Planning Commission reviews draft EIR for Los Patos underpass removal; commissioners press for tree-replacement sites, UPRR coordination

The Santa Barbara Planning Commission on May 1 heard a public environmental review and invited comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Los Patos Underpass removal project, a companion action to the Highway 101 HOV widening and Caltrans ramp work. City engineers and planners described the project's purpose, possible environmental effects and mitigation measures and said the EIR public comment period closes May 27.

City supervising design engineer Eric Goodall told commissioners that Union Pacific Railroad requested removal of the Los Patos underpass after Caltrans closes the adjacent southbound off-ramp, saying the railroad preferred removal “to avoid a public nuisance and continued maintenance once that freeway off ramp is closed.” Senior planner Adriana Cornett, speaking for Public Works, summarized the EIR’s findings and the project schedule and said the document identifies tree loss, potential effects to biological resources, cultural/tribal resources tied to a structure-eligible bridge and hazards as the principal environmental concerns.

The EIR identifies…