To ensure train commuters from points south can get to their jobs swiftly, Santa Barbara MTD will be providing new first mile/last mile connecting shuttle service.

The service will go from the Santa Barbara and Goleta Amtrak stations to area transit connections and employment centers when the Pacific Surfliner train’s new early morning service begins Monday, April 2.

Riders with a valid train ticket will board the connecting shuttle for free.
 
The Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) has contracted with Santa Barbara MTD to provide this connecting service for the duration of the two-year pilot of the Surfliner retiming project.

There will be three corridors served with a new shuttle route, with one serving Downtown Santa Barbara locations and Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.

The other two shuttles will serve the Goleta station: one will run between the Goleta Amtrak Station and Hollister at Palo Alto (LogMeIn Campus), serving major Goleta business parks and Camino Real Marketplace along the way.

The second Goleta shuttle will run between the Goleta Amtrak Station and Hollister at Patterson (Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital), serving Old Town Goleta along the way.
 
The express shuttle service will run weekdays only, serving each of the three routes once in the morning and once in the afternoon.

All shuttles will await the arrival of the early morning train, expected to be at the Santa Barbara station at 6:47 a.m. and the Goleta station at 7:02 a.m.

The shuttles will then serve the return trip, dropping off commuters at their respective train stations in time for the afternoon train departures from Goleta at 4:25 p.m. and Santa Barbara at 4:40 p.m.

The buses’ head signs will say Santa Barbara Amtrak Shuttle, West Goleta Amtrak Shuttle and East Goleta Amtrak Shuttle. All three routes have limited stops to ensure an express trip.

The Santa Barbara shuttle will pick up inside the Santa Barbara Amtrak depot lot at the bus loading zone. The two Goleta s

Commuters can get more information by calling 963-3366 or by emailing info@sbmtd.gov. Maps with route and stop details and estimated times are included in the attached file.

— Hillary Blackerby for MTD.