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Caltrans > District 5 > Project Information > South Coast HOV Lanes

South Coast 101 HOV Project

SB 101 HOV project map

Overview

This project would add one high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane in each direction on US 101 from 0.44 mile south of Carpinteria Creek in the City of Carpinteria to Sycamore Creek in the City of Santa Barbara. The project is 10.9 miles in length.

Caltrans District 5 is the lead agency for the project. SBCAG is the primary project sponsor. Project partners include the City of Santa Barbara, County of Santa Barbara, City of Carpinteria, SBCAG and Caltrans. The project is funded with Measure A regional sales tax funds, as well as other state and federal funding sources.

The proposed project would add one HOV lane in each direction, resulting in a six-lane freeway within the project limits. A no-build alternative and three build alternatives are proposed for evaluation in the environmental document. The added lanes are expected to be designated as part-time HOV lanes, meaning that they will operate as general-purpose lanes during off-peak periods of weekdays and on weekends. Project improvements for all build alternatives are anticipated to be confined primarily to the existing State Highway right-of-way.

Printable Fact Sheet

Project Purpose

To reduce congestion, decrease vehicle travel times and to facilitate the flow of goods and services
To facilitate a mode shift to carpool, vanpool, and bus travel in the corridor
To provide capacity for future travel demand
To provide for HOV lane continuity on US 101 in southern Santa Barbara County, as planned for in the 2008 Regional Transportation Plan and 101InMotion

Need

Traffic volume is overwhelming the existing capacity of the U.S. 101 during weekday and weekend peak periods. Route 101 within the project limits typically operates with congested flow (Level of Service F) conditions during weekday and weekend peak periods. These conditions typically occur for two to four hours daily in each direction and result in significant travel delay. Without improvements congested conditions are expected to increase to ten hours a day by 2040.

Project Timeline (Milestones)

Public Scoping Meetings		Summer 2009 Click here to view notice
Project Information Meetings		Mid-November 2011 Click here to view notice
Draft Environmental Document (DED) release		March 23,2012
DED Public Hearing		April 24-25, 2012 Click here to view notice
Close of DED Public Comment Period		July 9, 2012 (extended from May 25)
Design and Permitting		Fall 2012 to Fall 2015
Begin Construction (Phase 1)*		Summer 2016
* Project is expected to be constructed in 4-5 phases. Actual start date for all phases will be based on funding availability.

Guiding Principles of the Project Development Team

Project design is to be compatible with existing community character while addressing user and maintenance worker safety.
Visual and coastal resources are to be preserved and/or mitigated to the greatest extent feasible.
Adverse impacts to historical and cultural resources are to be avoided or mitigated to the greatest extent feasible.
Acquisition of private property is to be minimized.
Financial viability is a key constraint; alternatives under consideration should be feasible within the anticipated long term funding stream for the project.
Opportunities for stakeholder and public input and involvement will be provided throughout the project development process.

Project Cost and Funding

The total cost of the project varies by alternative. The estimated total project cost is expected to range from $345 million to $455 million. Secured funding for the project includes $140 million in Measure A regional sales tax renewal funds as well as other Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP) funding programmed by SBCAG. Additional funding sources are expected to include a range of state and federal funding sources.

Background

A two-year corridor study that examined all modes and involved extensive community outreach was completed by SBCAG in July 2006. This study, called 101 In Motion, developed a vision for long-term mobility along the Route 101 corridor. The study resulted in a consensus recommendation for six elements that, together, will implement a multi-modal strategy to accommodate future travel demand while facilitating a modal shift to carpooling, transit, and passenger rail.

Without implementation of the elements, 101 In Motion forecast that that LOS F conditions would exceed ten hours a day in each direction by 2030. Consensus recommended elements in 101 In Motion include:

An HOV lane between the Ventura County Line and Milpas Street
New commuter friendly passenger rail service
Facilitation of transit and carpool use
Demand Management strategies
Improved operations and transportation communications

Each of these elements includes one or more individual projects. Separate implementation efforts for rail improvement are ongoing; agencies involved with implementation include SBCAG, Caltrans Division of Rail, AMTRAK, and Union Pacific Railroad. For a link to the 101 In Motion Executive Summary, click here. Additional information on South Coast Corridor transportation funding efforts and plans can be found at www.MeasureA.net/.

Draft Environmental Impact Report and Technical Studies

To view the complete Draft Environmental Impact Report and Technical Studies, please click here.
The public comment period for the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) began on March 23, 2012 and ended on July 9, 2012.

Draft Project Report

The Draft Project Report is an engineering process document that authorizes the release of the Draft Environmental Document for public review. This document was signed on March 19, 2012 and is available upon request.

Questions

For more information, contact Scott Eades, Project Manager by email: Scott_Eades@dot.ca.gov or by phone: (805) 549-3144.

This page is maintained by: Public Affairs Department
Last updated: September 19, 2012