Santa Maria Regional Transit (SMRT) of California, alongside SporTran of Shreveport, Louisiana, recently earned the Community Transportation Association of America's (CTAA) Large Transportation System of the Year award, sending a powerful message across the industry: small agencies can lead significant change.

"When our small team heard that our significant efforts to enhance public transit in Santa Maria and throughout northern Santa Barbara County were being recognized with the CTAA award, we felt a tremendous amount of validation of our efforts, along with motivation to keep on going," Gamaliel Anguiano, transit services manager for the City of Santa Maria, says.

According to CTAA's website, large transit is defined as providing service in an urban area with a population of more than 50,000 and/or receiving 5307 funds.

The Large Transportation System of the Year award recognizes transportation systems for innovative and creative services in their communities, being responsive to customer and community needs, collaborating with other public and special services transportation providers, providing accessible transportation services, and more.

These traits have become a hallmark of SMRT's success. Through data-driven planning, bold investments in technology, and a commitment to the rider experience, the agency has redefined what's possible for a mid-sized California transit system.

How SMRT Is Redefining Modern Transit

Just a few years ago, SMRT's transit network bore a resemblance to those of other small cities, characterized by limited routes, inconsistent service windows, and outdated vehicles. Today, Santa Maria boasts an on-time performance rate of over 96% and ensures that 95% of residents live within 1/4 miles of a bus stop.

Outside the City of Santa Maria, SMRT's service area includes the unincorporated communities of Orcutt and Tanglewood, as well as regional service to the towns of Guadalupe, New Cuyama, Lompoc, Vandenberg, Los Alamos, Buellton, Solvang, Santa Ynez, and the Chumash reservation, along with recently launched service to San Luis Obispo County.

This transformation was driven by a simple philosophy that every improvement should directly benefit the rider. SMRT's new electric bus fleet reflects that, featuring AI-assisted technology, USB charging, infotainment screens, reclining seats, Wi-Fi, contactless fare options, and even medical-grade air purification systems.

Each bus also features new branding and hidden "Easter eggs" in the livery, which are fun design touches that connect with the community and make everyday commutes memorable.

"It carries a lot of weight for our small team to receive this national award," says Anguiano. "It is tempting to think that only the big agencies with much more resources are the only ones able to get big things done."

One of Santa Maria's most notable achievements is its deep commitment to sustainability. By the end of 2025, the agency expects to operate a 100% electric fleet of more than 40 vehicles, making it one of the first small-city transit systems in the United States to achieve full electrification.

With over $38 million invested in electric buses and charging infrastructure, SMRT recognized the need to protect its assets. The solution? "Officer Bus-Ster," a fully autonomous security robot that patrols the agency's transit yards 24/7.

Equipped with LIDAR, SONAR, Infrared, thermal imaging, and motion detection, the robot provides constant surveillance, according to Anguiano, at half the cost of traditional security while tripling patrol coverage.

"We quickly concluded that we could not afford even a single incident of electric vehicle or infrastructure vandalism," says Anguiano.

Data, Decisions, and the Drive for Smarter Mobility

Behind the scenes, SMRT's operations are guided by real-time data. The agency uses analytics to plan routes, evaluate service levels, and communicate transparently with riders.

Through mobile trip planning, tap-to-pay systems, real-time tracking, and even onboard games, the agency blends functionality with fun. However, in some ways, the new data validated their initial efficiency assumptions predating the technology rollouts, and overall, it helps SMRT make appropriate course corrections.

"Transit planning has often been half art, half science," says Anguiano. "Technology provides the science to show our public and our leadership why certain decisions need to be made."

Although data showed that SMRT's fixed routes serve nearly all riders, the agency saw an opportunity to reach those whose work or school schedules extend beyond regular service hours. The answer? Microtransit.

"For us, Microtransit was never about offering an alternative to a dwindling fixed-route system," says Anguiano. "Rather to offer more and to do so efficiently."

SMRT's partnership with Karsan introduced the electric eJest minibus, which enables ADA accessibility and improved driving maneuverability. With curb-to-curb service and a low floor, the eJest can navigate tight spaces like cul-de-sacs and parking lots in the "latest of evening hours."

Innovation Without Limits: What's Next for SMRT

Anguiano insists that SMRT's story is still being written. Over the next four years, the agency plans to expand its service area, develop rapid transit corridors, test autonomous shuttle routes, and even experiment with augmented reality rider guides.

"We still have to deal with the FTA, limited funding, limited staffing, and highly technical work, [...] what might set us apart from others is that despite universal challenges, we are committed to 'leaving no stone unturned' to enhance the transit riding experience," says Anguiano.

By transforming a small municipal system into a national model of innovation, Santa Maria Regional Transit has demonstrated that big ideas don't have to originate from big cities.

"I am a firm believer that there is nothing that we in Santa Maria are accomplishing that is not achievable by another transit agency, even with our industry challenges," Anguiano says.