Plan for New Intercommunity Transit Services in North County Unveiled

A draft plan for initiating new transit services connecting Santa Maria, Lompoc and
Vandenberg Air Force Base was presented to the SBCAG board in April. The new service is being implemented as a three-year pilot project to meet work, shopping, medical and other transportation needs expressed by North County residents over several years. The plan proposes providing service between 5:45 am and 6:45 pm. to maximize ridership. A stop at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) will enable many Santa Maria and Lompoc residents to use this new service for commuting.

Four 35-45 ft. urban buses to accommodate people with disabilities are planned to provide the service to facilitate the pilot program. Board members, Mayor Larry Lavagnino and others recommended leasing rather than purchasing buses in order to expedite delivery of the service. Maximizing coordination with existing transit services in Lompoc and Santa Maria is a primary goal of the pilot program and important to its success. The new service will link to SMAT, a new Vandenberg Shuttle as well as some limited coordination with COLT and scheduled air service connections at Santa Maria Airport. The plan recommends that the service be operated by SMAT under an agreement with SBCAG, Lompoc, Santa Maria and the County of Santa Barbara. Depending on bus availability and other factors the service could be initiated as soon as Fall 2004.

For more information regarding the proposed service visit www.sbcag.org

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AMTRAK Pacific Surfliner Service Expansion Planned Strong ridership growth on the AMTRAK coast rail corridor has prompted plans to increase service between Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. Caltrans is working with AMTRAK to add a fifth daily Pacific Surfliner train leaving Los Angeles around 7:30 a.m. and arriving in Santa Barbara at about 9:30 a.m. The northbound train would continue to San Luis Obispo arriving around noon.

The returning southbound trains would depart San Luis Obispo each weekday around 2:00 p.m. arriving in Santa Barbara at about 4:30 p.m. and L.A. about 6:30 p.m. The service expansion is warranted by strong ridership on the Pacific Surfliner service which surpassed 2 million passengers in 2003. Implementation of the new service is dependent on the availability of an additional train set, but is expected to begin in Fall 2004. SBCAG has supported expansion of AMTRAK coast rail corridor services through its membership in the Los Angeles - San Diego - San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor Agency (LOSSAN). LOSSAN is represented by the Southern California coastal counties served by AMTRAK intercity trains as well as Metrolink and Coaster commuter rail services. A LOSSAN representative, Linda Culp of the San Diego Association of Governments, provided the SBCAG board with an overview the agency's effort to improve passenger rail service. She noted that rail ridership in the corridor for all services had surged to nearly 7 million passengers per year making the LOSSAN corridor the second busiest in the nation. Supervisor Joni Gray, who serves as SBCAG's representative on the LOSSAN policy board, noted that the absence of adequate rail sidings is one of the major obstacles to increasing train service to Santa Barbara.

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Transit Assessment Highlights Farmworker Transportation Needs

The Transit Needs Assessment, an annual assessment required by the Transportation Development Act (TDA), was approved by the SBCAG board at the April 15th meeting. The board must determine that all transit needs that can be reasonably met through new or expanded services are being met before allocating any TDA funds for non-transit purposes.

Planned transit service improvements for the North County include the implementation of SMAT Sunday service in Santa Maria, the beginning of new service between Los Alamos and Santa Maria, and the extension of COLT service to the Bridgehouse in Lompoc during peak hours. On the South Coast, planned service improvements include the implementation of Sunday service on MTD Line 14, and the Metropolitan Transit District (MTD) working with the City of Goleta to plan an enhancement of service between Fairview at Calle Real and Old Town Goleta. MTD plans to install bike racks on all of their buses by June.

The issue of transportation for farmworkers in the Santa Maria Valley was brought to light during the assessment process. SBCAG staff worked with the United Mixtec Farm Workers Organization, Coalition for Sustainable Transportation (COAST), Santa Maria Area Transit, the County of Santa Barbara and representatives of the farms through the Growers and Shippers Vegetable Association and the Farm Bureau to identify transportation needs. It was determined that meeting farmworker transportation needs through traditional public transit services presents significant challenges, in part due to the daily, seasonal and geographic variability of these needs. In addition, significant obstacles imposed by state and federal legislation were encountered during the assessment of potential solutions to this transportation need.

Although the need for farm worker transportation was found not to be an "unmet need" according to the criteria allowed for in the Transportation Development Act, several board members expressed concern over this issue. County Supervisor Joe Centeno and Santa Maria Mayor Larry Lavagnino will be working with SBCAG staff and all affected stakeholders to explore viable solutions in responding to this request for service. The full SBCAG board will be presented with a progress report at the July meeting.

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SBCAG to Assist in Delivery of 101 Operational Improvements Project

At its April 15 meeting, the SBCAG Board allocated Measure D funds to the Route 101 Milpas/Cabrillo/Hot Springs Operational Improvements Project to assist Caltrans in expediting the project's delivery. The firm of Moffat & Nichol of Long Beach has been retained by SBCAG to assist the State with right of way acquisition and to design three project elements located outside of the State's right of way: a pedestrian tunnel under the railroad tracks along Cabrillo Boulevard, a roundabout at the intersection of Old Coast Highway, Coast Village Road, Hot Springs Road and Cabrillo Boulevard, and a sound wall to mitigate noise impacts on residences near the Santa Barbara Zoo. Using a private firm will enable Caltrans to focus its resources on delivery of the mainline components of the project. The project's estimated construction cost is $31 million, with $2.4 million funded by Measure D, the countywide, half-cent transportation sales tax, and State transportation revenues.

The project will also add a third southbound lane on 101 between Milpas Street and Cabrillo Blvd, a northbound auxiliary lane, a new southbound off-ramp at Milpas, eliminate the Cabrillo southbound on ramp, a new sound wall on the northbound side of 101, and a new Cacique Street freeway under crossing. The project is currently scheduled to begin construction in fiscal year 2006-07.

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COLT Unveils New Information Displays City of Lompoc Transit (COLT) recently unveiled its new information displays that will soon be located at its most popular bus stops. These displays will provide a route map, schedule and fare information, with the goal of answering questions and raising the comfort level of potential riders.

Twenty-nine display units are being installed at key stops along each of COLT's five routes. They are highly visible and coordinate with COLT's logo to maintain a consistent identity for the service. COLT operates five fixed routes serving Lompoc, Mission Hills, and Vandenberg Village. A Dial-A-Ride service is also provided for seniors and persons with disabilities. For more information about the Colt bus service call 736-7666 or visit www.lompoctransit.com

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MEETING SCHEDULE

May 4	North County Transit Advisory Committee	NCTAC	1:30 PM Ruffoni Building Moon Room 110 S. Pine Street Santa Maria, California
May 6	Technical Transportation Advisory Committee	TTAC	9:00 AM Buellton City Council Chambers 140 West Highway 246
May 6	Technical Planning Advisory Committee	TPAC	11:00 AM Buellton City Council Chambers 140 West Highway 246
May 14	South Coast Transit Advisory Committee	SCTAC	1:30 PM Westside Community Center 423 W. Victoria Street Santa Barbara, California
May 20	SBCAG Board	SBCAG BOARD OF DIRECTORS	8:30 AM Board of Supervisor Hearing Room 511 E. Lakeside Parkway Santa Maria

All meetings are open to the public. Individuals needing special accommodations to participate in the meeting should contact SBCAG at least three work days prior to the scheduled meeting. Various other meetings, workshops, and public hearings are held periodically. For meeting locations, agendas or questions, call SBCAG at (805) 961-8900 or visit sbcag.org/Meetings

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Gear up and join us: Bike to Work in May 2004 May is National Bike Month and SBCAG Traffic Solutions, in conjunction with many community sponsors, is planning a series of fun, educational and rewarding events throughout Santa Barbara County, designed to help people ride their bicycles more often.

Bike Commute Safety Classes: Have a knowledgeable instructor show you, your co-workers and friends the safest ways to ride a bicycle in traffic, around town and on bicycle paths. The class covers the legal rights and responsibilities of driving a bicycle and reviews the most common types of bicycle crashes and how to avoid them. The classes will also cover bicycle commuting basics such as route selection, commuting gear and obtaining secure bicycle parking at work. Events are planned throughout the county. Corporate Commute Contest, May 1st to May 31st: Designed to encourage employees to consider bicycling to work, the contest will reward regular bicyclists, encourage infrequent bicycle commuters and include special bonuses for new bicycle commuters. The contest is also designed to recognize and encourage bicycle-friendly employers in Santa Barbara County. Bike to Work Day, Wednesday, May 19th, 7:00 am to 9:00 am: Now in its 11th year, Bike to Work Day rewards bicycle commuters and encourages everyone to try biking to work. Join us at over 13 sites countywide for free food and prizes. Our official Bike to Work t-shirt, with a beautiful new design (shown above), will be available for only $5. For more information and to sign up for any or all 3 events, please visit www.sbbikeweek.com or call Erika Lindemann at (805) 961-8919.

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It's that Green Time Again

Do you know of a business or organization that encourages environmental practices in the workplace? If so, a Green Award nomination is the best way to recognize this employer's outstanding effort. Each year up to five Santa Barbara county employers are chosen to join an elite group of Green Award recipients. The Green Award is given to organizations that demonstrate an environmental effort above and beyond their mission. Improved air quality and transportation circulation, water conservation and resource management and the use of environmentally friendly products are all examples of the environmental practices that can earn an employer a Green Award. CLICK HERE for a Green Award brochure.

To nominate an organization for the 2004 Green Award visit www.greendifference.org and complete a nomination kit,
return by June 18, 2004.

REFER A FRIEND TO CLEAN AIR EXPRESS AND GET A PRIZE Refer a friend to the Clean Air Express and receive a $30 value Santa Barbara Axxess coupon card with thousands of dollars of savings and two-for-one offers at dozens of local restaurants. If your friend purchases a Clean Air Express pass, you will be sent a FREE Axxess card (while supplies last). Contact Scott Spaulding at 805-961-8920 to qualify for this prize.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

May 19

Bike to Work Day

For a list of sites countywide visit www.sbbikeweek.com

 

INFORMATION REQUESTS FILLED

Countywide Bike Map	862
Regional Transit	13
Vanpool	3
Carpool Matchlist	20

BICYCLE SAFETY TRAINING

Join our certified bicycle safety trainers and learn the basics of bicycling for transportation. Bicycle Safety Training classes are provided to the community free of charge. Contact Erika Lindemann for more information about how you can enroll: elindemann@sbcag.org

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NEW VANPOOL OPPORTUNITY

A new van is being organized that will travel from Santa Maria to downtown Santa Barbara, serving an 8am-to 5pm work schedule. Open seats are still available! For more information about this new van email Kimberley Couch at kccouch@co.santa-barbara.ca.us.

GET A MAP

Send an email with your name and address to shannon@sbcag.org to get a Santa Barbara County Bike map or Transit map mailed to you, please specify how many you would like.

FORMS

VANPOOL RIDER REBATE

EMERGENCY RIDE HOME