Several proposed changes to routes and schedules from Santa Barbara’s bus company will affect City College students and staff beginning in August.
The Metropolitan Transit District’s board of directors met May 12 to discuss possible alterations to 10 routes, including the addition of a new Isla Vista shuttle and the addition of a summer service for Line 15x for 2010.
Line 15x connects City College to the Mesa and Goleta and UCSB areas, offering a quick route for students living in Isla Vista. But the line currently runs only during fall and spring semesters.
Lines 4, 5, 16 and 17, which also have stops at or near City College, are not currently under review by the MTD board.
But those who more extensively utilize MTD’s services will find route changes that cover the Goleta areas.
A new Isla Vista shuttle will replace the current Line 27 from funds created by a Congestion Mitigation Air Quality grant.
Three biodiesel-electric hybrid buses will be purchased for the route, which extends from UCSB to the Camino Real Marketplace, while traveling through Isla Vista. The exact route is currently being refined, but when instated in the fall, the route will rune every 15 minutes on weekdays and every 45 minutes during the day on weekends.
In light of the new service, lines 23 and 24x may no longer include trips through Isla Vista in a bid to keep these buses on schedule.
Also proposed is a shuttle traveling in the Old Town Goleta area, between Kellogg and Pine Avenues along Hollister Avenue and Calle Real.
Line 8 will add occasional extended trips to the Fairview area in Goleta with La Cumbre and County Health areas. Line 10 to Cathedral Oaks and Camino Real Marketplace will have a service reduction for trips after 4 p.m.
MTD officials were unavailable for comment at press time.
These changes in routes and schedules come after MTD raised fees for riders last year.
In October, students voted and approved the fee increase from $19 to $26 for the college to continue its agreement with MTD that allows free rides with a student ID.
