On Wednesday, October 5th, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced that the Santa Barbara County Local Transportation Authority has been provided a $75 million loan to construct a 7.5-mile extension of the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes on US 101 in Santa Barbara County. The project, expected to be completed in 2025, is funded by the Build America Bureau. The improvements are expected to enhance safety, provide first responders the opportunity for better response times, and help prevent secondary collisions through the corridor. According to Deputy Transportation Secretary Polly Trottenberg, the investment will generate between 5000 and 6000 new jobs in the region.
