Santa Barbara MTD to Renovate Transit Center

Source: Santa Barbara MTD

Santa Barbara MTD will start a complete renovation of its Downtown Santa Barbara Transit Center beginning in July 2019 and ending in March 2020. The transit agency is hosting an informational open house on July 2nd to inform the public about project details and phasing.

The project consists of complete renovation of the Transit Center building interior, much of the building exterior, exterior loading platform, curbs, driveway, lighting, and landscaping. The project has been awarded to general contractor Newton Construction and Management, Inc., based in San Luis Obispo, California.

During the project, temporary facilities will be installed adjacent to the Transit Center property in the corner of City Parking Lot 3. The facilities will be comprised of a ticket booth, a ticket vending machine enclosure, and ADA-accessible portable public restrooms. These facilities and services will be open to the public during regular Transit Center hours and will be locked after hours. MTD bus service will remain in full effect throughout the project, but temporary loading zones will be used along Chapala and Figueroa Streets.

City Parking Lot 3 will remain in full operation for the duration of the project.

Further project details and construction updates can be found at a dedicated project website: www.sbmtd.gov/tc

TRANSIT CENTER PROJECT PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Santa Barbara MTD is undertaking a complete overhaul and renovation of MTD’s existing Transit Center site at 1020 Chapala Street in Downtown Santa Barbara.

In addition to a new roof on the building, exterior improvements include a new loading platform with brick pavers, redesigned curb ramps and slopes for ADA access, new seating, and waste receptacles. The project features a new, more durable concrete driveway surface, new drought-tolerant landscaping and irrigation, and LED pole lights. Additionally, the sidewalk, curb, and gutter in front of the property will be improved.

Interior spaces will undergo varying levels of renovation including new LED lighting, HVAC systems, flooring, ceilings, paint and fixtures, employee areas, customer service windows, and public restrooms.

Before renovation work begins, a small temporary facility will be installed adjacent to the Transit Center property in the corner of City Parking Lot 3. The facilities will be comprised of a ticket booth, a ticket vending machine enclosure, and ADA-accessible portable public restrooms. These facilities and services will be open to the public during regular Transit Center hours (6a-7p M-F, 9a-5p Sa-Su) and will be locked after hours.

CHANGES TO THE AREA DURING CONSTRUCTION

While the Transit Center is under construction, bus operations will continue, requiring modifications to the existing streetscape to support passenger boarding and alighting. Several benches and other street furniture will be relocated during the construction period. Certain slump block walls and landscaping will be removed to provide for additional bus boarding zones.

Due to the extended closure of the bus loop driveway and loading platform, MTD buses will be loading and unloading passengers in new locations for the duration of the project. These locations are curb areas along the 1000 and 1100 blocks on the east side of Chapala Street, and the south side of the 0 block of West Figueroa Street. The Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) Coastal Express bus stop will be relocated from the current stop at Chapala and Figueroa up one block to the existing MTD stop at Chapala and Anapamu, adjacent to City Parking Lot 5.

All Santa Barbara MTD and VCTC bus services will remain in full operation and City Parking Lot 3 will remain open and accessible to the public for the duration of the project.

PROJECT UPDATES AND CONTACT INFORMATION

Project updates and details can be found at www.sbmtd.gov/tc

Questions? Contact info@sbmtd.gov or 805-963-3364

TRANSIT CENTER PROJECT PHASES