SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Work crews have not been slowed by the COVID-19 crisis in Santa Barbara where years of broken and bumpy roads are getting a new look.
The new work taking place in virtually every area of the city has come with the Measure C voter-approved tax money.
Some of it was taking place right in the heart of the city around mid-March when the coronavirus crisis was overtaking the country, and a major business shut down took place along with the stunning drop in vehicle traffic.
"We said 'Hey, let's get as many streets paved downtown' while it is quiet and when we are not disrupting our community," said Santa Barbara Transportation Manager Roy Dayton.
In recent years, some streets were falling apart piece by piece right before our eyes and our tires. Chunks of asphalt were often coming apart and crumbling with each passing car.
In some areas the work calls for a new surface seal, other streets are getting a good grinding, then a new layer of asphalt.
"If we let a street go too long it gets more expensive so it is all about the cost of maintenance so initially it's catching up from all deferred maintenance," said Dayton.
There's also a new striping pattern in many areas.
Dayton says, the Santa Barbara City Council, "passed Vision Zero, (that said) no person should have to die or get severely injured on the road and if we can change the striping or eliminate a pattern of collision where people are getting hurt that's great."
One of the changes you might be seeing the restriping of a street is Anacapa by Arrellaga street. It used to be two lanes. Now it is down to one lane. That slows traffic and makes it a little safer.
"80 percent of us drive the speed limit so if you get behind someone who drives the speed limit it will slow the vehicles," said Dayton.
The Measure C tax money will help the city get caught up on numerous projects that are years over due.
It may take about five years to go through the to-do list.
The fund is just over $20-million dollars a year but that may change with the economic slowdown and lower tax dollars.
Either way, the new work is smoothing out some annoying road issues.
"It's a big win for motorists and it is a big win for residents because it is less noise for them instead of having rattling cars going down the street."
The Measure C tax dollars approved by voters in 2017 was earmarked for specific projects such as road and sidewalk work, and eventually for a new police station. That project is in an environmental review stage.
On the ballot it was described as funding for Critical Infrastructure and Essential Community Services.
The one-cent general purpose local sales transaction and use tax moved the new rate is 8.75%.
Measure C, which became effective April 1, 2018.
At the time it was estimated to generate $22 million per year.
Watch tonight on KEYT NewsChannel 3, KCOY NewsChannel 12 and KKFX Fox 11 news.
(More details, photos and video will be added later today)
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Tax dollars paving the way for smoother roads in many bumpy areas - NewsChannel 3-12 - KEYT
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