Everything you need to know for the October 26 Town Hall

1. Ask the Decision Makers to Make a Path You Want to Use

Specific points to get a safer, wider path comfortable for people of all ages and abilities, inviting healthier, more economical and sustainable ways of getting out and about:

• A safety barrier or enough separation from road traffic.

• Provide several wide pull-outs along the open space side of the path for people to rest, pass safely, enjoy nature, and read educational signage.

• Wide enough multi-use and Class II paths to comfortably serve future types of users and future traffic volumes, especially encouraging faster and e-bike cyclists to stay on the Class II so slower paced users can use the multi-use path.

• Protect Class II lanes by providing painted 2-ft buffers from the vehicle lanes as has become common on similar roads in our area.

• No gutter pan seam  in the Class II path, or just a six inch wide gutter.

• Bow the path south at the east Encore and west Via Zorro crosswalks to provide for 6-ft by 6-ft safety zones between the westbound Class 1 lane and the eastbound Class 2 lane.

2. Ask Decision Makers to Design a Project That Improves Habitat Values of the Open Space. 

• A path project that helps restore this land while reducing the eucalyptus fire/falling hazards and native habitat loss.

• Maintain horse and hiking trail loops in the conservation easement area.

• Improve all Modoc runoff drainage outfalls into the open space to stop erosion of the existing equestrian/pedestrian trail.  

• Consider using stacked-at-a-slope sandstone rocks or boulders in lieu of concrete retaining walls where possible for a look more compatible in the open space.

• Consider natural barriers to keep people out of sensitive portions of the open space such as planning native vegetation and boulders. 

• Save the exceptionally attractive lemon gum eucalyptus across from the old Boy Scout District Office by having each lane of the path go around it, and planting shrubs on the west and east sides of the tree to protect riders from crashing into the tree.

3. Give the Public a Fair Chance to Weigh In

• Call for a safe and inviting path to meet the equity goals of the CA Active Transportation Program, which provides most of the funding for this project:  To attract those who cannot afford cars and to be inviting to less fit, older, and less confident riders who mostly fit the “Interested but Concerned” rider type as the County’s Active Transportation Plan describes them. The “Interested but Concerned” distinction equally applies to all types of travelers this project is meant to serve.

• Call for a safe and inviting path to meet the accessibility goals of Santa Barbara County’s Active Transportation Plan. The path needs to “inspire people of all ages and abilities to walk, bike, or roll… by providing comfortable… accessible transportation networks.”   Designing to minimum standards, appropriate for low speed, low volume vehicle traffic and low-use ATP routes, will not serve and invite the disabled population. 

• Advance the “goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030” as stated in the County’s draft 2030 Climate Action Plan by creating a “comfortable, connected, and accessible” path that will also “encourage alternatives to single occupancy vehicle trips” per the County’s May 2023 Active Transportation Plan.

• Ask the Land Trust and Water Company board to uphold the public access provisions of the 1999 Modoc Conservation Easement and allow a greater portion of the open space to be used for more length of the path, making it safer for everyone. There just isn’t enough room to safely squeeze 6 lanes plus pull out space with adequate separation from vehicle traffic within the County-owned right of way.

• Ask the Water Company and Land Trust to follow the restoration and education provisions of the 1999 Modoc Conservation Easement that call for restoring the open space by removing non-native trees, replanting native trees and improving native habitat, while adding interpretative signs along the path system. Ask the Land Trust to live up to all of their vision: “We envision a future with conserved lands throughout the county that engage and nourish human, plant, and animal life… healthy habitat to sustain and harbor wildlife and plants, and beautiful trails and open spaces that provide recreational gateways accessible to all. We strive to engage with the multiple communities that make up our county, to adapt to changing conditions, and to maintain our capacity to address all conservation opportunities.” 

• And ask them to further the Land Trust’s mission of “Educating both children and adults about ecology, agriculture and conservation through programs and events at Land Trust preserves.”