The Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District (MTD) has started its complete renovation of the Downtown Santa Barbara Transit Center at 1020 Chapala Street with the installation of temporary facilities having started in July 2019.
The project is expected to be completed around March 2020. The project consists of a complete renovation of the transit center building interior and much of the building exterior. 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, LED pole lights and new drought-tolerant landscaping and irrigation. 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.
A temporary facility was installed adjacent to the transit center on the corner of City Parking Lot 3 with the official transition to the temporary facilities taking place Sept. 7 and 8.
Starting on Sept. 8, buses will be loading and unloading at the new zone locations, and all customer service functions will be handled out of the temporary ticket booth and ticket vending machines in the corner of the parking lot along Chapala Street. ADA-accessible portable restrooms will also be available for passengers.
These facilities and services will be open to the public during regular transit center hours and will be locked after hours. 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 Phase Timeline
- July 2019: Start of project
- July 2019-September 2019: Temporary facilities setup and boarding zone preparation
- September 2019: Switchover to temporary facilities
- September 2019-March 2020: Building construction and closure of transit center building and driveway
- November 2019-February 2020: Concrete sitework, including driveway, loading platform, curb, gutter, sidewalk, etc.
- March 2020: Project complete
