Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
GPUC presses staff on seaside shuttle, parking management and EV charging expansion
Summary
Committee members and the public urged the city to keep the idea of a seaside shuttle and to update parking and electric-vehicle (EV) charging plans; staff said MTD's finances make immediate restoration unlikely but the "wave" on-demand pilot may be expanded and the city can pursue funding and parking-management implementation actions.
Transportation and parking issues drew detailed discussion. Public and committee members asked staff to keep the seaside shuttle (local circulator) on the table, to continue seeking EV charging expansion, and to update parking inventories and management thresholds.
Staff noted the seaside shuttle was a lower-performing route for MTD before COVID and that MTD's current finances make immediate restoration unlikely. Monica (MTD board member, speaking in her planning role) said the agency is piloting an on-demand service called "the wave" in Goleta and Carpinteria is a likely next expansion site; staff said the general plan includes policies committing the city to coordinate with MTD on transit improvements and to study parking management options.
On EV charging, staff said the circulation element contains policy language supporting EV infrastructure and that the city can add an implementation action to seek funding for expanded publicly available chargers. On parking, staff described a parking-management plan implementation action and said parking inventories change quickly; committee members suggested triggers (for instance square-footage thresholds or periodic review) to prompt updates rather than fixed multi-year cycles.
Public commenters suggested more aggressive local measures including a municipal parking structure, conjunctive parking partnerships with private lots, and more on-street solutions. Staff said several capital projects and private developments already incorporate ADA and circulation improvements and that the city will incorporate EV and accessibility actions into the CIP and parking management program.
Ending: Staff will add clarifying implementation text on parking management and EV charging funding, continue coordination with MTD on the wave/pilot services, and include shuttle-related options in future transit coordination work.
