The wheels were turning Wednesday night, as members of the Project Area Committee and General Plan Advisory Committee discussed public transportation and the Halloween parking situation in Isla Vista.

The board unanimously voted to recommend that the Redevelopment Agency (RDA) allocate funds to remodel two local bus stops in I.V. – estimated to cost $16,899.96 per bus stop – at the 6:30 p.m. meeting, in the University Religious Center. Board members also discussed the university’s preliminary plans to dissuade out-of-town visitors from flooding into Isla Vista over Halloween weekend by limiting the free, on-campus parking available to them.

Ken Glenn, planning director for the Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District (MTD), recommended that RDA renovate certain bus stops in Isla Vista, which needed benches, trash cans, posted bus schedules and shelter from the weather.

“At some of the bus stops we have 200 people a day, and when you have that capacity, you want to provide a type of shelter,” Glenn said.

RDA Deputy Director Jamie Goldstein said the RDA will conduct a survey by the end of this year to determine which bus stops receive the most use and will then allocate the renovation funds accordingly. After the RDA approves the motion to allocate the funds, the MTD will have to reassess the project’s cost.

Matt Dobberteen, the alternative transportation manager for the Dept. of Public Works Transportation Division, said the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors also plans to fund improvements to a third bus stop, located at the intersection of El Colegio Rd. and Los Carneros Rd.

Goldstein said the improvement to local bus stops will help alleviate the shortage of parking in I.V. and are part of the RDA’s goal to implement the Isla Vista Master Plan – a long-term program designed to improve local infrastructure and facilities.

“Showing a commitment to public transportation will help serve the parking program, which will ultimately serve the master plan,” Goldstein said.

The committee also heard a presentation from university officials regarding plans to keep out-of-town visitors away from Isla Vista over Halloween weekend.

David Gonzales, Asst. Vice Chancellor of physical facilities, parking and transportation, said the university will prevent visitors from parking on campus over the weekend. He said the university will also provide free on-campus parking for UCSB students between Friday, Oct. 28 and Sunday, Nov. 1. He said the university will begin to notify students about the parking restrictions within the next 10 days.