestrian safety as part of the Hollister Avenue Old Town Interim Striping Project. The Hollister Interim Striping Project consists of restriping Hollister Avenue between Fairview Avenue and Kinman Avenue, reducing travel lanes from two lanes to one lane in each direction. The project will provide additional space to install Class II bike lanes through the Old Town Hollister Ave corridor where none currently exist. The work covered by the grant funds will include restriping, new pavement markings, new signage, and signal interconnect system. The Measure A grant will contribute $365,000 to overall construction costs for the project.

The Measure A South Coast Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian program and Safe Routes to School Program are awarded based on a competitive grant process. The purpose of the program is to fund projects that would expand and improve the South Coast’s regional bicycle and pedestrian facilities network.

For more information on Measure A, go to http://www.measurea.net/.

Our Water Our World: Reminder on Controlling Cockroaches

City of Goleta’s Environmental Services Division wants to remind everyone about tips to keep cockroaches away and avoid harmful pesticides as much as possible.

Controlling Cockroaches

  • If you only have a few cockroaches, you may be able to control the problem with sticky traps and cleanup.
  • Use a strong vacuum with a crevice attachment to pull cockroaches from their hiding places and clean up nests. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter if possible. After vacuuming, take the vacuum cleaner outdoors, remove the bag, seal it in a plastic garbage bag, and put it in the trash. Wipe down the vacuum cleaner with a damp cloth.
  • Cockroach droppings (frass) attract more roaches and other pests. Clean up frass with soap and water. Then, use a hand duster such as a Pest Pistol to blow diatomaceous earth (DE) or boric acid powder into cracks, crevices, and other openings in walls, under large appliances, or in areas where you have found cockroach nests. Be sure to use DE sold for pest control, not for pool filters. When applying DE or boric acid powder, protect your lungs and eyes by wearing a dust mask, gloves, and safety goggles. Apply a very light coating because cockroaches will avoid piles of dust. It doesn’t take much to kill them.
  • One way to get to a cockroach hiding place behind a wall is to remove the cover plate on an electrical outlet or switch. Always turn off the power before applying products near electrical outlets.

If dusting is not effective, use enclosed cockroach baits.

Keep Cockroaches Out

Keep cockroaches away by blocking access to your home and to their food, water, and shelter. Follow these simple good housekeeping tips to keep them from coming back:

  • Store food in the refrigerator or in containers that seal tightly.
  • Clean counters and eating areas daily. Vacuum or sweep floors. Don’t leave dirty dishes out overnight, even in the dishwasher. Take out recycling and any garbage containing food scraps every night.
  • Place pet food and water bowls in larger bowls of soapy water.
  • Reduce clutter in all rooms (it provides shelter for cockroaches).
  • Keep kitchen surfaces dry whenever they are not in use, especially overnight.
  • Fix leaky plumbing.
  • Check items you bring into your house for cock- roaches or their egg cases. Pay special attention to used furniture and appliances, and cardboard cartons from food stores.
  • Put out sticky traps so that you’ll know as soon as cockroaches return. This is especially important in apartment buildings, condominiums, or other homes that share walls, where cockroaches can easily move from one home to another.

Find more information on controlling cockroaches with eco-friendly pesticide alternatives in our OWOW brochures in English and Spanish. 

The City of Goleta along with the Cities of Buellton, Carpinteria, Solvang, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria and the County of Santa Barbara have partnered with the OWOW organization to promote the use of less-toxic products in an effort to reduce pesticide pollution in our communities. By reducing pesticide use and the use of less-toxic products around the home, you can help reduce pesticides and other pollutants such as herbicides and fertilizers from being picked up while watering or when it rains and transported to the nearest storm drain inlet and into our waterways. The OWOW website is a great resource for finding less-toxic products to use around your home or garden.