Month: May 2025

Dave Alley

ARROYO GRANDE, Calif. – A road construction project described as the biggest in the history of Arroyo Grande will soon begin and will bring significant traffic impacts for several months.

On Tuesday evening, Arroyo Grande held an official groundbreaking to kick off the Traffic Way Bridge Replacement Project.

In the works for several years, the project will most notably include the complete replacement of the nearly 100-year old Traffic Way Bridge.

The bridge, which is located just off of West Branch Street, is traveled by 11,000 vehicles daily, and is an integral part of the city’s infrastructure that helps link the Village area to the southwest portion of city, including Arroyo Grande High School.

During the project, the entire bridge will be removed, followed by the construction of a newer, more modern version, thus causing a portion of Traffic Way to close to traffic.

As a result, several traffic modifcations have been designed to create an entirely new flow of traffic through the popular Village area.

“We have to remove the bridge in its entirety and shut down traffic way between Station Way and West Branch Street,” said Shannon Sweeney, Arroyo Grande City Engineer. “Because of that, we’ll need a pretty significant detour. We have put in place a lot of (changes) to try to alleviate congestion.”

Among the new traffic patterns will be the creation of one-way traffic going northbound on nearby Bridge Street, which will also include a temporary signal at the intersection of West Branch Street.

A temporary traffic signal is also being installed at the intersection of the Highway 101 southbound offramp and Fair Oaks Avenue.

In addition, a new traffic circle was recently installed on Fair Oaks Avenue outside the Arroyo Grande High School parking lot to allow for vehicles exiting the school to turn left.

“This is a collaborative project with the city,” said Arroyo Grande High School principal Brad Grumbles. “That’s why it’s in our AG blue and gold, but it’s a collaborative project. Please be patient with us as there’s growing pains. All of this is for the betterment of the community. It allows us to get the legal left, which will allow traffic to head in the proper direction while the bridge project is taking place, so we’re excited to be a part of it. The city has been extremely helpful and communicative throughout this whole project, so I’m optimistic of what it’s going to bring to the community and what it will do for traffic flow in the future.”

The city is emphasizing to the public that all driveways to businesses along Traffic Way will remain open and accessible throughout the entire length of the project.

However, nearby business owners are worried about potential impacts the construction may have on the ability of customers to navigate all of the different changes.

“One of the concerns I have that I think a lot of the businesses have is that if it feels too difficult for people, that they may avoid the village altogether,” said Renee Westerhuis, who has owned the The Green Room hair salon in the Village for 37 years. “I’m really trying to keep faith that my clientele are loyal enough and they’re going to deal with whatever they have to deal with to get to me. They are closing the entrance to the street that goes up to my parking lot, the direct way up to my parking lot, which is also a concern for me, so I’m having to direct people through a different parking lot through the park.”

The project is slated to cost $11 million and is projected to be completed by Nov. 26, 2025.  

For more information about Traffic Way Bridge Replacement Project, click here to view the City of Arroyo Grande’s official webpage for the project.

“We are encouraging anybody who uses Traffic Way on a normal basis to check out the city’s website,” said Sweeney. “There’s a website for this project where we do regular updates. The detour maps can be found there and also upcoming important dates.”

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Jarrod Zinn

SANTA MARIA, Calif. — The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday urging Congress to protect federal food assistance programs as local food banks prepare for major funding cuts that could significantly impact low-income families and small farmers.

The resolution affirms the county’s commitment to the social safety net, including programs such as SNAP and CalFresh, amid rising food insecurity and the loss of key federal support.

Erik Talkin, CEO of the Santa Barbara County Foodbank, accepted the resolution during the meeting and detailed the financial toll of the funding cuts.

The Santa Barbara County Foodbank expects to lose close to $5 million in direct support. That includes more than 1.5 million pounds of food, a $24,000 FEMA emergency food grant, and $500,000 from the now-canceled Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program.

“That represents a quarter of all of the food that we distribute in the county,” Talkin said.

The San Luis Obispo County Food Bank is facing a $600,000 annual loss. A proposed 20 percent cut to federal food assistance could double demand at local food banks, officials said, placing additional strain on already stretched resources.

Talkin added that food banks are increasing partnerships with local farmers by paying them to grow food for distribution, supporting both growers and families in need. This comes however following the cancellation of the federal program that allowed small farms to sell produce directly to food banks.

In Carpinteria, farmer Juan Osorio said he feels overwhelmed following this cancellation.

“What’s going to happen is I won’t be able to provide for my family,” Osorio said.

Second District Supervisor Laura Capps called on the community to step up support.

“If there was ever a time to support our local food bank, it is now, and with private dollars,” Capps said. “What is happening is devastating. This is a bipartisan program that has received support from both parties for a generation.”

While the resolution does not directly challenge federal or state authorities, it reinforces the county’s support for local solutions that maintain access to food for vulnerable residents.

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — After months of concerns, the city of Santa Barbara has strengthened its ordinance to improve bike safety throughout the city. Officials say the changes come in response to frequent complaints, particularly in the downtown area, about accidents, injuries and reckless riding.

Santa Barbara police are now authorized to issue administrative citations for risky or unlawful riding behavior. Fines start at $100 and can increase to $500 for repeat offenses within a year. First-time offenders may be eligible to eliminate the fine by completing a safety diversion course.

“We want a safe place for everyone, whether they’re walking, biking or driving,” said Commander Chris Payne of the Santa Barbara Police Department.

The updated ordinance includes electric bikes, scooters, skateboards and other e-conveyances, as well as smaller motorcycle-style vehicles. Riders stopped on unapproved electric motorcycles can have the vehicle towed and impounded for 72 hours.

Citations have already been issued to minors riding without helmets, as well as to those riding recklessly, popping wheelies near pedestrians or cars, riding on sidewalks, running red lights and failing to yield.

“The educational aspect clearly has not taken root,” said David de L’Arbre, board president of the Downtown Santa Barbara Improvement Association. “So now they are in the enforcement phase, and I think that will have a bigger impact, especially among young bike riders who will realize there are real consequences to bad behavior on State Street.”

Police say enforcement efforts are supported by previous education and outreach, including school visits and social media campaigns.

The diversion program for first-time offenders includes a two-hour class and a short test.

“As long as they pass the test with 80 percent or better, the citation is excused,” Payne said.

Some local riders support the increased enforcement.

“I love biking here in town, but obviously there are rules that need to be followed or else it’s going to put people at risk,” said daily rider Oliver Banales Vallejo. “If you’re going to be riding on the streets in Santa Barbara, you shouldn’t be reckless. You’re putting people in danger no matter what.”

City leaders say enforcement is only part of a larger discussion about how pedestrians, drivers and cyclists can safely share space downtown.

“The question is how to coexist in a fun and inviting way on State,” de L’Arbre said.

Police enforcement is ongoing, with motorcycle and bicycle officers patrolling the downtown corridor.

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