The city of Goleta Train Depot project is chugging along even during these challenging times. Three potential designs have been selected and now the public’s help is ought to select what design or aspects of the designs they like best.
Community feedback is an important part of the project; there are three ways to learn about this future Goleta landmark and offer suggestions.
Visit the Goleta Train Depot Project page on the city website at https://tinyurl.com/GoletaTrainDepot and view the new slide deck featuring the design concepts, site plan, building floorplan layout, and three roadway designs.
After reviewing the slide deck, take the survey listed on the website providing your feedback as well as amenities you would like to see in the building and roadway improvements.
Community members are also invited to attend a live Zoom meeting on the designs at 6 p.m. June 3. Participants will be able to listen and provide live chat comments during the presentation. The meeting will be broadcast live and will be recorded for viewing after the meeting.
The meeting link is at https://tinyurl.com/GoletaTrainDepot.
“Goleta’s new train station will be an important gateway to our city for both residents and visitors,” said Goleta Mayor Paula Perotte. “Community participation in the design will help ensure that our station will be beautiful, safe and functional.”
The Goleta Train Depot will be a full-service multi-modal train station next to the existing Amtrak platform on South La Patera Lane.
By creating a full-service station, the city hopes to increase train ridership, improve connections to bus transit, accommodate transit service to/from the Santa Barbara Airport and UCSB, and add new bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
The project will also allow accommodation for future additional train storage, supporting increased commuter rail needs.
Goleta was awarded a $13 million grant for the Goleta Train Depot in partnership with Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) in 2018. The city and SBCAG sought grant funds from the Transit & Intercity Rail Capital Program to meaningfully improve passenger experience.
The project centers on the Goleta’s purchase of the old Direct Relief International warehouse, which allows the city to redevelop the property to create a welcoming train station for travelers to the region.