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VCTC outlines short‑range transit changes for Camarillo; council asks for more outreach and data
Summary
Ventura County Transportation Commission staff presented a draft short‑range transit plan that would reorganize Camarillo fixed‑route service into two opposing loops to increase frequency and access; council members requested more localized outreach and underlying data before any formal adoption decisions.
Martin Erickson, executive director of the Ventura County Transportation Commission, and consultant Jeremiah LaRose presented the county’s Short Range Transit Plan to the Camarillo City Council on Nov. 12, describing countywide planning and local concepts for Camarillo.
The plan proposes two bi‑directional fixed‑route loops in Camarillo, offset by 30 minutes, to provide approximately 30‑minute service across most population centers and to better connect to the Metrolink station and other regional services. The consultants said the redesign would shift resources from the existing fixed route and could double fixed‑route revenue hours if fully implemented; it would also preserve Dial‑A‑Ride (paratransit) service for high‑need riders rather than converting them to fixed route.
Jeremiah LaRose emphasized that the plan is intended as a ten‑year roadmap and that the consultant role is concluding; staff and local agencies would implement the recommendations. “We don’t have a ridership projection per se,” LaRose said in response to council questions, explaining that the consultant’s figures measure access (people within walking distance of stops) and that marketing, consistent schedules and frequency are essential to attract riders.
Council members asked about community outreach in Camarillo—particularly to senior communities such as Leisure Village and Camarillo Springs—and requested more specific data showing how the proposed changes would affect current riders and costs. Erickson and LaRose said the draft includes online surveys, library meetings and stakeholder outreach and that a fuller draft report and underlying data were expected to be released to VCTC in December with a draft in January.
No council vote was required; the presentation served as information and guidance for future staff and VCTC work. Council members asked staff to coordinate additional localized outreach and public education if the city moves toward adopting the recommended changes.
