MTD NEEDS TO HEAR FROM YOU

This survey is to get feedback from the community–current, former, and (hopefully) future bus riders. With COVID-19 changing so much about how our community lives, works, plays, and travels, we want to hear your current take on transit.

This survey also contains details on August service changes.

The survey should only take 5 minutes to complete.

This survey closes on Sunday, July 16, 2020.

Questions? Call 805-963-3364 x218 or email info@sbmtd.gov.

Esta encuesta es para obtener los pensamientos de la comunidad: actuales, anteriores y (con suerte) futuros pasajeros de autobuses. Con COVID-19 cambiando tanto sobre cómo vive, trabaja, juega y viaja nuestra comunidad, queremos escuchar su opinión actual sobre el tránsito.

Esta encuesta también contiene detalles sobre los cambios en el servicio de agosto.

La encuesta solo debe tomar 5 minutos para completar.

Esta encuesta se cierra el domingo 19 de julio de 2020.

Preguntas? Llame al 805-963-3364 x218 o envíe un correo electrónico a info@sbmtd.gov.

2020 YOUTH ART POSTER CONTEST GOES ONLINE!

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Every year MTD hosts a Youth Art Poster Contest in the spring, with several after school programs participating. Due to COVID-19 related closures of these programs, the Art Contest was postponed. We are excited to announce the contest is now available online!

The contest is open to all students, 1^st through 6^th grade, in South Santa Barbara County.

Contest Dates: May 22nd to July 31st, 2020

All posters must be created on the official MTD template with an entry form accompanied (Links below).  More than one entry per student is allowed, but no more than three submissions per student, please.

Students must create their own original artwork – no copyrighted clip art, computer generated graphics, or copyrighted characters. Any art medium can be used (paint, crayon, colored markers, pencils, etc.) but remember that bright, solid colors will reproduce better.  No glued on pieces, please.

Posters must reflect the theme of the contest: Outdoor Adventure Buses

Some ideas can include bus stops, bus designs, places the bus goes, etc.  Use your imagination!

Turn in your completed artwork by scanning and emailing artwork to info@sbmtd.gov or by mailing to Santa Barbara MTD at 550 Olive Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. The signed entry form must be included or the artwork will be disqualified.

Judging will be based on the following criteria:

Originality and Creativity

Overall visual appeal

Keeping with the theme “Outdoor Adventure Buses”

The winners will receive a prize and have their artwork reproduced and displayed on the interior of the MTD bus fleet for an entire year. See below photos for some fun “outdoor adventure” inspiration.

For more information, call 805-963-3364 x233 or email info@sbmtd.gov.

MTD Template

Entry Form 

SANTA BARBARA—Beginning Friday, May 22nd, 2020, Santa Barbara MTD will increase the number of passengers allowed on board all MTD buses.

As the County of Santa Barbara has received approval to move into the later stages of Phase 2, allowing certain businesses to reopen, demand for bus service will continue to increase.

To that end, effective Friday, May 22nd, 2020, load limits will be increased as follows: 15 passengers on a 40 foot bus and 10 passengers on a 30 foot bus. These amounts are still less than half of a fully seated busload. Though these allowable loads are increasing, a bus may pass up a person waiting at a bus stop if the amount of passengers onboard has already reached the limit.

Many transit agencies around the state and in the Central Coast region have been operating at these same capacities for several months. Passengers are asked to maintain 6 feet physical distance from the bus operator and other passengers on the bus.

In order to minimize contact between bus operators and passengers at the front door and farebox area, passengers are still directed to use the rear door of the bus for boarding and alighting. Passengers using mobility devices or who need the ramp will be allowed to board and alight from the front door of the vehicle. MTD is still not collecting fares at this time.

Other items to note:

• Any individuals feeling ill and/or experiencing any of the following symptoms should not board the bus: fever, cough, shortness of breath
• Face coverings or masks are still required of passengers and bus operators
• Enhanced cleaning and disinfecting protocols continue
• Suspension of fare collection continues

SANTA BARBARA—Due to social distancing guidelines, and Governor Newsom’s executive order allowing virtual meetings of local government decision-making bodies, Santa Barbara MTD will be conducting its first virtual Board of Directors meeting on next Tuesday, May 12^th, 2020 at 8:30 a.m.

The board agenda and packet have been posted at this link. While there will be no in person public comment, there are several ways for the public to participate.

Watch the Board Meeting Live

We encourage you to watch via the livestream on the Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District YouTube channel which can be found at tinyurl.com/sbmtdyoutube at the time of the meeting. The livestream will also be embedded on our website on the Current Board Agenda page, found here: https://sbmtd.gov/about/agendas-and-archives/current-board-agenda/

If you miss the meeting, a recording will be posted on the YouTube channel afterwards. A link to that video will be included in the meeting minutes when posted.

Participation by E-mail

Public comment on agenda items can be submitted by emailing clerk@sbmtd.gov. Please submit written comments by 12 p.m. on the Monday prior to the Board of Directors Meeting for advanced distribution to the Board of Directors. Comments emailed during the meeting will be read aloud by the clerk as long as they are submitted prior to the close of the agenda item they pertain to and that the reading does not exceed three minutes. Please state in your e-mail that you would like your comments “read into the record”. Email comments received after an agenda item will be placed into the record and distributed appropriately.

Participation by Zoom Webinar

Individuals wishing to view and provide public comment during the Board meeting through the Zoom application may join by clicking this link at the appointed time: https://zoom.us/j/95967158209?pwd=d01YQ3ppVWcwR21ZWDB1Tm9KUCtKQT09

Members of the public wishing to be called on for public comment should click the “Raise Hand” button only when the item they wish to speak on has begun. When the chair calls for public comment, the clerk will announce you and will unmute your microphone. Comments from the public are limited to 3 minutes per speaker. The public will not be able to share their video or screen.

Participation by Phone

Individuals wishing to give public comment via phone are asked to call the number below at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the meeting at 8:30 a.m.

1. Dial-in 10 minutes prior to the start of the meeting (8:30 a.m.):

Dial-in: (669) 900-6833 Meeting ID: 959 6715 8209 then #, when prompted for a participant ID, press #, and when prompted for a meeting password, dial 956284 then #.

1. PLEASE MUTE YOUR PHONE UNTIL YOU ARE CALLED TO SPEAK. If you do not have a mute button, you may mute by pressing the star key followed by the number six (*6). You can unmute by pressing the same keys (*6). To “raise your hand” on the phone, dial *9 when the item you wish to speak on has begun. When the chair calls for public comment, the clerk will announce you and you will unmute your microphone. Comments from the public are limited to 3 minutes per speaker.

(El mensaje sigue en Español.)

SANTA BARBARA—Beginning Friday, May 1st, 2020, MTD will require that all passengers wear a cloth face covering or mask in order to ride an MTD bus.  A grace period through Tuesday, May 5^th will be granted to provide the public with time to obtain an appropriate face covering.

Face coverings are important in helping to stop the spread of COVID-19, as individuals may be spreading the virus even though they may not show symptoms. Medical grade masks are not required—a simple bandana, scarf, or homemade cloth mask that covers the nose and mouth is sufficient. Face coverings are also not a replacement for maintaining 6 feet of physical distance from others, and they must remain over the nose and mouth during the entire trip.

While continuing to provide essential service to our community, the safety and wellbeing of our passengers and employees is the foremost consideration of MTD. MTD has consistently followed, and at times exceeded, the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and local Public Health officials. To that end, enhanced cleaning protocols have been implemented since early March. These protocols include nightly disinfecting of all high-touch surfaces in buses with a hospital-grade disinfectant.

To support physical distancing between our drivers and the public, in mid-March MTD voluntarily instituted rear door boarding and is not currently collecting fares. There is also a greatly reduced maximum occupancy limit on board the buses.

SE REQUIEREN CUBIERTAS FACIALES EN TODOS LOS AUTOBUSES MTD COMENZANDO EL 1 DE MAYO

SÁNTA BÁRBARA— A partir del viernes 1 de mayo de 2020, MTD requerirá que todos los pasajeros usen una cubierta facial de tela o máscara para viajar en un autobús del MTD. Se otorgará un período de gracia hasta el martes 5 de mayo para proporcionar al público tiempo para obtener una cubierta adecuada.

Las cubiertas faciales son importantes para ayudar a detener la propagación de COVID-19, ya que las personas pueden estar propagando el virus aunque no muestren síntomas. No se requieren máscaras de grado médico; una simple pañuelo, bufanda o una máscara de tela casera que cubra la nariz y la boca es suficiente. Las cubiertas faciales tampoco no son un reemplazo para mantener una distancia física de 6 pies de distancia de los demás, y deben permanecer sobre la nariz y la boca durante todo el viaje.

Mientras continuamos proporcionando un servicio esencial a nuestra comunidad, la seguridad y el bienestar de nuestros pasajeros y empleados es la consideración principal de MTD. MTD ha seguido constantemente, y en ocasiones excedido, las recomendaciones de los Centros para el Control de Enfermedades y los funcionarios locales de Salud Pública. Con ese fin, se han implementado protocolos de limpieza mejorados desde principios de marzo. Estos protocolos incluyen la desinfección nocturna de todas las superficies de alto contacto en autobuses con un desinfectante de grado hospitalario.

Para apoyar el distanciamiento físico entre nuestros conductores y el público, a mediados de marzo MTD instituyó voluntariamente el abordaje de la puerta trasera y actualmente no está cobrando tarifas. También hay un límite de ocupación máxima muy reducido a bordo de los autobuses.

SANTA BARBARA—As part of the ongoing renovation of Santa Barbara MTD’s Transit Center in Downtown Santa Barbara, the next phase of the project will require a sidewalk closure. This closure will begin on Thursday, April 30, 2020.

The public sidewalk, curb, and gutters will be replaced on the east side of the 1000 block of Chapala Street in the area between the Temporary Transit Center facilities and the exit driveway to City Lot 3. In order to facilitate this work, the sidewalk will be closed between Carrillo Street and the Temporary Transit Center facilities. This closure is expected to last approximately 4 weeks.

Additionally, the bus Lines 3 and 20 that generally load and unload in Zone A (in front of the old Greyhound property, near the corner of Carrillo and Chapala) will be moved to Zone D (area near Riley’s Flowers just past Figueroa Street). These changes will be in effect all days of the week and all times of day. Pedestrians looking to reach the temporary Transit Center and Zones B, C and D will need to approach via at the Figueroa intersection with Chapala Street.

For more information about the Transit Center Renovation project, please visit the project website at www.sbmtd.gov/tc.

(El mensaje sigue en español.)

SANTA BARBARA—Effective Monday, April 6, 2020, Santa Barbara MTD will be lowering service levels further in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. This reduction is due to the Governor’s continued stay at home order intended to flatten the curve of COVID-19 cases, reduced ridership, and MTD workforce constraints.

These reductions are in addition to the ones enacted as of March 19, 2020, on several lines associated with area educational institutions, in light of these schools ceasing campus operations for the remaining 2019-20 school year. Those reductions included the following:

Line 15x (SBCC/UCSB Express)- No service

Line 16 (SBCC Shuttle)- No service

Line 28 (UCSB Shuttle)- No service

Booster services- No service

Line 27 (Isla Vista Shuttle)- Alternative “UCSB out” service as published in the schedule guide and online

These service reductions will continue until further notice.

In addition to the reductions above, additional service reductions will occur. Beginning the morning of Monday, April 6, 2020, the following additional service changes will go into effect, until further notice:

Line 10 (Cathedral Oaks)- No service

Line 30 (Downtown Shuttle)- No service

Line 34 (Waterfront Shuttle)- No service

Line 36 (Seaside Shuttle)- No service

Line 37 (Crosstown Shuttle)- No service

These lines serve areas in Goleta, Santa Barbara, and Carpinteria, but all three areas will still have active transit service. Passengers with questions about schedules and affected routes can call (805) 963-3366 for assistance.

Social Distancing and Loads on Buses

In order to minimize contact between bus operators and passengers at the front door and farebox area, passengers are directed to use the rear door of the bus for boarding and alighting. Passengers using mobility devices or who need the ramp will be allowed to board and alight from the front door of the vehicle. Because of this, MTD is not currently collecting fares.

In an additional effort to maintain social distancing onboard all MTD buses, strict load limits are in place at this time. Drivers are limiting loads to the following: 8 passengers on a 40 foot bus and 5 passengers on a 30 foot bus. Due to this load restriction, a bus may pass up a person waiting at a bus stop if the amount of passengers onboard has already reached the limit.

Transit Center Customer Service

Customer Service functions are still available via phone at (805) 963-3366, and electronically via email to info@sbmtd.gov, the www.sbmtd.gov website, and all MTD social media channels (@santabarbaramtd on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram).

Customer service still operates on normal Transit Center business hours (Monday through Friday, 6am to 7pm, and weekends, 9am to 5pm), At this time there are no walk-up sales, person-to-person transactions, or Ticket Vending Machines available at the Transit Center.

The public is reminded to stay home if they are sick, follow proper health hygiene practices, and maintain appropriate social distance on buses, at the Transit Center, and at bus stops. Due to the Governor’s stay at home order, only people making essential trips or going to work in essential industries should be riding the bus at this time.

MTD REDUCIRÁ AÚN MÁS EL SERVICIO A PARTIR DEL 6 DE ABRIL

SÁNTA BÁRBARA—A partir del lunes 6 de abril de 2020, el MTD de Santa Bárbara reducirá aún más los niveles de servicio a la luz de la pandemia de COVID-19. Esta reducción se debe a la orden continua de permanencia en el hogar del Gobernador destinada a aplanar la curva de los casos de COVID-19, la reducción de pasajeros y las limitaciones de la fuerza laboral de MTD.

Estas reducciones se suman a las promulgadas a partir del 19 de marzo de 2020, en varias líneas asociadas con las instituciones educativas del área, a la luz de que estas escuelas cesen las operaciones del campus durante el año escolar 2019-20 restante. Esas reducciones incluyeron lo siguiente:

Línea 15x (SBCC/UCSB Express)- Sin servicio

Línea 16 (SBCC Shuttle)- Sin servicio

Línea 28 (UCSB Shuttle)- Sin servicio

Servicios “booster”- Sin servicio

Línea 27 (Isla Vista Shuttle)- Servicio alternativo “UCSB out” como se publica en la guía de horarios y en el sitio web

Estas reducciones de servicio continuarán hasta nuevo aviso.

Además de las reducciones anteriores, se producirán reducciones de servicio adicionales. A partir de la mañana del lunes 6 de abril de 2020, los siguientes cambios de servicio adicionales entrarán en vigencia, hasta nuevo aviso:

Línea 10 (Cathedral Oaks)- Sin servicio

Línea 30 (Downtown Shuttle)- Sin servicio

Línea 34 (Waterfront Shuttle)- Sin servicio

Línea 36 (Seaside Shuttle)- Sin servicio

Línea 37 (Crosstown Shuttle)- Sin servicio

Estas líneas sirven áreas en Goleta, Santa Bárbara y Carpinteria, pero las tres áreas tendrán todavía el servicio de tránsito. Los pasajeros con preguntas sobre horarios y rutas afectadas pueden llamar al (805) 963-3366 para obtener ayuda.

Distanciamiento social y cargas en autobuses

Para minimizar el contacto entre los operadores de autobuses y los pasajeros en la puerta delantera y en el área de la caja de tarifas, los pasajeros deben usar la puerta trasera del autobús para subir y bajar. Los pasajeros que utilicen dispositivos de movilidad o que necesiten la rampa podrán subir y bajar desde la puerta delantera del vehículo. Debido a esto, MTD no está cobrando tarifas actualmente.

En un esfuerzo adicional por mantener el distanciamiento social a bordo de todos los autobuses MTD, en este momento existen límites estrictos de carga. Los conductores están limitando las cargas a lo siguiente: 8 pasajeros en un autobús de 40 pies y 5 pasajeros en un autobús de 30 pies. Debido a esta restricción de carga, un autobús puede pasar una persona que espera en una parada de autobús, si la cantidad de pasajeros a bordo ya ha alcanzado el límite.

Servicio al cliente del Centro de Tránsito

Las funciones de servicio al cliente todavía están disponibles por teléfono al (805) 963-3366, y electrónicamente por correo electrónico a info@sbmtd.gov, el sitio web www.sbmtd.gov y todos los canales de redes sociales MTD (@santabarbaramtd en Twitter, Facebook y Instagram).

El servicio al cliente todavía funciona en el horario comercial normal del Centro de Tránsito (de lunes a viernes de 6 a.m. a 7 p.m. y los fines de semana de 9 a.m. a 5 p.m.). En este momento no hay ventas directas, transacciones de persona a persona o máquinas expendedoras de boletos disponibles en el Centro de Tránsito.

Se le recuerda al público que se quede en casa si está enfermo, siga las prácticas de higiene adecuadas y mantenga una distancia social adecuada en los autobuses, en el Centro de Tránsito y en las paradas de autobús. Debido a la orden de permanencia en el hogar del gobernador, solo las personas que realizan viajes esenciales o que van a trabajar en industrias esenciales deben viajar en el autobús en este momento.

SANTA BARBARA—Effective Thursday, March 19, 2020, Santa Barbara MTD will be lowering service levels on several lines associated with area educational institutions, in light of these schools ceasing campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additionally on Thursday, all MTD fixed-route bus service will be provided free of charge until further notice. Passengers without disabilities will be directed to use the rear door of the vehicle for boarding and alighting to minimize contact with bus operators at the front door and farebox area. Passengers using mobility devices or who need the ramp will be allowed to board and alight from the front door of the vehicle.

As described below, Transit Center Customer Service functions will be changing, as will public access to the MTD Administrative Offices.

Service Reduction

Earlier this week on Monday, March 16, 2020, all booster services to Junior Highs and High Schools were cancelled. This cancellation will continue until further notice.

Beginning the morning of Thursday, March 19, 2020, the following service changes will go into effect, until further notice:

No Line 15x (SBCC/UCSB Express) Service

No Line 16 (SBCC Shuttle) Service

No Line 28 (UCSB Shuttle) Service

Line 27 (Isla Vista Shuttle) will operate on the “UCSB out” alternate schedule as published in the schedule guide

No booster service to Junior Highs, High Schools, or Alpha Resource Center

This service level mimics the service level provided during Spring Break, when SBCC, UCSB, and Santa Barbara Unified School District are all closed.

UC Santa Barbara will still be accessible by bus on Lines 11, 24x, and 27. The Santa Barbara City College area will still be accessible by bus on Lines 4, 5, and 17.

Passengers with questions about schedules and affected routes can call (805) 963-3366 for assistance.

Transit Center Customer Service

Transit Center facilities will still be operating on normal business hours (Monday through Friday, 6am to 7pm, and weekends, 9am to 5pm), but no walk-up sales or person-to-person transactions of any kind will be available; however, the two Ticket Vending Machines at the Transit Center will still be operational and accept cash, debit and credit cards. The public may still ask questions through the window or call (805) 963-3366.

In addition to help over the phone, the public is encouraged to contact MTD with any questions or concerns via the sbmtd.gov website, by emailing info@sbmtd.gov, or through the agency’s Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter accounts, all @santabarbaramtd.

MTD Administrative Offices

Additionally, effective March 19, 2020, MTD’s administrative office reception area at 550 Olive Street will be closed to visitors. Customers needing to make bulk pass purchases may do so upon appointment only. To arrange for a pass purchase during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm), please call (805) 963-3364.

The public is reminded to stay home if they are sick, follow proper health hygiene practices, and maintain appropriate social distance on buses, at the Transit Center, and at bus stops.

SANTA BARBARA—Santa Barbara MTD is actively responding to the possibility of the spread of COVID-19 virus by taking additional precautions to protect bus riders and the MTD workforce. Along with the rest of the transit industry, MTD leaders are closely following the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department (PHD).

Additional disinfecting of the bus fleet is taking place nightly, using hospital grade disinfectant on all high-touch surfaces such as door handles, stanchions, seat back handles, grab bars, fareboxes, and driver areas. Portable toilets at the temporary Transit Center are outfitted with hand sanitizer dispensers.

All bus services are currently running on a normal schedule.

While there are currently no identified cases of the COVID-19 virus in Santa Barbara County, MTD encourages community members to follow smart health practices by doing the following, as recommended by the CDC and the PHD:

• Wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Sneeze or cough into the crook of your elbow.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay away from work, school, transit, and other people if you become sick with respiratory symptoms like fever and cough.

SANTA BARBARA—As of December 2^nd, Santa Barbara MTD has stopped purchasing petroleum diesel and will now fuel the agency’s diesel fleet with renewable diesel (RD). This transition requires no infrastructure changes and the new fuel can be dispensed into the same tank that held the old fuel.

Different from biodiesel, renewable diesel is refined from a mix of more than 10 different wastes and residues and various vegetable oils. Around 92% of this fuel comes from a combination of used cooking oil, waste animal fat, waste fish fat, and residue oils. Renewable diesel is odorless, and emits 33% lower fine particulates that aggravate asthma.

While not zero-emission, renewable diesel represents an 80 percent reduction in emissions and carbon intensity from petroleum diesel. The carbon intensity of renewable diesel is about one-third of that of a battery-electric vehicle charging on the California grid.

Santa Barbara MTD’s Board of Directors set a goal in November 2018 to transition the entire MTD fleet to 100 percent battery-electric by 2030. This transition to renewable diesel speeds up a reduction in emissions fleetwide, and takes the opportunity to green the remaining diesel fleet.