A $9 million infrastructure project is on the way to Isla Vista to improve bicycle and pedestrian mobility through curb ramp upgrades, protected bike lanes, extended sidewalks, and bike boulevards.
However, as with every change, there’s some conflict.
Part of the project proposes widening the sidewalk on the ocean side of Del Playa Drive. The Isla Vista Community Services District told Santa Barbara County that it would like to prioritize other streets that don’t have continuous sidewalks, specifically on streets that have higher populations of seniors and families.
However, the county Public Works Department said there are strict stipulations of the $7 million state grant it received for the project.
When the county applied for the grant in 2022, improving accessibility on Del Playa Drive was a big focus, which means it can’t abandon that plan and still receive the funding, according to Mark Friedlander, the county’s mobility manager.
After discussing the project on Feb. 11, the IVCSD board of directors wrote a letter to the county Board of Supervisors asking that if the project goes forward with widening the sidewalk on Del Playa that it use one-time funds to support the start of a parking compliance program.
Spencer Brandt, president of the IVCSD board, said that without the parking compliance program, they’re worried that the project will only worsen parking congestion on Del Playa. Already, vehicles block driveways because of the lack of on-street parking.
“We know that without continued partnership on all of the parking solutions that the county and IVCSD have been working together to develop over the last two years, we could squander this one over $1 million investment and continue to have a street that is congested significantly from parking and does not meet the accessibility needs that wheelchair users have,” Brandt said.
In July 2024, IVCSD requested $300,000 from county-UCSB settlement funding to support a parking compliance program. However, funding instead went to improvements at Children’s Park, a housing inspection program, a permanent restroom on Del Playa, and IVCSD’s parking and mobility study.
If the county decided not to go forward with widening the sidewalk on Del Playa Drive, the IVCSD board asked that the project instead include sidewalk improvements on Picasso, Abrego and Sabado Tarde roads.
“This is really an equity issue to make sure that everyone in the community, regardless of their age or their background, has the ability to have a sidewalk in front of their house, and to be able to walk around the community and to be able to get around with ease,” Brandt said.
Friedlander told Noozhawk that they are expecting to move forward with the Del Playa sidewalk component on the project. However, they may be looking into additional funding sources to support adding sidewalks on streets such as Picasso, Abrego, and Sabado Tarde.
“The main goal with our project is really to improve what’s already happening out here in Isla Vista,” Friedlander told the board on Feb. 11. “We know a lot of people choose to walk and bike as it is. It’s the primary mode of getting around in this town, so our project is really focused on making that safer and more convenient for folks on their path of travel.”
The project proposes adding sidewalk extensions, curb extensions, protected bike lanes, crosswalks and other striping improvements throughout Isla Vista.
Brandt said that while he and other board members are concerned about the Del Playa aspect of the project, they are overall excited about the potential improvements for cyclist and pedestrian safety improvements.
“As a cyclist myself, I am really excited about so much in the plan that has to deal with creating more protected bike lanes to make it safer for cyclists,” Brandt said.
He said he’s also excited to see traffic-calming measures to slow down vehicle traffic and make it safer for vehicles and cyclists to coexist.
Due to restriping and reconfiguration, the changes could result in Isla Vista losing up to 77 on-street parking spots.
“It’s challenging. Isla Vista is the most parking congested community in Santa Barbara County,” Brandt said. “For decades and decades, this has been an issue. The can really has been kicked down the road.”
Friedlander said construction is set to start in late 2027 or 2028 and that they are still in the preliminary design phase.