Santa Marians interested in commenting on all things bike-related at the city level can submit statements regarding the Santa Maria Bikeway Master Plan by Oct. 16 to the community development department.
Now available for public review on the city’s website, ci.santa-maria.ca.us, the bikeway master plan provides a blueprint of the city’s bicycle transportation system and recreational facilities.
According to the plan, Santa Maria currently boasts an extensive network of bikeways totaling approximately 66 miles. Once approved, the updated plan would expand that network by 139 miles. The plan would also put money toward connecting gaps in the system, improving existing bike lanes and paths, and creating more bicycle parking areas around town, among other things.
In a recent interview with the Sun, city planner Brian Halvorson said the plan serves a dual purpose in that government entities must have updated their master plans within the last five years to qualify for funding available through CalTrans and the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments. The city last updated its plan in 1992.
Halvorson said the city is expecting the new plan to be approved by the end of
this year.
Submit comments by mail to the community development department, 110 S. Pine St., suite 101, Santa Maria, CA, 93458, or by calling 925-0951, Ext. 414, or e-mailing bhalvorson@ci.santa-maria.ca.us.
This article appears in Sep 24 – Oct 1, 2009.