State Street, Santa Barbara

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On busy commercial thoroughfares like W. 3rd Street, Vermont Avenue, and Sunset Boulevard, crowds of pedestrians currently contend with narrow sidewalks, barely protected from fast vehicle traffic. Widening sidewalks restores the pedestrian's right to circulation while improving traffic safety.

Sidewalk widening can easily go hand in hand with road diets. For instance, one wide traffic lane can be replaced by a bike lane and slightly widened sidewalk. Wider sidewalks also allow for better installation of other traffic calming and beautification measures, such as street trees and sidewalk planters. This also provides more opportunities for amenities like outdoor product displays and sidewalk dining, further strengthening our commercial corridors.