Santa Ynez Valley receives $1.4M grant for multi-use path planning

New Grant Fuels Development of Multi-Use Path in Santa Ynez Valley

A fresh grant of $1,426,000 from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has been allocated to enhance connectivity in the Santa Ynez Valley through the development of a multi-use path. This initiative is set to bolster community engagement and planning efforts for an 8.7-mile path, linking the Santa Ynez Reservation with key areas like Buellton and Solvang.

The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians received the grant to support comprehensive planning for this new route. Congressman Salud Carbajal, instrumental in the creation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating, “Improving the connectivity of the Central Coast’s communities was one of my core missions when helping to craft the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and I’m proud to announce this new grant from our landmark infrastructure to support that goal.”

Tribal Chairman Kenneth Kahn highlighted the project's benefits, emphasizing the creation of a network of bike and pedestrian trails aimed at reducing traffic and enhancing environmental conditions. He remarked, “Our tribe is thankful for receiving this grant and having the opportunity to create a network of bike and pedestrian trails for use by all Santa Ynez Valley residents and visitors, with the aim of reducing traffic, establishing safe passageways, and improving the environment.”

The initiative also received praise from Santa Barbara County Supervisor Joan Hartmann, who called the grant a significant step towards realizing a long-anticipated vision. Hartmann said, “This grant will allow us to convert a long-held and widely shared vision of a cross Santa Ynez Valley Connector Trail along the Santa Ynez River to a real plan for action. It is an ambitious project and, finally, we are on our way.”

Supported by the Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (ATIIP), this grant aims to establish safer, more connected systems for active transportation within the community. ATIIP seeks to enhance the reliability and safety of transportation infrastructures while promoting connectivity between different modes of transport and public transit options.

Since its implementation in 2021, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has funneled over $1 billion in funding into various projects along California's Central Coast. In the previous summer, Rep. Carbajal visited several of these projects to celebrate the substantial investments made possible by this law.

As a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Rep. Carbajal played a crucial role in crafting and enacting this historic legislation, marking the largest infrastructure investment in nearly a century through collaborative efforts with the Biden-Harris Administration.