Santa Barbara County

[bootrungar 0]

I really like this CJ and am interested in seeing how it develops, but I have one question:  How come you chose the route number 601 for the foothill freeway instead of 192 which runs along Foothill Rd. in real-life Santa Barbara?

Keep up the great work and the updates!

[davidhogan 1]

Page 3!

Date: 1/28/2005 12:37:40 AM
Author: bootrungar

How come you chose the route number 601 for the foothill freeway instead of 192 which runs along Foothill Rd. in real-life Santa Barbara?

quote>

That's a great question, with a terrible answer. I didn't notice Foothill Rd was CA-192. Sure enough, it's there, but I hadn't noticed it until now.

The reason I did choose 601 when I was picking a number is it's not in use, and I'm hoping that someday the Sim Federal Highway Administration will accept US-101 as I-1, as California has tried several times before, so if they do CA-601 could be submitted as I-601.

So, I suppose I could co-sign it, or maybe I'll add a numbered route north of CA-601 to make up for this mistake.

Between BR-101 and CA-225 (State Blvd) there's a few hidden routes that I've numbered in case they're upgraded in the future. That might be a good way for me to get rid of CA-192.

Oh, and the hospital is the Sim Metro Mercy Center, I think.

Dave

[jay_allen1978 0]

I really like your CJ, It is coming along very nicely. I was wondering if you were ever gonna finish your San Diego region?.. anyways great job!

[Poketown33 0]

Nice Crystal Junction wannabe!

[davidhogan 1]

Date: 1/29/2005 8:56:26 PM
Author: Poketown33
Nice Crystal Junction wannabe!

quote>

i'm a huge fan of crystal junction, and realism. i like playing a region in an area i'm familiar with, and i like building it out in a somewhat realistic fashion.

if people want to compare this to Digby, Edmonton, and or Crystal Junction, thanks. those are my three favorite CJ's on simtropolis, and i'm sure they've inspired a lot of things i don't even notice.

i think i'm trying to do something a little different - build out the region the way it would have happened, had i done things. i love santa barbara, but i can't believe california never built up US-101 to the point where it could become I-1, i don't like the lack of mass-transit options in california, and i've already built a larger city, by population, than the real SB, which requires more roads/freeways/transit options.

so, if you want to call this anything, just call it a realism wannabe. there's definitely things that crystal junction has influenced, but i think a lot more of this CJ has been inspired by SANDAG (the San Diego Assosciation of Governments), CalTrans (California Dept of Transportation), Thomas Guides, MS Streets & Trips, and various other real entities.

Dave

[UCSBClassics53 0]

There's strong opposition to widening 101 south of Milpas because of traffic concerns and you can imagine the opposition to a freeway bypass through the foothills of Santa Barbara, something similar to your CA 601. Instead they're looking at commuter rail from Santa Barbara or perhaps Goleta to Ventura, a busway running along the tracks, or even bus-HOV or even HOT (toll) lanes on 101.
 
If they were to designate I-1, many onramps will have to be redesigned especially those at Cabrillo Blvd and Sheffield because those are not up to interstate standard. Also there's heavy opposition upgrading 101 into a freeway especially on the Gaviota coast which many people think should be preserved as a national park or whatever, which I agree with, but this is Sim City, which is why I love it.

http://www.101inmotion.com/

[davidhogan 1]

Santa Barbara County Breaks 200,000 Res




Thanks to medium density growth, as well as some new low density growth filling in the gaps, Santa Barbara County is now nearing 200,000 population.

The new Oceanic Research Institute by Peg, with its futuristic design put off some local residents at first, but it's become such a tourist attraction nobody seems to have anything but love for it now. (It also happens to offer a great education, which may be part of why residents have embraced it.)

Santa Rosa Estates, built by Central Coast Housing Inc, includes a new segment of the CA-154 freeway. This was not planned to be a freeway for another 50 years, but as part of a settlement to grant the permits for this projects CCHI build the freeway through here also.

And the west side of town at the end of Phase 1. As residents finish moving in areas south and west will be built up in Phase 2, followed by the upper hill in Phase 3.

This future development will be permitted as other areas in the western city fill in as well.

UCSBclassics53: I wanted to say thanks for the info on the real highway 101, and the freeway bypass. The references I've heard to getting 101 upgraded to an interstate usually are because of the federal funding that usually comes with the designation. That would allow many needed upgrades to be completed without being as much of a drain on the local economy.

Dave

[bobinator 0]

Wow!, 200,000 already! This is growing out nicely! I like your Oceanic Research Institute too!

[davidhogan 1]

The village of Westview, just a little bit west of the 101/601 interchange, has grown rapidly after the construction of Freeway 101 through town. With Freeway 101 now being built in any incompleted areas to Interstate standards, many residents are warming to the idea of I-1 running through town.

Westview has a great educational system with multiple libraries, a large elementary school, and the high school shown above with it's magnificant athletic facilities.

Westview Ave has tried something new to SB county so they can create more commericial space - they're zoning the median as a commercial strip near the Santa Barbara Wal*Mart West.

Surprisingly, businesses are willing to move in across the street.

Dave

[seas123 0]

i love santabarbara..right next to Los Angeles.

[jacqulina 162]

nice cj i like the road over rail bridges how did you get them

[Cjah 15]

Wow!

This really great looking!

Gotta love the 101!!

[seas123 0]

CJAH go on chat now, please!

[seas123 0]

oh yeah and again, loving Santa Barbara

[bobinator 0]

Wow! I like how your avenue splits up with shops inbetween! Looks great!

@seas123- Don't double post, just edit the one you already did.

[davidhogan 1]

Santa Barbara Lives






Santa Barabara County is alive and well. He's a shot of Summerland, and some of the newest 500 residents.

Dave

[oroen 0]

I missed the Wal-Mart update! Talk about prime commercial space, zoning in an avenue median. And I can't believe retailers would be so bold as to move in near a Wal-Mart. They'll be out of business in months, the poor fools!!

[davidhogan 1]

SB Moving! Transportation Funding Approved



South of the US-101/CA-601 interchange Santa Barbara County had South View Blvd. This road was a freeway with no interchanges, just stoplights, at it's 3 intersections. The State of California has recently announced that this will be CA-701/Future I-701. The picture above was taken shortly after the Breeze Street overpass was built, and shortly before it was re-built.

This shot shows the completed freeway as of now. The entire structure has been elevated and put into full interchanges. This was done because the original roadway was built on soil that could not handle the weight of the expected load of traffic, so the entire road was re-engineered to avoid it later, once the Santa Barbara County finishes Growing Out.

Also, as I hinted, the FHWA has now put up funding for Santa Barbara County to upgrade US-101 to Future I-1. There is no current timeframe for this project, but it looks to be almost guaranteed. CA-601 has been approved as an upgrade also, after a few interchanges undergo minor modifications. Some work has already been completed.

Dave

[davidhogan 1]

Santa Barbara Slowly Welcomes



Many new areas across The County have been grown out with a lot of small houses. Construction of I-1 has created jobs, and opened up communities linked by the stoplight ridden US-101.



Residents of Isla Vista were worried about I-1 coming through their small town. Traffic along US-101 was brisk, espescially since it was only two lanes in this area. Local businesses were placated when it was announced I-1 would by pass the village, rather than desroying homes and businesses. This was taken immediately after freeway construction.



Here's the west end of town, where US-101 and I-1 rejoin. (Also shown is part of Interstate Tunnel. Locals hate the name.) In some areas where the freeway is currently US-101 in Santa Barbara there are plans to move it back to the original BR-101 routing, and make I-1 have sole possesion of the freeway as well.



The current shot of Isla Vista. The community is using the new I-1 quite heavily, and plenty of new residents have moved in.

Dave

[bobinator 0]

Looks great! I like all the traffic on the freeways!

[davidhogan 1]

Santa Barbara Freeway Map



Here's a freeway map with the re-numbered freeways. I-1 is still signed as Future I-1. The routing for US-101 splits off to the old BR-101 routing, as shown. CA-601 is now being signed I-601, and I-701 is noted also.



Here is another town coping with the new freeway. Southwest Goleta was a neighborhood where people had learned to accept the stop lights on US-101. Now that it's I-1 residents are coping, and the central commercial area is thriving.



The Goleta Marina, showcasing up close the newly cleaned up water. Local residents at first complained, then realized the water's better without that Maxis Artificial Blue Water Coloring. This is provided by a mod on the StEx, I forget the name.



The railroad overcrossing here is a welcome relief to local residents. The old Avenue Overpass was getting quite old, and many residents were concerned that a disaster was impending. This new overcrossing is the same quality of design as the rest of the elevated freeway.

Questions? Requests? Ideas? Comments?

Dave

[oroen 0]

Interstate 1!! Excellent!

Do you have any plans for I-701? Is it going to remain a short spur, or will it go somewhere? Or are you not sure yet?

And a little present for you:

[davidhogan 1]

Date: 2/15/2005 10:53:20 PM
Author: oroen
Interstate 1!! Excellent!

Do you have any plans for I-701? Is it going to remain a short spur, or will it go somewhere? Or are you not sure yet?

quote>

I love the image, I'm going to save it for use on a WWW page I'm working on to chronical the building of this. (I want to make it easier to people to catch up on the city if they walk in the party late.)

I-701 right now is a point of contention for residents of Santa Barbara. The city's master plan calls for it to run along the coast to the southwest, down past a new convention center and some hotels.

Some people claim it will hurt the waterfront, others point out it's still undeveloped. Who will win, I'm really not sure.

Dave

[juantrev 0]

I LOVE THIS CJ!!!!!
Thank you for building a city the way they are supposed to be built, from small town to metropolis.  I said it about Beruit, and I'll say it here... this is among the greatest CJ's ever!  Thank you for teaching people how cities develop.  I am keeping my eye on this one...

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http://home.insightbb.com/~juantrev/simcitypics/rivercity.jpg width=525 align=baseline vspace=10>

[jacqulina 162]

excellent cj

[Cjah 15]

Bravo!!!!

This has gotta be one of the best C.J.s around truly excellent stuff!

Gotta keep the great updates coming!!

[jarcher 0]

I don't know why I haven't paid attention to this cj.  I'm going to have to start at the beginning, because page 3 looks great.  Very realistic looking.  And that's a lot of traffic!

[marijntjo 0]

Really nice development is taking place in your region........ I really like the way your city is expanding along the highway.... This form of development is often seen in real life... Keep it up!!

[bobinator 0]

That transpotation map is just grand! It looks awsome! Great job!

[davidhogan 1]

Last Stoplights Gone From Temp I-1



Shown above are two of the last cross streets on what was signed Future I-1. Summerland residents did not want a freeway cutting the town in half, so I-1 bypasses the town to the north, while US-101 continues on through town.



The same neighborhood at a different angle 5 years later. Although I-1 seems to be attracting a lot of traffic, US-101 businesses are happy about the extra tourists using I-1 between LA and San Francisco instead of I-5, which is a few hundred miles inland.



This shot shows where I-1 passes by town in relation to US-101. Two roads had to be extended, and the city spent a bit on planting the trees along it, but everyone seems quite happy now.



This is the west end of this I-1 / US-101 split. The roads re-join a bit east of Summerland. Santa Barbara County is proud to announce with the completion of the bypass, I-1 is a continuous 4-6 lane divided roadway with no at-grade intersections within the county limits. The entire roadway will be up to 6 lanes once some areas near Goleta are finished.

I wanted to also thank everyone for the kind comments. It's always motivational to know that it's worth taking the time to post these entries.

Dave