Edhat Staff
Downtown Santa Barbara is set to welcome an innovative addition to its urban transit system with the launch of the “State Street Loop,” a new shuttle service designed to provide free, accessible transportation on the State Street Promenade from Cabrillo Boulevard up to Victoria Street.
This pilot program aims to offer a convenient mobility solution for those navigating the heart of the downtown, bridging key attractions and businesses along the promenade.
After months of planning and community input emphasizing the need for improved accessibility along State Street, the City of Santa Barbara, in collaboration with SWEEP SB and the Friends of State Street, unveiled the State Street Loop.
Scheduled to officially start operating on May 29, the service will feature three electric golf carts, offering a slow-paced, scenic route designed for easy access and a comfortable journey along the historic street. Although you might see some test runs this week and early next week.
Funded by the City’s Measure C, a special tax for infrastructure improvements, and local nonprofit “Friends of State Street,” the project represents a significant stride toward enhancing the city’s transportation network. The service aims to complement the existing seasonal MTD waterfront shuttle which will currently operate every weekend from Memorial Day to Labor Day and stop at a variety of locations around State Street.
The State Street Loop will operate from Thursday to Sunday, 12pm to 7pm, making continuous rounds with an estimated total loop time of 15-20 minutes. Two of the three golf carts can accommodate up to 5 seats, and the third is ADA compliant and can accommodate a wheelchair and two additional seats.
The compact size of the electric golf carts allows them to navigate bike lanes and adhere to public transit regulations, seamlessly integrating into Santa Barbara’s mixed-use streets.
Stops along the Loop will be marked on the ground with a painted star. While the service is completely free, tipping the driver is appreciated.
The initiative seeks to support local businesses by facilitating access to cultural landmarks such as the Granada Theatre, Arlington Theatre, downtown Santa Barbara Library, and the courthouse, addressing long-standing concerns of business owners about connectivity.
Developed through community collaboration and aligned with the evolving State Street Master Plan, this pilot program hopes to be a vital step in reimagining a State Street that is accessible to all.
“Friends of State Street” have stated the goal of the program is to collect data on ridership and usage patterns to assist the City of Santa Barbara in understanding transit needs and informing future mobility decisions within the State Street Master Plan. More information is available here.
It’s better than nothing but I miss the trolley.
This seems like an awful idea
Why?
The increased accessibility sounds like a great idea.
I love the map artwork too.
The artwork is awesome! I don’t see how this is a bad idea. No pollution, free and ADA compliant.
Modern garbage. People need to walk. It’s a thing.
And you’re the one who should tell people what to do, right? You should put in an application with the Nanny State–I hear they are hiring.
If only 5 can be accommodated every 20 minutes it will be of minimal help to people that need mobility help, not including wheelchair help. The Trolley was a better alternative. But as SBsurfer said, it’s better than nothing.
BASICALLYEMPTY – “Modern garbage. People need to walk. It’s a thing.”
Even the large percentage of elderly and disabled people that visit/frequent/work/live downtown? Them too, Doc D.? Yeah, they’re just soft and lazy.
Good grief man. Find some joy in life. This is getting sad.
So you’re saying it’s for elderly and disabled only? That sounds appropriate, unfortunately the article mentions nothing about that. I envision it being used by all-comer tourists who want to be driven around rather than just walking, but hey…
BASIC – “So you’re saying it’s for elderly and disabled only?”
Please consider not posting until you learn to read. I never said anything of the kind. Just because you always make blanket statements about everything and everyone, doesn’t mean we all suffer from that same faulty reasoning.
When the downtown shuttle first began (late 80s?), it was paid for by the downtown businesses and was free. Within a short time, the shuttles became a platform for the less fortunate (homeless, street people, etc.) to hang out on and panhandle. To “combat” this, they started charging 25 cents to ride the shuttle. The golf cart shuttles will be a fantastic option for many people. I believe that the service will be abused and terminated within a short time OR they’ll have to charge something. No good deed goes unpunished as they say. Just like the dozens of seating (sleeping) benches removed from State Street, and the reduction of picnic benches and BBQ pits from our parks.
I used to ride the shuttle bus. From Victoria to Cabrillo Blvd. and back. My first thought was, “Curious to know how they’re going to keep the ‘unhoused’ from riding these shuttles and ~~~~~ “While the service is completely free, tipping the driver is appreciated.” Huh. Turns out it’s not so “Free” after all.
Tipping isn’t required so yeah, it’s still free.
“Tipping isn’t required.” That’s the kind of attitude that those who rely on tips to make ends meet “love” from their customers. Figures that the most vocal are calling for no tips for the golf shuttle drivers simply to get a free ride. Real nice (and generous).
JAYZUS BEES – do you ONLY read my comments and no one else’s? Maybe stop trolling so hard and you’ll stop embarassing yourself.
If you had bother to read (and capable of understanding English), you’d see I was replying to MINIBEAST who said it’s not really “Free” as if it was false advertising or something.
I never, NOT ONCE, AT ANY TIME, “called for no tips….simply to get a free ride.”
Read words and use brain. You sound more and more like BASIC everyday.
And to note, I tip 25%. I’ve worked for tips before.
Stop trolling without mindfulness or context.
It’s very clear what you wrote (if you don’t tip, then it costs you nothing…”so yeah, it’s still free.” Your words.). Of course, if someone does not want to or unable to tip, that’s perfectly legal (“Tipping isn’t required”….your words). It’s not the end of the world for the driver if they don’t get a tip from every passenger who pops on.
BEES – nice try, but you know what you wrote. We all see it.
It’s also very clear that nobody was calling for no tips.
Learn to read for actual explicit content, not a biased inference you’ve dreamed up.
I agree, I miss the trolley too and would love it if it would run different loops year round. The city wants less cars and parking spaces downtown, this would be a lovely addition and substitute for many locals too, not just tourists.
My understanding is that a major portion of the cost of public transit is the drivers’ salaries. Who is paying these drivers to shuttle only five persons at a time? How can that be efficient? I recall many times when the State Street Shuttle was packed to capacity. I’m glad they are trying something, but we really need a regular shuttle that runs every day, and carries more people.
Remember, this is an adjunct to the shuttle, which will run this summer. But only Friday-Sunday 10-6. Yes, it would be great to have it full time.
https://www.edhat.com/news/mtd-to-bring-back-electric-downtown-waterfront-shuttle-service-for-second-summer-in-a-row/
AS to who is paying the drivers for a whopping 28 hours a week, it’s in the article: ”
Funded by the City’s Measure C, a special tax for infrastructure improvements, and local nonprofit “Friends of State Street,”
i’m deeply skeptical about this as with anything this city does, its short sighted and a temporary fix to a problem. will the shuttle have a designated lane to travel in, keeping bikes and pedestrians out of it and safe? how will this be monitored? where does the maintenance funding come from? how do they plan to keep the homeless and crazies downtown from just freely riding on it as they did the shuttle in its early days when it was free. also, only one is ADA? i see way more elderly and disabled visiting SB lately. Anyways…food for thought…i think its a neat idea, but that’s about as far as it goes with this city…a neat idea.
around 130pm, i walked outside my office at Carrillo & State. I see two of these shuttles on the road. Some city officials and two teens learning how to drive them. i asked the one loan teen driving the shuttle in the back of the other shuttle (which was full of city officials), so what is their plan for these? where will their lane be? he starts laughing. you think they thought that far a head? they have no plan for anything other than these being on the road. So I ask, where will these be driven? is the city going to give them a designated safety lane? He looks at me like i’m insane for asking, No, they literally told us just now to ride in the bike lanes and do your best to avoid bikes and pedestrians. We both laughed hard. I asked him how long does he think this will last. About a month. Yeah me too. So you’re just going to be swerving and dodging bikes and pedestrians and kids on skateboards? Yeah apparently. Wow….well have fun. I’ll try. Oh and did you know it’s free? I stopped and laughed and said yeah, so does this guy and pointed at one of the local drunks half passed out at the amazon fountain….true story.
Great feedback. Reaffirms the current state of the City, = SNAFU. What’s gone so wrong?
for once we agree on something big 😉
I don’t believe that, you just made that up 🙂 because you have issues with the fact these “Drivers” aren’t commercially licensed (which I’d be concerned about as well…) since they’re just golf carts…
made it up? uh…no. i dont have time or care to get online and make up stories. first, i don’t care if they even have a basic drivers license, or not. i wont be riding on it, nor will my friends or family. it really doesn’t matter to me. the entire thing is a joke and more time and funds wasted by the city.