Thousands of people commute on public transportation every day in Santa Barbara County, but there even more who could make the switch. For some, fears of delayed buses or family emergencies mean residents drive themselves to work.
But officials want more of the workforce to use public transportation and vanpool to reduce traffic congestion. An initiative from the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG), the guaranteed ride home program, is a backup option for unplanned circumstances. It reimburses commuters for buying an Uber or Lyft home, plus a 15 percent tip.
“We see this as a perfect time to remind people of their transit options and vanpool or carpool around the county,” Aaron Bonfilio, SBCAG’s director of multimodal programs, told the Sun. “The cost of fuel has gone up a lot, and we’ve seen a lot of additional interest in using buses or trains or even biking to and from work, and so this program is meant to help support that.”
For the first time in more than a decade the SBCAG board of directors has a chance to expand the program, Bonfilio said. If approved on April 16, the program will see three main changes.
Individuals could receive $300 per year in reimbursements, up from $220. Instead of four rides per year, they’d be able to request refunds for 12, and lastly, road closures caused by natural disasters would be covered.
“We’re very excited to have more participation with these changes from all over the county,” Bonfilio said.
With funding from Measure A and the state, SBCAG sets aside $5,000 every year for guaranteed rides home. In 2025 the organization issued a little more than $1,700 for 32 reimbursements, according to a staff report. Bonfilio said SBCAG needed to give residents more opportunities to use the program.
To request reimbursement, commuters must make an account on smartride.org. They select from eligible reasons including personal or family illness, unexpected overtime, bus cancellations, a flat bike tire, and natural disasters. Once approved, SBCAG sends a check in the mail to cover the expense.
Most residents who currently use the program commute to the Santa Barbara area from their homes in North County or Ventura County, Bonfilio said. He hopes once the program grows, it’ll encourage more people to take longer trips on transit.
“We hope that these changes will help get the word out and increase utilization,” Bonfilio said. “Our hope is to make a small program like this available to really move the needle on who can take advantage of the transit systems.”
After incorporating feedback from two advisory committee meetings on April 1 and 2, Bonfilio and his team will seek approval from the SBCAG board of directors at the April 16 meeting. Visit sbcag.org for more information.
This article appears in April 2 – April 9, 2026.