Transit Options in Santa Barbara County
Take the Bus or Train to Work
Log bus and train commutes with SmartRide to earn rewards (SmartRide app available for Android and Apple devices).
Many employers offer a fringe benefit that lets you pay up to $325/month for a bus or train commute with tax-free income. Some employers count transit time as work time! Nine transit providers serve workers in Santa Barbara County. Most operate between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Click a provider below see if transit works for your routine.
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Clean Air Express Connects Santa Maria, Lompoc, & Buellton to Goleta, Santa Barbara
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VCTC Coastal Express Connects Camarillo, Oxnard, & Ventura to Carpinteria, Santa Barbara, Goleta, & UCSB
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Amtrak Pacific Surfliner Connects Moorpark, Camarillo, Oxnard, Ventura, or Guadalupe & Lompoc, to Carpinteria, Santa Barbara, & Goleta
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Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District Connects Goleta, Isla Vista, Santa Barbara, Montecito, & Carpinteria
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Santa Maria Regional Transit Connects Santa Maria, Orcutt, Tanglewood, Vandenberg, Lompoc, Los Alamos, Buellton, Solvang, Chumash Casino, & New Cuyama
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SLO RTA Route 10 Connects San Luis Obispo, Pismo Beach, & Nipomo to Santa Maria
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City of Lompoc Transit Connects Lompoc to Buellton, Solvang, & Santa Barbara
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Santa Ynez Valley Transit Connects Buellton, Solvang, Santa Ynez, & Los Olivos
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Guadalupe Flyer Express Connects Santa Maria & Guadalupe
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Employer Shuttles
Weekday routes serve:
- Lompoc to Goleta at 5:15 a.m., 5:45 a.m., and 6:25 a.m., returning by 5:05 p.m., 5:40 p.m., and 6:20 p.m.
- Lompoc to Santa Barbara at 6:05 a.m. and 6:35 a.m., returning by 5:50 p.m. and 6:20 p.m.
- Santa Maria to Goleta at 5 a.m., 5:45 a.m., and 6:15 a.m., returning by 4:55 p.m., 6:05 p.m., and 6:30 p.m.
- Buellton to Goleta at 5:30 a.m. and 6:45 a.m., returning by 4:23 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
- Santa Maria to Santa Barbara at 5:27 a.m. and 6:27 a.m., returning by 5:55 p.m. and 6:50 p.m.
- Buellton to Santa Barbara at 5:27 and 6:27 a.m., returning by 5:15 p.m. and 6:10 p.m.
- Santa Barbara and Goleta to Buellton and Santa Maria at 7:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., returning by 9:20 a.m. and 1:45 p.m.
Fare: $160 / month | $54 10-ride pass | $7 cash
Use your credit card and “Tap-to-Ride” for $6. Your credit card will not be charged more than the daily or monthly pass cost. Physical passes can be purchased at the City of Lompoc (COLT) office, the Santa Maria Regional Transit (SMRT) office, MTD Transit Center in Santa Barbara, or via mail.
LEARN MOREThe Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) operates intercity commuter bus service connecting Camarillo, Oxnard, and Ventura residents to Carpinteria, Santa Barbara, Goleta, and UCSB.
All VCTC buses are wheelchair accessible and have ample bike storage, free passenger Wi-Fi, and reclining seats. Get a reloadable card or download the UMO app to assign value and enjoy contactless payment.
Our Measure A sales tax is helping maintain and expand interregional transit between Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Learn more here.
LEARN MOREThe Pacific Surfliner operates northbound trains connecting Moorpark, Camarillo, Oxnard, and Ventura to Carpinteria, Santa Barbara, and Goleta. Southbound trains connect San Luis Obispo and Grover Beach to Guadalupe, Lompoc, Goleta, Santa Barbara, and Carpinteria. Commuters can purchase monthly or 10-ride tickets to save.
Our Measure A sales tax will improve passenger rail service between Ventura County and Goleta. Learn more here.
LEARN MORESanta Barbara Metropolitan Transit District enhances the mobility of South Coast residents, connects Santa Barbara County’s South Coast. Use your credit card and “Tap2Ride.” Your credit card will not be charged more than the daily or monthly pass cost.
Our Measure A sales tax is helping maintain and expand Santa Barbara MTD service, connecting South Coast communities. Learn more here.
LEARN MORESanta Maria Regional Transit service area includes the City of Santa Maria, the unincorporated communities of Orcutt, Tanglewood and regional service to New Cuyama, Lompoc, Vandenberg, Los Alamos, Buellton, Solvang, Santa Ynez and the Chumash reservation.
Download SmrtPay from Apple or Play Store to purchase and store passes.
LEARN MORESLO Regional Transit Authority offers hourly service from San Luis Obispo County to Allan Hancock College, Marian Medical Center, and the Santa Maria Transit Center.
Download Token Transit from Apple or Play Store to purchase and store passes.
LEARN MORECity of Lompoc Transit provides transit service within Lompoc, Mission Hills, and Vandenberg Village. COLT also operates one round trip to Santa Barbara each Tuesday and Thursday. The Wine Country Express connects Lompoc, Buellton and Solvang with three round trips a day.
LEARN MORESanta Ynez Valley Transit operates fixed-route services to, from, and around Solvang, Buellton, Santa Ynez, and Los Olivos.
LEARN MORESMOOTH’s Guadalupe Flyer Express connects Santa Maria Town Center to Guadalupe every hour.
LEARN MORE- Chumash Casino from Ventura County, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Arroyo Grande
- Goleta Valley and Santa Barbara Cottage Hospitals from Ventura for 12-hour shift workers
Get Started Today!
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