Kevin Boss: State Street’s Missing Circulation Study and the Questions City Hall Still Won’t Answer

You know how we’ve all been watching State Street’s transformation with a mix of hope and curiosity? Well, Kevin Boss over at Noozhawk is asking the question that’s been on a lot of our minds lately: where’s the circulation study that was supposed to guide this whole process? According to his recent piece, city staff and the council still haven’t produced a key traffic and mobility analysis that would tell us how people are actually getting around—and how they *should* get around—once the street’s future is set. It’s the kind of nuts-and-bolts planning that feels dry until you realize it affects everything from bus routes to bike lanes to how quickly you can get from the Mission to the waterfront.

For those of us who live here, this isn’t just another bureaucratic delay. State Street is the spine of our downtown, and every decision about it shapes our daily lives. Whether you’re a fan of the pedestrian-friendly changes or worried about congestion, we all deserve a clear picture of the trade-offs. Boss is right to push for answers—because a master plan without a circulation study is like building a house without checking the foundation. Let’s hope City Hall listens, because this matters to every Santa Barbaran who wants a downtown that works for everyone.