Goleta City Council voted unanimously Tuesday in favor of the Armitos Pedestrian and Bike Bridge Project after a revised presentation by Deputy Public Works Director Kathy Garcia. The project entails a bridge crossing San Jose Creek and connecting the west and east ends of Old Town’s Armitos Avenue north of Hollister.
According to Garcia, the recommended design includes seven-foot bike lanes painted green. Council can restrict traffic for vehicles that exceed a yet-to-be established weight limit, but emergency response vehicles would be exempt.
The primary points of discussion offered by council dealt with bridge stability, size, and strength, as well as the current absence of public sidewalks. Mayor Pro Tempore Tony Vallejo suggested enforcing the bridge’s weight limit by restricting the permitted number of axles on vehicles. Regarding the unanimous decision to move forward, he called it “nice to have the [points] where we all agree.”