Amtrak Surfliner commuter service sees rising ridership in Santa Barbara

The Amtrak Pacific Surfliner morning commuter service is seeing record high ridership five months into its pilot program. Launched in May, the service aims to reduce traffic congestion on Highway 101 by providing a convenient route for commuters traveling from areas like Ventura and Oxnard to Santa Barbara and Goleta.

Local transit agencies, including the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) and the LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency, recently held an outreach event at the Santa Barbara train station to promote the service. The initiative included providing free trips and information on connecting services such as shuttles and bikes to assist with the final leg of commuters' journeys.

Currently, the service sees just over 100 daily riders, with officials aiming to reach 200 riders by the end of the year. Success in maintaining and expanding this service is critical for securing state funding beyond the initial 12-month pilot period.