SB Metropolitan Transit District Increases Service Near UCSB
University Funds Additional Transportation for Expected Student Influx
The Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District (MTD) announced Thursday, August 20th, that it has partnered with UCSB to supplement public transportation services that will likely be impacted by the university’s latest student housing project, the San Joaquin Apartments. Construction is currently underway at El Colegio and Storke Roads in Goleta.
Starting next Monday, August 24, UCSB will fund increased service for two bus lines: Line 12x, the express line between Downtown Goleta and the Camino Real Marketplace, and Line 24x, the express line between UCSB and the Camino Real Marketplace. Line 24x will run more frequently throughout each day until 11 p.m., while Line 12x will operate later on weekends.
MTD will roll out a second phase of the collaboration next August: a new line to run between UCSB, Isla Vista, and the Camino Real Marketplace via El Colegio and Storke Roads. Like the service enhancements to take effect next week, this new route will be funded by UCSB. “We believe students aren’t bringing as many cars to the community,” said Marc Fisher, vice chancellor for administrative services at UCSB, in a prepared statement. “We think that’s in large part because of the success of transit in Santa Barbara.”