Chapter 1 - Caltrans - State of California

Chapter 1 Proposed Project
Background
In the early 1960s consideration for widening the U.S.101 in Santa Barbara County was
introduced. In 1974, the project area was analyzed in the Department’s Feasibility
Report and a six-lane highway was recommended. Consideration for widening the
Ventura County portion of the project began in the late 1990s and in 1999, projected
growth and capacity requirements were evaluated in the Department’s Transportation
Concept Report (TCR) and widening was recommended. In 2001, widening the Santa
Barbara County portion of the project was analyzed in the Department’s TCR and a
larger facility was recommended.
The Department, Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG), Ventura
County Transportation Commission (VCTC); and state and local agencies worked
together to develop the 2002 “South Coast Highway 101 Deficiency Plan” and the 2006
“101 In Motion Plan.” These plans included alternatives for widening of the highway by
adding lanes in each direction and the “101 In Motion Plan” recommended the addition
of a High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane in each direction. Congestion relief was also
analyzed in the VCTC Congestion Management Program (CMP) and this plan also
recommended adding lanes and implementing a peak hour HOV lane.
In 1968, consideration for constructing a pedestrian crossing at La Conchita began when
the Department proposed a pedestrian crossing at La Conchita for safe beach access. In
2002, an environmental document was approved for a proposed pedestrian undercrossing
(PUC) at La Conchita. In 2005, the PUC at La Conchita was recommended in the
Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) Congestion Management Plan and
in 2006, VCTC commenced design of the proposed PUC.
Existing Facility
The U.S. 101 is part of the National Highway System and has been identified by the
Federal Department of Transportation and the Department of Defense as a route in the
Strategic Highway Corridor Network and is classified as an urban freeway. It is on the
State Freeway and Expressway System and is a designated Focus Route on the
Interregional Road System. It is also a State Highway Extra Legal Load Route and is on
the Surface Transportation Assistance Act Truck Network.
The proposed project segment of the U.S. 101 connects Ventura County to Santa Barbara
County and operates as a four-lane expressway to freeway, respectively. The original
two-lane highway was completed in 1938. In 1951, the two lane higway was expanded
to four lanes in its current alignment. The median barrier was constructed in 1985.
IS/EA VEN-SB US101 HOV Project 3