Stay up to speed with GCTD's Fare Increase
Here's what you need to know!
The recommended fare structure that increases the regular base fare to $2.00 and $1.00 reduced fare was unanimously approved by the GCTD Board of Directors during the meeting held on Wednesday, April 3, 2024. At Gold Coast Transit District (GCTD), we are dedicated to offering professional, high-quality, and dependable transportation services that our community can rely on.
After careful consideration, it has been decided that the fare increase will be implemented on July 7th, 2024, coinciding with the next service change. This adjustment is crucial for ensuring the continued financial sustainability of our transit services while maintaining efficiency and reliability.
We understand the significance of this change and its impact on our passengers. As part of our commitment to serving our community, GCTD will continue offering free rides to seniors over 75, college students, and youth under 18.
It's worth noting that our base fares have remained unchanged since 2011, making this adjustment an essential step in maintaining the quality and reliability of our services.
We appreciate the valuable feedback received from passengers and stakeholders throughout this process. Your input has been instrumental in shaping our decision-making.
More information about the fare adjustment, including specific details and how it will affect different fare categories, will be provided in the coming weeks. We encourage you to stay tuned for updates on our website and through our social media channels.
Thank you for your continued support and trust in Gold Coast Transit District. We are dedicated to serving you with enhanced efficiency and reliability.
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As part of our ongoing commitment to transparency and public engagement, GCTD hosted a public hearing meeting at the following location and time:
- March 6, 2024, at 10:00 AM- Gold Coast Transit District Boardroom located at: 1901 Auto Center Drive, Oxnard, CA 93036
The meeting was held via HYBRID/IN PERSON/ZOOM. The minutes for the March 6, 2024 Board of Directors/Public Hearing meeting are available for review here.
Previously, GCTD held additional in person public meetings on:
Why a Fare Structure Adjustment?
GCTD provides reliable and efficient bus services that meet the needs of our community. We understand that our buses are an essential lifeline for many, connecting neighborhoods, reducing traffic congestion, and contributing to a more sustainable future. While our services are primarily government-funded, fares make up roughly 15% of our annual operating budget and are vital to ensuring GCTD can continue delivering a high-quality service.
Here are the key reasons behind a fare structure adjustment:
- Operational Costs: GCTD has worked to keep fares low, avoiding the need to raise fares since 2011. The cost of fuel, labor, and maintenance have all increased over the last decade. The proposed fare adjustment will help offset these operational expenses and ensure the continued sustainable operations of our services.
- Service Quality: Connecting people to opportunity by providing high-quality service is one of our top priorities. How and when fares are paid impacts the quality of service. Paying cash takes time and slows down trips for everyone. The proposed fare adjustment offers discounts for pre-paid fares to keep your bus moving.
- Financial Stability: Ensuring the financial stability of GCTD is crucial for the long-term viability of public transportation within our district. The fare adjustment is a crucial step to maintaining the fiscal health of GCTD, allowing us to deliver the services you depend on every day.
Ways GCTD is working to keep transit affordable:
- Free Fare Programs: Since 2018, GCTD has participated in the Ventura County Transportation Commission's College Ride Program offering fare-free trips for area college students. A similar program was instituted for youth riders in 2022. GCTD is reimbursed the full fare by the Ventura County Transportation Commission for each trip taken. These programs have been vital to maintaining service levels in GCTD’s post-COVID-19 recovery.
- Discounted Fare Programs: Individuals with disabilities, seniors and veterans are all eligible for 50% reduced fare. Discounts are also available for pre-paid passes including Day passes, 15 - Ride passes, and 31 – Day passes.
- Alternative Funding Sources: GCTD prioritizes the pursuit of new funding sources. GCTD continues to apply to grant programs that will allow GCTD to operate and improve service, maintain and replace vehicles, and enhance transit facilities throughout the district.
- Fare Capping: Pay-As-You-Go (fare capping) allows riders to ride for free after they have paid the equivalent of a daily or monthly pass when using the Token Transit Mobile App. Meaning, if a rider cannot pay the upfront cost of a qualifying pass (i.e. $50.00), they will still receive the benefit of the discount from a prepaid pass once the cap is met. Each time a pass is activated, the Token Transit system scans the passenger’s history to see if the capping applies. If capping applies, the rider will receive the upgraded pass for the remaining amount of time sent directly to their app. You can find additional information on GCTD's fare capping here.
Fare Alternatives
We remain committed to offering affordable transportation options for all community members, which is why GCTD is considering two different fare adjustment scenarios which can be review down below.
Please note, all free fare categories will not be impacted by fare adjustment.
What to Expect:
GCTD has carefully considered the impact on our riders and has worked to strike an important balance – offering low-cost transportation while preserving high-quality services. We remain committed to offering affordable transportation options for all members of our community, which is why we propose two different fare adjustment scenarios.
One notable difference between Alternative 1 and Alternative 2 is that Alternative 2 incentivizes the use of pre-paid fare systems by increasing the fixed route base cash fare to $2.25.
Benefits of Pre-paid Fares:
- Efficiency and Faster Boarding: Pre-paid fare systems allow passengers to pay before boarding, reducing the time buses need to spend at bus stops and instead getting you where you need to go.
- Improved Passenger Flow: Pre-paid systems contribute to smoother passenger flow on and off the bus, reducing crowding and making the overall transit experience more pleasant for everyone.
- Cost Savings: Handling cash transactions and issuing paper tickets can be resource intensive. Moving to a pre-paid system can reduce the costs associated with cash handling services.
- Fare Capping:
Prepaid fare options include magnetic stripe paper tickets and digital passes on the Token Transit Pass app as seen in Figure 2.
Proposed Fare Structure Adjustment Plan
Resources
A bilingual printable copy of the survey can be found here.
Learn more about our proposal and Tell us what's fare! Download our bilingual poster infographics here.
Contact us to learn more about these changes:
Comments on webform: customerservice@gctd.org or call: 805-487-4222