By Daisy Scott / VOICE Magazine, 11.14.25

The State Street Loop electric golf cart, intended to accommodate riders with disabilities, is not fully compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, according to the City of Santa Barbara’s Accessibility Advisory Committee. The AAC has maintained this stance for the entirety of the program’s run, reiterating their concerns that city staff should not call the cart ADA compliant during its November 14th meeting. 

“From the beginning of our committee’s involvement in discussions regarding the State Street shuttle program, we were assured that the vendor selected for the shuttle program would provide a compliant, accessible vehicle,” wrote AAC chair Elizabeth Sorgman to city staff on June 1st, three days after the Loop program began on May 29th. Sorgman worked for the city’s Building Department as a Senior Plans Examiner for 17 years and was the city’s first Certified Access Specialist (CASp) staff member. 

“Unfortunately, this commitment was not upheld. A site visit and direct participation by one of our committee members—an individual with firsthand experience using mobility devices—clearly demonstrated the vendor’s lack of understanding of accessibility standards,” she wrote. 

VOICE received copies of the emails exchanged between Sorgman, writing on behalf of the AAC, and city staff in the weeks leading up to and after program kickoff. Sorgman sent emails to State Street Master Planner Tess Harris, City Administrator Kelly McAdoo, ADA Coordinator and recently named Public Works Director Brian D’Amour, Downtown Team Manager Sarah Clark, Principal Architect Craig Shallanberger Clark, Downtown Plaza and Parking Manager Edward France, and City Councilmember Oscar Gutierrez. 

Numerous issues with the cart were raised by AAC members during their May 16th meeting and sent to staff via email on May 18th, eleven days before the program’s official launch, including a primary concern that the vertical height of the cart is not tall enough for wheelchair users who need taller seating configurations or head support. Additional issues included the cart’s ramp being too steep and lacking the mandatory four-inch tall edge protection.

Harris responded the next day, writing that Sweep Inc, who is leasing the electric golf carts to the city, was working to alter the ramp and install an additional guardrail. However, she stated that the cart’s roof height could not be changed as the city would be renting existing vehicles instead of custom-made carts, adding that the city would “keep this input for a potential future longer-term shuttle option on State Street.”

After this reply, Sorgman sent a June 1st email to city staff, writing that the AAC urged the city to: “formally acknowledge that the current vehicle does not meet ADA accessibility standards; pause public operations of the modified cart until full compliance is achieved or alternative solutions are provided; ensure all future vehicle designs—pilot or permanent—are reviewed and approved by qualified ADA consultants prior to implementation; [and] engage directly with individuals with disabilities and relevant committees early in the design process, not simply after problems have arisen.”

The Loop program has continued without interruption, with the City Council voting on November 18th to extend the contract for six months. The extension will add an additional cart that the city asserts will be ADA compliant. This decision will bring the number of operating carts to four, with two being designated to be ADA compliant.

Harris commented to VOICE that the changes to the ramp, side of the vehicle, and tie downs for wheelchairs were completed prior to the pilot program’s launch. On November 14th, she addressed the AAC, confirming these changes were made and reiterating that the city cannot change the cart’s height without purchasing the vehicle—a move the city would not commit to for a pilot program.

“We have provided all of the specifications for ADA to the business and they have implemented them to our understanding, with the exception of, I know there was a concern about the height of the cart,” said Harris. “Actually dismantling the cart to raise it is not something that could happen unless you’re purchasing a separate cart itself. We are leasing the carts at the moment.”

The AAC responded that they take issue with the city’s trend of putting the responsibility of adhering to ADA guidelines on individual businesses, highlighting that it takes a qualified expert to determine if a resource is truly ADA compliant.  

“I just want to point out a lot of the documentation that the city has put out for businesses says that they need to be ADA compliant. Businesses don’t know how to do that,” said Sorgman. “And so I’m still wary of the fact that you’re banking on the person who’s providing the service to say that they’re compliant, when they probably don’t have the expertise to be able to say that’s true. And so you have no idea, really, if it’s compliant or not.”

“I would caution you about using the word ‘compliant’ with regards to that cart,” said AAC member Nick Koonce. “My concern is that the city should be wary of using the word ‘compliant’ when we don’t know that’s the case. Maybe ‘accessible shuttle,’ I think that’s valid.” 

Harris voiced to the AAC that the city would pursue a request for proposals for a long-term shuttle solution as a part of the State Street Master Plan. Until that time, the city will continue leasing from Sweep.

“Your response acknowledged the concern but dismissed the need for compliance by stating that the current limitations exist because this is a ‘pilot program.’ With respect, that rationale does not excuse noncompliance,” wrote Sorgman on June 1st. “ADA standards do not contain exemptions for pilot projects, and the City’s use of this justification underscores the very concerns we raised.”

The State Street Loop is one of the city’s interim actions during its Master Planning process. The program has been subsidized by Friends of State Street, meaning that the city has paid a little under $100,000 in total thus far. By moving forward with the contract extension, the city will be taking on the cost of $193,800 for services through the end of May 2026. 

The initiative responded to hundreds of community members who have called for a vehicle to help downtown accessibility since cars and an MTD shuttle were removed from the promenade. According to city surveys, the program has served over 16,000 riders since May, including 753 riders with accessibility needs. 

Yet when the AAC examined the cart prior to its launch, members were disappointed. They reached out to the City of San Diego ADA Coordinator as well as accessibility consulting firm Evan Terry Associates to confirm current ADA compliance requirements, and Sweep made some modifications to the cart with the exception of the height change. Still, additional concerns linger for AAC members. 

Harris confirmed on the 14th that the city’s contract with Sweep outlines that they must meet ADA requirements. She also voiced that the city initially had a CASp staff member review the cart, adding that the city would be open to having an external, transportation-specific ADA expert review the carts. 

The AAC asked if it would be possible for Santa Barbara MTD’s electric shuttle, which is known to meet ADA guidelines, return to State Street. The city did not post a request for proposals prior to the State Street Loop’s launch as an interim program.

Harris replied that the city is currently looking into long-term alternatives that meet ADA requirements but are smaller than traditional buses to travel up and down State Street. 

“For the initiation of the pilot, we opted to go with Sweep SB after review of a few companies that offer transportation services in smaller vehicles that could be accommodated with the current configuration of State Street,” Harris commented to VOICE. “Sweep Inc is a local company, with their offices in the Funk Zone. They already had the drivers and carts, resulting in a faster turnaround for the pilot and reduced cost (i.e. the city did not have to purchase new vehicles).”

Hillary Blackerby, SB MTD Planning and Marketing Manager, commented to VOICE when asked, “Yes, [MTD] would be willing to make a proposal [for a State St. shuttle, however] as configured now, no. Maybe a different configuration would work.”

Councilmember Gutierrez commented to VOICE that he was made aware of the AAC’s concerns in June, was told that city staff were looking into addressing issues, and that he would follow up with staff.