Santa Barbara is getting an award from the state of California totaling more than 8.6-million dollars to increase walking and biking in the city.
The money comes from the California Transportation Commission and it amounts to the most per-capita of any other jurisdiction for Active Transportation Funds, according to the city transportation planner Rob Dayton.
The State of California has a number of goals listed for the award, including a improved public health, reductions in greenhouse gasses, and increased options for minority and low-income communities.
The money will be spent on putting in a sidewalk for the Montecito Street Bridge, a sidewalk and lighting to connect Milpas from the train tracks to the beach, and toward building a new pedestrian/bicycle bridge over Sycamore Creek.
It will also be used to design a possible pathway along Las Positas Road as envisioned in the city's 1998 Bicycle Master Plan.