A representative of the Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District discussed proposed bus line service changes that will occur due to a 30% loss of annual federal operating assistance at the Isla Vista Community Services District Board of Directors meeting on April 28.
As a result of population growth in Santa Barbara County, the MTD lost access to approximately $3 million of annual incentive-based funding. Nexus file photo
Hillary Blackerby, the Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District (MTD) planning and marketing manager, explained that as a result of population growth in Santa Barbara County (SBC), the MTD lost access to approximately $3 million of annual incentive-based funding. The loss will result in reduced operating hours, eliminating the last outbound weekday trips or cutting Saturday service hours for certain bus lines.
Line 11, running between UC Santa Barbara, Hollister Street, State Street and the Camino Real Marketplace, is slated to have its 11:30 p.m. departure time removed from the schedule. Blackerby said the change would move the last trip for I.V. riders from 11:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Other I.V. and UCSB bus lines will not be affected. The proposed changes will go into effect on Aug. 17.
Next, Blackerby outlined the future of the Wave Microtransit Service, a flexible, on-demand, curb-to-curb service that transports riders for $3, and $1.50 for disabled riders and riders over 65. Current service levels are set to be maintained in Goleta and I.V. through the 2026-27 fiscal year. Additionally, the service will be expanded into Carpinteria by mid-September 2026.
Blackerby also highlighted updates to several other transit services. The Downtown-Waterfront Shuttle, traveling between the Goleta Amtrak station, Stern’s Wharf and the Santa Barbara Zoo, will operate between May 29 and Sept. 7 this year. The MTD also plans to expand the Amtrak First Mile/Last Mile Service, which operates between UCSB and the Goleta Amtrak Station.
The I.V. Community Services District (IVCSD) also discussed an amendment to the memorandum of understanding between IVCSD and SBC for the Parking Compliance Program. The change would make IVCSD responsible for patrolling the Pardall Solar Parking Lot and I.V. Community Center and Offices lot, issuing tickets to vehicles that don’t have valid parking permits.
Some board members expressed that the amendment represents a conflict of goals for what the parking program is meant to accomplish. IVCSD Director Spencer Brandt voiced his worry about “giving out tickets just to give out tickets.”
“I have a real hesitancy [toward the amendment] because the whole goal of doing the enforcement program on the curb is to get people to park in legal spaces,” Brandt said. “Now we’re being asked to go enforce on legal spaces in a way that seems like it’s adding more workload to us without cost recovery.”
Brandt also raised concerns on how the amendment may target electric vehicle (EV) users, since the Pardall Solar Lot is the only parking space in I.V. with EV charging stations. He believes EVs are a “higher and better use for meeting [IVCSD’s] transportation goals.”
IVCSD adopted the amendment with adjustments to work with the county for a mutually beneficial agreement on the solar lot and revenue sharing of the enforced lots’ parking permits.
Subsequently, the Board heard from Kimberly Kiefer and Luis Valerio, general manager and assistant general manager of the I.V. Recreation & Park District (IVRPD), respectively. They discussed updates regarding IVRPD’s upcoming Summer Program which will operate between June 15 and Aug. 14 and will offer weekly field trips and free meals to up to 40 participants.
“We’re partnering with the Goleta School District to provide free breakfast and lunch to anyone under the age of 18,” Valerio said. “You’re not required to be in our summer program to get those meals; they’re for the entire community.”
IVCSD Community Programs and Engagement Director, Myah Mashhadialireza, also delivered an annual report on their Survivor Resources Hub, a program aimed to “expand awareness of local services for [sexual violence] survivors and reduce accessibility barriers.” Mashhadialireza expressed plans to reorganize low attendance events and utilize engagement-forward approaches to community outreach.
A version of this article appeared on p. 5 of the May 7 print edition of the Daily Nexus
