Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District

Headquarters	1020 Chapala St. Santa Barbara CA
Service area	Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, Goleta, Montecito, Summerland, Isla Vista
Service type	bus service
Daily ridership	21,776 (FY 2012)
Website	SBMTD

An MTD bus at UCSB in 2007.

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.

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. ^{[1] [2]} In the late 1950s and 60s, Santa Barbara Transit was losing revenue, and repeatedly threatened to go out of business. ^{[3] [4]} Strikes were also a problem, as the company could not afford to pay its employees. ^{[5] [6] [7]}

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. ^{[8] [9]} Voters approved the formation of the MTD in 1966. ^[10] However, since the new district had no funds, bus service didn't start until 1967.

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

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

Route 1: Westside

This route serves Carrillo and San Andres on the west side of Santa Barbara. At the transit center, most Route 1 buses become Route 2.

Route 2: Eastside

This route runs to East Santa Barbara via Anapamu and Milpas. Interlined with Route 1.

Route 3: Oak Park

Operates between the Downtown Transit Center and La Cumbre Plaza via De La Vina (outbound) or Bath (inbound), Las Positas, and State St. Also serves Cottage Hospital

Routes 4 and 5: Mesa

Route 5 operates between the Downtown Transit Center and La Cumbre Plaza via Cliff and Las Positas. Route 4 is a loop that operates between Santa Barbara City College and the Transit Center via Carillo and Cliff.

Serves Santa Barbara City College.

Route 6: State/Hollister/Goleta

This route serves State Street in Santa Barbara and Hollister Ave. in Goleta. Becomes Line 11 at Storke/Hollister, where it returns to the Downtown Transit Center via UCSB

Route 8: Calle Real

Operates between Downtown Goleta (Hollister/Pine) and La Cumbre Plaza via Calle Real. Provides service to the County Health Care Services complex. Weekday trips are extended to Downtown Santa Barbara via US-101.

Route 10: Cathedral Oaks

Provides service between Hollister/Storke and La Cumbre Plaza via Cathedral Oaks. Limited service is provided (early morning and afternoon)

Route 11: State/Hollister/UCSB

Like Route 6, starts from Downtown SB and continues via State Hollister, but then turns south on Fairview to serve the Santa Barbara Airport , University of California, Santa Barbara, and the Camino Real Marketplace, where it becomes Route 6 back towards downtown

Together with Route 6, Route 11 forms the trunk of the SBMTD system.

Route 12x: State/Hollister/UCSB Express

Uses the US-101 Freeway between Downtown Santa Barbara and Downtown Goleta, then continues on Hollister to Storke, where it interlines with Route 24.

Route 14: Montecito

Route 14 connects Downtown Santa Barbara and the Eastside (Milpas St) with Montecito, looping via Olive Mill, San Ysidro, Sheffield and North Jameson.

Route 15x: SBCC/UCSB Express

This route does double duty, serving Isla Vista commuters to Santa Barbara City College, then looping via the Mesa area (Cliff/Meigs) for passengers going to UCSB. No service is provided when either school is not in session.

Route 16: City College Shuttle

Provides a quick trip between Downtown and the City College. Not in operation when SBCC is not in session.

Route 17: Westside/City College

Connects Downtown Santa Barbara with SBCC via San Pascual.

Route 19: School Boosters

Several short routes serving area schools. These typically provide one round trip per schoolday. These routes are open to the general public.

Route 20: Carpinteria

Local service between Downtown Santa Barbara and Carpinteria via Eastside Santa Barbara, US-101 and Via Real. Also serves Coast Village Road and southern Montecito. It is the only bus that runs through Summerland.

Route 21x: Carpinteria Express

Like Route 20 above, but runs nonstop on US-101 between Downtown Santa Barbara and Carpinteria (no service to Montecito or Summerland). Peak hour weekday service, and some limited weekend service as well.

Route 22: Old Mission

Line 22 was discontinued on August 24, 2014.^[11] It formerly served the Santa Barbara Mission from Downtown, via Anapamu and Garden. On weekends, it served the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden on request (with a callbox available for passengers wanting bus service from the Garden).

Route 23: Winchester Canyon

From the Camino Real Marketplace to the Winchester Canyon residential area north of US-101. Route 23 trips change to Route 25 trips at Hollister/Sandpiper and return to the Camino Real Marketplace via Hollister and Storke.

Route 24x: UCSB Express

Nonstop service between Downtown Santa Barbara and UCSB, then via Isla Vista and Storke to Hollister, where it interlines with Route 12x. Additional service is provided when UCSB is in session.

Route 25: Ellwood

From the Camino Real Marketplace to Hollister/Storke. Route 25 trips change to Route 23 trips at Hollister/Sandpiper and return to the Camino Real Marketplace via the Winchester Canyon residential area north of US-101, and Storke.

Route 27: UCSB Shuttle

Provides additional service between UCSB and Hollister/Storke when UCSB is in session.

Seaside Shuttle

Loops around Carpinteria, with service provided to the northern areas of the city, as well as to the beach. Connects with Route 20 and 21x.

Downtown Waterfront Shuttle

This is actually two routes. The Downtown route runs along State Street between Stearns Wharf and Sola St, near the Arlington Theater. The Waterfront route operates along Cabrillo between Santa Barbara Harbor and the Santa Barbara Zoo.

This route is partially subsidized by the City of Santa Barbara, and a reduced fare is charged.

Crosstown Shuttle

The Crosstown Shuttle operates between the Westside and Eastside via Micheltorena, Chapala (eastbound) or Anacapa (westbound) and Cota. The City of Santa Barbara sponsors this service.

Calle Real/Old Town Shuttle

Provides shuttle service between Old Town Goleta (Hollister) and the shopping areas on Calle Real, just north of the US-101 Freeway.

Coastal Express Limited

A weekday only commuter bus system linking Ventura with Goleta, and Santa Barbara funded in part by two freeway construction projects.^[12] There are currently four round trips provided; going to Santa Barbara in the morning and coming back to Ventura in the evening. These routes use comfortable over-the-road coaches. this service was discontinued this year.

Fares

UCSB and SBCC students with current registration card stickers ride for free during school terms.

External links

• Santa Barbara MTD homepage

References

Coordinates: 34°25′16″N 119°42′13″W / 34.42101°N 119.70348°W / 34.42101; -119.70348