Now is the time for the Santa Barbara community to weigh in on the future of State Street.
The city released the long-awaited draft of the State Street master plan last week, redesigning about one mile of the downtown corridor between Gutierrez and Sola streets.
Noozhawk is looking to speak to community members and business owners about the plan. If you have thoughts you want to share, email news@noozhawk.com or fill out the form below.
State Street’s future has been a hot-button issue for years, especially since the road was closed to vehicle traffic in 2020. In the six years since the closure, community and city leaders have been divided over whether the street should be reopened.
The city proposes installing retractable bollards, which would prioritize pedestrian and cyclist access from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., while allowing vehicle access for deliveries, garbage collection and construction services from 10 p.m. to 10 a.m.
The bollards would be installed at each intersection along downtown State Street, according to the draft master plan.
The design is meant to allow for flexibility, with the daytime setup providing a space for markets or festivals, and individual blocks could be closed or opened as needed.
The plan also includes expanding the sidewalks to 30 feet, resulting in two 10-foot travel lanes in the center of the street.
Early cost estimates indicate that the changes could cost $6 million to $8 million for each block, according to the draft master plan.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, State Street had an average of 10,000 visitors a day.
Currently, State Street has between 8,000 and 11,000 pedestrian crossings per intersection per day and approximately 2,000 cyclists per day, with up to 20% more pedestrians and cyclists on weekends, according to the city.
The City Council is set to discuss the plan on April 28. The plan can be reviewed here, and comments can be sent to statestreetmasterplan@SantaBarbaraCA.gov.
Do you have thoughts on the city’s master plan? What do you want to see on State Street? Email news@noozhawk.com and a reporter may reach out to you for an interview.
