STAFF REPORT SUBJECT: Regional Transportation Plan MEETING DATE: December 18, 2003 AGENDA ITEM: 7B RECOMMENDATION: Receive report on RTP public workshops held in, Lompoc, and Solvang. DISCUSSION: This report provides an update on the development of the 2004 Regional Transportation Plan. Public Workshops A series of public workshops were held in the North County to encourage and elicit public input on the planning process for the 2004 Update to the Regional Transportation Plan. A workshop was held in each of the North County regions region, Lompoc region and Santa Ynez Valley region on September 24, 2003, October 1, 2003 and October 15, 2003, respectively. There was extensive outreach to inform the public of the workshops. This outreach included media ads and interviews (newspaper, radio and television) and notices distributed to social service, transit, and governmental agencies, and underrepresented community organizations. Information was published in both English and Spanish and Spanish language interpreters were available at the and Lompoc workshops.
The workshops allowed participants to discuss transportation issues both by region and mode and discussions were facilitated by persons with technical expertise in the mode and familiarity with the region (Attachment 1). SBCAG staff is grateful to the many public agency members that assisted with the workshops. A summary of the comments from the workshops are provided in Attachment 2. In addition, written comments were submitted by the Mission Hills Community Services District and the Concerned Taxpayers, I.N.C. (Justin Ruhge), which are also found in Attachment 2. Staff continues to review the process of the RTP public outreach process, planning process, and project proposals with members of the Technical Transportation Advisory Committee (TTAC), the Santa Barbara County Transit Advisory Council (SBCTAC) and all affected public agencies. STAFF CONTACT: Ruth Garcia, Michael Powers Attachments Attachment 1 Attachment 2 Workshop facilitators RTP Public Workshop comment summary 2
ATTACHMENT 1 WORKSHOP FACILITATORS Valley Workshop Wednesday, September 24, 2003 / 6:30 PM Town Center Mall / Conference Room Moderator: Ruth Garcia, SBCAG Mode Person Agency Highways & Roadways Bruce Nybo City of Transit Joe Rye City of Bicycle & Pedestrian Wilson Hubbell County of Santa Barbara Pathways Systems Management Kent Epperson SBCAG (ITS & TDM) Airports Gary Rice Airport Rail Michael Powers SBCAG Goods Movement Pat Mickelson CalTrans Lompoc Valley Workshop Wednesday, October 1, 2003 / 6:30 PM Lompoc Community Center / Activity Room Moderator: Ruth Garcia, SBCAG Mode Person Agency Highways & Roadways Larry Bean/ Kevin McCune City of Lompoc Transit Richard Fernbaugh City of Lompoc Bicycle & Pedestrian Erika Lindemann County of Santa Barbara Pathways Systems Management Kent Epperson SBCAG (ITS & TDM) Airports Bob Wycoff Lompoc Airport Rail Michael Powers SBCAG Goods Movement Pat Mickelson CalTrans Santa Ynez Valley Workshop Wednesday, October 15, 2003 / 6:30 PM Veteran s Memorial Building / Vet s Wing Moderator: Ruth Garcia, SBCAG Mode Person Agency Highways & Roadways Jeff Edwards City of Buellton Transit Dan Herron CalTrans Bicycle & Pedestrian Wilson Hubbell County of Santa Barbara Pathways Systems Management Kent Epperson SBCAG (ITS & TDM) Airports Kim Joos Santa Ynez Valley Airport Rail Michael Powers SBCAG Goods Movement Pat Mickelson CalTrans 3
ATTACHMENT 2 RTP Planning Workshop Public Comment Summary Transportation Mode Airports (9/24/03) Coordination of commercial flights between regional airports. Extend runway to facilitate regional charter jet service. Lompoc (10/01/03) Upgrade airport services & extend runway to accommodate airport development and business. Provide zoning & support development of an airport industrial park. Solvang (10/15/03) Reduce noise from low flying aircraft. Continue with coordination between emergency response agencies, the Chumash Casino & airport. Goods Movement Provide incentives for goods movement by rail in place of trucking. Provide a truck by-pass between Guadalupe and. Improve access/egress to the airport. Widen Hwy 246 to accommodate truck use, restrict truck use on Hwy 1. Construct passing lanes on Highway 246. Develop a regional trucking facility, with a truck stop/parking area, overnight parking, restaurant, fuel & support facilities. Limit truck parking in Buellton. Develop alternative route to Central Ave. for transport of rocket fuel to VAFB. Limit truck use on Hwy 154. Improve intersection at Hwys 1 & 246. Use airport for goods movement. Improve Hwy 135 (agricultural goods movement) to respond to flooding.
(9/24/03) Lompoc (10/01/03) Transportation Mode Goods Movement Construct Central Ave extension. Solvang (10/15/03) Raise speed limit on Hwy 1. ITS/TDM* Pedestrian/Bicycle Provide incentives for employees to use alternative transportation (including commuter transit). Integrate transportation system facilities (transit, pedestrian, bicycle and roads). Increase the number of Park & Ride facilities. Use ITS strategies to improve traffic circulation and reduce traffic congestion. Identify ADA travel corridors in Widen sidewalk in Old Town Orcutt Reactivate White Hills Railroad for goods movement. Improve intercommunity transit service. Encourage use of alternative transportation through employee incentives and fare decreases. Focus on education & marketing programs for transit use. Improve reliability of Amtrak & provide commuter rail service between LMP & the South Coast. Develop more Park & Ride lots. Provide an Emergency Ride Home program for alternative transportation users on VAFB. Facilitate bicycling between LMP, VAFB & Buellton. Upgrade Hwy 1 with a Class 1 Bike Path. Encourage alternative transportation use through employee and customer based incentives. Enhance carpool match list opportunities. Coordinate signal timing throughout the Santa Ynez Valley & coordinate with school & business peak hour travel times. Encourage telecommuting. Reflect new technology applications for ITS in the RTP. Provide more Park & Ride lots (Hwys101 @ 246) Connect all schools in the Santa Ynez Valley to their communities with bicycle and pedestrian paths. Connect the pedestrian pathway between Santa Ynez High School & Pine St. along Hwy 246. 5
Transportation Mode Pedestrian/Bicycle (9/24/03) Provide pedestrian & bicycle facilities to include River Levy Trail, Highway 101 bridge between SLO & Santa Barbara counties, Railroad & Depot Ave., Pacific Cost Bike Route, & Hwy 166. Lompoc (10/01/03) Implement Santa Ynez River Bikeway. Implement a comprehensive Safe Route to School program. Solvang (10/15/03) Establish a Class II bicycle lane on Hwy 246 though Solvang. Establish a trail from Refugio Road, along the north side of Hwy 246 to Questa St. Establish a Class II bicycle lane on Baseline Rd. between Alamo Pintado & Refugio Rd. Implement a Safe Route to School program, including signalization on Hwy 246 at Sycamore. Provide bike lanes on Refugio Rd. and Roblar Ave. Rail Provide commuter rail service between northern Santa Barbara County & the South Coast and VTA County & the South Coast. Include rail projects in the 2009 Measure D renewal program. Work for legislative changes to allow Amtrak service to respond to commuter service needs. Reestablish Amtrak bus service between LMP & Amtrak s Surf Station. Improve access to Surf & Guadalupe Amtrak stations. Include Santa Barbara County Park & Recreation plan elements of bicycle & equestrian paths in the RTP. Implement a feasibility study for high speed mag lev rail service along Hwy 101. Implement commuter rail service between Ventura, Santa Barbara & San Luis Obispo Counties. Build a rail station and Park & Ride lot at Gaviota. 6
(9/24/03) Lompoc (10/01/03) Transportation Mode Rail Provide more rail sidings. Improve parking lot security at Amtrak s Surf Station. Solvang (10/15/03) Develop rail service along Hwy 246 (commuters & tourists). Explore alternative rail technology. Roads & Highways Provide a truck by-pass between Guadalupe and. Provide commuter rail service between North County and the South Coast and the North County and SLO County. Widen Hwy 246 & upgrade the bridge. Synchronized signal timing throughout the Santa Ynez Valley. Provide shoulders on Hwy 1 between Guadalupe & Orcutt. Dedicate HOV/bus lanes. Implement Central Ave. extension & bridge. Improve Hwy 1 & 246 intersection. (Use an overpass or round-about configuration). Improve McLaughlin Road & restore fair weather crossing. Install traffic signal and medians on Hwy 246 @ Castle subdivision and signalization along Hwy 246 in Buellton city limits. Improve pedestrian access and through-fare on the Hwy 101 bridge @ Hwy 246. Widen Hwy1. Widen Bailey and Ocean roads. Raise elevation of Hwy 135 to eliminate flooding. Extend Union Valley Parkway. Improve intersection at Santa Lucia & Hwy 1. Create a by-pass, extending Baseline Ave., west to Hwy 101. Improve right turn & left turn pockets from Hwy 154 into Los Olivos and Los Olivos Elementary School. Improve intersections for local traffic crossing Hwy 154. Increase speed enforcement on Hwy 154. 7
Transportation Mode Roads & Highways Transit (9/24/03) Provide circulator express service along the Broadway corridor. Provide later service hours, more frequent service, and more routes. Provide red curbing at bus stops. Implement the Orcutt transit study. Build a new transit center; incorporating SMAT, CCAT & Amtrak services. Lompoc (10/01/03) Install deer fencing along Hwy 1. Widen Highway 101 through the South Coast. Improve Dial-A-Ride & ADA complimentary services. Provide more frequent service, more routes, and Sunday service. Implement service between LMP & VAFB. Provide service between LMP, VAFB &. Provide cross-town service along College Ave. Provide parking for commuters. Provide employees with incentives to use transit. Solvang (10/15/03) Re-strip left turn pocket on Hwy 154 @ Rancho San Marcos Golf Course. Construct tunnel linking Hwys 154 & 101. Coordinate linkages between the transit systems in the North County. Provide more commuter service from the Santa Ynez Valley, with stops at both Hwys 246 @ 101 & 246 @ 154. Provide commuter service for both professionals and students (UCSB/SBCC). Provide transit service between LMP, VAFB & and LMP & Buellton. Provide more vanpool opportunities. Provide more frequent transit service, and a more attractive bus system, with better bus stop amenities. Equip buses with bicycle racks and air conditioning. 8
(9/24/03) Lompoc (10/01/03) Solvang (10/15/03) Transportation Mode Transit Develop express service between Buellton, Solvang & Santa Ynez. ITS Intelligent Transportation Systems / TDM Transportation Demand Management Re-institute youth bus pass. 9
Written Comments: Mission Hills Community Services District October 31, 2003
11
Written Comments: Justin Ruhge Concerned Taxpayers, INC October 1, 2003 12