David Aguirre, executive director of the Imperial County Transportation Commission, told the Imperial City Council about proposed changes to IVT Ride, a dial‑a‑ride service in Imperial County.
Aguirre said the changes would open the service to the general public while preserving senior and disability access, add a mobile booking application that accepts electronic payments, unify fares across service areas and standardize hours. “We are planning to begin operating under the new general public service umbrella starting 09/02/2025,” Aguirre said.
The proposal keeps the existing service areas — El Centro, Heber, Imperial, Brawley, Calexico and West Shores — but would make hours uniform: Monday–Friday 6 a.m.–6 p.m. and weekends 7 a.m.–2 p.m. Under the plan seniors and eligible persons with disabilities would retain the ability to make advance reservations up to two weeks, while the general public would book trips through the app. Aguirre said the unified fare would be $2 per trip for the general public and $1 for seniors and persons with disabilities; the dispatch center will continue to accept cash.
Aguirre said the service will continue to use vehicles equipped with ADA infrastructure (wheelchair lifts/ramps) and onboard cameras. The Brawley service area would be expanded to serve an SDSU external campus location that currently lacks transit access; other connections would link to existing fixed‑route services and the county’s complementary paratransit option.
Council members asked about priority for seniors and Spanish language support. Aguirre said seniors will retain scheduling priority because they may prebook trips, and the mobile application and all outreach materials will be available in English and Spanish. He described a planned outreach program to senior centers, nutrition sites and housing complexes and said marketing materials and a website would be published before launch.
The item was presented for information; no council action was required. Aguirre and his staff said they will continue outreach and return with operational updates as the September start date approaches.