Ekwill Street & Fowler Road Extensions (Project No. 9002)

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Including Hollister Ave/SR 217 Intersection Improvements

Introduction

The Ekwill Street and Fowler Road Extensions project (Ekwill-Fowler Project) will be the largest capital improvement project to date for the City of Goleta. When the City first incorporated, it inherited the project from the County during the project’s conceptual phase. Since that time the project’s scope has evolved at various stages of development. The project is very complex, requiring right-of-way acquisitions from over 20 separate properties, numerous permits including a Coastal Commission permit, and since a large portion of the project is on Hollister Avenue and within State jurisdiction, a comprehensive review and approval from Caltrans. In addition, in order to minimize the duration of construction activity on Hollister Avenue, the City has aligned the construction of the project with the construction of the Hollister Avenue Bridge replacement project, which is located immediately adjacent to one of the roundabouts being constructed on Hollister Avenue as part of the Ekwill-Fowler Project.

Description

This project will construct a new road, the Ekwill Street extension, across Old Town Goleta from Kellogg Avenue to Fairview Avenue. The project will also extend existing South Street (and rename it Fowler Road) to Technology Drive. The new streets will have one travel lane in each direction along with left turn pockets, as required, Class II bike lanes, sidewalks and landscaped parkways will extend along both roadways. In addition, the project will construct intersection capacity improvements (roundabouts) at the Pine Avenue intersection with Ekwill Street and at the Hollister Avenue and State Route 217 ramp intersections.

Hollister Avenue Intersection Modifications - click here for a larger image

Ekwill Street Intersection Modifications - click here for a larger image

Fowler Road Intersection Modifications - click here for a larger image

Purpose and Need

The existing roadway system within Old Town Goleta has inadequate east-west circulation both North and South of Hollister Avenue and lacks direct access into the southern portions of Old Town Goleta and the Santa Barbara Airport. This project will relieve regional congestion along Hollister Avenue, improve traffic circulation in Old Town Goleta, enhance bicycle and pedestrian circulation and improve access within Old Town Goleta and to the airport.

Strategic Plan Goals

Strengthen Infrastructure

Return Old Town to a Vital Center of the City

Funding Sources

Funding for this project was a combination of Redevelopment Agency (RDA) (prior to dissolution), Development Impact Fee (DIF) and State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) funds. Only the STIP and DIF funds are still available.

Current Phase

An Environmental Impact Report (EIR) under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) was approved in 2011. The final design, right-of-way and permitting phase was completed in the fall of 2022. Construction is slated to commence in 2024.