California Highways (www.cahighways.org): Route 217

From the campus of the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB) to Route 101 northwest of the City of Santa Barbara.

Note: The state has authorized relinquishment of the portion of Route 217 from the westerly end of both the East Goleta Overhead and the Route 101/Route 217 separation structures to UCSB. Authorized by SB 532, Ch 1007, 10/10/99. This segment has not yet been relinquished, according to the CalTrans Photologs made available in 2001.

Post 1964 Signage History

In 1963, this segment was the entire route, and was defined as:

“the Goleta Campus of the University of California at Santa Barbara to Route 101 northwest of the City of Santa Barbara.

The commission shall allocate from the State Highway Fund the necessary funds for the construction of said route. The allocation of money provided for in this section shall be made out of moneys contained in the State Highway Fund available for construction of state highways in County Group No. 2, but which is not subject to Section 188.4; and expenditures from such allocation shall be credited against the expenditures required to be made pursuant to Section 188.4 in Santa Barbara County until June 30, 1963. This route shall be a memorial to the late Senator Clarence C. Ward of Santa Barbara County and shall hereafter be known as Clarence Ward Memorial Boulevard.”

In 1965, Chapter 1371 deleted the text on funding, but the text was restored by Chapter 1372 that same year, which changed the funding text to refer to "Section (b) of this route" and added section (a).

In 1968, Chapter 282 changed "Goleta Campus of the University of California" to "campus of the University of California at Santa Barbara"... and removed the funding text again.

Pre 1964 Signage History

This segment was LRN 236, defined in 1955. The route was not signed before 1964.

Status

Part (2) is constructed to freeway standards from Goleta to Route 101.

San Jose Creek Bridge No. 51-0217 Replacement (05-SB-217 0.9/1.4)

San Jose Creek Bridge No. 51-0217 Replacement (05-SB-217 0.9/1.4) The following project was included in the final adopted 2018 SHOPP in March 2018: PPNO 2386. 05-Santa Barbara-217 0.8/1.4. Route 217 Near Goleta, from 0.2 mile south to 0.4 mile north of San Jose Creek Bridge No. 51-0217. Replace bridge. Begin Con: 4/1/2022. Total Project Cost: $30,810K.

In June 2019, the CTC approved the following SHOPP scope amendment: 05-SB-217 ~~0.8/1.4~~ 0.9/1.4 PPNO 2386. Near Goleta, from 0.1 ~~0.2~~ mile south to 0.4 mile north of San Jose Creek Bridge No. 51-0217. Replace bridge. Increase in construction capital is due to bridge design change from seven spans to two spans. This is necessary to reduce the impacts of columns within the creek. The new bridge requires a deeper structure depth, raising the roadway profile and requiring additional earthwork, landscaping, and working days. Increase in R/W capital is due to the larger footprint of the earthwork slopes requiring acquisitions and increase in mitigation costs. Updated cost: $42,318K
(Source: June 2019 CTC Minutes, Agenda Item 2.1a.(1) Scope Item 71)

The 2020 SHOPP, approved in May 2020, included the following Bridge Restoration item of interest (carried over from the 2018 SHOPP): 05-Santa Barbara-217 PM 0.9/1.4 PPNO 2386 Proj ID 0512000134 EA 1C360. Route 217 near Goleta, from 0.1 mile south to 0.4 mile north of San Jose Creek Bridge No. 51-0217. Replace bridge. Programmed in FY21-22, with construction scheduled to start in April 2022. Note: Construction capital and construction support phases are not authorized. Total project cost is $42,318K, with $28,034K being capital (const and right of way) and $14,284K being support (engineering, environmental, etc.).
(Source: 2020 Approved SHOPP a/o May 2020)

In October 2020, the CTC approved for future consideration of funding the following project for which a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) has been completed: Route 217 in Santa Barbara County. Replace the existing San Jose Creek Bridge on Route 217 in Santa Barbara County. (05-SB-217, PM 0.9/1.4) (PPNO 2386). This project is located in Santa Barbara County, near Goleta on Route 217. The Department proposes to replace the San Jose Creek Bridge. This project is currently programmed in the 2020 SHOPP for a total of $42,318,000 and $34,217,000 is currently through G-13 Contingency. Construction is estimated to begin 2021-2022. The scope, as described for the preferred alternative, is consistent with the project scope programmed by the Commission in the 2020 SHOPP.
(Source: October 2020 CTC Agenda, Agenda Item 2.2c.(1))

In October 2020, the CTC approved the following SHOPP SB1 Support Phase allocation: $3,459,000 for PS&E for 05-SB-217 PM 0.9/1.4. PPNO 05-2386 ProjID 0512000134 EA 1C360. Route 217 Near Goleta, from 0.1 mile south to 0.4 mile north of San Jose Creek Bridge No. 51-0217. Replace bridge. (Concurrent consideration of funding under Resolution E-20-102; October 2020.)
(Source: October 2020 CTC Agenda, Agenda Item 2.5b.(2b) #6)

In January 2021, the CTC amended the SHOPP for this project: (1b) #11. 05-SB-217 0.9/1.4 PPNO 2386 ProjID 0512000134 EA 1C360. Route 217 Near Goleta, from 0.1 mile south to 0.4 mile north of San Jose Creek Bridge No. 51-0217. Replace bridge. Amended to increase R/W capital due to a need for offsite mitigation to meet permit requirements and an increase in the number of utilities needing relocation. R/W Cap went from $599K to $833K, for a revised total of $42,552K.
(Source: January 2021 CTC Agenda, Agenda Item 2.1a.(1b) #11)

In June 2021, the CTC approved the following amendment to the 2020 SHOPP: 05-SB-217 0.9/1.4 PPNO 2386 ProjID 0512000134 EA 05-1C360. Near Goleta, from 0.1 mile south to 0.4 mile north of San Jose Creek Bridge No. 51-0217. Replace bridge. Note: Increase construction capital to fund a required future landscape mitigation monitoring child project. Const Cap ~~$27,435K~~ $28,807K; Total ~~$42,552K~~ $43,924K.
(Source: June 2021 CTC Agenda, Agenda Item 2.1a.(1d) #33)

In February 2022, the California Coastal Commission reviewed an application to to replace the Route 217 bridge at San Jose Creek (05-SB-217 0.9/1.4) with new bridge with four traffic lanes, standard bridge railings and shoulders, separated bicycle and pedestrian path, and coastal hazards adaptation features, located between the City of Goleta and the University of California, Santa Barbara in unincorporated Santa Barbara County. The application described the project as "Route 217 at the crossing of San Jose Creek, from postmile 0.9 to postmile 1.4, Santa Barbara County. Project Description: Deconstruct and replace the highway bridge with a new bridge with four traffic lanes, standard bridge railings and shoulders, a widened Class I bicycle and pedestrian path, and design features that allow for additional elevation to accommodate future coastal hazards; and habitat restoration and monitoring." The CDP application also notes: Caltrans proposes to construct a new pre-cast, wide flange girder bridge approximately 213.6 feet long and 105 feet wide with a 4.75-foot-thick deck. The upstream soffit elevation will be 13.5 feet, and the downstream soffit elevation will be 16.4 feet NAVD88. 4 Replacement will occur in two stages. The new east abutment will be in the same location as the existing east abutment, while the new west abutment will be located approximately 10 feet west of the existing west abutment. The new abutments will be outside the edges of the stream banks and above the Ordinary Highway Water Mark (OHWM). The thicker, longer bridge deck will allow Caltrans to reduce the number of bridge spans from seven to two. Accordingly, the number of bridge piers will be reduced from six to one, with the proposed bridge including a single pier of 8, 66-inch-diameter piles. The proposed project also includes restoration to compensate for habitat impacts associated with the bridge replacement. The proposed bridge will maintain the existing four-lane configuration and will meet modern safety standards for shoulder widths. The width of the inside shoulder will increase from 8 feet to 10 feet, and the width of the outside shoulder will increase from 4.7 feet to 10 feet. These widened shoulders will allow vehicles to pull completely out of the travel lane in case of an emergency. Like the existing bridge, the proposed bridge will include a separated, Class I bicycle and pedestrian path along the northbound outside shoulder. The proposed bridge will widen this path from 8 feet to 10 feet to enhance bicycle and pedestrian safety and access, and will include an open-style railing to maximize views of San Jose Creek. The proposed bridge will include construction of new roadway stormwater drainage facilities, such as new dikes and over-side drains, to accommodate future stormwater flows. Six new roadway lights will be added as part of the project, two northeast of the bridge and four southwest of the bridge in the Sandspit Road interchange. Caltrans will also remove the existing flashing beacon system on the southbound highway immediately before the bridge, for a net total of five new lights. None of the new lights are located on the bridge deck or above San Jose Creek. The proposed bridge structure will include features to allow Caltrans to raise the structure in the future to accommodate coastal hazards, which may be exacerbated by sea level rise within the bridge’s expected 75-year service life. Additional rebar with couplers and pins will be installed to allow for extension of the bridge piles, whereby the deck could be jacked to an increased height. A project to raise the bridge structure in this way and re-design the road approaches at either end would be programmed and planned by Caltrans based on monitoring of future sea level rise and associated impacts at the project site, and is not included as part of the proposed project. Construction is projected to start in 2023 and will require about 550 workdays over a duration of approximately 30 calendar months. The staged construction will most likely require two calendar years to perform the various activities within the waterway during
the in-stream work season (June 1 to October 31).
(Source: California Coastal Commission Minutes, February 2022, Application No. 4-21-0182)

In October 2022, the CTC approved the following construction phase allocation: $34,507,000. 05-SB-217 0.9/1.4. PPNO 05-2386; ProjID 0512000134; EA 1C360. Route 217 Near Goleta, from 0.1 mile south to 0.4 mile north of San Jose Creek Bridge № 51-0217. Outcome/Output: Replace bridge with new structure which meets current standards and provides shoulders for disabled vehicles, maintenance workers, pedestrians and bicycles. Programmed allocation: CON ENG $6,782,000; CONST $27,157,000. CEQA - MND, 9/20/2020; Re-validation 8/18/2022. NEPA - CE, 10/8/2020; Re-validation 8/18/2022. Future consideration of funding approved under Resolution E-20-102; October 2020. Seven month time extension for CONST and CON ENG approved under Waiver 22-73; June 2022. SB1 Baseline Agreement approved under Resolution SHOPP-P-2021-04B: January 2021.
(Source: October 2022 CTC Agenda, Agenda Item 2.5b.(1) #11)

In July 2023, it was reported that construction for the project to replace the US 101 bridge over San Jose Creek was beginning. US 101 will remain open during construction — which will consist of the northbound and southbound bridges being demolished and replaced in separate phases.
(Source: Noozhalk, 7/11/2023)

In September 2024, it was reported that work continued on the project to replace the San Jose Creek Bridge on Route 217. September work included full closures necessary to allow for the installation of girders for the new bridge. The eastbound Route 217 on-ramp at Sandspit Road remains closed for the duration of the project. Travelers leaving the Santa Barbara Airport can access Fairview Avenue and Hollister Avenue to reach US 101. Additional electronic message boards have been activated to assist airport visitors. A bicycle lane remains open between the eastbound lane of Route 217 and the walkway used by construction workers. The contractor for this $26 million project is MCM. Construction, Inc. of North Highlands, CA. This project is expected to be complete in Summer 2025.
(Source: Edhat Santa Barbara, 9/20/2024)

In January 2025, it was reported that the Biden administration's U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) on 1/7/2025 announced that it will award 25 California projects a combined $258 million for transportation infrastructure upgrades. The grants come through three programs funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL): the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grant Program, the Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) Grant Program, and the Rural Surface Transportation Grant (Rural) Program. It is unclear how these grants were impacted by subsequent Trump administration actions to rescind grants. In one of these grants, the City of Goleta received $11.16 million for a project that will build a separated and dedicated multipurpose underpass through US 101, the UPRR tracks, and Route 217 to eliminate a barrier and connect residents located in Old Town Goleta to education, employment, housing, services, and amenities in the north and south. The project will create a new Class I bicycle path and pedestrian amenities and improve pedestrian and cyclist safety along adjacent high-volume arterials and freeway underpasses with inconsistent infrastructure. The project will also create a new connection for the surrounding street network, offering residents, for the first time, direct access to the grocery stores, health care services, green spaces, and the educational, employment, and recreational opportunities located in the north of the city, directly across the highway.
(Source: Railway Age, 1/8/2025)

In October 2025, it was reported that Caltrans will replace the San Jose Creek Bridge along Route 217 in Goleta. The first set of road closures at the end of October will allow for the installation of precast girders for the new bridge. The bicycle lane will remain open during the overnight closures. The eastbound Route 217 on-ramp at Sandspit Road will be closed for the entire duration of the project. Travelers exiting Santa Barbara Airport can take Fairview Avenue and Hollister Avenue to reach US 101. The existing northbound and southbound San Jose Creek bridges have been showing signs of deterioration. Located at post mile 21.6, the bridges have been found to contain reactive aggregate in the superstructure concrete, which may compromise their structural integrity. Structural deficiencies have also been identified at the bridges. The two aging bridges will be replaced by a single structure built at the same location. The new bridge will meet the current Caltrans standards for highway design, seismic safety, and hydraulic performance.
(Source: EdHat, 10/28/2025)

In March 2026, the CTC approved a request for an additional $1,600,000 in Construction Support to provide funds to complete the Construction phase for a project located along Route 217, near the City of Goleta, at the San Jose Creek Bridge (№ 51-0217), in Santa Barbara County. The project is replacing the bridge. The project realized support cost increases due to delays to the start of construction and from weather-related work stoppage above what was anticipated. These delays required additional work shifts and extended the construction duration by another year.
(Source: March 2026 CTC Agenda, Agenda Item 2.5e.(3))

Fowler Road Extension (SB 1.1 to SB 2.2)

Hollister Ave Roundabouts In February 2012, the CTC approved for future consideration of funding a project that will extend Fowler Road from South Street to Fairview Avenue; extend Ekwill Street from Kellogg Avenue to Fairview Avenue; and add roundabouts at the Fowler Road/Fairview Avenue intersection, at the Ekwill Street/Pine Avenue intersection, and at the Route 217 northbound and southbound on- and off-ramps. This project will also add a right turn lane and modify parking on Kellogg Avenue near Hollister Avenue. The project is programmed in the 2010 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). The total estimated project cost is $17,955,000 for capital and support. Construction is estimated to begin in Fiscal Year 2012-13. The scope, as described for the preferred alternative, is consistent with the project scope programmed by the Commission in the 2010 STIP. A copy of the FEIR has been provided to Commission staff. Resources that may be impacted by the project include; noise, biological resources including wetlands and Waters of the U.S. Potential impacts associated with the project can all be mitigated to below significance through proposed mitigation measures.

The 2018 STIP, approved at the CTC March 2018 meeting, appears to allocate funding for PPNO 4611, SB 1.1/2.2, In Goleta, from 0.1 mile north of San Jose Creek Bridge to Hollister Avenue. Construct roundabouts at Hollister Avenue ramps. Extend Fowler Road from Fairview Avenue to Kellogg Avenue. Extend Ekwill Street to Kellogg Avenue. The STIP shows funding being adjusted from $9.272M to $11.372M, and the construction being delayed to FY20-21.

The 2020 STIP, approved at the March 2020 CTC meeting, continued the financial programming for PPNO 4611 "Rt 217, Fowler and Ekwill St extensions"
(Source: March 2020 CTC Agenda, Item 4.7, 2020 STIP Adopted 3/25/2020)

In January 2023, the CTC approved the following STIP allocation: $11,372,000. 05-SB-217 ~~1.1/2.2~~ 2.1/2.5. PPNO 05-4611; ProjID 0500000548; EA 4611U. Fowler Road & Ekwill Street Extension. Route 217 In Goleta, from 0.1 mile north of San Jose Creek Bridge to Hollister Avenue. Construct roundabouts at Hollister Avenue ramps. Extend Fowler Road from Fairview Avenue to Kellogg Avenue. Extend Ekwill Street to Kellogg Avenue. In Goleta, from 1.1 mile north of San Jose Creek Bridge to Hollister Avenue. Construct roundabouts at Hollister Avenue ramps. Extend Fowler Road from Kellogg Avenue to Technology Drive. Extend Ekwill Street from Kellogg Avenue to Fairview Avenue. CEQA - EIR, 11/16/2011; Re-validation 06/07/2022. NEPA - CE, 11/16/2011; Re-validation 06/07/2022. Right of Way Certification: 11/14/2022. Contribution from other local sources: $3,198,000. Future consideration of funding approved under Resolution E-12-07; February 2012. Time Extension for FY 20-21 CON expires on 02/28/2023. Commission staff recommended approval of a minor scope change on 12/27/2022. CONST $11,372,000.
(Source: January 2023 CTC Agenda, Agenda Item 2.5c.(2))

In February 2026, it was reported that, as part of the City of Goleta’s Project Connect, ramp closures were scheduled along Hollister Avenue and Route 217 during the last weekend in February 2026 as crews prepare to shift traffic into newly constructed roundabouts. The closures will affect the southbound Route 217 off-ramp at Hollister Avenue and the northbound Route 217 on-ramp at the same intersection. The closures are tied to the installation of two new roundabouts at the Hollister Avenue and Route 217 ramps. The project also aims to increase stormwater flow capacity in San Jose Creek to better manage runoff. The replacement bridge is designed to handle 100-year storm flow capacity and will complete the broader San Jose Creek Capacity Improvement Project.
(Source: Edhat Santa Barbara, 2/19/2026)

Naming

This section named the "Clarence Ward Memorial Boulevard". It was named by Assembly Bill 2718, Chapter 1953, in 1955. California State Senator Clarence C. Ward served the people of Santa Barbara County from 1941 to 1955. He was a former Santa Barbara District Attorney, and was one of the sponsors of the enabling law that created the Santa Barbara College of the University of California in Santa Barbara on July 1, 1944 (taking over the facilities of Santa Barbara State College).
(Image source: AARoads)