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Commission approves moving forward with design for Calle Real/Castillo trunk main to reduce wet‑weather sewer risk
Summary
The commission recommended council authorize a design contract with Dudek for phase 1 of the Calle Real and Castillo trunk main wastewater capacity improvements. The multi‑phase project aims to reduce capacity constraints, improve operator safety at Caltrans crossings and coordinate with upcoming sidewalk work.
The Santa Barbara Water Commission voted May 22 to forward to council a recommendation to authorize a design contract and allocate funds for phase 1 of the Calle Real and Castillo Trunk Main wastewater capacity improvements project.
Staff said wet‑weather peak flows periodically overwhelm parts of the collection system along and south of Highway 101, creating environmental risk and repeated emergency bypass operations. The project is a multi‑phase plan that would add a new trunk main north of Highway 101 (Castillo Street alignment) and a new gravity sewer through phase 1 (between Las Positas/Las Besitas and Pueblo Street) to allow future diversion of flows away from the San Andreas trunk main and to enable abandonment of several Caltrans and railroad crossings that are costly and hazardous to maintain.
Why it matters: Staff described recent incidents when crews deployed pumpers during heavy rains at locations that exceed wet‑weather capacity; responders work in traffic and in night conditions, increasing safety risk. The project aims to (1) relieve capacity constraints on the San Andreas trunk main, (2) reduce operational and safety risks caused by Caltrans and railroad crossings, and (3) coordinate sewer relocation ahead of a city sidewalk infill project to limit repeated street work.
Design and procurement: The city issued a request for proposals and selected Dudek to perform preliminary investigations and design services. The contract includes predesign work and geotechnical investigations for all three phases and final design and bidding for phase 1; the design contract is approximately $700,000 (including a 10% extra services allowance). Staff estimated phase 1 construction cost at about $3,000,000 with $750,000 for construction support/inspection for a phase‑1 total just under $5,000,000; staff said those costs were assumed in the most recent wastewater rate study.
Construction approach and phasing: Staff said phase 1 focuses on installing a new gravity sewer between Las Besitas and Pueblo Street (and some work near Pueblo), with trenchless crossings proposed at some busy intersections and a Mission Creek siphon near Pueblo. Phase 2 would route flow along Castillo Street north of Highway 101 (proposed 18‑inch main) to divert specified neighborhoods off the San Andreas main; phase 3 would complete connections and allow abandonment of Caltrans crossings in the Las Besitas/Pueblo area.
Outcome: The commission voted unanimously to recommend council authorize the contract with Dudek and allocate funds to move phase 1 into design and later construction. Staff will return with final design and construction estimates and coordinate timing with the sidewalk infill project to minimize repeat street impacts.
