VCPWA Transportation Department Collaborates With East County to Launch New Ride Service

VENTURA, Calif. - Aug. 4, 2015 - PRLog -- The Ventura County Public Works Agency Transportation Department and the cities of Moorpark, Simi Valley, and Thousand Oaks launched an improved demand response service for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) qualified riders and seniors age 65 and older effective August 3, 2015.

The new service, coordinated by the East County Transit Alliance (ECTA), is being provided in response to ECTA’s goals of improved transportation service and coordination in eastern Ventura County. This improved service is ECTA’s first consolidated effort to improve transportation service and simultaneously add new services never before available.

Under this program, residents living in the participating agencies’ service areas will be able to travel anywhere in the other members’ service areas, plus Camarillo, as well as make connections with Gold Coast Transit District’s GO ACCESS service. ADA-qualified riders can also make convenient transfers to LA Access for service to Los Angeles County.

The service will be operated by Thousand Oaks Transit, using brand-new vehicles dedicated exclusively for this service and equipped with the latest in ride comfort and safety equipment. The service establishes a uniform fare, operating schedule, and service standards across most of the ECTA service area and eliminates the need to transfer between operators.  The $5 fare will be standard for all rides, regardless of trip length or destination.

Staff from the VCPWA Transportation Department worked for many months with the three cities to include County unincorporated areas in the service plan, including Oak Park, Newbury Park, Rolling Oaks, Ventu Park, Lake Sherwood, Lynn Ranch, Hidden Valley, Santa Rosa Valley, Santa Susana Knolls, Home Acres, Somis, and CSU Channel Islands.

The Board of Supervisors approved participation in the program on July 7, and the new service will be funded with Transportation Development Act Funds. Dave Fleisch, PWA Transportation Department Director, called this a tremendous step forward for senior and disabled individuals in the east County.