Santa Barbara MTD to reduce bus service due to budget deficit

Santa Barbara MTD will implement bus service reductions starting Monday, August 17, 2026, following a decision by its Board of Directors. The changes represent a 3.6 percent reduction in overall service due to a growing budget deficit and an approaching fiscal cliff.

The agency reports that the deficit is largely driven by 2020 Census changes, which resulted in a 30 percent loss of federal operating funds. Despite the planned reductions, MTD anticipates a $4.9 million shortfall for the 2026-27 fiscal year. While federal pandemic assistance currently covers the gap, those funds are diminishing.

Specific service adjustments include:

• Lines 1 and 2: Reduced weekday headways from 15 to 20 minutes. • Lines 3, 4, 5, and 17: Reduced Saturday service to match Sunday schedules. • Line 7: Elimination of the last weekday outbound trip. • Line 14: Elimination of one weekday AM roundtrip and one Saturday AM roundtrip. • Lines 11, 23, and 25: Elimination of certain last weekday inbound and outbound trips. • Line 2730: Minor schedule adjustments on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.