Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District

Last updated
Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District.svg
Santa Barbara MTD Gillig.jpg
An MTD bus at UCSB in 2007.
Founded1968
Headquarters1020 Chapala Street
Santa Barbara, California
Service area Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, Goleta, Montecito, Summerland, Isla Vista
Service type Transit bus
Routes37
Fleet113 buses
Daily ridership16,400 (weekdays, Q4 2023) [1]
Annual ridership4,579,600 (2023) [2]
Fuel type CNG, battery electric
Website sbmtd.gov

The Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District (MTD) is a public transit agency providing bus service in the southern portion of Santa Barbara County, California. It serves the cities of Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, and Goleta as well as the unincorporated areas of Montecito, Summerland, and Isla Vista. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 4,579,600, or about 16,400 per weekday as of the fourth quarter of 2023.

Contents

History

Mule-powered street railways were implemented in 1875 and were gradually replaced by electric streetcars in 1896. The streetcars made their last run on July 1, 1929; about a month later, the Santa Barbara Transit Corporation company started providing local bus service (H.A. Spreitz, its owner, already operated another bus company that served the suburban areas of Goleta and Carpinteria. [3] [4] In the late 1950s and 60s, Santa Barbara Transit was losing revenue, and repeatedly threatened to go out of business. [5] [6] Strikes were also a problem, as the company could not afford to pay its employees. [7] [8] [9]

At first, the City of Santa Barbara considered subsidizing the transit company, but since service was needed to Carpinteria and Goleta as well, a transit district was thought to be a better choice, because it would also be able to levy taxes on separately. [10] [11] Voters approved the formation of the MTD in 1966. [12]

However, since the new district had no funds, bus service didn't start until 1967. [ citation needed ]

Over the years, service has expanded, particularly on routes serving the University of California, Santa Barbara and Santa Barbara City College. Bus schedules were being distributed from 1983 onwards.

In August 2012 MTD implemented peak-hour commuter service (Coastal Express Limited) between Ventura and the Santa Barbara/Goleta area.

Routes

Local routes

All routes serving Downtown Santa Barbara begin and end at the Transit Center

RouteTerminalsviaNotes
1 Santa Barbara

MTD Transit Center

Santa Barbara

Modoc Rd & Portesuello Av

San Andres St
2Santa Barbara

MTD Transit Center

Santa Barbara

Punta Gorda St & Salinas St

Anapamu St
3Santa Barbara

MTD Transit Center

Santa Barbara

Foothill Rd & Cieneguitas Rd

State St
4Santa Barbara

MTD Transit Center

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara City College

Carrillo St, Cliff Dr
5Santa Barbara

MTD Transit Center

Santa Barbara

State St & La Cumbre Rd

Cliff Dr
  • Serves Santa Barbara City College
6Santa Barbara

MTD Transit Center

Goleta

Hollister Av & Storke Rd

State St, Hollister Av
7Santa Barbara

MTD Transit Center

Goleta

Hollister Av & Kellogg Av

US-101
11Santa Barbara

MTD Transit Center

Goleta

Storke Rd & Hollister Av

State St, Hollister Av
14Santa Barbara

MTD Transit Center

Montecito

Jameson Ln & Sheffield Dr

Valley Rd
16Santa Barbara

MTD Transit Center

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara City College

Cliff Dr
  • Temporarily Suspended
17Santa Barbara

MTD Transit Center

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara City College

Carrillo St
20Santa Barbara

MTD Transit Center

Carpinteria

Via Real & Mark Av

Via Real
23Goleta

Storke Rd & Hollister Av

Goleta

Winchester Canyon Rd & Bradford Dr

Calle Real
25Goleta

Hollister Av & Storke Rd

Goleta

Calle Real & Winchester Pl

Hollister Av
27 Isla Vista

UC Santa Barbara

Goleta

Santa Felicia Dr & Marketplace

Storke Rd
  • Isla Vista Shuttle
28Isla Vista

UC Santa Barbara

Goleta

Santa Felicia Dr & Marketplace

El Colegio Rd
  • UCSB Shuttle

Express routes

RouteTerminalsViaNotes
12XSanta Barbara

MTD Transit Center

Goleta

Hollister Av & Kellogg Av

US-101
15XIsla Vista

UC Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara City College

US-101
19XSanta Barbara

Santa Barbara City College

Carpinteria

Carpinteria Av & Palm Av

US-101
24XSanta Barbara

MTD Transit Center

Goleta

Storke Rd & Hollister Av

US-101
  • Serves UC Santa Barbara

School supplementary routes

Services operate weekdays only.

RouteTerminalsViaNotes
2010Santa Barbara

MTD Transit Center

State St
  • To Alpha Resource Center
2110Santa Barbara

San Barbara Junior High School

Cota St
  • To MTD Transit Center
2410Goleta

Turnpike Rd & Ukiah St

Santa Barbara

La Colina Junior High School

Hollister Av
2420Goleta

University Dr & Patterson Av

Santa Barbara

La Colina Junior High School

Cathedral Oaks Rd
2430Goleta

Hollister Av & San Ricardo Dr

Santa Barbara

La Colina Junior High School

Hollister Av
2510Santa Barbara

Rancheria St & Gutierrez St

Santa Barbara

San Marcos High School

San Andres St
2520Santa Barbara

MTD Transit Center

Santa Barbara

San Marcos High School

US-101
2530Santa Barbara

Carrillo St & San Andres St

Santa Barbara

San Marcos High School

San Andres St, Modoc Rd
2540Santa Barbara

Haley St & Bath St

Santa Barbara

San Marcos High School

Cliff Dr, Las Positas Rd
2610Goleta

Hollister Av & Kellogg Av

Goleta

Fairview Av & Encina Rd

Hollister Av
2620Goleta

Winchester Canyon Rd & Bradford Dr

Goleta

Cathedral Oaks Rd & Camino Laguna Vista

Cathedral Oaks Rd
2630Goleta

Hollister Av & Cathedral Oaks Rd

Goleta

Goleta Valley Junior High School

Hollister Av, US-101
2650Isla Vista

Camino Pescadero & El Colegio Rd

Goleta

Goleta Valley Junior High School

Cathedral Oaks Rd
2710Isla Vista

Camino Pescadero & El Colegio Rd

Goleta

Dos Pueblos High School

Storke Rd
2720Goleta

Hollister Av & Turnpike Rd

Goleta

Dos Pueblos High School

Hollister Av
2730Santa Barbara

State St & La Cumbre Rd

Goleta

Dos Pueblos High School

Cathedral Oaks Rd
2740Goleta

Los Carneros Rd & Karl Storz Dr

Goleta

Dos Pueblos High School

Hollister Av

Bus fleet

Active fleet

Make/ModelFleet NumbersThumbnailYearEngineTransmissionNotes
BYD K7M 30-4320172 x 90 kW AC synchronous197 kWh iron-phosphate battery
Gillig Low Floor 40' 434-4502003-2004Detroit Diesel Series 50 EGRAllison B400R
Gillig Low Floor 40' 600-6142004Detroit Diesel Series 50 EGRAllison B400R
Gillig Low Floor 40' 615-6212011Cummins ISL9Allison B400R
Gillig Low Floor 40' 622-6242013Cummins ISL9Allison B400R
Gillig Low Floor 40' 625-6342014Cummins ISL9Allison B400R
Gillig Low Floor 40' 635-6422016Cummins ISL9Allison B400R
Gillig Low Floor 40' 643-6522019Cummins L9Allison B3400 xFE
Gillig Low Floor 29' 700-7102004Cummins ISBAllison B300R
Gillig Low Floor 29' 711-7132006Cummins ISBAllison B300R
Gillig Low Floor HEV 29' 715-7172007Cummins ISBAllison EP40
New Flyer XE40 806-8142022 Siemens ELFA 3XALT Energy
  • First full-sized zero-emissions busses
Gillig Low Floor HEV 40' 900-9072007Cummins ISBAllison EP40
Gillig Low Floor HEV 40' 908-910, 912-9152011Cummins ISB6.7Allison H 40 EP
Nova Bus LFS Artic 1001-10032014Cummins ISL9Allison B500R

Fare structure

Contactless fare payment

Some vehicles are equipped with a contactless fare reading device that allows customers to pay using a credit/debit/prepaid card or a mobile wallet on smart devices. [13]

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References

  1. "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  2. "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  3. Everett, William B. (1984). Mule car and trolley: the story of the Santa Barbara street railway. Goleta, Calif.: Institute for American Research. ISBN   0-911773-04-5. OCLC   11743439.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  4. City of Santa Barbara, Department of Public Works (May 31, 1996). "Pedestrian Master Plan" (PDF). Pedestrian Master Plan Final Draft. Retrieved March 4, 2007.
  5. "Santa Barbara Bus Line to quit service on Jan 1". Los Angeles Times . December 18, 1960. pp. H4.
  6. Bush, Thomas (March 19, 1967). "Bus Lines Tired of Parking in Red". Los Angeles Times . pp. I1.
  7. "Santa Barbara Seeks Solution in Bus Strike". Los Angeles Times . May 11, 1961. pp. B7.
  8. "Vote Averts Santa Barbara Transit Strike". Los Angeles Times . December 3, 1964. pp. A10.
  9. "Week-Old Bus Strike in Santa Barbara Settled". Los Angeles Times . March 2, 1965. pp. A2.
  10. "Santa Barbara Moves to Form Transit District". Los Angeles Times . March 21, 1965. pp. F8.
  11. "New Transit District in Area Sought". Los Angeles Times . April 2, 1965. pp. C6.
  12. "Santa Barbara Transit District Ready to Move". Los Angeles Times . December 24, 1966. pp. B5.
  13. "Contactless payment options introduced on Santa Barbara County public transit systems". Mass Transit (magazine). July 27, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.

34°25′16″N119°42′13″W / 34.42101°N 119.70348°W / 34.42101; -119.70348