Santa Barbara MTD will celebrate the return of the all-electric Downtown-Waterfront Shuttle service to Santa Barbara’s Downtown and Waterfront areas temporarily for the summer.

An event on Friday, May 31 will mark the shuttle’s first day of service.

Electric shuttles will again carry riders around town on a safe, quiet, and zero-emission ride after a four-year hiatus, as it had for 30 years before the pandemic.
 
The event will begin with a short ribbon cutting at noon at the Transit Center, 1020 Chapala St. The first 75 people to attend will receive a free shuttle day pass.
 
After the ribbon cutting, the public can ride the route, as activations will be set up at different stops along the route. The activations will last from noon-1:30 p.m.
 
Starting the day of the event, service will operate on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. until Sept. 2, with service on July 4 and Labor Day Monday.
 
The shuttle will operate as a circulator route with 20-minute headways, offering frequent service for residents and visitors. Riders can catch the shuttle at any MTD stop along the route.
 
Fares will be 50 cents, standard one-way; and 25 cents for seniors ages 62+ and people with disabilities. The $1 day pass will also be available and provides for unlimited rides on the shuttle in one calendar day.

Additionally, riders with a valid Amtrak ticket ride free on the shuttle or any MTD bus service by showing their train ticket for that day.
 
The temporary shuttle service operation will be funded with limited, one-time grant funds from California’s Low-Carbon Transit Operations Program fund.
 
The return of the service will provide transit connections among the harbor and waterfront, Santa Barbara Zoo, Santa Barbara Train Depot, County Courthouse, hotels, and downtown shopping and dining destinations.