Architectural board grants final approval for Highway 101 Segment 4E north improvements

The Santa Barbara Architectural Board of Review on July 7 granted final design approval for Segment 4E north of the Highway 101 high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) project, which includes interchange reconfiguration at Cabrillo Boulevard, two new bridges, sound and retaining walls, pavement replacement and landscaping changes.

The board’s action covers final design for the segment that runs roughly from Hermosillo Road to 0.5 miles north of the Northbound Cabrillo Boulevard on-ramp. Fred Luna of the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments, the implementing sponsor, told the board the California Transportation Commission has provided the necessary funding and that the project team is targeting construction to begin next spring. "We are now fully funded for this project," Luna said.

The board’s approval follows further coordination with the city and Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) that produced several design changes since the board last reviewed the plans in April. Project designers said the main revisions for the northbound segment include changing the roundabout center wall from a teardrop to a full circle, adding ground‑plane planting to separate eastbound traffic lanes, confirming a tan color for the retaining‑wall cap, and removing a UPRR retaining wall where coordination allowed a gentler 2:1 slope and additional tree planting to screen the tracks from the roadway.

The project team — including Christine Anderson, landscape architect with Mark Thomas, and project manager Zach Savellia — described the changes and the benefit of removing the UPRR retaining wall. Anderson said removing the wall allows for more space to plant larger species, naming sycamores, oaks and arbutus among proposed screening trees. Project staff also told the board they received final approval from the railroad to proceed with the revised slope and planting approach.

Vice Chair Whelan asked whether the reduced wall required lowering the railroad track or other major changes; project staff answered that the layout was adjusted through coordination with the city’s design team and that the railroad granted approval last month, allowing a modest encroachment onto the railroad right-of-way to achieve the revised grading and planting plan.

Board members discussed plant species and surface materials. Whelan asked whether agaves or aloes were shown in a planting pocket beneath the roundabout; the presenter confirmed a mix of agave and aloe in those pockets and recommended using aloe rather than spiky agaves where pedestrians might pass. Board members also confirmed the cap color and the continuous tan finish for the retaining-wall appearance transitioning off the bridge.

After board discussion, Vice Chair Whelan made a motion to grant final approval for Segment 4E north; Board Member Noon seconded. The board voted 5–0 (Chair Anderson: yes; Vice Chair Whelan: yes; Board Member Anderson: yes; Board Member Noon: yes; Board Member Sovereign: yes) to approve final design for the segment.

Project presenters said the funding award from the California Transportation Commission and recent city coordination allowed the team to finalize the design changes; multiple speakers thanked the board for its review and support. The board’s final approval clears the project to complete permit steps and proceed toward construction authorization.

Clarifying details discussed at the hearing included confirmation that final railroad approval for the revised slope had been received, and an on‑record reference to a recent funding allocation mentioned by a board member of about $130,000,000 that participants tied to the corridor funding, although project staff identified the California Transportation Commission award as the formal funding action.

The board’s approval is limited to the design elements before it; construction timing, permits and any required interagency approvals remain subject to the usual county, city and state processes.