California’s unofficial Danish capital desires native management of Mission Drive

Solvang’s postcard-perfect predominant avenue may quickly grow to be town’s drawback — and, officers hope, its alternative.

Leaders within the famed Danish-style village are taking step one towards prying Mission Drive away from state management, arguing the California-owned roadway has left them caught asking permission to make enhancements within the coronary heart of one among Santa Barbara County’s most recognizable vacationer cities.

The Metropolis Council voted Monday to start exploring whether or not Solvang ought to take over the roughly 1.5-mile stretch of State Route 246 that cuts by means of the city, the Santa Ynez Valley Information reported.

The vote doesn’t hand the highway to town. As an alternative, it launches what could possibly be a yearslong evaluation with Caltrans over whether or not the state would even contemplate giving Solvang management of the roadway, together with all the prices, upkeep duties and authorized complications that might include it.

The battle over Mission Drive comes throughout an unusually busy stretch of civic drama within the “Danish capital of America.”

Solvang has already been divided by a controversial tourism app tied to Mayor David Brown, and officers have additionally floated changing the metropolis’s sheriff’s contract with patrols from close by Lompoc police.

Now, metropolis leaders are turning their consideration to the highway that many guests know finest.

Though Mission Drive capabilities as Solvang’s predominant avenue, it’s managed by Caltrans District 5 as a result of it’s a part of State Route 246.

That has left town with restricted energy over all the pieces from site visitors lights and crosswalks to lane adjustments, avenue decorations and even its delayed digital camera pilot program, based on the outlet.

Assistant to the Metropolis Supervisor Olivia Uribe-Mutal advised council members the setup has made it tougher for Solvang to behave by itself site visitors security targets.

“So long as town doesn’t maintain the highway, the objective stays largely out of our arms,” she stated.

Brown stated town has spent years making an attempt to get a protected flip sign put in, solely to remian caught with out one.

The mayor stated native management may additionally permit Solvang to make the hall higher replicate the city’s model, together with by means of public artwork and different visible enhancements.

Mission Drive sees about 21,000 automobiles a day, based on the report.

Whereas the pace restrict is 25 mph, weekend and occasion site visitors can sluggish to a crawl within the village core, with backups spilling into close by residential streets.

Officers stated their relationship with Caltrans stays optimistic, however that additionally laid out an inventory of frustrations.

Solvang has twice missed out on Sustainable Transportation Planning grants, had hassle getting highway repairs accomplished rapidly after a water predominant break and has been unable to make use of Caltrans-owned poles for its digital camera program.

Council Member Mark Infanti stated town nonetheless wants to grasp what it could truly be taking over, together with paving, alerts, crosswalks, parking and different obligations.

Metropolis officers stated that’s the level of beginning the method.

Different California cities have taken over state routes earlier than, together with Chino with SR-83/Euclid Avenue and Santa Barbara with SR-225.

However Solvang’s case could also be trickier as a result of SR-246 continues properly exterior town and serves the broader Santa Ynez Valley on it means towards Lompoc.

As soon as Solvang submits its letter of curiosity, Caltrans would examine whether or not the highway phase nonetheless serves a state objective.

Town, in the meantime, would be capable of dig into how a lot possession may price and whether or not the added management can be well worth the monetary threat.

If the thought advances, it could nonetheless require state laws, negotiations and approval from the California Transportation Fee.

Solvang can again out whereas the evaluation is underway.

But when town finally takes Mission Drive from the state, the choice can be everlasting.

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