SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — A planned extension of Metrolink commuter rail service to provide an option for commuters between Ventura and Santa Barbara counties will be delayed until at least January 2026, the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments was told at its most recent meeting.
The SBCAG, Ventura County Transportation Authority, and Metrolink agreed to the one-year pilot program, estimated to cost $4.4 million, in January, following discussions in May 2024 [see “Santa Barbara agency asks for agreement …,” Trains.com, May 9, 2024]. At one time, an October 2025 start date was targeted.
In the update at its Aug. 21 meeting, Aaron Bonfilio, SBCAG’s director of multimodal programs, told the group that operating and funding agreements are close to completion. An operating agreement with Union Pacific, which owns the route north of Moorpark, Calif., is still pending, and approximately 12 weeks will be needed for crew certification once that deal is complete.
“We’ve all but finalized the agreements,” Bonfilio said. “There are some matters regarding insurance that you’ll hear about when the agreement is brought forward in the coming months, with regard to funding, but generally speaking, we’ve agreement on terms and structure of the project.”
Association members were told the LOSSAN Corridor Agency, which operates the Pacific Surfliners between San Diego and San Luis Obispo, would subcontract with Metrolink for the operation, since LOSSAN holds operating rights on Union Pacific. After the pilot period, Bonfilio said, “LOSSAN intends to operate this train as part of its state-supported services.”
The tentative schedule calls for a northbound Metrolink train that would arrive in Santa Barbara and Goleta about 8 a.m., and return in mid-morning. While tentatively projected for a 10:35 a.m. departure from Goleta, Bonfilio said that time was subject to change because of Union Pacific concerns about other traffic on the route at that time.
Ticketing will be handled through Amtrak, Bonfilio said, in part to simplify the process for those who could be commuting on the Metrolink train in one direction and the Surfliner in the other, and to ease the eventual transition to a LOSSAN-operated train. Initial ticket options are expected to include a $50 ten-trip ticket and $150 monthly pass for trips between Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Single-trip prices will be based on distance.
Well I hope this isn’t yet another example of a freight railroad delaying passenger rail initiatives without government pushback. Would be nice if UP demonstrated good faith by allowing the crews to train over the route WHILE they hammer out the details so the negotiation doesn’t block the whole project. These delays cost the tax payers money since no new business or economic activity is being generated while this sits on ice. Hopefully UP’s lawyer will be back from summer vacation next week.
Once this new rail service is launched, it appears there will be less traffic congestion on both sides of Highway 101.
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
By how much?
Do the counts, Dr. Ustun. Comapre the counts on the 101 Freeway to the addition of one more train pair on a route that already has trains. (Some of the patronage on the new train pair will inevitably be drained from trains already running.)
This forum is meant to encourage differences of opinion, not different levels of willingness to analyze.
To reply to my own post of earlier today, let me try to better explain. There are all sorts of reasons for trains. I ride trains. I support trains.
That said, lowering the count on parallel highways is not one of the reasons for adding one more train pair to an existing route. The number of passengers diverted off the highway is too small for the highway to notice.
Charles,
I live in Santa Barbara. SBCAG has wanted to do this for over fifteen years. They knew CALTRANS was going widen to the 101 to three lanes from Milpas Street (east SB) to La Conchita/ Sea Cliff. Initially they paid LOSSAN and Amtrak to a operate a northbound Surliner the would leave LAUPT around 4:30 AM so that it would arrive in SB and Goleta by 8:00. It’s performance was problematic and ridership before Moorpark was abysmal. Most of the route is single tracked past Van Nuys and it had to meet several Metrolink trains originating in Montalvo (“East Ventura” in the middle the wye where the Santa Paula/Fillmore branch joins the Coastline) at the right moment. E.g., NIMBYs in the San Fernando Valley defeated the second track between Northridge and Chatsworth. Covid gave SBCAG the excuse to suspend the train.
Now with the freeway widened, except for Montecito, they want to use Metrolink in order to originate the train in Moorpark, where Metrolink has a layover facility, in order to shorten its route, and reduce operating expenses. The southbound train is not needed, as Amtrak has a Surfliner originating around 5:00 in Goleta, which should easily accommodate the additional demand.
The trouble is until the first mile/last mile access is adequately addressed, I do not expect there will be many riders. There are not enough employers within a short walk of either the Santa Barbara, or Goleta stations. Are employers going to operate van pools? Is the SB MTD going to have special buses available to take these commuters to work? What it they have to work late? Bottom line, this would have made a difference when the freeway construction was starting. It will be finished next year, shortly after this service will start.
Deja vu all over again, back to pre-Amtrak — when you could buy a ticket and ride regardless of whether it was a commuter train, or a regional train, or an LD. I see this as a positive development.
In England, and I would assume in almost every country, a ticket is a ticket. Doesn’t matter what railroad name is painted on the side of the car.
The Surfliner and Metrolink already have shared ticketing between Ventura and Oceanside. I imagine they’ll keep that agreement.