Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District
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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, Goleta as well as the unincorporated areas of Montecito, Summerland, and Isla Vista.
Limited commuter service is provided to Buellton and Solvang
[edit] History
Santa Barbara Transit Corporation was a privately-owned company providing service in Santa Barbara and nearby areas since 1927. [1] Like many private city bus companies, it had been losing money for several years. [2] [3]
Strikes were also a problem, as the company could not afford to pay its employees. [4] [5] [6]
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. (A transit district would also be able to levy taxes). [7] [8] Voters approved the formation of the MTD in 1966. [9] However, since the new district had no funds, bus service didn't start rolling 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 [10]
In March 2005 MTD implemented peak-hour commuter service (Valley Express) between Solvang/Buellton and the Santa Barbara/Goleta area.
[edit] Routes
All routes serving Downtown Santa Barbara begin and end at the Transit Center
[edit] 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.
[edit] Route 2: Eastside
This route runs to East Santa Barbara via Anapamu and Milpas. Interlined with Route 1.
[edit] 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
[edit] Route 5: Mesa
Operates between the Downtown Transit Center and La Cumbre Plaza via Cliff and Las Positas. Serves Santa Barbara City College.
[edit] Route 6: State/Hollister/Goleta
This route serves State Street in Santa Barbara and Hollister Ave. in Goleta. Terminates at the Camino Real Marketplace near Hollister and Storke
[edit] 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.
[edit] Route 10: Cathedral Oaks
Provides service between Hollister/Storke and La Cumbre Plaza via Cathedral Oaks. Limited service is provided (early morning and afternoon)
[edit] 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 and the University of California, Santa Barbara From UCSB, alternating trips either become Route 23 or 25.
Together with Route 6, Route 11 forms the trunk of the SBMTD system.
[edit] Route 12x: State/Hollister/UCSB
Uses the US-101 Freeway between Downtown Santa Barbara and Downtown Goleta, then continues on Hollister to Storke, where it interlines with Route 24.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Route 15x: SBCC/UCSB express
This route does double duty, serving Isla Vista commuters to Santa Barbara City College, then looping via the Mesa (Cliff/Meigs) for passengers going to UCSB. No service is provided when either school is not in session.
[edit] Route 16: City College Shuttle
Provides a quick trip between Downtown and the City College. Not in operation when SBCC is not in session.
[edit] Route 17: Westside/City College
Connects Downtown Santa Barbara with SBCC via San Pascual.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Route 21x: Carpinteria Express
Like Route 20 above, but runs nonstop on US-101 between Downtown Santa Barbara and Carpinteria. Peak hour weekday service, and some limited weekend service as well.
[edit] Route 22: Old Mission
Serves the Santa Barbara Mission from Downtown, via Anapamu and Garden. On weekends, serves the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden on request (a callbox is available for passengers wanting bus service from the Garden)
[edit] Route 23: Winchester Canyon
From UCSB, travels through Isla Vista, then via Storke to the Winchester Canyon residential area north of US-101. Alternating Route 11 trips become Route 23 at UCSB; Route 23 trips change to Route 25 trips at Hollister/Sandpiper and return to UCSB via Hollister and Storke.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Route 25: Ellwood
From UCSB, travels through Isla Vista, then via Storke to Hollister. to Alternating Route 11 trips become Route 25 at UCSB; Route 25 trips change to Route 23 trips at Hollister/Sandpiper and return to UCSB via the Winchester Canyon residential area north of US-101, and Storke.
[edit] Route 27
Provides additional service between UCSB and Hollister/Storke when UCSB is in session
[edit] 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
[edit] Downtown Waterfront Shuttle
This is actually two routes. The Downtown route runs along State Street between Stearn's 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Valley Express
A commuter bus system linking Solvang and Buellton with Goleta, Santa Barbara and UCSB. There are currently four round trips provided; going to Santa Barbara in the morning and coming back to Buellton and Solvang in the evening. These routes use comfortable over-the-road coaches.
[edit] Fares
Regular: $1.25
Senior/Disabled: $.60 Blind: free Valley Express: $4 (all riders) Downtown-Waterfront and Seaside Shuttles: $.25
10-ride and unlimited monthly passes are available.
UCSB and SBCC students with current registration card stickers ride for free during school terms.
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ Pedestrian Master Plan (PDF). Pedestrian Master Plan Final Draft (1996-05-31). Retrieved on 2007-03-04.
- ^ "Santa Barbara Bus Line to quit service on Jan 1" Los Angeles Times; Dec 18, 1960; pg. H4
- ^ Bush, Thomas. "Bus Lines Tired of Parking in Red" Los Angeles Times; Mar 19, 1967; pg. I1
- ^ "Santa Barbara Seeks Solution in Bus Strike" Los Angeles Times; May 11, 1961; pg. B7
- ^ "Vote Averts Santa Barbara Transit Strike" Los Angeles Times; Dec 3, 1964; pg. A10
- ^ "Week-Old Bus Strike in Santa Barbara Settled" Los Angeles Times; Mar 2, 1965; pg. A2
- ^ "Santa Barbara Moves to Form Transit District" Los Angeles Times ; Mar 21, 1965; pg. F8
- ^ "New Transit District in Area Sought" Los Angeles Times; Apr 2, 1965; pg. C6
- ^ "Santa Barbara Transit District Ready to Move" Los Angeles Times; Dec 24, 1966; pg. B5
- ^ Bus schedules issued by SBMTD, 1983-present
