Highway 217 Design Process to Continue

Santa Barbara County planning officials met on campus with members of the Highway 217 Review Committee on Dec. 15 to discuss future cooperation on possible modifications of Highway 217 as part of the redevelopment of Old Town Goleta.

Earlier last month the California Transportation Commission (CTC) unanimously placed on hold the ownership transfer of Highway 217 from the state to the County of Santa Barbara.

Responding to a request from UCSB Chancellor Henry Yang, the agency agreed that, in the words of Commissioner Roger Kozberg, "we will not consider relinquishment of this freeway unless and until we have agreement between the county and the university as to a solution that is acceptable to both..."

The sticking point the commissioners want resolved is disagreement over county plans to construct signalized intersections at two places 1,500 feet apart on Highway 217, also known as Ward Memorial Blvd., which would downgrade the freeway to an expressway.

The county has argued that redevelopment of Old Town Goleta depends on such intersections. UCSB, which has repeatedly expressed support for most elements of the redevelopment plan, has made a concerted effort since December 1999 to work with county officials to craft an alternative design that retains the freeway status of Highway 217.

Physicist Harry Nelson, co-chair with biologist Scott Cooper of the Highway 217 Review Committee, explained that the request for CTC intervention was necessary because "we wanted to make sure we arrived at a joint solution."