Anonymous
Amtrak Pacific Surfliner (Photos: LOSSAN Rain Corridor Agency)
Source: SBCAG
Traffic Solutions, a division of Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG), in partnership with Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) and LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency released a train commute survey to better understand Ventura County and Carpinteria commuters’ experiences. The online survey will be available through June 17, 2019 at www.surveymonkey.com/r/_
A year ago, SBCAG partnered with the California State Transportation Agency to modify the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner schedule to serve the commuter market in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. The revised rail service offers commuters the option of taking the train to and from work as an alternative to traveling on the congested Highway 101. Additionally, SBCAG partnered with Santa Barbara MTD to provide first and last mile shuttle service from the Santa Barbara and Goleta stations to area employers. The effort is a central component of SBCAG’s “Lane and a Train” strategy, the long-term congestion relief strategy to address the significant traffic commuters experience daily on Highway 101 between Ventura County and Santa Barbara/Goleta.
A weekday average of 15,000 commuters travel from Ventura and Los Angeles Counties to their employment locations in Santa Barbara County. According to Census data, 20% of these commuters carpool, while the Pacific Surfliner peak hour train service carries 90-100 commuters, and the VCTC Coastal Express bus service carries 350-400 commuters daily.
Results from the survey aim to increase Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train ridership by improving outreach to commuters. Survey results will also provide important information regarding commuters’ awareness of alternative transportation resources such as the VCTC Coastal Express commuter bus service and vanpools that, in addition to the train, provide commuters greater flexibility for a variety of work schedules.
The commute survey is open to all commuters traveling from Ventura County and Carpinteria to worksites in the South Coast, whether or not they use the train. The survey only takes a few minutes and will remain open through June 17, 2019. The survey is anonymous, but respondents can provide their contact information to be entered to win a prize of their choosing – either an Apple iPad with keyboard or a folding bike. Five winners will be randomly selected and contacted via email by June 19, 2019. If you have any questions about the survey, please contact Traffic Solutions at 805-963-SAVE or info@trafficsolutions.org.
What you’re stating is likely out of scope for this organization. However, it raises a valid point. The best solution for traffic congestion is to bring people closer to their places of work. It would be interesting to see the demographics of those people commuting from Ventura, Lompoc, Santa Maria, etc. I’d be willing to bet they don’t fit the demographic for AUD. The lack of middle, and even upper middle class housing in Santa Barbara is another factor contributing to traffic on 101. Unfortunately, our fearless leaders are too narrow minded to fully understand the scope and impact of the housing problem.
Well, Santa Barbara rents are out of control. It’s insanity. But the neighboring areas have taken note and raised their prices as well, so it’s just a sh#$ show for everyone who isn’t rich. Many of us have been here generations, but do not own a home. We have to work two and three jobs just to keep a roof over our heads. There are also too many people here now. Santa Barbara can only handle so many people, and we cannot keep building. It’s a huge problem.