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 16,200 per weekday as of the first quarter of 2024.
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![]() An MTD bus at UCSB in 2007. | |
Founded | 1968 |
---|---|
Headquarters | 1020 Chapala Street Santa Barbara, California |
Service area | Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, Goleta, Montecito, Summerland, Isla Vista |
Service type | Transit bus |
Routes | 37 |
Fleet | 113 buses |
Daily ridership | 16,200 (weekdays, Q1 2024)[1] |
Annual ridership | 4,579,600 (2023)[2] |
Fuel type | CNG, battery electric |
Website | sbmtd.gov |
History
editMule-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
editLocal routes
editAll routes serving Downtown Santa Barbara begin and end at the Transit Center
Route | Terminals | via | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Santa Barbara
MTD Transit Center |
Santa Barbara
Modoc Rd & Portesuello Av |
San Andres St | |
2 | Santa Barbara
MTD Transit Center |
Santa Barbara
Punta Gorda St & Salinas St |
Anapamu St | |
3 | Santa Barbara
MTD Transit Center |
Santa Barbara
Foothill Rd & Cieneguitas Rd |
State St | |
4 | Santa Barbara
MTD Transit Center |
Santa Barbara | Carrillo St, Cliff Dr | |
5 | Santa Barbara
MTD Transit Center |
Santa Barbara
State St & La Cumbre Rd |
Cliff Dr |
|
6 | Santa Barbara
MTD Transit Center |
Goleta
Hollister Av & Storke Rd |
State St, Hollister Av | |
7 | Santa Barbara
MTD Transit Center |
Goleta
Hollister Av & Kellogg Av |
US-101 | |
11 | Santa Barbara
MTD Transit Center |
Goleta
Storke Rd & Hollister Av |
State St, Hollister Av |
|
14 | Santa Barbara
MTD Transit Center |
Montecito
Jameson Ln & Sheffield Dr |
Valley Rd | |
16 | Santa Barbara
MTD Transit Center |
Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara City College |
Cliff Dr |
|
17 | Santa Barbara
MTD Transit Center |
Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara City College |
Carrillo St | |
20 | Santa Barbara
MTD Transit Center |
Carpinteria
Via Real & Mark Av |
Via Real | |
23 | Goleta
Storke Rd & Hollister Av |
Goleta
Winchester Canyon Rd & Bradford Dr |
Calle Real | |
25 | Goleta
Hollister Av & Storke Rd |
Goleta
Calle Real & Winchester Pl |
Hollister Av | |
27 | Isla Vista
UC Santa Barbara |
Goleta
Santa Felicia Dr & Marketplace |
Storke Rd |
|
28 | Isla Vista
UC Santa Barbara |
Goleta
Santa Felicia Dr & Marketplace |
El Colegio Rd |
|
Express routes
editRoute | Terminals | Via | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12X | Santa Barbara
MTD Transit Center |
Goleta
Hollister Av & Kellogg Av |
US-101 | |
15X | Isla Vista
UC Santa Barbara |
Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara City College |
US-101 | |
19X | Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara City College |
Carpinteria
Carpinteria Av & Palm Av |
US-101 | |
24X | Santa Barbara
MTD Transit Center |
Goleta
Storke Rd & Hollister Av |
US-101 |
|
School supplementary routes
editServices operate weekdays only.
Route | Terminals | Via | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
2010 | Santa Barbara
MTD Transit Center |
State St |
| |
2110 | Santa Barbara
San Barbara Junior High School |
Cota St |
| |
2410 | Goleta
Turnpike Rd & Ukiah St |
Santa Barbara
La Colina Junior High School |
Hollister Av | |
2420 | Goleta
University Dr & Patterson Av |
Santa Barbara
La Colina Junior High School |
Cathedral Oaks Rd | |
2430 | Goleta
Hollister Av & San Ricardo Dr |
Santa Barbara
La Colina Junior High School |
Hollister Av | |
2510 | Santa Barbara
Rancheria St & Gutierrez St |
Santa Barbara | San Andres St | |
2520 | Santa Barbara
MTD Transit Center |
Santa Barbara
San Marcos High School |
US-101 | |
2530 | Santa Barbara
Carrillo St & San Andres St |
Santa Barbara
San Marcos High School |
San Andres St, Modoc Rd | |
2540 | Santa Barbara
Haley St & Bath St |
Santa Barbara
San Marcos High School |
Cliff Dr, Las Positas Rd | |
2610 | Goleta
Hollister Av & Kellogg Av |
Goleta
Fairview Av & Encina Rd |
Hollister Av | |
2620 | Goleta
Winchester Canyon Rd & Bradford Dr |
Goleta
Cathedral Oaks Rd & Camino Laguna Vista |
Cathedral Oaks Rd | |
2630 | Goleta
Hollister Av & Cathedral Oaks Rd |
Goleta | Hollister Av, US-101 | |
2650 | Isla Vista
Camino Pescadero & El Colegio Rd |
Goleta
Goleta Valley Junior High School |
Cathedral Oaks Rd | |
2710 | Isla Vista
Camino Pescadero & El Colegio Rd |
Goleta | Storke Rd | |
2720 | Goleta
Hollister Av & Turnpike Rd |
Goleta
Dos Pueblos High School |
Hollister Av | |
2730 | Santa Barbara
State St & La Cumbre Rd |
Goleta
Dos Pueblos High School |
Cathedral Oaks Rd | |
2740 | Goleta
Los Carneros Rd & Karl Storz Dr |
Goleta
Dos Pueblos High School |
Hollister Av |
Bus fleet
editActive fleet
editMake/Model | Fleet Numbers | Thumbnail | Year | Engine | Transmission | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New Flyer C40lf | 1-17 | 1999 | John Deere 6081H | Allison B400R | Originally had Cummins C8.3G | ||
New Flyer C30lf | 18-23 | 2003-2004 | Cummins Westport C Gas Plus | 18-21 (ZF 5HP592C) 22-23 (Allison B400R) | |||
New Flyer C40lf | 24-33 | 2000 | John Deere 6081H | Allison B400R | Originally had Cummins C8.3G | ||
Gillig Phantom 35 | 34-43 | 1996 | Cummins C8.3 | Allison B400R | |||
Gillig Phantom 35 | 44-53 | 1998 | Cummins ISC | Voith D863.3 | |||
Gillig Phantom 35 | 54-58 | 1999 | Cummins ISM | Voith D863.3 | |||
Orion V 35 | 59-68 | 2000 | Cummins ISM | Voith D863.3 | |||
Orion V 35 | 69-76 | 2002 | Cummins ISM | Voith D863.3E | |||
Orion V 35 | 77-90 | 2005 | Cummins Westport C Gas Plus | Voith D863.3E | Originally had Cummins ISM | ||
Orion V 35 | 91-99 | 2007 | Cummins ISL | Allison B400R | |||
Gillig Phantom 35 | 100-103 | 2007 | Cummins ISM | Allison B400R | |||
New Flyer C40lf | 104-130 | 2001 | John Deere 6081H | Allison B400R | Originally had Cummins C8.3G | ||
New Flyer C40lf | 131-136 | 2001 | Cummins Westport C Gas Plus | Allison B400R | |||
New Flyer C35lf | 137-154 | 2006 | Cummins Westport C Gas Plus | Allison B400R | |||
New Flyer C40lf | 201-220 | 2001 | Cummins Westport ISL G | Allison B400R | Originally Had Detroit diesel Series 50G | ||
New Flyer C40lf | 301-320 | 2003 | Cummins Westport C Gas Plus | ZF 6HP592C | |||
Gillig Low Floor 40' | 401-425 | 2003 | Detroit Diesel Series 50 EGR | Allison B400R | 404 Had A John Deere 6081H Engine | ||
New Flyer D35lf | 426-435 | 2004-2005 | Cummins ISC | Allison B400R | |||
Gillig Low Floor 40' | 436-450 | 2004 | Detroit Diesel Series 50 EGR | Allison B400R | 437 Had A John Deere 6081H Engine | ||
Gillig Low Floor 40' | 451-462 | 2005 | Cummins Westport C Gas Plus | Allison B400R | Originally had Cummins ISL | ||
Orion V CNG | 463-512 | 2006 | John Deere 6081H | Allison B400R | |||
Orion V | 513-520 | 2004 | Detroit Diesel Series 50 EGR | Allison B400R | |||
Orion V CNG | 521-530 | 2005 | John Deere 6081H | Allison B400R | |||
New Flyer C35lf | 531-535 | 2006 | Cummins Westport C Gas Plus | Allison B400R | 535 Was Later Repowered With A Cummins Westport ISL G Engine | ||
Gillig Low Floor 40' | 600-606 | 2004 | Detroit Diesel Series 50 EGR | Allison B400R | |||
Gillig Low Floor 40' | 607-614 | 2005 | Cummins Westport C Gas Plus | Allison B400R | Originally had Cummins ISL | ||
Gillig Low Floor 40' | 615-621 | 2011 | Cummins ISL9 | Allison B400R | |||
Gillig Low Floor 40' | 622-624 | 2013 | Cummins ISL9 | Allison B400R | |||
Gillig Low Floor 40' | 625-634 | 2014 | Cummins ISL9 | Allison B400R | |||
Gillig Low Floor 40' | 635-642 | 2016 | Cummins ISL9 | Allison B400R | |||
Gillig Low Floor 40' | 643-652 | 2019 | Cummins L9 | Allison B3400xFE | |||
Gillig Low Floor 40' | 653-656 | 2020 | Cummins L9 | Allison B3400xFE | |||
Nabi 35 Lfw Cng | 657-679 | 2006 | Cummins Westport C Gas Plus | ZF 6HP592C | |||
Nabi 40 Lfw Cng | 680-699 | 2007 | Cummins Westport C Gas Plus | ZF 6HP594C | |||
Gillig Low Floor 29' | 700-704 | 2004 | Cummins ISB | Allison B300R | |||
New Flyer C35lf | 705-706 | 2001 | Cummins C8.3G | Allison B400R | |||
New Flyer C30lf | 707-709 | 2001 | Cummins C8.3G | Allison B300R | |||
Gillig Low Floor 29' | 711-713 | 2006 | Cummins Westport C Gas Plus | Allison B300R | Originally had Cummins ISB | ||
Gillig Low Floor HEV 29' | 715-717 | 2007 | Cummins ISL | Allison B300R | Originally Power By hybrid | ||
Nabi 40 Lfw cng | 801-810 | 2001 | Cummins C8.3G | Allison B400R | |||
Orion V | 811-842 | 1994-1997 | Cummins M11E | Allison B400R | Originally Power By CNG | ||
Orion V | 843-852 | 2004 | Cummins ISL | Allison B400R | Originally had Cummins ISM | ||
Orion V CNG | 853-863 | 2005 | John Deere 6081H | Allison B400R | |||
Orion V CNG | 864-875 | 2006 | John Deere 6081H | Allison B400R | |||
Orion V | 881-887 | 2007 | Cummins ISL | Allison B400R | |||
Orion VII NG | 882-887 | 2008 | Cummins ISL | Allison B400R | |||
Orion VII 3G CNG | 888-893 | 2011 | Doosan GL11K | Allison B400R | Originally Had Cummins Westport ISL G | ||
Orion VIII CNG | 894-900 | 2013 | Cummins Westport ISL G | Allison B400R | |||
Gillig Low Floor HEV 40' | 901-907 | 2007 | Cummins ISB | Allison EP40 | |||
Gillig Low Floor HEV 40' | 908-910, 912-915 | 2011 | Cummins ISB6.7 | Allison H 40 EP | |||
Nova Bus LFS Artic | 1001-1003 | 2014 | Cummins ISL9 | Allison B500R | |||
Orion V Artic | 2101-2161 | 2000 | Cummins ISM | Allison B500R | |||
Orion V | 2201-2372 | 2001 | Cummins ISM | Allison B400R | |||
Orion V | 2373-2377 | 2002 | Cummins Westport ISL G | 2373-2376: Allison B400R 2377: Allison B500R | Originally had Cummins ISM | ||
Orion V CNG | 2378-2382 | 2003 | Cummins Westport ISL G | Allison B400R | Originally had Detroit diesel series 50G | ||
New Flyer XE40 | 3301-3306 | 2018 | Siemens ELFA 3 | XALT Energy |
| ||
Nova Bus LFS | 8600-8623 | 2014 | Cummins ISL9 | Allison H 40 EP | |||
BYD K7M | 10030-10043 | 2017 | 2 x 90 kW AC synchronous | 197 kWh iron-phosphate battery |
Fare structure
editContactless fare payment
editSome 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]
References
edit- ^ "Transit Ridership Report First Quarter 2024" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. May 23, 2024. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
- ^ 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) - ^ City of Santa Barbara, Department of Public Works (May 31, 1996). "Pedestrian Master Plan" (PDF). Pedestrian Master Plan Final Draft. Retrieved March 4, 2007.
- ^ "Santa Barbara Bus Line to quit service on Jan 1". Los Angeles Times. December 18, 1960. pp. H4.
- ^ Bush, Thomas (March 19, 1967). "Bus Lines Tired of Parking in Red". Los Angeles Times. pp. I1.
- ^ "Santa Barbara Seeks Solution in Bus Strike". Los Angeles Times. May 11, 1961. pp. B7.
- ^ "Vote Averts Santa Barbara Transit Strike". Los Angeles Times. December 3, 1964. pp. A10.
- ^ "Week-Old Bus Strike in Santa Barbara Settled". Los Angeles Times. March 2, 1965. pp. A2.
- ^ "Santa Barbara Moves to Form Transit District". Los Angeles Times. March 21, 1965. pp. F8.
- ^ "New Transit District in Area Sought". Los Angeles Times. April 2, 1965. pp. C6.
- ^ "Santa Barbara Transit District Ready to Move". Los Angeles Times. December 24, 1966. pp. B5.
- ^ "Contactless payment options introduced on Santa Barbara County public transit systems". Mass Transit (magazine). July 27, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.