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To: Santa Barbara Mayor and City Council, [email protected], Historic Landmarks Commission, Pearl Chase Society, Das Williams, Santa Barbara County Supervisor, County Historic Landmarks Advisory Commission, Board of Supervisors, ...

Help us Save the Historic Mission Creek Bridge

This campaign has ended.

Let the Santa Barbara City Council know we want no changes to the Historic Mission Creek Bridge or roadway over Mission Creek.
Built in 1891, It is an important City of Santa Barbara Historic Landmark.
We don't agree with any of the changes the Bridge Studies Team are proposing. All would compromise the Historic Bridge and charm of the Mission Canyon Corridor and are unwarranted.

We must protect the sensitive natural environment of Mission Creek, the Oak and Sycamore trees and historic walls that provide special character to the Mission Canyon Corridor and Cultural Landscape.

Why is this important?

The city's Mission Canyon Bridge Project is very flawed. This is being driven by one more ambitious grant project. The Council only voted to look at options, they are not obligated to continue beyond the bridge team's proposals. This Bridge does not have to be replaced.
The most recent structural inspection by the Ca Dept of Transportation completed 3/15/2021 determined the Bridge remains safe and strong. Only one recomendation noted the scour in the cement needed maintenance which was also noted back in 2015.
Stucturally obsolete simply means, they don't make them like this anymore, to expensive and they don't have the craftsmen of over 100 years ago.
Traffic moving at 25 mph on the bridge is not slowed at either end of the Bridge, the Rose Garden on one end of it or Rocky Nook park on the other in this "share the road" corridor.
Already a "Vision Zero " corridor, there are no accident statistics that support the need for a new wider bridge which would result in widening the roadway and increase traffic speed .
Further, this is a “share the road” Corridor which means “one after the other.” this includes the bridge area where bicyclists have the the same traffic rules and are on the same level as motorists.

We are pleased that the City finally did the suggested maintenance repairs to the road surface and foot bridge this past summer of 2020 that had been recommended as far back as the 2011 inspections.
This bridge was completely refurbished in 2008 by Santa Barbara Public Works Department was found it to be structurally sound, in good condition and may be left in place.
Taxpayer's dollars could be better spent by both the City and County by better maintaining the existing footpaths and pedestrian crossings near Rocky Nook Park. This proposed 11 million dollar project threatens the special historic landscape in the surrounding area that goes back to the Chumash era and the Mission Creek endangered Steelhead Trout Restoration Program.
The bridge has withstood the test of time.
Not even a crack, with the 1925 earthquake of 6.8 magnitude that heavily damaged the Historic Mission and demolished most of downtown.
Fire evacuations thru the Mission Canyon Corridor over the years have all gone smoothly with no problems.
Further background. How did we get here?

The opposition, a small neighborhood group effort known as “Safe Passage”, years ago had a public workshop to give ideas to the City to discuss possible improvements for the Mission Canyon Corridor. Adding new pedestrian path and bike lanes were some ideas. The unanimous consensus on record, however, was not to alter the Historic Bridge over Mission Creek.
In 2016, the City and County Public Works Department’s joint application to fund new pedestrian and bike lanes was rejected by the State Active Transportation Program (ATP) for funding in this designated “share the road” corridor where bicyclists have the same rights and rules as vehicles.
With no safety justification, the City of Santa Barbara was not willing to fund the project.
The Santa Barbara Police and Sheriff’s Department’s records showed no deaths or reoccurring accidents on record through the corridor, compliant with the City’s Vision Zero Policy.
The City discovered, however, they could qualify for 11 million dollars of federal funding under the Federal Highway Administration if they replaced/rehabilitated the Historic Mission Creek Bridge.
The bridge project qualifies for funding only because the bridge is classified as “structurally obsolete”. This simply means that they do not build bridges this way anymore.
The whole plan was drastically changed to qualify for this new tax payer’s source of funding.
The City Council on 5/22/18 directed transportation with a new plan and moved ahead with this pork barrel project against Transportation’s recommendation to secure bridge funds even though it was not consistent with the majority of feedback staff had received at public outreach efforts.

Updates

2023-01-25 14:26:49 -0500

Petition is successful with 1,036 signatures

2023-01-25 13:35:40 -0500

👏🏻We Won! Thanks to all of you for participating in letter writing and participating in meetings with the Historic Landmarks Advisory Commission. The Board of Supervisors voted it a County Historic Landmark.
This now creates a whole interconnected timeline with Mission Historical Park Landmark and the Old Mission Landmark.
Rocky Nook Park, because of its natural, mostly CA native plant landscape - oak woodland and creek riparian habitat - plus giant debris flow boulders, and connection to Chumash place names and culture is the most authentic part and oldest heritage of the three adjacent Landmarks.
Smile and enjoy. When next you visit Rocky Nook Park, just appreciate and enjoy nature and feel the quiet. Here, just steps from bustling streets, you can feel away from it all. And now future generations will have this experience too.
This is a gift to us and to future generations.

2023-01-17 22:57:49 -0500

SAVE ROCKY NOOK PARK FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS!
Please support the designation of Rocky Nook Park as a Historic Landmark.
You can help!
Write the Board of Supervisors by this Monday, Jan 23, 2023, in support of designating Rocky Nook Park a County Historic Landmark at: [email protected]
This scenic, historic, and environmental treasure that Mission Creek flows through should be safeguarded for future generations.
The Committee to Preserve Rocky Nook Park thanks our support as well as the County Historic Landmarks Commission in encouraging the Board of Supervisors to vote for the designation of Rocky Nook Park as a Historic Landmark.
Please send your email to the Board of Supervisors today!

2021-08-11 00:52:27 -0400

We won! Our Mission Creek Bridge is safe. This victory would not have been possible without all the signers of this petiion after a six year battle. Thank you!
Today, Aug 10, 2021 after a five and a half hour council meeting , Council member Megan Harmon made a motion to stop the Bridge Project and seek a local soulution to help pedestrians and cyclists feel safer and return the Federal Grant Money. This was seconded by Council member Oscar Guitierez and it passed 5:2 with only Council members Kristen Snedon and Alejandra Guiterez that did not want to stop the project.

2021-08-09 10:32:06 -0400

1,000 signatures reached

2021-08-04 02:18:19 -0400

Showdown at City Council August 10th at 2 pm; Will Mission Creek Bridge stay or go?
Council to give direction whether to drop the Bridge Program proposed changes that threaten our historic bridge and corridor or to develop and carry out changes.
Please email a letter to mayor & Council [email protected]
and cc the Clerk for public comment [email protected]
register between 8/5 thru 8/9 for Webinar electronic participation https://www.santabarbaraca.gov/gov/cityhall/council/meetings/videos/default.asp

2021-06-17 03:25:42 -0400

The Santa Barbara Historic Landmarks Commission on June 9th after a presentation, discussion and review of the Bridge Study team's designs, aliigned with residents to stand up to protect the Historic Mission Creek Bridge from development. They feel some sensible changes to improve pedestrian access can be done without jeapordizing the bridge or the historic features in proximity, see more https://www.edhat.com/news/we-love-our-mission-creek-bridge
https://www.newsmakerswithjr.com/post/op-ed-how-historic-landmarks-board-totally-debunked-plans-to-demolish-mission-creek-bridge

2021-06-04 14:04:46 -0400

Historic Landmarks Commision meeting Wed June 9th at 1:30 pm electonic participation by webinar. For assistance call 805 564 5470 Public Works Bridge Team Studies will present their proposals to change the Bridge and roadway.
Emails do influence ! please send to [email protected] and cc
our Mayor and council at [email protected]

2021-05-29 12:57:04 -0400

The routine structural inspection of the bridge by the State of Ca. Tansportation Dept. completed in March 2021 found the bridge as safe and structurally sound as it was in the last inspection two years ago. There is only one remaining maintenance recommendation also noted back in 2015, to fix the scour in the cement that lines the Mission Creek under the arch of the bridge.

2021-04-11 12:23:00 -0400

https://newspress.com/save-mission-creek-bridge/

2021-04-01 02:42:43 -0400

We just made 800 Signatures , help us get to 1000 !