Pedestrian, bike, transit and highway projects across Santa Barbara County are on the cusp of a $50 million funding injection, an annual rollout of local sales tax revenue that could hit the streets as soon as July.
The fiscal year 2026-27 funds are a slice of more to come—with $270 million expected to be distributed over the next five years.
A whopping 79 percent of county voters in 2008 approved Measure A, a half-cent sales tax for transportation. Originally expected to generate $1.05 billion from 2010 through 2040, officials now estimate the total at $1.6 billion, and say so far the funding has matched inflation.
“We’re lucky to have Measure A,” said Sarkes Khachek, program director at SBCAG, the agency tasked with distributing all that money.
“The public can see Measure A on a daily basis, whether it’s a city repaving a road or somebody who’s using Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District,” Khachek said, noting 25 of the 58 California counties have this type of funding stream.
The SBCAG board of directors recently reviewed the latest slate of projects, with little fanfare, and is expected to adopt the spending plan in late June.
South Coast Projects
In the most visible and expensive endeavor, the work to widen Highway 101 along the South Coast continues on a near-daily basis. The bulk of it began in 2016 in Carpinteria and then crews moved northward, with construction recently focused on reconfiguring lanes and access ramps through Montecito.
Over the next five years, the 101 fix will receive more than $63 million from Measure A, with nearly half that to be allocated in 2026-27 as the project nears its completion south of Salinas Street in Santa Barbara in late 2028. Landscaping is scheduled for 2029 and 2030, according to SBCAG.
All told, 13.4 percent of Measure A revenues generated, estimated at $140 million in 2008 dollars, will go to the 101 project—to match an estimated $285 million in state and federal funding and help fully fund the project, officials say.
Elsewhere along the South Coast, officials say allocations over the next five years will fund specialized transit for elderly and disabled residents (at $1.5 million), carpools and vanpools (at $1.8 million), bike and pedestrian paths and trails including improvements to the Franklin Creek Trail and the southern segment of the San Jose Creek Multipurpose Path ($2.4 million) and Safe Routes to School ($1.6 million).
Higher allocations along the South Coast include funds for the Coastal Express commuter bus service ($6.5 million) commuter rail between Ventura and Santa Barbara ($6.4 million) and Santa Barbara MTD operations ($14.8 million).
In addition, the city of Carpinteria over five years will get $5.2 million, Goleta $11.8 million and Santa Barbara $26 million, primarily for street maintenance, alternative transportation, and other priorities identified by local officials.
North County Allocations
In the North County, the five-year spending plan includes funds for specialized transit for elderly and disabled residents (at $1.2 million), carpools and vanpools ($514,000), Safe Routes to School (nearly $900,000) and Clean Air Express commuter bus service ($5.8 million).
The spending plan also includes $12 million for several North County roadway projects—including Highway 166 safety improvements and construction of a new interchange at highways 101 and 135 in Santa Maria.
In response to locally identified priorities, the city of Buellton will receive $2.3 million, Guadalupe $6.3 million, Lompoc $15.8 million, Santa Maria $40 million and Solvang $2.5 million—mostly for street maintenance, safety improvements and alternative transportation.
In addition, Santa Barbara County will receive more than $50 for million for North County and South County improvements.
