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VCTC Introduces Valley Express, First Fixed Routes in Service Area
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The Ventura County (CA) Transportation Commission (VCTC), Ventura, introduced service March 2 on its new fixed route bus system, Valley Express. The new service replaces VISTA, the agency's di al-a-ride service, which previously was its only offering except for a regional intercity route that remains in operation.
Specifically, Valley Express will operate on four new fixed routes in three communities, while VCTC continues to provide
dial-a-ride service to areas not served by the fixed routes. Valley Express will also connect with the regional route, which operates along a major thoroughfare (Highway 126). | "While the Valley Express provides intra-community mobility, its connectivity with the Highway 126 service ensures residents can access the education, healthcare and employment opportunities within Ventura, Oxnard and beyond," VCTC Executive Director Darren Kettle said during opening day ceremonies.
VCTC Director of Bus Services Vic Kamhi added, "There are a lot of places in our service area that the fixed routes don't access. The fixed routes run in the area with the heaviest ridership. We want to make sure nobody loses transit and we're introducing this new service to handle increased ridership so we can pick up the people we've had to turn away."
Kamhi noted that VCTC used California Proposition 1B funds to purchase five cutaways for the fixed routes and 10 dial-a-ride vehicles to replace the former VISTA vehicles.
"We're introducing an all-new fully accessible fleet for the Valley Express service, made up primarily of large cutaways," said Fillmore Councilmember Manuel Minjares. "These vehicles continue the personal feel of the prior dial-a-ride service while navigating the sometimes narrow roadways through the communities."
Kamhi said VISTA was successful from its launch in 1994, but by 2009 its vehicles were packed but expansion was not possible. Funding provided for VISTA through the California Transportation Development Act was sufficient to maintain service at current levels but not to expand it despite the demand.
In 2010, VCTC received a $60,000 Community-Based Transportation Planning Grant, administered by Caltrans, that funds coordinated transportation and land-use planning projects that encourage community involvement and partnership. The grant allowed the commission to start considering service alternatives; planning for the fixed route service began in 2014.
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