Map with two connected roundabouts, showing roads including Hollister Ave, S. Kellogg Ave, Dearborn Pl, and Ward Dr, alongside a creek labeled San Jose Creek and highway route 217.
Roundabouts on both sides of Highway 217, near Hollister Avenue and Ward Drive, are open in Goleta. (Map courtesy of the city of Goleta)

Goleta has two new roundabouts.

The traffic circles, on both sides of Highway 217 near Hollister Avenue and Ward Drive, are expected to improve traffic flow and increase safety for pedestrians and bicyclists, according to officials with the city of Goleta.

“The roundabouts will take some getting used to, but I am confident drivers, pedestrians and cyclists will appreciate having a safer and smoother path of travel through Old Town Goleta and eastern Goleta,” said Goleta City Councilman James Kyriaco. “Roundabouts have been found to reduce injury crashes by more than 70% and fatal crashes by more than 90%.”

The two roundabouts were constructed as part of Project Connect and opened Monday morning, according to a news release from the city.

Here’s a video from the Federal Highway Administration, provided by the city of Goleta, that shows drivers how to use a roundabout.

Joshua Molina is editor of the News-Press and an award-winning journalist with more than 25 years of reporting across the South Coast. He is a professor of journalism at Santa Barbara City College and host of local news show SB Talks with Josh Molina.