Transportation

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SB CAN advocates for sustainable transportation, including safe, affordable, convenient, and efficient mass transportation systems, as well as the development of communities that facilitate and encourage walking and biking. We recognize that there is a crisis in Santa Barbara County concerningincreased vehicular traffic as more cars and trucks crowd existing transportation corridors — while funding for alternative transportation remains sparse and governmental policies continue to prioritize and subsidize auto traffic, at the expense of other means of circulation. Increased vehicular traffic causes traffic congestion, health problems due to air pollution, and contributes to global warming and the current energy crisis. 

Therefore, we advocate for the following practices and policies:
 
  • Investment and planning should aim to reduce congestion, pollution, and nonrenewable energy.
  • Housing should be sited near job and school sources.
  • Transportation resources should be reallocated toward making mass transit, pedestrian and bike alternatives accessible and convenient.
  • Planning should emphasize compact transit-oriented development.
  • We must strive to re-create or maintain a jobs/housing balance within the geographically distinct areas of our County, to reduce the need for long commuting and the negative impacts it creates on traffic, the environment, and employees’ quality of life. (The south coast of Santa Barbara County is an example of what we mean by a “geographically distinct area.”)
 
 
MEASURE A – County Transportation Tax
 
SB CAN has been a strong supporter for renewing the county transportation tax with increased funding for alternative transportation. Our participation on the Measure A Advisory Committee helped to ensure increased funding for alternative transportation and community oversight of expenditures. We helped to pass Measure A (the renewal of a ½ cent sales tax for county transportation projects) on the November 2008 ballot by a substantial majority in both the north and south counties.
 
 
ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS
 
·         Helped secure intercommunity bus service between Santa Maria, Lompoc and Vandenberg Village through our advocacy at the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) (2003-04)
·         Member of the Coalition for a Fair and Balanced Measure D (A) (2004-08)
·         Testified and advocated for a strong alternative (transit/rail) component of Highway 101 implementation plan (2006) 
·         Worked with Pueblo and Coast to advocate for a smaller MTD fare increase in Santa Barbara (2006 and 2008)
·         Supported the farm worker vanpool pilot project for the north county (2007-08)
·         Supported building better bikeways at hearings in Santa Maria (2007-08)
·         Participated on the Measure A Development Advisory Committees to ensure funding for alternative transportation and accountability through an oversight committee (2007-08)
·         Endorsed Measure A for the November Ballot (2008)
·         Testified at SBCAG Unmet Transit Hearings, and called for spending all TDA funds on transit. (2004-2009)