Santa Ynez Valley Transit (SYVT) is taking measures to protect both its employees and customers from the coronavirus (COVID-19). Management staff are monitoring and implementing guidelines and procedures set forth by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

As part of the response, SYVT is enacting a temporary service change, effective immediately, suspending all fixed-route service. This will aid in the state-wide order to stay home issued by Governor Newsom on March 19. To assist our customers with essential travel needs, SYVT is now providing Dial-A-Ride (DAR) service to the general public (all passengers). This service is similar to Lyft or Uber at a fraction of the cost.

This advanced-reservation, shared-ride service will be provided on weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Saturday service will be 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sunday service will temporarily not be available. During this crisis fares will be $1.50 for each DAR ride. Ten-ride punch cards and monthly passes will be valid for use on DAR.

To request a DAR ride, call (805) 688-5452 between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. If a Customer Service Representative is not available, please leave a message with your ­fist name, phone number, and date/time you wish to travel. Additional considerations include:

• Request your ride at least one day in advance (requests for same-day rides will be handled on a ­first-come ­first-served (space-available) basis.
• Please only make ride reservations for essential travel needs as only a limited number of requests can be accommodated (essential travel needs include buying groceries/household supplies, doctor visits, trips to pharmacies, and mental health appointments).
• Please remember that the general public DAR service is an advanced-reservation, shared-ride service. Please exercise social distancing and safe hygiene practices while riding on DAR vehicles.

SYVT is continuing its enhanced cleaning procedures with respect to daily vehicle cleaning. We have added time to the pre-trip inspections of SYVT vehicles each day so as to wipe down high-touch surfaces (such as handrails and fareboxes) with disinfecting wipes. Riders are encouraged to utilize recommended handwashing procedures and maintain social distancing as much as possible on the bus and at bus stops. In accordance with County Health Department emergency orders, riders are also required to stay home if they feel unwell. For more information, call SYVT at (805) 688-5452 for assistance with questions or trip planning.

SYVT is funded through a Memorandum of Understanding between the cities of Buellton and Solvang and Santa Barbara County. For information about SYVT, visit www.syvt.com or call (805) 688-5452.

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Santa Ynez Valley Transit has announced the expansion of its limited-time Summer Youth Pass so that the discount program includes May.

The $20 pass provides unlimited rides during the month of purchase and is available this year to riders from 6 to 20 years old for use in May, June, July and August. Passes are on sale now.

“Expanding the Summer Youth Pass to include May provides affordable and safe travel to our young residents for the entire summer,” said Matt van der Linden, Solvang’s Public Works Director and City Engineer. “Students concluding their spring semester in May can now immediately use the discounted pass to safely and independently travel to their summer jobs, classes and activities.

 “If each resident replaced one driving trip with one trip on SYVT every two weeks, our community could significantly help reduce traffic on our roads and pollution in our air,” he added.

The youth passes can be purchased through Aug. 1 by young riders, or their parents and caregivers, at the SYV Transit office at 431 Second St., Suite 9, in Solvang.

In conjunction with the youth pass, the local bus system is offering a free Activities Guide that lists popular destinations and corresponding SYVT bus stops on an easy-to-read map created for children, teens, parents and caregivers.

The Activities Guide is available at the Stuart C. Gildred Family YMCA, Solvang Library, Santa Ynez Library, Buellton Library, and the SYVT office.

For more information, visit www.syvt.com or call the SYVT office at 805-688-5452.

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Despite declines across California and the nation, ridership on Santa Ynez Valley Transit buses so far this year has increased by 12 percent from the same period in 2018, officials announced.

SYVT’s fixed-route ridership began increasing in October 2018 and has continued to surpass last year’s ridership figures.

Public transportation ridership has declined across California and the country over the last decade as a result of increased car ownership, officials said. Understanding this trend, SYVT has focused on promoting services to residents for destination purposes as a way to reverse ridership decline.

This involves suggesting the bus for specific trips where a car is not needed, such as to the library, school or a medical appointment. SYVT has also induced new “choice riders” (residents who rarely or never ride transit) to use the bus as “a second car.”

“If we can encourage residents to replace one driving trip with one transit trip every two weeks, we are taking a positive step in advancing the benefits of public transportation,” said Matt van der Linden, Solvang Public Works Director and City Engineer. “Advancing the benefits of public transportation means less traffic on our roads, less pollution in our air, and a more connected community.”

SYVT enhanced its fixed-route bus service in the summer of 2018 to provide more service to residents and guests traveling to and around the Santa Ynez Valley. The pink-and-teal buses also offer $20 monthly summer youth passes to riders from 6 to 20 years old for use in May, June, July and August.

“SYVT is committed to making public transportation convenient and reliable to even our youngest residents,” said van der Linden. “Creating public transportation champions today will continue to benefit not only SYVT, but our beautiful community for decades to come.”

SYVT is funded through a partnership between Buellton, Solvang and Santa Barbara County. For information, visit www.syvt.com or call 805-688-5452.

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Santa Ynez Valley Transit donated a driver’s time and the use of a bus for teams from Psychiatric Service Dog Partners to train service dogs at the organization’s annual international convention in April at the Solvang Veterans Memorial Hall.

The nonprofit Psychiatric Service Dog Partners operates multiple programs assisting the public and service-dog teams. When convention coordinator Chanda Hagen was driving through Solvang to familiarize herself with the area prior to the convention, she noticed the distinctive SYVT bus and decided to incorporate public transit training in the convention.

“I thought it would be great to train the dogs to work in and around a stationary and moving bus. So I called the city and it offered to donate the use of a bus and driver,” Hagen said.

John Webb, a representative from Roadrunner Management Services (SYVT’s contracted bus operator), demonstrated various transit procedures at the convention. The trainers worked the service dogs with wheelchair lifts and through safety measures for boarding and leaving the bus. Webb was able to answer questions from more than a dozen trainers attending the convention with their service dogs.

“This donation represents an important partnership between SYVT and our riders who rely on service dogs to travel,” said Solvang Public Works Director Matt van der Linden. “The opportunity to participate in the actual training of these animals will add to our understanding of the support service dogs provide.”

SYVT is funded through a Joint Powers Agreement by the cities of Buellton and Solvang and Santa Barbara County.

For more information, visit www.syvt.com or call 805-688-5452.

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Santa Ynez Valley Transit (SYVT) has published a free Activities Guide highlighting 30 youth-friendly destinations in Buellton, Solvang, Santa Ynez and Los Olivos along with corresponding SYVT bus stops on a fun and easy-to-read map.

Highlighted destinations include parks, theaters, museums, farms, restaurants and libraries.

“The Activities Guide provides residents with local ideas for kid-friendly entertainment, all accessible via SYVT,” said Matt van der Linden, Solvang’s Public Works Director. “This is a great complement to the SYVT Summer Youth Pass, as it allows pass users to access everything our valley has to offer on the safe and reliable SYVT bus.”

Santa Ynez Valley youth can buy a $20 Summer Youth Pass, which provides unlimited rides during the month of purchase. The pass is available to riders 6 to 20 years old for use in June, July, and August.

The Activities Guide is available at the SYVT office, Stuart C. Gildred Family YMCA, Solvang Public Library, Santa Ynez Library, Solvang School District office, and Flying Flags RV Resort & Campground.

The youth pass can be purchased at the SYVT Office at 431 S. Second St., Suite 9, in Solvang.

For more information, visit www.syvt.com or call 805-688-5452.

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Solvang and Santa Barbara County officials are studying a proposed Sunny Fields Spur Bike Trail that would connect the existing bike trail along Highway 246 to Sunny Fields Park and the existing bike lanes along Alamo Pintado Road.

The study will evaluate various alternative alignments for the proposed spur trail, and look at the cost, advantages and disadvantages of each alternative.

The city’s consultant, Alta Planning and Design, will lead a workshop at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 30, in the Solvang City Council chambers to review a draft study, answer questions and take public comments.

“Everyone is welcome to attend,” said city Public Works Director Matt van der Linden. “Especially if you are a Solvang resident interested in the planning of future bike facilities within the city, please come.”

The draft report, called a technical memo, will be available for public review at cityofsolvang.com beginning May 23.

For more information, contact van der Linden at 805-688-5575 or mattv@cityofsolvang.com.

‘Invitation to Dance’ show changes locations

Due to the unexpected closure of the Santa Ynez High School campus for major repairs, the Santa Ynez Valley Performing Arts Company’s 31st season of “An Invitation to Dance” will be held in the multipurpose room at Jonata School in Buellton on June 21-23.

The Thursday and Friday performances begin at 7 p.m., and the Saturday show begins at 6:30 p.m.

For tickets or information, call 805-688-8494.

Repairs begin on North County roads

Pavement rehabilitation is taking place throughout north Santa Barbara County from now until June.

Santa Barbara County officials are asking drivers to be alert as the county repairs pavement on various roads in May and June.

Plans include $1.7 million worth of work in the Santa Ynez Valley, Vandenberg Village, Mission Hills, Orcutt and Sisquoc.

For the list of scheduled road projects and road closures, visit the project website PWSB.net, or call the Transportation Division of the county Public Works Department at 805-739-8750.

Park gets a touch-up

The four Rotary Clubs in the Santa Ynez Valley got together in mid-April for their annual effort to spruce up Sunny Fields Park in Solvang by applying fresh coats of paint, putting in new wood chips and handling other chores.

Bus service introduces summer youth pass

Santa Ynez Valley Transit is selling a summer youth pass in which $20 provides unlimited rides during the month of purchase, for riders 6 to 20 years old, for use in June, July, and August.

Parents and older youth can buy passes at the transit service’s office at 431 Second St., Suite 9, in Solvang.

In conjunction with the youth pass, SYVT is also offering an activity guide (free with the purchase of a youth pass). It lists popular destinations and corresponding SYVT bus stops on an easy-to-read map created for children, teens, parents, and caregivers. Highlighted destinations include Sunny Fields Park, Parks Plaza Theater, the Wildling Museum, Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum, and the Solvang Festival Theater.

For more information about SYVT, visit www.syvt.com or call 805-688-5452.

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Santa Ynez Valley Transit riders will have more frequent service between Buellton, Solvang, and Santa Ynez along Highway 246 with the introduction of SYVT’s Express route beginning Jan. 22.

The new route will operate every 30 minutes throughout most of the day, with service provided in both directions along Highway 246.

Service to Los Olivos will be provided three times daily, with service coordinated to serve bell times at Santa Ynez Valley High School in the morning and afternoon. The Los Olivos Loop will also feature a new stop at Sunny Fields Park.

“We are excited to be able to introduce increased service frequency along Highway 246,” said Matt Dobberteen, Santa Barbara County’s Alternative Transportation Manager. “We believe it will improve mobility and reduce traffic congestion throughout much of the Santa Ynez Valley.”

In addition, SYVT Dial-A-Ride customers can now make same-day reservations on a space-available basis, rather than having to call 24 hours in advance. Reservations can now be made seven days a week.

In 2017, Solvang updated the Short Range Transit Plan for Santa Ynez Valley Transit to ensure the transit service being provided by SYVT would meet the valley’s current needs as well as the needs for the next five years. Updating the plan included customer and community surveys as well as public and stakeholder workshops, to gather information about mobility needs.

For more information about SYVT, or to view or download new fixed-route schedules and route maps, visit www.syvt.com or call 805-688-5452.

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