After two years of drastic changes — forced by the pandemic’s public health restrictions, a steady drop in daily ridership, and a shortage of bus operators — Santa Barbara MTD is still standing and has adapted to thrive in this new normal.
“It’s been a ride, for sure,” MTD Planning and Marketing Manager Hillary Blackerby told the Independent, reflecting on the big changes and what lies ahead with MTD’s New Moves Short Range Transit Plan, a five-year community-driven process that will take a look at how public transit can be more efficient and accessible while still working within the new cutbacks.
“We didn’t want to have to do this, but we had to,” Blackerby said.