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, and sidewalk infill on Red Rose between Fellowship and Flora Vista 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. 

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

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