State Designates Chumash Highway

State designates Chumash Highway

NORA K. WALLACE, NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

September 19, 2007 12:00 AM

Highway 154 -- one of the most heavily travelled highways in Santa BarbaraCounty -- will soon be known by a new name: The Chumash Highway.

The Legislature recently passed an Assembly Concurrent Resolution, called ACR 75, to designate the highway with its new moniker. There had been virtually no local public notice ahead of time that lawmakers were working on the resolution.

The road will still be called Highway 154, but will have commemorative signs from Santa Barbara to the Los Olivos area -- much like the Jack O'Connell Highway on Highway 246 in San Luis ObispoCounty.

The 154, often called San MarcosPass, is about 32 miles long and carries thousands of vehicles each day between two points on Highway 101.

"Travelers taking the scenic route from Santa Ynez to Santa Barbara cross a journey that the Chumash people have traversed for thousands of years," said Vincent Armenta, tribal chairman of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, in a statement. "I'm elated that this fact was recognized by the California Legislature with their highway naming project."

The resolution was authored by Assemblyman Joe Coto, D-San Jose. The resolution was adopted unanimously by the Assembly on Sept. 4 and unanimously by the Senate on Sept. 12. The Chumash announced the highway designation late Tuesday, and said that Assemblyman Tony Mendoza and state Sen. Tony Correra would attend the tribe's general council meeting Tuesday night to discuss the resolution.

"This is a proud and historic moment for us as a tribal nation," Mr. Armenta said. "Many of the views from the Chumash Highway route reflect what our ancestors would have seen, including vistas of the Santa Ynez Mountains from atop San MarcosPass."

The highway follows the Chumash trails used by members of several hundred early Chumash villages, towns and seasonal encampments, Mr. Armenta noted. It also proceeds along areas with rock art sites, shrines, gathering places and water sources used by tribal ancestors.

Highway 154 does not run directly past the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, though the facilities -- as well as the Chumash reservation housing and tribal offices -- are a short drive on Highway 246, which connects to the 154 to the east.

In prehistoric times, the Chumash territory encompassed 7,000 square miles in what's now known as Southern and Central California.

"These trails were vital to sustaining cultural longevity for over 8,000 years in this region as they formed the foundation for economic and social exchange among the Chumash," Mr. Armenta said.

The signs designating the Chumash Highway must be paid for by non-state sources, according to the resolution. Chumash spokeswoman Frances Snyder said the tribe would pay for the signs.