The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) will loan Santa Barbara County Local Transportation Authority $75 million to construct a 7.5-mile extension of US 101’s High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, officials said Wednesday.
The low-interest loan is part of the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program and will help the department reduce its cost for the $456 million project.
“USDOT’s investment in the expansion of US 101’s HOV lane will reduce barriers to opportunity for low-income workers who rely heavily on this corridor to commute from homes in Ventura County to employment centers in South Santa Barbara County,” said Deputy Transportation Secretary Polly Trottenberg. “In addition to better connecting this community to existing employment opportunities, this investment will also generate 5,000-6,000 new good jobs in the region.”
The project includes rebuilding interchanges, installing sound walls, and improving creek crossings. Officials said the improvements will enhance safety for automobile drivers, freight carriers, bicyclists, and pedestrians while providing first responders with better collision response times and preventing secondary collisions.
“The Bureau partnered with the Santa Barbara team to finance this project that will benefit tens of thousands of commuters,” said Bureau Executive Director Morteza Farajian. “This multi-modal approach relieves congestion while encouraging more efficient, higher occupancy trips, including express bus services. The project creates $1.3 billion in savings to the public, commuters, and the freight industry.”
The project is expected to be completed in 2025.