SBCAG approves 12‑month pilot to expand intercity passenger rail along LOSSAN corridor
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
The Santa Barbara County Association of Governments approved a 12‑month, 365‑day pilot cooperative agreement with LOSSAN and VCTC to add an inner‑city Amtrak Pacific Surfliner round trip between Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo, with SBCAG’s share about $1.1 million and a proposed late‑April/early‑May launch.
The Santa Barbara County Association of Governments voted Feb. 19 to authorize a cooperative funding agreement to pilot expanded inner‑city passenger rail service along the Los Angeles–San Diego–San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) corridor.
Whitney Rush, senior transportation planner in SBCAG’s multimodal programs division, told the board that state equipment redeployment and new access arrangements with LOSSAN and Union Pacific have made an additional round‑trip feasible. The 12‑month pilot would operate 365 days a year, with the morning northbound trip slated to depart Los Angeles Union Station about 5:13 a.m., stop in Moorpark, Camarillo, Oxnard, Ventura, Carpinteria and arrive in Santa Barbara just before 8 a.m., then continue to San Luis Obispo and return midday.
The pilot is structured as a fixed‑fee cooperative agreement that staff estimated at about $2.2 million for the year, split 50/50 with the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC); SBCAG’s contribution was described repeatedly in the presentation as roughly $1.1 million. Staff estimated annual fare revenues at about $2.3 million and said commuter ticket and pass products -- including a subsidized 10‑ride pass and monthly options -- would be available.
Public comment included Barry Remus of Move Santa Barbara County, who urged the board to approve related Measure A investments for bike and pedestrian safety and access to stations. “We would like to voice our support for the appropriation of the additional $100,000 in Measure A funding for bike/ped and Safe Routes to School for the Highway 246 improvements project,” Remus said.
Directors asked whether local station projects (including the Ortega site) would delay service (staff: no), whether stops such as Guadalupe would be served (staff: yes; full schedule to be provided), and how reliability and employer partnerships would be addressed. Rush listed outreach and first/last‑mile measures that will complement the pilot, including employer forums, free station‑to‑employer shuttles, bicycle lockers, coordination with local bike‑share, and $50 promotional ride passes for employees. On reliability, staff said freight host railroads have adjusted schedules and that agreements leveraging Amtrak’s national insurance reduced SBCAG’s operational risk.
Director Perotti moved approval of the staff recommendations to authorize the executive director to execute the cooperative agreement and to take implementation actions; Director Hartman seconded. On a roll‑call vote the board recorded unanimous ayes with Chair Nelson absent and the motion passed.
The board and staff said the pilot is intended to demonstrate commuter utility and build ridership ahead of anticipated state funding; staff said if statewide support does not materialize, SBCAG would revisit cost‑sharing and other funding options about six months before the pilot ends. With board approval in hand and prior approvals by VCTC (Feb. 6) and LOSSAN (Feb. 17), staff said a launch in late April or early May is achievable.
The board meeting packet and staff presentation include further schedule details, fare estimates and outreach plans; SBCAG said it will provide directors the full stop‑by‑stop schedule and follow up with performance metrics during and after the pilot.