Increased service on the way

     

SANTA BARBARA – Santa Barbara MTD makes service changes to local bus service every year in mid-August. This year’s service changes will go into effect at the beginning of the day on Monday, August 19, 2024. Other changes will phase in when UCSB fall classes begin.

Starting Monday, August 19, 2024:

• The span of service on Line 15x (SBCC/UCSB Express) is being extended to 9:35 p.m., with hourly frequency after 6 p.m.

Starting Monday, September 23, 2024:

• Increased 20 minute frequency on Line 27 (Isla Vista Shuttle) on weekdays during UCSB’s Fall, Spring, and Winter quarters is planned, pending driver availability.

These schedule changes are in response to community needs, increased demand for bus service, and to improve on-time performance.

The new schedule guide reflecting these changes is available online here. The printed version of the schedule guide is also available at the Transit Center and onboard buses.

Customer Service Representatives are available for assistance at (805) 963-3366.

     

SANTA BARBARA—Santa Barbara MTD announced today that it has been awarded a grant totaling $2,894,131 from the Federal Transit Administration’s Bus and Bus Facilities program to help purchase two new forty-foot battery-electric buses and chargers.

Once delivered, these buses will join MTD’s growing zero-emission fleet, which stands at 23 buses today. Additionally, MTD has already been awarded funding to add 14 more battery-electric buses to the fleet—this grant would bring the total electric fleet to 39 buses out of 100.

“We are excited to benefit from this FTA grant, which will help grow our zero-emission fleet that provides vital transit service to our community. This continues MTD’s decades-long commitment to clean and efficient public transportation on the South Coast,” said Jerry Estrada, Santa Barbara MTD General Manager.

Today’s announcement is part of approximately $1.5 billion in funding to support 117 projects that will improve public transportation in 47 states. Over the last three years, the Federal Transit Administration has sent nearly $5 billion in the past three years to replace and modernize transit buses on America’s roadways, building new technology with American workers. U.S. factories will produce more than 3,650 new buses. 

This funding continues the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic federal investment in the nation’s bus systems as well as the transit workforce Approximately 80 percent of the buses being funded will run on zero and low-emission technology, reducing air pollution and helping meet the President’s goal of zero emissions by 2050.  

“Putting zero-emission buses on the roads of Santa Barbara County will help keep our air clean, reduce our region’s carbon footprint, and improve public transit reliability by installing new buses to serve Central Coast residents,” said Representative Salud Carbajal. “This is just the latest in what has been almost three years worth of investments from our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which I was proud to help pass last term. With nearly $1 billion already delivered for the Central Coast, this law is truly delivering once-in-a-generation investments that are raising the quality of life on the Central Coast.”

The Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities program provides federal funding for transit agencies to buy and rehabilitate buses and vans and build and modernize bus facilities. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides nearly $2 billion through 2026 for the program. For Fiscal Year 2024, approximately $390 million for grants was available under this program. 

LEARN ABOUT GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES AND HOW TO BECOME CERTIFIED AS A DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE

     

SANTA BARBARA—Santa Barbara MTD is hosting a virtual workshop for local business owners to learn more about becoming a certified disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE), and about future contracting opportunities with MTD.

DBEs are defined as a for-profit small business concern where socially and economically disadvantaged individuals own at least a 51% interest and also control management and daily business operations. MTD has an average of $2.7 million in FTA-assisted contracting opportunities each year, and actively seeks certified DBE firms to bid on those contracts.

To share information about MTD’s goals and process, and to answer any questions a business owner might have, a public virtual workshop will be held via Zoom:

Date: Thursday, July 11, 2024
Time: 1:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. (local time)
Click here to join meeting
Meeting ID: 891 1777 2544
Passcode: Purchasing
Call-in option, dial +16694449171

MTD is also welcoming input on the agency’s proposed Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goal for FFYs 2025 – 2027. The Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District (MTD) has developed the proposed goal in accordance with Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 26. The goal is established to help ensure that DBEs have an equal opportunity to participate in contracts partially or fully funded by the Federal Transit Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The proposed DBE triennial overall goal is 1.82%, to be achieved through race-neutral measures (i.e., with no contract goals). The proposed DBE goal and methodology is available on the MTD website at https://sbmtd.gov/about/doing-business/.

Questions or comments on the goal or methodology may be submitted through MTD’s website at https://sbmtd.gov/about/about-mtd/ or by emailing Valerie White at purchasing@sbmtd.gov.

                    

SANTA BARBARA – Santa Barbara MTD held the 8^th Annual Youth Art Poster Contest this spring for Grades 1 through 6 with a theme of “Nature Buses.” This year’s contest saw 120 entries which were voted on by MTD employees. The winning works of art will be featured inside MTD buses for the next year, starting in July.

Participating sites included several South Coast afterschool programs and libraries. Entries came from the Eastside, Central, & Carpinteria Public Libraries, City of Santa Barbara RAP Program, the Carpinteria & Greater Santa Barbara Girls, Inc., and the Downtown Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, Westside, & Goleta Boys & Girls Clubs.

1^st-3^rd Grade Winners

1^st Place- Brinley Kiefer, 3^rd Grade, El Camino School, Girls, Inc. of Greater SB

2^nd Place- Noemi Espinoza Aguilar, 2^nd Grade, SB Community Academy, SB Central Library

3^rd Place- Genesis Esparza, 3^rd Grade, Girls, Inc. of Carpinteria

Honorable Mention- Diallo Ryser, 1^st Grade, Canalino School

4^th-6^th Grade Winners

1^st Place- Anika Tanner – 6^th Grade, Trivium Charter School, SB Central Library

2^nd Place- Kaylee Hernandez, 6^th Grade, Roosevelt School, RAP Program

3^rd Place- Cataleya Alexa Martinez, 4^th Grade, El Camino School, Girls, Inc. of Greater SB

Honorable Mention- Camilla Gonzalez, 5^th Grade, Monte Vista School, Girls, Inc. of Greater SB

                                                             

SANTA BARBARA, CALIF. – Santa Barbara MTD is announcing a launch event on Friday, May 31, 2024, to celebrate the return of the beloved all-electric Downtown-Waterfront Shuttle service to Santa Barbara’s Downtown and Waterfront areas temporarily for summer 2024.

The launch event will mark the shuttle’s first day of service. Electric shuttles will once again carry riders around town on a safe, quiet, and zero-emission ride after a four-year hiatus, as they had for 30 years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event will begin with a short ribbon cutting at 12:00 p.m. at the Transit Center (1020 Chapala Street). The first 75 people to attend the event will receive a free shuttle day pass.

After the ribbon cutting, the public is encouraged to ride the route, as we have teamed up with the community to have activations set up at different stops along the route. The activations will last from noon to about 1:30pm and riders will experience fun and giveaways.

Starting the day of the event, service will operate on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. until September 2, 2024, with service on the 4^th of July and Labor Day Monday.

The Shuttle will operate as a circulator route with 20-minute headways, offering frequent service for residents and visitors to enjoy the iconic beauty of Santa Barbara’s Waterfront and Downtown. Riders can catch the shuttle at any MTD stop along the route.

Fares will be $0.50 (standard one-way) and $0.25 for seniors 62+ and people with disabilities. The popular $1 day pass will also be available and provides for unlimited rides on the Shuttle in one calendar day. Additionally, riders with a valid Amtrak ticket ride free on the Shuttle or any MTD bus service by showing their train ticket for that day.

The temporary shuttle service operation will be funded with limited, one-time grant funds from the State of California’s Low-Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP) fund.

The return of this service will once again provide transit connections among the harbor and waterfront, Santa Barbara Zoo, Santa Barbara Train Depot, the historic County Courthouse, countless hotels, and Downtown shopping and dining destinations, just to name a few.

                                                                       

SANTA BARBARA, CALIF. – Santa Barbara MTD is announcing the return of the beloved all-electric Downtown-Waterfront Shuttle service to Santa Barbara’s Downtown and Waterfront areas temporarily for summer 2024. After a 4-year hiatus, electric shuttles will once again carry riders around town on a safe, quiet, and zero-emission ride as they had for 30 years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The temporary shuttle service operation will be funded with limited, one-time grant funds from the State of California’s Low-Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP) fund.

The previous Downtown-Waterfront Shuttle service was funded through an agreement between MTD and the City of Santa Barbara. The service was suspended at the beginning of the pandemic, and the agreement for funding from the City expired in June 2022 and was not renewed.

Service will operate on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. between May 31, 2024 and September 2, 2024, with service on the 4^th of July and Labor Day Monday.

The Shuttle will operate as a circulator route with 20-minute headways, offering frequent service for residents and visitors to enjoy the iconic beauty of Santa Barbara’s Waterfront and Downtown. Riders can catch the shuttle at any MTD stop along the route.

Due to a large portion of State Street downtown being closed to motor vehicles and open to pedestrians, the Downtown portion of the route will operate on Chapala and Anacapa Streets.

The return of this service will once again provide transit connections among the harbor and waterfront, Santa Barbara Zoo, Santa Barbara Train Depot, the historic County Courthouse, countless hotels, and Downtown shopping and dining destinations, just to name a few.

Fares will be $0.50 (standard one-way) and $0.25 for seniors 62+ and people with disabilities. The popular $1 day pass will also be available and provides for unlimited rides on the Shuttle in one calendar day. Additionally, riders with a valid Amtrak ticket ride free on the Shuttle or any MTD bus service by showing their train ticket for that day.

There will be a community event on Friday, May 31, 2024, to celebrate the launch of the service. Event details will be announced soon.

Five local transit agencies team up for Earth Day Free Ride Event on Monday, April 22.

Santa Barbara, Calif. – Local transit agencies countywide are offering free bus rides to make it easier for the community to give back to the planet this Earth Day, April 22. This one-day initiative aims to promote cleaner air, reduce carbon footprints, and inspire the public to choose more sustainable transportation options.

Automobiles are identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as the leading source of greenhouse gas emissions.

“By choosing public transit over personal vehicles, community members can play an important role in lessening their environmental impact and contributing to a healthier planet, said Aaron Bonfilio, director of multimodal programs for Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG)”

Participating transit agencies include SBCAG Clean Air Express, Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District (MTD), Santa Maria Area Transit (SMRT), Santa Ynez Valley Transit (SYVT), and Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC).

“We are all about SM(a)RT travel options. Budget friendly and ecological ones,” said Gamaliel Anguiano, transit manager, City of Santa Maria. “Earth day is the perfect time to get on board!”

For those whose daily commutes are served by other systems, such as COLT or Guadalupe Flyer, SBCAG extends the opportunity for the public to ride free by signing up in advance with the Try Transit program.

“If you aren’t a regular transit rider—Earth Day is a great time to give it a try,” said Hillary Blackerby, planning and marketing manager at Santa Barbara MTD. “And for the regular riders who are already doing their part to reduce congestion and emissions by taking the bus, it’s our way of saying ‘thank you!’.”

In Ventura County, all transit operators, including VCTC, are offering free rides on Earth Day. Riders can use any bus service at no cost.

For more information on routes and schedules to make the most of this Earth Day offer, the public is encouraged to visit the websites of the participating transportation providers.

ATTACHMENTS (Link provided to download):

• Public Transit Photos

SANTA BARBARA – Santa Barbara MTD is hosting a set of public outreach meetings this April, and is inviting the public to take a brief survey giving feedback on proposed service changes to local bus service. These meetings are held annually in the spring to receive input on the proposed changes that would go into effect on August 19, 2024.

Proposed changes include:
• Service extended until 9:00 p.m. on Line 15x (SBCC/UCSB Express)
• Increased frequency on Line 27 (Isla Vista Shuttle)

In addition to these proposed changes, MTD will be launching temporary summer service for a new Downtown-Waterfront Shuttle circulator in Santa Barbara. Members of the public can learn more about this service at the outreach meetings.

MTD invites the public to learn more and to give feedback via an online survey that explains all the proposed changes at www.sbmtd.gov/servicechanges. The survey is available in English and Spanish.

Community meetings will be held at the following locations and times, and Spanish/English interpretation will be provided:

Thursday, April 11th at 6:00 p.m.
Goleta City Hall, Council Chambers
130 Cremona Dr #B, Goleta

Tuesday, April 16th at 6:00 p.m.
Carpinteria Library
5141 Carpinteria Ave, Carpinteria

Thursday, April 18th at 12:00 p.m.
Santa Barbara City College, Room A161
721 Cliff Drive, Santa Barbara

Wednesday, April 24th at 6:00 p.m.
Virtual Meeting- Zoom Webinar
Click here to register.

In addition to the four meetings listed above, a presentation on the proposed changes will be given at the April 23rd meeting of the Isla Vista Community Services District Board of Directors. The meeting begins at 6:00pm.

For questions on proposed service changes, the public may contact Santa Barbara MTD at 805-963-3364 or email info@sbmtd.gov.

Attachment: Bilingual flyer

____________________________________________________________

MTD SOLICITARÁ OPINIONES SOBRE LOS CAMBIOS DE SERVICIO PROPUESTOS A TRAVÉS DE REUNIONES PÚBLICAS Y ENCUESTAS EN LÍNEA

SANTA BARBARA – El Santa Bárbara MTD está organizando una serie de reuniones de divulgación pública este abril y está invitando al público a realizar una breve encuesta para dar su opinión sobre los cambios de servicio propuestos para el servicio de autobús local. Estas reuniones se llevan a cabo anualmente en la primavera para recibir aportes sobre los cambios propuestos que entrarían en vigencia el 19 de agosto de 2024.

Los cambios propuestos incluyen:
• Servicio ampliado hasta las 21:00 horas. en la línea 15x (SBCC/UCSB Express)
• Incremento de frecuencia en la Línea 27 (Isla Vista Shuttle)

Además de estos cambios propuestos, MTD lanzará un servicio temporal de verano para un nuevo circulador Downtown-Waterfront Shuttle en Santa Bárbara. Los miembros del público pueden aprender más sobre este servicio en las reuniones de divulgación.

MTD invita al público a aprender más y dar su opinión a través de una encuesta en línea que explica todos los cambios propuestos en www.sbmtd.gov/servicechanges. La encuesta está disponible en inglés y español.

Las reuniones comunitarias se llevarán a cabo en los siguientes lugares y horarios, y se proporcionará interpretación en español/inglés:

Jueves 11 de abril a las 18.00 h.
Goleta City Hall, Council Chambers
130 Cremona Dr #B, Goleta

Martes 16 de abril a las 18.00 h.
Carpinteria Library
5141 Carpinteria Ave, Carpinteria

Jueves 18 de abril a las 12:00 h.
Santa Barbara City College, Room A161
721 Cliff Drive, Santa Barbara

Miércoles 24 de abril a las 18:00 h.
Reunión virtual: seminario web de Zoom
Haga clic aquí para registrarse.

Además de las cuatro reuniones enumeradas anteriormente, se realizará una presentación sobre los cambios propuestos en la reunión del 23 de abril de la Junta Directiva del Distrito de Servicios Comunitarios de Isla Vista. La reunión comienza a las 6:00 pm.

Si tiene preguntas sobre los cambios de servicio propuestos, el público puede comunicarse con Santa Barbara MTD al 805-963-3364 o enviar un correo electrónico a info@sbmtd.gov.

Adjunto: Folleto bilingüe

SANTA BARBARA, CALIF. – Today, community leaders came together on a bus ride and with a press conference to celebrate this week’s launch of a new express bus service—MTD’s Line 19x.

The Line 19x (Carpinteria/SBCC Express) provides peak weekday service to Carpinteria, Santa Barbara’s Eastside, and Santa Barbara City College. This service is financially supported via SBCAG and Caltrans with traffic mitigation funds from the Highway 101 HOV Project.

Several community leaders boarded the Line 19x bus in Carpinteria and Santa Barbara, and were joined by several others at the main SBCC bus stop on Cliff Drive for a brief press conference.

Speakers included Santa Barbara MTD General Manager Jerry Estrada, SBCAG Executive Director Marjie KIRN, Carpinteria Mayor Al Clark, First District County Supervisor Das Williams, and SBCC Board of Trustees President Jonathan Abboud. Additional guests including Carpinteria and Santa Barbara City Councilmembers, members of MTD Board of Directors, and SBCC leadership, including new Superintendent and President Erika Endrijonas.

“Connecting these important destinations to each other fulfills several requests that we’ve heard for many years,” said Jerry Estrada, General Manager of Santa Barbara MTD. “With the 19x we’ve brought back peak express bus service back between Carpinteria and Santa Barbara, and we now provide direct service to SBCC for both Eastside residents and Carpinterians.”

“We can reduce traffic congestion by trying Santa Barbara MTD’s new direct service between Carpinteria, Santa Barbara, and SBCC,” said Marjie KIRN, Executive Director of SBCAG. “The new 19x service is made possible because of the investment of Highway 101 Carpinteria to Santa Barbara project funds. This investment helps make the community vision for a sustainable future a reality. We ask the public to try this transportation option and experience the benefits first-hand.”

“We are thrilled with the launch of the 19x, a new express route that can help put an end to the soul sucking traffic between Carpinteria and Santa Barbara City College,” said Jonathan Abboud, President of SBCC Board of Trustees. “This is big win for our neighbors, SBCC students and employees, and the environment.”

Details about the Line 19x route and schedule can be found here.

Photos of 19x Event can be found here.

SANTA BARBARA – Santa Barbara MTD makes service changes to local bus service every year in mid-August. This year’s service changes will go into effect at the beginning of the day on Monday, August 14, 2023. Other changes will phase in as K-12, SBCC, and UCSB fall classes begin.

Starting Monday, August 14, 2023:

• Route and schedule changes on Lines 23 (El Encanto Heights) & 25 (Ellwood/Winchester Canyon)–now they’ll connect at the end of the line so one route becomes the other. This will provide riders a one-seat ride through Western Goleta, no matter the direction.
• Minor schedule changes on Lines 6 (Goleta), 11 (UCSB), and 20 (Carpinteria)

Starting Monday, August 21, 2023:

• Schedule changes for booster services to Junior Highs and High Schools (detailed schedules here.)

Starting Monday, August 28, 2023:

• New peak hour weekday service (Line 19x) serving Carpinteria, Santa Barbara’s Eastside, and SBCC

Starting Monday, September 25, 2023:

• Increased weekday service on Line 28 (UCSB Shuttle)–now with 18 minute headways for most of the day

These schedule changes are in response to community needs, increased demand for bus service, and to improve on-time performance.

The new schedule guide reflecting these changes is available online here. The printed version of the schedule guide is also available at the Transit Center and onboard buses.

Customer Service Representatives are available for assistance at (805) 963-3366.