Goleta breaks ground on San Jose Creek multi-purpose path linking UCSB to Old Town

An agency official for the City of Goleta on Tuesday marked the groundbreaking for the San Jose Creek multi-purpose path, a corridor the city says will create a continuous connection from UCSB and Goleta Beach through Old Town Goleta into northern parts of the city.

The official said the project "moved forward because people stayed at the table, worked through the issues, and kept finding a way to make it happen," and described the undertaking as complex yet essential for local mobility and access. "The complexity of this project is astounding," the official added.

City representatives described the route in detail: the path will start on Calle Real, run along and under Highway 101, pass beneath a railroad, run adjacent to a creek and park, cross Hollister, include a bridge component near Highway 217 and go through a tunnel before tying into a bike path near the Goleta Slough.

Officials framed the project as delivering multiple local benefits. "It helps bring everything together for Old Town. What that means is revitalization, renewal, improvement, access, economic development," the official said, adding the path is intended to provide more transportation choices for residents and to be a "truly universal corridor."

Funding and partnership details mentioned at the ceremony included Measure A, a quarter‑cent sales tax approved by voters in 2008 that supports transportation projects, and investment from California's statewide active transportation program. The official also thanked Congressman Salud Carbajal for his continued support in securing funding.

The ceremony concluded with a brief celebration; no votes or formal policy actions were recorded during the remarks. The city did not provide in these remarks a construction timeline or a final project cost figure.