| CLASSIFIEDS |
| »
Sound Transit seeks a project director-bus rapid transit. [More]
|
| »
The Transit Authority of River City is looking for a director of paratransit and customer service. [More]
|
»
Culver City, CA, seeks proposals for a bus signal priority system for Culver CityBus. [More]
|
| View more Classified Ads » |
| TO PLACE AN AD: E-mail the requested date(s) of publication to: ptads@apta.com. Mailing address is: Passenger Transport, 1300 I Street NW, Suite 1200 East,
Washington, DC 20005. Ad copy is not accepted by phone. DEADLINE: 3 p.m. EST, Friday, one week prior to publication date. INFORMATION: Phone (202) 496-4877. |
Santa Barbara MTD Supports Commnity After Mudslide
The Santa Barbara (CA) Metropolitan Transit District (MTD) resumed full service Jan. 22 on all but two bus lines with the reopening of Highway 101, which had been closed by destructive mudslides earlier in the month.
MTD General Manager Jerry Estrada said during the emergency, “Our community has experienced a devastating natural disaster, and MTD has helped the rescue and recovery efforts while trying to keep our regular service running. Within hours of the deadly debris flow and flooding, MTD buses were called in to help transport rescued survivors and their pets to the Red Cross shelter.”
The county Office of Emergency Services brought together a team including MTD, high school bus operations and the Ventura County Association of Governments to assist with the daily transport of health and safety employees through the impacted area via California Highway Patrol escort.
|
|
Caltrans employees and others worked around the clock to clear and repair the section of Route 101 in Montecito, CA, that was closed following flooding and mudslides early in January. The route has reopened and MTD has resumed almost all bus service.
Photo courtesy of Mike Eliason, Santa Barbara County Fire Department |
“Our employees have rallied to support our community and one another in this trying time, and we are very proud of their effort,” Estrada added.
Until the highway reopened, MTD had provided free last-mile service connecting two Amtrak stations with transfer sites and employment centers. The shutdown of Highway 101 led to increased Amtrak ridership, said MTD spokesperson Hillary Blackerby.
Blackerby noted that about a quarter of the agency’s employees live south of the road closures and had been unable to get to work until some of the routes reopened, requiring MTD to reduce service on some lines not affected by the closures.
News reports noted that the flash floods and mudslides followed weeks of wildfires that left the soil dry and unstable.
|
