Bus service expands in Northern Santa Barbara County

Residents of Northern Santa Barbara County will now be able to commute back and forth between Santa Maria and Solvang for just two dollars each way. The new bus is called The Breeze.

Leaders of local cities were on hand to cut a ribbon and welcome the service to Solvang this morning. There will be three trips a day beginning in Santa Maria at 5:35 a.m.

It’s expected to be a benefit to seniors, students, service workers, and shoppers.

Buellton Mayor Judith Dale said it was “fabulous.” Dale said it would be helpful for students who need to take classes at Alan Hancock College in Santa Maria.

Once in Santa Maria riders can then jump on a city bus and head off to another destination.

Santa Maria Area Transit Manager Austin O’Dell said there were many meetings to find out what services were unmet with the public. This was one of the routes suggested the most by those attending.

Mayor Alice Patino said she welcomes the new riders to her city and says Santa Maria has some of the shopping and medical services that are not offered in the Santa Ynez Valley. She also felt it was an affordable plan to ride occasionally or every day. “The cost is going to be so minimal, people aren’t going to believe it,” said Patino.

The bus will stop in Santa Maria, Los Alamos, Buellton and Solvang on its round trip route.