Mule-powered street railways were implemented in 1875 and were gradually replaced by electric streetcars in 1896. The streetcars made their last run on July 1, 1929; about a month later, the Santa Barbara Transit Corporation company started providing local bus service between Ventura and the Santa Barbara/Goleta area.
Routes
All routes serving Downtown Santa Barbara begin and end at the Transit Center
Route 1: Westside
This route serves Carrillo and San Andres on the west side of Santa Barbara. At the transit center, most Route 1 buses become Route 2.
Route 2: Eastside
This route runs to East Santa Barbara via Anapamu and Milpas. Interlined with Route 1.
Route 5 operates between the Downtown Transit Center and La Cumbre Plaza via Cliff and Las Positas. Route 4 is a loop that operates between Santa Barbara City College and the Transit Center via Carillo and Cliff. Serves Santa Barbara City College.
Route 6: State/Hollister/Goleta
This route serves State Street in Santa Barbara and Hollister Ave. in Goleta. Some trips continue as Line 23 or as Line 11.
Route 7: Calle Real
Operates between Downtown Goleta and the Transit Center via Calle Real. Provides service to the County Health Care Services complex and Sansum Medical Complex on Foothill Rd.
Route 10: Cathedral Oaks
Provides service between Hollister/Storke and La Cumbre Plaza via Cathedral Oaks. Limited service is provided
Route 11: State/Hollister/UCSB
Like Route 6, starts from Downtown SB and continues via State Hollister, but then turns south on Fairview to serve the Santa Barbara Airport, University of California, Santa Barbara, and the Camino Real Marketplace. Some trips continue as Line 25 and some continue as Line 6. Together with Route 6, Route 11 forms the trunk of the SBMTD system.
Route 12x: State/Hollister/UCSB Express
Uses the US-101 Freeway between Downtown Santa Barbara and Downtown Goleta, then continues on Hollister to Storke, where it interlines with Route 24.
Route 14: Montecito
Route 14 connects Downtown Santa Barbara and the Eastside with Montecito, looping via Olive Mill, San Ysidro, Sheffield and North Jameson.
Route 15x: SBCC/UCSB Express
This route does double duty, serving Isla Vista commuters to Santa Barbara City College, then looping via the Mesa area for passengers going to UCSB. No service is provided when either school is not in session.
Route 16: City College Shuttle
Provides a quick trip between Downtown and the City College. Not in operation when SBCC is not in session.
Route 17: Westside/City College
Connects Downtown Santa Barbara with SBCC via San Pascual.
Route 19: School Boosters
Several short routes serving area schools. These typically provide one round trip per schoolday. These routes are open to the general public.
Route 20: Carpinteria
Local service between Downtown Santa Barbara and Carpinteria via Eastside Santa Barbara, US-101 and Via Real. Also serves Coast Village Road and southern Montecito. It is the only bus that runs through Summerland.
Route 21x: Carpinteria Express
Like Route 20 above, but runs nonstop on US-101 between Downtown Santa Barbara and Carpinteria. Peak hour weekday service, and some limited weekend service as well.
Line 22 was discontinued on August 24, 2014. It formerly served the Santa Barbara Mission from Downtown, via Anapamu and Garden. On weekends, it served the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden on request.
Route 23: Winchester Canyon
From the Camino Real Marketplace to the Winchester Canyon residential area north of US-101.
Route 24x: UCSB Express
Nonstop service between Downtown Santa Barbara and UCSB, then via Isla Vista and Storke to Hollister, where it interlines with Route 12x. Additional service is provided when UCSB is in session.
Route 25: Ellwood
From the Camino Real Marketplace to Ellwood - Winchester Canyon.
Route 27: UCSB Shuttle
Provides additional service between UCSB and Hollister/Storke when UCSB is in session.
Seaside Shuttle
Loops around Carpinteria, with service provided to the northern areas of the city, as well as to the beach. Connects with Route 20 and 21x.
The Crosstown Shuttle operates between the Westside and Eastside via Micheltorena, Chapala or Anacapa and Cota.
Calle Real/Old Town Shuttle
Provides shuttle service between Old Town Goleta and the shopping areas on Calle Real, just north of the US-101 Freeway.
Coastal Express Limited
This service has been discontinued. A weekday only commuter bus system linking Ventura with Goleta, and Santa Barbara funded in part by two freeway construction projects.
