Agenda Item B.2
PRESENTATION
Meeting Date: March 18, 2025
TO: Mayor and Councilmembers
SUBMITTED BY: Luz “Nina” Buelna, Public Works Director
PREPARED BY: Andrew Fuller, Principal Engineer
SUBJECT: Presentation from Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District RECOMMENDATION:
Receive presentation from Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District.
BACKGROUND:
Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District (MTD) began revenue service on February 1, 1969, with 12 buses serving six routes. Over the past 50 years, MTD has grown and today operates 114 buses serving 42 different routes. The MTD service area extends from the Ventura County line to the western edge of Goleta. MTD provides this service while enhancing the mobility of South Coast residents, commuters, and visitors by offering safe, appealing, equitable, environmentally responsible, and fiscally sound transit service.
DISCUSSION:
MTD will provide an update on it s transit services in Goleta , including an update on ridership and current action items coming from MTD’s Strategic Plan, including continuing implementation of Zero-Emission Bus Roll Out and updates to the Terminal 2 Facility in Goleta. Coordination efforts with agency partners in the Goleta and Isla Vista Microtransit Area will also be discussed along with a financial and workforce recruitment and retention update.
LEGAL REVIEW BY: Issac Rosen, Acting City Attorney
APPROVED BY: Robert Nisbet, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Presentation from Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District 1 ATTACHMENT 1
Presentation from Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District 2 SANTA BARBARA MTD
UPDATE
TO CITY OF GOLETA
3 Discussion
• Ridership Update
• MTD Strategic Plan
• Action Items
o Zero-emission Bus Roll Out
o Terminal 2 Facility (Goleta)
o Working with Agency Partners to Coordinate Plans & Services o Continue to Develop Recruitment Strategies to Restore the Workforce to
Support Reliable Service Delivery
4 5
Fleet, Facilities, & Technology
Action Items
• Continue implementation of
Zero-Emission Bus Rollout
Plan & Transit Asset
Management Plan
• Build new Terminal 2
Operations & Maintenance
Facility
Strategic Plan 2025-2029
6 Fleet Status
Action Items
• Continue implementation of
Zero-Emission Bus Rollout
Plan & Transit Asset
Management Plan
Strategic Plan 2025-2029
7 Terminal 2, Phase 1
Project Details
T2, Phase 1 - Update
Recommissioning Effort – 2 Phases
Phase 1 – Operations & Maintenance of Up to 10 buses
Project Design (Stantec Architecture) – Began July 2021 Project Approval (City of Goleta) October 2023
Construction Contract Award (Menemsha ) – January 2024
Construction Began – March 2024
8 Terminal 2, Phase 1 - Before
T2, Phase 1 - Update
9 Terminal 2, Phase 1 - After
T2, Phase 1 - Update
10 Terminal 2, Phase 1 - Before
T2, Phase 1 - Update
11 Terminal 2, Phase 1 - After
T2 Phase 1 Update
12 Terminal 2, Phase 2
Project Details
T2, Phase 2 - Update
Project Plan – 2 Phases
Phase 2A – Electrification of T2 (New PV canopies & equipment) Phase 2B – New Maintenance & Operations Building
Project Design (Stantec Architecture) – Began April 2024 Project Submittal (City of Goleta) - Q3 2025
Solicitation & Award Construction Contract – Q1 2026
Construction Begins – Q2 2026
13 Terminal 2, Phase 2 - Site Plan
T2, Phase 2 - Update
14 Service & Operations Planning and
Customer Experience
Action Items
• Analyze South Coast build-out
potential based on land-use plans
• Work with agency partners to
coordinate plans & services
• Analyze the expected effects of
changing demographics
• Continue to improve bus stops
• Implement transit priority projects
Strategic Plan 2025-2029
15 Line 15x (SBCC/UCSB Express)
• As of August 2024, the span of service on weekdays was extended to 9:35 p.m. from 6pm.
• Year-to-date in FY25, Line 15x has seen a 18.6% increase in ridership over the same period prior year, and an improvement in on-time performance by 9.5%.
16 Line 27 (Isla Vista Shuttle)
• As of UCSB Fall quarter 2024, weekday service was improved to 20 minute headways from 36 minutes.
• Year-to-date in FY 25, Line 27 has seen a 93.5% increase in ridership over the same period in FY24, and an improvement in on-time performance by 24%.
17 The Wave On-Demand Service
• Flexible, on-demand, curb-to-curb
service between two points within a
specified zone for a flat fare
• Operated with Ford Transit vans
• Rides ordered via smartphone app or a
call to the Transit Center
• Operating funded on temporary basis
• Regular one-way fare $3; +62 or
disabled $1.50; free transfer to fixed
route
18 Goleta & Isla Vista Microtransit Area
19 Financial Resilience / Fare & Service Equity
Action Items
• Continue to
update and
enhance
five-year
financial
plan
Strategic Plan 2025-2029
Why Proposal Payment Cap
24-25 25-26 26-27 27-28 28-29
Covid Relief Funds:
Fiscal Year
Balancing Operating Revenue & Expenditures
20 Workforce Recruitment & Retention
Action Items
• Continue to develop recruitment
strategies to restore the
workforce to support reliable
service delivery
• Offer competitive compensation &
benefit programs
• Encourage & support employee
professional development
• Define & recruit new positions to
keep pace with new technology
Strategic Plan 2025-2029
21 45 Hired, 39 Retained 87%
Strategic Plan 2025-2029
22