Santa Barbara Municipal Transit Dysfunction™
NEWS
Santa Barbara MTD announced $2,894,131 FTA Grant for only 2 electric buses coming in 2 years? However MTD was reminded that that amount could replace the diesel fleet this year with ultra-low emissions Gillig Natural Gas buses produced in the US. ... The Santa Barbara Municipal transit District claims "increased demand for bus service" but the facts show that the opposite is true for the past 30 years, despite UCSB informing students that- "we recommend that you plan on not having a vehicle..."
Santa Barbara MTD Board of Directors Honors Three Men at their 50 Year Anniversaries March 24, 2025 ... What? No women? The First is a customer service rep making over $73,000 in 2022. The others make about $100k. Bus drivers can make over $100k.
MTD has failed to meet their budget promises, but Jerry Estrada, General Manager, Santa Barbara MTD, who made more than $300,000 in 2023, proclaimed that “We are committed to making this happen." ... Despite the facts that US Dept. of Energy disputed "myths" of electric buses, subsidized Proterra electric bus company going bankrupt within 2 years, in 2024 Ithaca, NY pulled all electric buses from service due to mechanical and structural issues and replaced the 3-year old electric buses with new diesel buses.Dave Davis, Chair of Santa Barbara MTD Board of Directors, who has promoted narrowing of streets for decades, admitted that, "Meeting this (electrification) goal will be a challenge," ... "but our partners in the region and in the transit industry have made a commitment to helping us get there.” Apparently our tax dollars at work funding coal-power built Chinese technology?