Five months into its pilot program, a new Amtrak Pacific Surfliner service that pulls commuters into Santa Barbara just before 8 a.m. is bringing record high ridership numbers.
The new train service launched in May with the goal of helping reduce traffic on Highway 101 and give commuters a more convenient route to work. The process began in 2008 when Measure A was passed, providing $455 million for North and South County transportation projects.
It marks a success after several failed attempts to bring a consistent morning commuter service to the South Coast. There was a version prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it didn’t restart right away. Earlier this year, a service was in the works through a collaboration with Metrolink and The Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor Agency, or LOSSAN. However, LOSSAN pulled out of the deal in January.
Finally, the right partnership came through with Amtrak, who operates the Pacific Surfliner—a 351-mile route connecting San Diego, Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo. It departs Ventura at 7:11 a.m., getting commuters to downtown Santa Barbara and Goleta with time to spare in their morning.
“The new train is really to support morning commuters who are coming from areas like Oxnard and Ventura up to the Santa Barbara area,” said Alyssa Dowdalls, marketing and communications manager for LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency.
Wednesday morning, the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) hosted a “lunch and learn” pop up at the Santa Barbara train station to spread awareness of the new service. The goal was to continue to grow its ridership to show the state that it’s worth funding past the 12 month pilot period.
With more people commuting on the train, another goal is to reduce traffic on Highway101. Commuters coming from Ventura or Carpinteria are eligible to apply for a Okay $50 Amtrak gift card, which provides 10 free rides.
“Currently I drive, and the traffic is really heavy because of the construction so I’m stuck bumper-to-bumper every morning,” said Leana Orsua, who commutes to State Street from Carpinteria every morning. “It’s a challenge when you have to be at work on time.”
When she heard about the opportunity to learn more about the new Surfliner service and get 10 free rides, Orsua wanted to learn more.
The event also offered free catered tacos, guided tours of the train station and lots of informational fliers. Several city organizations held information booths, including MTD public transit, who advertised their free buses paired with the new trains. Buses start at the train station right after the train arrives, then drop riders off at common places of employment downtown.
Many health workers in Santa Barbara are commuters. One of the Surfliner paired buses goes directly to Cottage Hospital, and back to the train station in the afternoon. There is also a bus that goes to the UCSB campus, often taken by students returning to school after a quick trip home.
Right now, over 100 people take the commuter service every morning, according to Lauren Bianchi Klemann, director of government affairs at SBCAG. But to keep funding going, they hope for even more.
“We need to prove to the state that this is successful so they can continue to fund this train,” Bianchi Klemann said. “So you can get your life back, rather than live on the highway.”
