General Information

The Metropolitan Transit District (MTD) runs a local bus service between North Goleta and Carpinteria. The primary drop off and pickup point at UCSB is the bus loop (North Hall stop) located southwest of the Student Affairs and Administrative Services (SAASB) building.

MTD Logo​

Complimentary Line 28 between UCSB and the Camino Real Marketplace
Additional enhanced service between The Camino Real Marketplace, Isla Vista and UCSB on an ALL NEW UCSB-Funded MTD Line 28 bus line began in August 2016. UCSB Faculty and Staff show the bus driver their current UCSB-issued Photo ID card and they may ride the line 28 at no cost. UCSB Students may do the same by tapping their ACCESS Card on the farebox when boarding. Please click here to see the schedule and view the route.

Choose a Bus Pass

  • Students
    UCSB students may ride the MTD buses anywhere between Goleta and Carpinteria at no cost by tapping their valid student ID (ACCESS Card) on the top of the farebox when boarding the bus. At the beginning of Summer Quarter the Graduate Student Association (GSA) has historically emailed Graduate Students to offer a limited number of GSA-subsidized bus passes to graduate students. 
    UCSB students took more than ONE MILLION MTD bus rides last year... See MTD Reports to UCSB.

  • Faculty/Staff
    UCSB faculty and staff on UCSB payroll at least 45% and at least 6 months into the future and do not have a parking permit in their name may qualify for a discounted unlimited 30-day bus pass from TAP. Visit our Discounted Bus Pass page to learn how to obtain these passes.

  • Visitors
    If you are not eligible to obtain a discounted bus pass from UCSB, you can purchase a 10-ride or a 30-day Adult bus pass from MTD or on campus at the UCSB Campus Store Customer Service counter at the University Center (UCen). See the MTD’s Where to Buy Passes page to view all sales locations.

Schedules and More Information

For more information about fares, schedules and destinations, visit MTD Santa Barbara online or call the MTD Transit Center at (805) 963-3366. Bus schedules are available at the TAP office and from the MTD Transit Center at 1020 Chapala Street in downtown Santa Barbara.

Trip Planner

MTD Santa Barbara features a Google Trip Planner on its home page, which you may find useful in plotting your bus commutes to and from UCSB. Try it!