Isla Vista and nearby UCSB have put an emphasis on the need for bright and energy-efficient lighting. Recently, Santa Barbara County, with support from UCSB, completed the last phase in a project to install new LED lights along major streets in I.V. The project was initiated several years ago with the goal of making the area safer for residents.
The project went through several phases, starting with county workers installing lights along Del Playa, then along the Loop downtown, and on Camino Corto. The last phase involved installing lights along more of Camino Corto (bordering El Collegio Road), Estero Road, Camino Majorca, and other areas.
Completion of the project couldn’t have occurred at a more opportune time. People are focused on safety, and lighting is key to this objective. As people who have walked along the streets of I.V. know, many areas had no, or insufficient, lighting. People had to walk or bike along dark and shadow-filled streets. Now, at least some of the problem areas have been addressed.