MTD To Further Reduce Bus Service Beginning Monday, April 6
Effective Monday, April 6, 2020, Santa Barbara MTD will be lowering service levels further in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. This reduction is due to the Governor’s continued stay at home order intended to flatten the curve of COVID- 19 cases, reduced ridership, and MTD workforce constraints.
These reductions are in addition to the ones enacted as of March 19, 2020, on several lines associated with area educational institutions, in light of these schools ceasing campus operations for the remaining 2019-20 school year. Those reductions included the following:
Line 15x (SBCC/UCSB Express)- No service Line 16 (SBCC Shuttle)- No service Line 28 (UCSB Shuttle)- No service Booster services- No service Line 27 (Isla Vista Shuttle)- Alternative “UCSB out” service as published in the schedule guide and online
These service reductions will continue until further notice.
In addition to the reductions above, additional service reductions will occur. Beginning the morning of Monday, April 6, 2020, the following additional service changes will go into effect, until further notice:
Line 10 (Cathedral Oaks)- No service Line 30 (Downtown Shuttle)- No service Line 34 (Waterfront Shuttle)- No service Line 36 (Seaside Shuttle)- No service Line 37 (Crosstown Shuttle)- No service
These lines serve areas in Goleta, Santa Barbara, and Carpinteria, but all three areas will still have active transit service. Passengers with questions about schedules and affected routes can call (805) 963-3366 for assistance.
Social Distancing and Loads on Buses
In order to minimize contact between bus operators and passengers at the front door and farebox area, passengers are directed to use the rear door of the bus for boarding and alighting. Passengers using mobility devices or who need the ramp will be allowed to board and alight from the front door of the vehicle. Because of this, MTD is not currently collecting fares.
In an additional effort to maintain social distancing onboard all MTD buses, strict load limits are in place at this time. Drivers are limiting loads to the following: 8 passengers on a 40 foot bus and 5 passengers on a 30 foot bus. Due to this load restriction, a bus may pass up a person waiting at a bus stop if the amount of passengers onboard has already reached the limit.
Transit Center Customer Service
Customer Service functions are still available via phone at (805) 963-3366, and electronically via email to info@sbmtd.gov, the www.sbmtd.gov website, and all MTD social media channels (@santabarbaramtd on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram).
Customer service still operates on normal Transit Center business hours (Monday through Friday, 6am to 7pm, and weekends, 9am to 5pm), At this time there are no walk-up sales, person-to-person transactions, or Ticket Vending Machines available at the Transit Center.
The public is reminded to stay home if they are sick, follow proper health hygiene practices, and maintain appropriate social distance on buses, at the Transit Center, and at bus stops. Due to the Governor’s stay at home order, only people making essential trips or going to work in essential industries should be riding the bus at this time.
