Cliff Drive Vision Zero Project

The Cliff Drive Vision Zero Project addresses the community’s concerns with safety and mobility by removing unnecessary traffic lanes and adding a new three-mile separated path for all ages and abilities on Cliff Drive from Arroyo Burro County Park to Castillo Street. The Project provides access to three elementary schools, Santa Barbara City College, parks, neighborhood services, and retail. In addition, it completes a major gap in the 30-mile South Coast Santa Barbara County Coastal bike route from UCSB to Ventura County. In addition to the new path, the Project includes the following pedestrian infrastructure enhancements:

• Fourteen new crosswalks, safety enhancements to four existing crosswalks, and four new traffic signals along Cliff Drive.
• Safety features at crossings include curb extensions, median refuge islands, Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs), safety lighting, and high visibility crosswalk markings.
• A new crosswalk at Cliff Drive and Salida Del Sol for improved coastal access and safe walking route to Washington School.
• A wider sidewalk on Flora Vista between Cliff Drive and Red Rose, curb extensions at the Flora Vista/Red Rose intersection to improve safety for students who walk or bike to Monroe Elementary School.
• A wider sidewalk along Loma Alta to improve connectivity between McKinley Elementary and the new path on Cliff Drive.

Construction is anticipated to begin in 2027. 

Before the Cliff Drive Vision Zero Project can begin, the Water Main Replacement on Cliff Drive and surrounding streets needs to happen first. This Project is replacing aging water main infrastructure, including piping, valves, and hydrants, in order to maintain the quality and reliability of water service in advance of the upcoming Cliff Drive Vision Zero Project. 

Construction will start early October 2025 at the Las Positas Road/Cliff Drive Roundabout and will continue east along Cliff Drive. Construction will occur Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the following streets:

• Meigs Road from Ricardo Avenue to Salida Drive
• Red Rose from Meigs Road to Camino Calma
• Red Rose Lane
• Cliff Drive near the Roundabout to La Marina
• La Marina

Construction on the following streets will occur overnight Monday through Thursday from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.:

• Las Positas Road/ Cliff Drive Roundabout
• Intersection of Cliff Drive and Meigs Road

Impacted streets will be open to traffic and driveways will be accessible, but there may be temporary delays and parking restrictions. Construction will be completed in summer 2026.  We appreciate your patience and understanding during this Project.

For more Project information, call or email Mehdi Moussavian at (805) 897-2501, MMoussavian@SantaBarbaraCA.gov.

The City took control of the Cliff Drive corridor in 2014 from Caltrans, which opened the door for projects like the Las Positas/Cliff Drive Roundabout and Las Positas Road and Modoc Road Multiuse Path. In 2018, the City adopted a Vision Zero strategy that aims to prevent severe and fatal injuries on City streets by focusing resources on high-priority streets with documented collision patterns. Cliff Drive is the second-highest priority corridor in the City. 

For several years, the City of Santa Barbara has received a lot of feedback from Mesa residents regarding safety and mobility concerns throughout the Cliff Drive Corridor. Numerous community meetings, workshops, and community planning activities took place. Community feedback included the need for additional crosswalks, better bicycling facilities, and other improvements to increase safety for all road users. 

The City applied for an Active Transportation Program (ATP) Cycle 6 grant in 2022 and was awarded $27 million through the California Active Transportation Program (ATP) for final design and construction of the Cliff Drive Vision Zero Project. 

Past community meetings took place virtually on June 4, 2025, and in person at Monroe Elementary on June 5, 2025, to share updates on the Project's preliminary design. Spanish translations were provided at the meetings. Click here to watch the June 4, 2025, Webinar Recording. You may click here to review the Webinar Presentation. 

Additional community meetings for this project took place virtually on November 15, 2023, and in person at Monroe Elementary on November 29, 2023. Spanish translations were provided at the meetings. Click here to watch the November 15, 2023 Webinar Recording. 

Cliff Drive Collision Heat Map
Flora Vista/Mesa Lane Collision Diagram
Camino Calma to Meigs Collision Diagram
Santa Barbara City College Vicinty Collision Diagram

The Utility Undergrounding Project will underground all existing overhead wires that supply electrical and communication services along Cliff Drive between Salida Del Sol and San Rafael Avenue. This work, led by Southern California Edison (SCE), will enhance the streetscape and provide more pedestrian space.

Construction is anticipated to begin in fall 2027 and be completed in early 2028. While SCE completes the underground work, the Cliff Drive Vision Zero Project will continue construction in other segments of Cliff Drive. Final paving between Salida Del Sol and San Rafael Avenue will occur after the utility undergrounding work is complete.

The Utility Undergrounding Project is funded through the California Public Utilities Commission’s Rule 20A Ratepayer Fund.

For question related to the Utility Undergrounding Project, contact Alexis Lopez, Senior Project Engineer, at (805) 564-5526, ALopez@SantaBarbaraCA.gov.

Project Plan Sheets

Project Renderings

In June 2025, the City’s Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC) approved the removal of 23 street trees and planting 70 new canopy street trees associated with the Cliff Drive Vision Zero Project (Project). PRC approved 11 new canopy tree species, identified in the Street Tree Master Plan Species Designation.  

The tree removals will be completed prior to the start of construction. Prior to the tree removals, a certified biologist will conduct a nesting bird survey to ensure there is no nesting activity.  

A total of 70 new canopy street trees will be planted along the Project corridor. Planting will begin after the new landscape planters are constructed. Project construction is anticipated to begin in 2027 (earlier if/where feasible). The planting of the new canopy street trees will be coordinated with the City Arborist.  

Proposed Tree Removals by Tree Number

Street Tree Master Plan - Designation for Cliff Drive - June 2025