Santa Maria Regional Transit (SMRT) will commemorate 50 years of public transit service in Santa Maria on Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22, at an event hosted by the Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department.

The community event, 1-4 p.m. at Machado Plaza, will include SMRT promotional item giveaways.

Further marking SMRT’s Golden Anniversary, and thanks to grant funding from Santa Barbara Association of Governments (SBCAG), all SMRT bus rides are free on Earth Day, April 22.

Also, for the following 50 days (through June 12), SMRT base fares will be reduced to only 50 cents for the general public, and 25 cents for qualifying seniors or individuals with disabilities.

Since the first public transportation services began in Santa Maria in 1976, public transit in Santa Maria has grown from a single-route operation into a nationally recognized and award-winning all-electric fleet, the city said.
 
“Fifty years of public service is a testament to the city of Santa Maria’s commitment to its residents,” said Gamaliel Anguiano, Transit Services manager. “The service has evolved quite considerably since its inception.

“We encourage the public to celebrate this historic milestone with us and take advantage of the reduced fares.”

For more about SMRT, visit www.rideSMRT.org, or call 805-928-5624.