The tracks are laid for a new commuter rail service from Ventura County to Santa Barbara, with the trains expected to start running in late April or early May.
On Feb. 19, the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments board voted unanimously to approve an agreement with other transportation agencies in the region for the new train routes and to allocate $1.1 million to pay for half of the first year of the service.
The Ventura County Transportation Commission board already voted on Feb. 6 to approve its $1.1 million share of the funding. Another public agency that oversees Amtrak rail service between San Diego and San Luis Obispo gave its approval Feb. 17, so there are no obstacles left to a launch in the coming months, Whitney Rush, a senior transportation planner with the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments, told the SBCAG board before its Feb. 19 vote…