First District Supervisor Das Williams — Laying The Track For New Passenger Trains

Laying The Track For New Passenger Trains

Great news! A new project is laying the track for new passenger trains to Santa Barbara County – literally.

$22 million in State grant funding has been awarded to construct the Ortega Siding, which will significantly increase the capacity of the LOSSAN rail corridor – which is the second busiest in the United States.

If you’ve ridden the Pacific Surfliner recently you may have noticed that often trains are held at Seacliff or the Santa Barbara Station. The Ortega siding project will change that, by allowing for bi-directional movement that lets trains pass one another.

Critically, this will increase the rail line’s capacity to allow LOSSAN to move forward with a 7th daily trip between San Diego and Goleta and a 3rd daily trip between San Diego and San Luis Obispo.

This is just one of a series of investments being made to enhance passenger rail in our community. In September, ground was broken on the new Goleta Train Depot. And as the SBCAG representative on the LOSSAN Board of Directors, myself and other Board members from the Central Coast continue to work to bring peak-hour morning Metrolink service from Ventura County to Santa Barbara County.

But you don’t have to wait to ride the train! As we gear up for the holiday travel season, consider taking the Pacific Surfliner as an affordable, convenient, and enjoyable way to travel.

SBCAG, LOSSAN, and the City of Goleta break ground on the Goleta Train Depot. Credit: Ingrid Bostrom on behalf of SBCAG

Domestic Violence Awareness Month
The County Board of Supervisors declared October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Supporting survivors is personal to me, because growing up, my mother became a survivor of domestic violence at the hands of someone who was not my father. This Month is an opportunity for us to uplift survivors of domestic violence, and consider the unique challenges that they face in Santa Barbara. Given our high cost of housing, where are children and adults to go to escape their abuser? Organizations like Domestic Violence Solutions have shelter, counseling, and support available, and are worth of our support. You can learn more about Domestic Violence Solutions here.
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Don’t Forget To Vote!
Election Day is 6 days away! Here’s the info from the County Elections Office on how to vote this year:

  1. Mail it in! Be sure to SIGN and date the back of the return envelope. Ballot return envelopes DO NOT require postage. Mailed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day, Tuesday, November 5. Track your ballot by clicking here.
  2. Drop it off! There are 30 Secure ballot drop boxes are located throughout the county, open 24 hours a day until 8 p.m., November 5. Each Drop Box has been identified as a Drive-Up, Walk-Up, or both, and whether the box is accessible, click here for a list of locations.
  3. In-person options! For those who prefer in-person voting or for additional services including language assistance or a replacement ballot, vote in person at your precinct’s assigned polling place. A list of all polling places and drop boxes is printed in the County Voter Information Guide and on the website at sbcvote.com.
County’s Racial Equity Grant Open
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Children, Smart Phones and Social Media
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You May Be Eligible for a Gas Settlement Payment
Did you purchase gas in Santa Barbara County between February 20, 2015 and November 10, 2015? Thanks to California Attorney General’s Office you may be eligible for a reimbursement. In July, Attorney General Bonta announced a $50 million settlement with gas trading firms, resolving allegations that Vitol, Inc. and SK Energy Americas, Inc., along with its parent company SK Trading International, secretly worked together to tamper with and manipulate spot market prices for California gasoline.
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Das Around Town

Celebrating Family Caregivers Month with United Domestic Workers

Das saying gifting the Planet Hat to County Sustainability Division Staff to thank them for their work on the Climate Action Plan

Honoring Marsha Marcoe at the Domestic Violence Solutions Luncheon.

Declaring October “Dyslexia Awareness Month” and honoring the advocacy of Monie DeWitt.

Contact Us: (805) 568-2186

Das Williams, 1st District Supervisor

Darcél Elliott, Chief of Staff

Spencer Brandt, District Representative

Geneva Lovett, District Representative & Scheduler