Adjusted routes, more stops and new name coming to Santa Maria bus service

SANTA MARIA, Calif. – Significant public transportation changes are coming to Santa Maria.

The city council voted unanimously Tuesday night in favor of the changes which include adjusted routes, the creation of 25 new bus stops, increased daily fares, and a renaming of the entire system itself.

Santa Maria Area Transit -- or SMAT -- will be renamed to "Santa Maria Regional Transit." The acronym SMRT is pronounced "smart."

"A smarter way to travel. We believe that will resonate with our riders, but it's also meant to reflect the city's broader Safe City, Smart City initiatives," said Gamaliel Anguiano, Santa Maria Transit Manager.

The city hopes to streamline the routing system with buses arriving every 45 minutes to the city's bus stops.

The proposals came in direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic as more people were in need of public transportation than ever before.

The city's public works department is hoping to roll out the changes over the next several weeks.