Today’s newsletter is presented by Esparza Law Group.
Our most-read story this week came out of the Santa Barbara City Council meeting. The council had a robust discussion about whether to apply for grant funding to build a pedestrian and bike bridge from the Eastside, over Highway 101, to connect residents to the ocean.
While many people take beach access for granted, the residents of the Eastside were cut off from quick access to the ocean when Caltrans removed the traffic signals on Highway 101 in 1991. Today people breeze through Santa Barbara on Highway 101 likely without ever thinking about what it used to be like.
Highway 101 used to have traffic lights.
The map above, pulled from the News-Press archives, shows what the plan was in 1991. While there’s much talk about State Street and whether to allow cars, bikes or pedestrians, or all of it, a bike and pedestrian bridge on the Eastside seems like exactly the type of action local government should take to serve its residents.
We already have several pedestrian and bike bridges over Highway 101 in other parts of Santa Barbara. This one would start at the intersection of South Canada and Pitos streets and then land on Santa Barbara Zoo property and eventually Dwight Murphy Park.
Santa Barbara City Councilman Oscar Gutierrez hinted at support for the bridge.
“Having grown up there with friends and family, it is very difficult to get to the beach from there,” he said. “I find this extremely important.”
The City Council will decide whether to pursue grant funding for the bridge in June. Check out the full story below.
Joshua Molina
News-Press Editor
Top read of the day
Jason Dominguez looks to replace Kristen Sneddon in District 4 on the Santa Barbara City Council
By Joshua Molina • Santa Barbara News-Press
Dominguez served four years as the District 1 representative on Santa Barbara’s Eastside
Santa Barbara News-Press thanks our corporate sponsors. Find out more about sponsorships and advertising opportunities here.
5 stories people are talking about
Local voices
‘I really don’t want to lose sight of the sometimes lack of equity the Eastside faces, and we have noted that the Eastside has the longest commute to get to the waterfront. They are cut off the most from the waterfront.’
— Santa Barbara City Councilwoman Wendy Santamaria
Santa Barbara News-Press thanks our corporate sponsors. Find out more about sponsorships and advertising opportunities here.
Must watch
