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San Marcos Today
By the People, for the People
Santa Barbara County Launches Carpool Challenge to Ease Commutes
New 90-day pilot program offers incentives and support for county employees to share rides
Apr. 17, 2026 at 9:18am
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A new county-led carpool challenge aims to reduce single-occupancy vehicle commutes and traffic congestion across Santa Barbara.San Marcos TodaySanta Barbara County is launching a 90-day 'Spring into a Carpool' challenge to encourage its 4,700 employees to share rides and reduce traffic across the county. The program, running from April 16 to July 14, will provide carpool matching, events, and incentives in partnership with the SBCAG's Smart Ride program. Locals can explore commuter support options through the SBCAG website.
Why it matters
Traffic congestion and commute times are ongoing challenges for Santa Barbara County. This new carpool pilot aims to leverage the county's large workforce to test strategies for reducing single-occupancy vehicle trips and promoting more sustainable transportation options.
The details
The 'Spring into a Carpool' challenge will provide Santa Barbara County employees with tools to find and coordinate carpool partners, as well as events and incentives to encourage participation. The program is a collaboration between the county and the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG), which oversees the regional Smart Ride commuter program.
- The 90-day carpool challenge runs from April 16 through July 14, 2026.
The players
Santa Barbara County
The local government entity launching the carpool challenge program for its 4,700 employees.
Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG)
The regional transportation planning agency partnering with the county on the carpool challenge and providing the Smart Ride commuter program resources.
What’s next
The county will evaluate the results of the 90-day carpool challenge pilot to determine if it should be expanded or made a permanent program to help reduce traffic congestion and emissions from single-occupancy vehicle commutes.
The takeaway
This carpool challenge represents a proactive step by Santa Barbara County to leverage its large workforce and partner with regional transportation agencies to test innovative strategies for easing commute burdens and promoting more sustainable transportation options for local residents.
