To The Campus Community

Dear Colleagues:

You probably have, or perhaps have not yet heard, of the Goleta Old Town Revitalization Plan which includes two intersections (stop lights) on Highway 217 (Ward Memorial Boulevard). Our campus community has already voiced serious concerns about the possible impact that this plan might have on UCSB's community and our daily lives. Our county Supervisor Gail Marshall and other county officials have assured our campus that we will be involved at every step of the way in the county's planning process for the Goleta Old Town Revitalization Project and the associated redesign of Highway 217. Upon consultation with concerned campus colleagues, we thought it would be beneficial to our campus community to form a Highway 217 Review Committee, which constitutes faculty, staff, students, and administrative representation.

Upon further consultation, we have developed the charge of the committee. It is to study the potential effects of the County's plans for Goleta Old Town, particularly modifications to Highway 217, on UCSB; to work with local government agencies and community groups to ensure that the University's and community's interests coincide; and to solicit input from and communicate with all campus constituencies, including students, staff, faculty, and administrators, on the impacts of the proposed project. The Committee will engage consultants to examine the potential impacts of the Goleta Old Town Revitalization Plan on traffic patterns and the University's connectivity to neighboring towns and cities, as well as consider alternatives to the proposed plan. The Committee will use this information to advise the Chancellor and our campus.

The committee will begin its work immediately. I am very delighted to announce that Professor Scott Cooper has agreed to chair the committee. A list of committee members is listed below. I would like to thank all those who have generously agreed to serve on the committee and share their wisdom and time for the benefit of our community.