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	12,800 (weekdays, Q3 2023)[1]
Annual ridership	4,400,500 (2022)[2]
Fuel type	CNG, battery electric
Website	sbmtd.gov

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 2022, the system had a ridership of 4,400,500, or about 12,800 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2023.

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.^[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

Express routes

Local routes

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

School supplementary routes

Services operate weekdays only.

Bus fleet

Active fleet

Fare structure

Contactless fare payment

Some 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]