Dear Santa Ynez Valley Trail Supporters,
The Santa Barbara County Association of Governments Board will consider an important item on Thursday, June 25 at 10am, to continue advancing the Santa Ynez Valley Regional Connector Trail.
This is not a crisis point for the project — it is an important opportunity to show strong community support as the project moves into its next phase. SBCAG will receive an update on early project work, consider agreements related to $1.426 million in federal Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program funding awarded through the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, and provide direction on how those funds can be used to advance environmental studies, technical work, and concept designs for the trail.
The Santa Ynez Valley Trail would create an approximately nine-mile multi-use trail connecting Buellton, Solvang, unincorporated areas of the Valley, the community of Santa Ynez, and Chumash Tribal Lands. The project would provide safer and more accessible connections for walking, biking, and, in some areas, equestrian use, while supporting recreation, mobility, community connection, and local economic vitality.
Please consider submitting a written public comment or calling into the meeting to express your support for Item 5A: Santa Ynez Valley Trail. Emailed comments can be sent to: <a data-linkindex="0" href="mailto:info@sbcag.org" title="mailto:info@sbcag.org” style=”mso-line-height-rule: exactly;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;color: #007C89;font-weight: normal;text-decoration: underline;”>info@sbcag.org
A strong showing of support will help reinforce that the community wants this long-envisioned regional trail to keep moving forward, with continued public outreach, thoughtful planning, and collaboration among SBCAG, the County, Buellton, Solvang, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, Caltrans, and community stakeholders.
Suggested message:
“I support Item 5A and the continued advancement of the Santa Ynez Valley Regional Connector Trail. This project is an important investment in safe, connected, and accessible transportation and recreation for the Santa Ynez Valley. I appreciate SBCAG’s leadership and the collaboration among local partners, and I encourage the Board to approve the recommended actions and keep this project moving forward.”
Thank you for helping demonstrate strong community support for this important Valley-wide project.
Attached is the full staff report for item 5A. Below are methods of participation:
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
1. In-person North County at the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors Hearing Room 511 E. Lakeside Parkway Santa Maria, CA
2. In-Person South County at the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors Hearing Room, 105 E. Anapamu St., 4th floor, Santa Barbara, CA.
3. Email comments to <a data-linkindex="1" href="mailto:info@sbcag.org" title="mailto:info@sbcag.org” style=”mso-line-height-rule: exactly;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;color: #007C89;font-weight: normal;text-decoration: underline;”>info@sbcag.org no later than 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 24, 2026
4. Comment via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89950695351?pwd=9sRNvDFkgt4mAOJosW5edeTJwmoJSV.1
Password:922851
Members of the public wishing to be called on for public comment should click on the “Raise Hand” button on zoom when the item they wish to speak on has begun. When the chair calls for public comment, the clerk will announce you and will unmute your microphone. Comments from the public are limited to 3 minutes per speaker. The public will not be able to share their video or screen.
Telephone: Individuals wishing to give public comment via phone are asked to call the number below at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the meeting at 9:50 a.m.
Dial-in: +1 669 900 9128
Meeting ID: 899 5069 5351 then #, when prompted for a participant ID, press #, and when prompted for a meeting password dial: 922851 then #.
All attendees will remain in listen only mode unless unmuted by SBCAG staff to provide public comment. Members of the public will not be able to share their video or computer screen. To express your desire to speak using the “raise your hand” feature on the phone, dial *9 when the item you wish to speak on has begun. When the chair calls for public comment, the clerk will announce you and you will unmute your microphone. Comments from the public are limited to 3 minutes per speaker.
5. Watch the meeting live:
• Televised on local cable channel 20; or
· Online at: https://www.countyofsb.org/1333/CSBTV-Livestream; and
· YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/user/CSBTV20
Thank you!
