Tag archives: Caltrans

Caltrans reported earlier this week that the Montecito Creek Bridge at Parra Grande and Highway 192 is slated to open mid-December, nearly three months later than originally planned. Caltrans Public Information Officer Jim Shivers tells us the reason that the Montecito Creek Bridge is the last to be opened to traffic is due to a […]

Next week, Santa Barbara County’s Deputy Director of Transportation Chris Sneddon will take part in the Coast Village Association’s Transportation and Traffic Symposium to unveil the first set of renderings for the roundabout slated at San Ysidro Road and North Jameson Lane. The symposium, set to take place at Montecito Inn, will touch on various […]

According to the Wall Street Journal, California has 12% of the nation’s population, but accounts for half of the homeless population. San Francisco is only a few degrees cooler than Orlando in January, but the homeless rate in the City by the Bay is 30 times higher than Orlando. In the last year, homelessness in […]

Q: In August you wrote about a less-than-perfect clean-up at the 101 Cabrillo off-ramp. This week I noticed a big improvement, but trash is still entwined in branches. This clean-up is like a Dalmatian dog – spotty! What gives? A: It’s true: this ramp clean-up puppy is being attacked by diminutive nips, not big-dog bites! […]

Q. Palm trees are being suggested as part of the recently rolled-out design schemes for the new 101 and Coast Village Road projects. I see from national news reports that palms throughout Southern California are dying from disease and being removed. Why are we installing palms if everyone else is getting rid of them? A. […]

Several weeks ago, Caltrans closed the Hot Springs 101 offramp, causing huge traffic delays. The intention for the closure was to clean out a homeless encampment – but it seems Caltrans forgot a few things. It’s nice to have the brush cut back – but really Caltrans, finish what you started! Come back and pick […]

Last week, I had lunch with the two people who will either make your life more miserable or much happier over the next 10 years. They are the principal players in the widening of the US 101 as it slowly migrates northward toward Montecito. Scott Eades is the Caltrans point person designated as the Santa […]

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is has announced a new Community Resource Deputy for the City of Carpinteria: Senior Deputy James Carovano was selected to fill the position and has been on the job since July 1, 2019. Senior Deputy Carovano is a five-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office and is currently assigned to […]

The Smell of Excess Bob Hazard in his recent column (“Election Intrigue in Montecito,” MJ # 25/29) described me as “a noted investigative reporter [and] an anti-cannabis crusader,” which is not exactly the case.  Like the majority of those in Santa Barbara County, I voted for Prop 64 (and, in my case even Das Williams). […]

It is August, and the living in Montecito is easy… or at least it should be. Gone are May Gray and June Gloom; in their place are sunny skies, a beautiful blue-green ocean and mild temperatures. For the first time in seven years, we have adequate water with no prospect of mandatory rationing. Happiness prevails. […]

Caltrans is continuing work to rebuild the Montecito Creek Bridge, which was damaged in the Montecito debris flow in January of 2018. Most of the bridge construction has been completed with further road and creek restoration work ongoing. Barricades and locked gates will continue to secure the Montecito Creek location with detours available via local […]

Earlier this week drivers may have been caught in heavy traffic in lower Montecito, as Caltrans crews closed the Hot Springs exit at Highway 101 in order to clear out a long-term homeless encampment located under the freeway bridges.  The massive encampment had not been cleared in over three years. The Coast Village Association, the […]

Caltrans’ Punishment Regarding Addison Thompson’s letter (“Fake News Alert,” MJ # 25/25): I sat on the Montecito Association Board of Directors while the Caltrans plan to remove the 101 southbound on-ramp from Cabrillo Blvd. was being considered, and our Board’s objection to such an ill-conceived plan was loudly voiced and well documented directly to the […]

Kardboard Kapers It’s that time of year again: the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum’s 17th Annual Kardboard Kayak Races are coming to West Beach, Santa Barbara, on Saturday, July 6 from 12 noon to 3 pm. Get ready for some hilarity and family fun. SBMM’s Kardboard Kayak Races challenge families and teams to participate in a […]

Throughout history men have made some bad choices by unwittingly clinging to the past, rather than recognizing and embracing an uncertain future. Here are a few memorable misjudgments: In 1903, the President of the Michigan Savings Bank warned Henry Ford’s lawyer, Horace Rackham, to protect his money. “The horse is here to stay but the […]

At this month’s busy Montecito Planning Commission meeting, Commissioners received a briefing on the roundabouts slated for Montecito at the intersections of Olive Mill/Coast Village/North Jameson and San Ysidro/North Jameson. “These types of meetings are very important to make sure we are having a transparent process and people are being kept in the loop,” said […]

Earlier this week Caltrans announced the opening of three more bridges on Highway 192: the San Ysidro Creek Bridge, Romero Canyon Creek Bridge, and the Toro Canyon Creek Bridge are now open to two-way traffic. These bridges were rebuilt following the debris flows and flooding in January 2018.  Motorists will encounter protective barriers on these […]

In anticipation of last week’s evacuations and storms, volunteers from MERRAG, the Montecito Emergency Response and Recovery Action Group, were in the upper village hosting a kiosk with storm and evacuation information, keeping residents informed on emergency preparedness. This was the second time this year that they manned the kiosk to inform residents about potentially […]

This week, drivers can expect full overnight closures for two nights on Highway 101 through a portion of Montecito as Caltrans crews finish the final touches on the bridge rail replacement project on Olive Mill Road. The work will allow for the removal of the wooden support structure underneath the existing bridge, according to project […]

It is difficult to decide whether to laugh or cry at a recent judge’s ruling denying the U.S. government’s right to use the census to count the number of U.S. citizens. Laughing because it is deceivers’ dream to have every action of this presidential administration – including masking the difference between citizens and illegals – […]