SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — A planned extension of Metrolink commuter rail service to provide an option for commuters between Ventura and Santa Barbara counties will be delayed until at least January 2026, the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments was told at its most recent meeting.
The SBCAG, Ventura County Transportation Authority, and Metrolink agreed to the one-year pilot program, estimated to cost $4.4 million, in January, following discussions in May 2024 [see “Santa Barbara agency asks for agreement …,” Trains.com, May 9, 2024]. At one time, an October 2025 start date was targeted.
In the update at its Aug. 21 meeting, Aaron Bonfilio, SBCAG’s director of multimodal programs, told the group that operating and funding agreements are close to completion. An operating agreement with Union Pacific, which owns the route north of Moorpark, Calif., is still pending, and approximately 12 weeks will be needed for crew certification once that deal is complete.
“We’ve all but finalized the agreements,” Bonfilio said. “There are some matters regarding insurance that you’ll hear about when the agreement is brought forward in the coming months, with regard to funding, but generally speaking, we’ve agreement on terms and structure of the project.”
Association members were told the LOSSAN Corridor Agency, which operates the Pacific Surfliners between San Diego and San Luis Obispo, would subcontract with Metrolink for the operation, since LOSSAN holds operating rights on Union Pacific. After the pilot period, Bonfilio said, “LOSSAN intends to operate this train as part of its state-supported services.”
The tentative schedule calls for a northbound Metrolink train that would arrive in Santa Barbara and Goleta about 8 a.m., and return in mid-morning. While tentatively projected for a 10:35 a.m. departure from Goleta, Bonfilio said that time was subject to change because of Union Pacific concerns about other traffic on the route at that time.
Ticketing will be handled through Amtrak, Bonfilio said, in part to simplify the process for those who could be commuting on the Metrolink train in one direction and the Surfliner in the other, and to ease the eventual transition to a LOSSAN-operated train. Initial ticket options are expected to include a $50 ten-trip ticket and $150 monthly pass for trips between Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Single-trip prices will be based on distance.
