For Immediate Release: Thursday, October 12, 2023
(Oxnard, CA) – Gold Coast Transit District (GCTD) is seeking feedback from the public on the development of its Short-Range Transit Plan (SRTP). Looking ahead to the next five years, this vital transportation planning tool will guide bus service improvement as the agency’s investment in infrastructure and capital projects from 2024-2029.
Community input is the cornerstone of the SRTP process. GCTD encourages anyone who lives, works, or goes to school in Ojai, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Ventura, and areas in between to provide their thoughts about the current condition of the transit system in Western Ventura County. A community survey to capture this feedback is available now through December 1, 2023 in both English and Spanish at www.gctd.org/SRTP24.
“Our goal is to improve mobility and enhance quality of life in our region,” said Vanessa Rauschenberger, GCTD General Manager. “We want to know which aspects of the transit system are working well for people and what needs to be improved. We want to hear from current riders, as well as former and non-riders about what we can do to make riding the bus a better experience.”
Survey respondents who provide their contact information will be entered for a chance to win a $50 Visa gift card and a 31-day bus pass.
GCTD is also offering to provide presentations to stakeholder groups in October and November. Interested organizations can contact Project Manager Austin Novstrup at anovstrup@gctd.org or 805-483-3959 to request a presentation. A recording of the presentation will be available in English and Spanish at www.gctd.org/SRTP24 beginning mid-October.
The SRTP will look at all facets of GCTD transit service and recommend how to improve them. The purpose of the SRTP is to improve mobility and quality of life in the region by:
- Enhancing transit effectiveness and efficiency
- Restructuring bus service to promote economic growth and community connectivity.
- Assessing the feasibility of creating a high-quality transit corridor between Oxnard and Ventura
- Improving ridership, reliability, and customer experience.
The development of the SRTP is a one-year process that began in June 2023 and will conclude with board review of the final plan document in Summer 2024. Another round of community engagement activities is planned for Spring 2024 when the public will have an opportunity to review proposed system improvements, including the feasibility of a new, high-quality transit corridor between Ventura and Oxnard.