Subject: Our Shared Vision for a Permanent, People-Oriented State Street Promenade and the Downtown Core

Dear Mayor, City Council, and the Community,

We are writing to you today as a unified voice from a broad coalition of local stakeholders with a compelling vision for the future of State Street. We advocate for a resilient, fiscally sound, and people-oriented path forward for this public space. We urge the City Council to commit to a permanently car-free State Street from Haley to Victoria, open and welcoming to pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit.

As we make crucial decisions regarding the future of State Street, we urge you to build a vibrant, car-free promenade, designed as the Santa Barbara-style “Grand Paseo” that has emerged as the consensus choice following years of collaborative community conversations. The facts demonstrate that the most successful and thriving State Street will result from:

Formalizing a final commitment to a car-free public promenade, from the 500 block to the 1200 block. This includes ensuring the entire Arts District is car-free, as past attempts to reintroduce cars there have been counterproductive.
Creating a pedestrian-centered space with separated paths for bicyclists and public shuttles along its entire length, through a flat and flexible design that provides a sense of comfort and place for everyone sharing the space.
Fostering a lively, inviting, equitable, and human-scale “third place” that is enjoyable for all to visit and spend time in and incorporates increased housing and public amenities such as art, seating, play areas, shade trees, outdoor dining, and accessible restrooms.

The Grand Paseo is the best way to draw more people Downtown while also celebrating State Street’s role as the heart of the El Pueblo Viejo district. We believe this vision is achievable. Our coalition is ready to work in partnership with the City to accommodate the construction of vital new housing and other improvements, which we understand could include a phased approach with temporary access where necessary.

Arguments against pedestrianizing State Street often misrepresent data and overlook key factors. The marginal dip in sales tax revenue began well before the 2020 street closure, primarily driven by the departure of major retailers like Nordstrom and Macy's and the undeniable surge of online shopping. In 2016, the Santa Barbara Downtown Organization published that ‘retailers worry about state of State Street’.

Comparing State Street to Coast Village Road is like comparing a town square to a high-traffic road. They serve fundamentally different functions in our community. State Street, which hasn't had on-street parking for decades, is aspiring to be a distinct, mixed-use downtown plaza with a true civic heart. Retail success is not about the space dedicated to cars but about creating a vibrant, appealing environment that draws people in. This is exactly what the State Street Master Plan aims to achieve.

The evidence overwhelmingly supports a car-free State Street:

Widespread Community and Business Support: A city survey with over 5,000 responses found that 79% of locals want to keep State Street closed to cars. The AIA found a similar result in their charrette survey. A Strong Towns survey of over 40 businesses revealed that 75% did not want cars to return, with many reporting increased foot traffic and sales. The State Street Advisory Committee, after dedicating countless hours to this, voted in strong support of the Flat and Flexible design for the 500-800 blocks. There was little support from the SSAC or Council for reintroducing vehicle traffic to the upper blocks.
Improved Safety: A car-free State Street dramatically improves safety for all users, aligning with the city’s adopted Vision Zero, Bike Master Plan, and forthcoming Safe Streets for All Action Plan. The closure of State Street in May 2020 has transformed one of Santa Barbara’s most dangerous streets for serious and fatal collisions into a corridor with a significantly lower rate of incidents involving pedestrians and cyclists. Lower State Street has virtually disappeared from injury heat maps since 2020, even as the public faces increasingly dangerous roads citywide.
Economic Potential: The car-free State Street is in a stronger economic position than before the pandemic, with a current commercial vacancy rate of 12.4%, the lowest in four years. This contrasts with a 14.8% vacancy rate in 2018 (two years before the street closure). Studies show that urban spaces designed with aesthetics and walkability in mind are more economically productive, more enjoyable to walk through, promote healthier lifestyles for their residents, and are associated with greater reported levels of happiness.
Sustainability: Eliminating cars significantly reduces carbon emissions and noise pollution, supporting Santa Barbara’s Climate Action Plan goals. The successful BCycle bike share program has seen half of its 2 million miles ridden on lower State Street, demonstrating demand for active, sustainable transportation. The Community Environmental Council’s Ecological Framework provides a critical roadmap for the future of our downtown.
Placemaking and Community: State Street has been transformed into a vibrant town center and public space, fostering community gatherings and celebrations. This aligns with placemaking principles that create appealing public spaces in which people naturally want to spend their time. Increased housing in the downtown core, along with further investment in street amenities, will create opportunity for even more space on State Street to celebrate Santa Barbara’s unique design character and civic life.

We are excited to work together to create this Grand Paseo on State Street for the 8 blocks from Haley to Victoria. We urge you to take the decisive step of committing to a permanently car-free State Street Promenade. Let's build upon the success of the last five years and create a safe, economically productive, and enjoyable space in the heart of our downtown for generations to come.

Thank you for your time and thoughtful consideration.

Sincerely,
A Coalition of Community Groups, including representatives from:

Strong Towns Santa Barbara

Community Environmental Council

Sierra Club Santa Barbara-Ventura Chapter

MOVE Santa Barbara County

BCycle Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara County Action Network (SBCAN)

CLUE Santa Barbara

Chicano Culture Santa Barbara

Sunrise Santa Barbara