• Amtrak train arriving at Goventura station platform in California, urban transit scene.

    New daily Pacific Surfliner service connects Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo

    ORANGE, Calif. (April 6, 2026) The LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency, in partnership with the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) and the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG), has announced the launch of a new daily Pacific Surfliner roundtrip between Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo, expanding travel and commuter options for riders along California’s Central Coast.

    The service expansion, which begins May 4, 2026, increases Pacific Surfliner frequencies to six daily trips to Goleta and three daily trips to San Luis Obispo, improving weekday commuter flexibility and regional connectivity between Los Angeles, Ventura County, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo.

    The additional roundtrip improves schedule availability during peak weekday rush hour periods while offering riders a comfortable alternative to driving.

    “Expanding Pacific Surfliner service helps strengthen regional mobility and provides travelers with more convenient options along the Central Coast,” said Jason Jewell, Managing Director of the LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency. “This new roundtrip improves connectivity across the corridor and offers riders a comfortable alternative to driving.”

    For Ventura County residents and commuters, the expanded service provides additional travel flexibility between Ventura County and destinations throughout the corridor.

    “This new roundtrip strengthens Ventura County’s connection to the broader Southern California rail network,” said Martin Erickson, Executive Director of the Ventura County Transportation Commission. “By providing more travel options during busy weekday travel periods, we’re making it easier for residents and workers to move throughout the region.”

    Santa Barbara County leaders also highlighted how the expanded service demonstrates investment in regional transportation and delivers on the voter-approved Measure A, a half-cent sales tax for transportation in Santa Barbara County

    “More rail service means more flexibility for how people move through our region,” said Marjie KIRN, SBCAG Executive Director. “With Measure A support, we’re delivering on what voters asked for—more options for commuting, school, and everyday travel.”

    SBCAG is hosting an employers forum event on April 22, 2026 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Goleta and informing local employers how to promote jobs and commuting options in the area.

    The Pacific Surfliner service operates along a 351-mile coastal corridor connecting San Diego County, Orange County, Los Angeles, Ventura County, Santa Barbara County, and San Luis Obispo County. The service offers amenities including comfortable seating, power outlets, and scenic coastal views. Perhaps the most appreciated amenity, free onboard Wi-Fi, gives riders the opportunity to work or study while en route to the office or class, maximizing travel time.

    With the new roundtrip, travelers will benefit from expanded schedule options for a variety of trips, including weekday commuting, business travel, university travel, and leisure trips along California’s coast.

    Riders can view updated schedules and plan their trips at http://www.pacificsurfliner.com/goCentralCoast

    ###

    About the Amtrak® Pacific Surfliner®

    The Pacific Surfliner travels along a 351-mile coastal rail route through San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles,

    Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, serving 29 stations. It is the second busiest state-supported intercity passenger rail route in the United States. To learn more and plan a trip, visit pacificsurfliner.com.

    About the LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency

    The Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency is a joint powers authority overseeing the management of the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner service. Comprised of rail owners, operators and planning agencies along the 351-mile LOSSAN rail corridor, the Agency strives to improve passenger rail ridership, revenue, on-time performance, operational flexibility and safety along its service area. The Orange County Transportation Authority provides all necessary administrative support for the LOSSAN Agency and its Board. For more information, visit the LOSSAN website.

    About the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG)

    The Santa Barbara County Association of Governments serves as the regional transportation planning agency for Santa Barbara County, coordinating transportation planning, funding, and programs that support mobility, economic vitality, and environmental sustainability. Learn more at sbcag.org

    About the Ventura County Transportation Commission

    The Ventura County Transportation Commission is the regional transportation planning agency committed to keeping Ventura County moving. Program information available at goventura.org.

  • Valley Express shuttle bus at Goventura Staging with staff and passengers.

    VCTC invites public to join meetings, hearing on unmet transit needs

    Jan. 7, 2026

    The Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) invites the public to share ideas about how to improve bus, paratransit, dial-a-ride, on-demand and rail service in Ventura County.

    VCTC will host in-person and virtual community meetings in January and a public hearing in February as part of its annual unmet transit needs process. Each meeting is an opportunity for people to let local transit operators and government leaders know what can be done to improve transit in the county.

    The meetings are intended to identify transit needs that are not currently being met and are reasonable to meet in Camarillo, Fillmore, Moorpark, Santa Paula, Thousand Oaks and adjacent areas of unincorporated Ventura County.

    The community meetings are scheduled for the following dates and times:

    • 6 p.m. Jan. 12, Grant R. Brimhall Library, 1401 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks;
    • Noon Jan. 15, virtual. Link at goventura.org/unmet-transit-needs;
    • 6 p.m. Jan. 20, Fillmore Library, 502 Second St., Fillmore;
    • 6 p.m. Jan. 21, 2026, Camarillo Library, 4101 Las Posas Road, Camarillo

    Public hearing
    • 9 a.m. Feb. 6, Camarillo City Hall, 601 Carmen Drive, Camarillo

    People who cannot attend the meetings can share their input through an online survey at goventura.org/unmet-transit-needs/. The survey is available in English, Spanish and Mandarin. Comments can also be emailed to transit planner Dolores Lopez at dlopez@goventura.org or shared by calling 805-642-1591, ext. 117. For more information about the Unmet Transit Needs process, visit goventura.org/unmet-transit-needs/.

  • Contactless payment using a credit card and mobile device on public transportation.

    Reduced Intercity bus fares now available for eligible riders using Tap2Ride

    Dec. 10, 2025

    VCTC Intercity bus riders who qualify for reduced fares can now use the new Tap2Ride contactless payment system and receive the fare discount.

    VCTC Intercity offers a discount on fixed-route fares to people 65 and older and Medicare card holders. Reduced fares are 80 cents one way for routes within Ventura County and $2 one way for routes outside Ventura County.

    Tap2Ride allows riders to pay fares using contactless Visa or Mastercard credit and debit cards. Seniors and Medicare cardholders can receive reduced fares on VCTC Intercity buses when paying with a registered debit or credit card. VCTC has partnered with the California Integrated Transit Project (Cal-ITP) to provide the Tap2Ride system and to register credit and debit cards.

    Eligible riders have two options to register their contactless debit and credit card:

    • Online: Visit org/pay. Click the link for reduced fares to begin the registration process.
    • In-person: Beginning in January 2026.

    Riders can also call VCTC’s Regional Transit Information Center at 800-438-1112 for assistance.

  • A modern blue city bus at Goventura Staging bus stop with seating area and shelter.

    VCTC invites public to weigh in on plan to improve bus stops

    CAMARILLO, Calif. – The Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) is hosting four public workshops in December to hear from Ventura County residents about what improvements they would like to see at bus stops in the county.

    The workshops are part of VCTC’s ongoing assessment of the nearly 1,200 bus stops used by the nine transit operators across the county. The assessment will evaluate amenities provided at each of the stops, such as shelters and benches, and will analyze barriers to getting to bus stops, such as the lack of crosswalks.

    The study will also develop a prioritization system to help direct funding towards future stop improvements, such as new shelters, real-time arrival displays, and better accessibility for people with disabilities.

    The meetings are scheduled for:

    VCTC conducted an inventory of bus stops in September and October. The prioritization system is scheduled to be developed in January 2026, with a final assessment report to be released in April 2026.

    More information about the assessment project can be found at https://www.goventura.org/vctc-transit/ventura-county-bus-stop-assessment/.

    Questions may be directed to VCTC transit planner Dolores Lopez by email at dlopez@goventura.org or by phone at 805-642-1591, ext. 117.

  • A smiling man in a suit and pink shirt, Goventura Staging event speaker.

    Executive Director Martin Erickson receives Transit Professional of the Year Award

    Martin Erickson, executive director of the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC), has been named Transit Professional of the Year by the California Transit Association’s Small Operators Committee.

    The committee presented the award to Erickson on Nov. 5, during the association’s 60th annual Fall Conference & Expo in Long Beach. CTA is an advocacy organization for public transit, with more than 200 member organizations across the state, including VCTC.

    Erickson was recognized for his leadership and oversight as VCTC implemented programs to simplify and improve the transit experience for passengers. In June, the agency launched Tap2Ride, a contactless payment system that allows VCTC Intercity passengers to pay fares using contactless debit and credit cards, mobile wallets and smart watches. Also this year, VCTC added several new Intercity buses with features to improve accessibility and safety for people with disabilities.

    Erickson has been instrumental in the success of VCTC’s free-fare programs, including Youth Ride Free and College Ride. Since 2018, these two programs have provided more than 5 million free rides to college students and youths 18 and younger across Ventura County, connecting younger riders to education, jobs, recreation and social activities.

    In addition, Erickson has helped expand VCTC’s role in emergency response in Ventura County. After the Thomas Fire and Montecito debris flow disrupted travel in January 2018, Erickson and several regional agencies collaborated to create the Transportation Emergency Preparedness Plan (TEPP). VCTC now holds a seat in the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Operations Center, and just in the past year, VCTC Intercity buses have helped residents evacuate during wildfires and transported passengers to safety after rail incidents.

    “On behalf of the Commission, I would like to congratulate Martin on being named Transit Professional of the Year. Every day, through his work at VCTC and through partnerships with Ventura County’s other operators, Martin demonstrates his commitment to improving public transit for everyone,” said VCTC Chair and Simi Valley Mayor Pro Tem Mike Judge.

    “I am deeply honored to receive this award from the California Transit Association, and I’m grateful to my Commission and amazing staff for what VCTC has accomplished to improve transit throughout Ventura County,” Erickson said.

  • Ventura County public transit bus parked on the street with palm trees in background.

    Coastal Express route changes begin Nov. 3

    VCTC has announced several changes to its Coastal Express route, as the agency continues to modernize the bus service, improve efficiency and better serve riders’ changing travel patterns.

    The new route changes went into effect Monday, Nov. 3.

    For nearly 25 years, Coastal Express has been transporting passengers to locations in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, including the Ventura County Government Center, Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and UC Santa Barbara. The route, which is funded by VCTC and Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG), has not changed significantly since 2021, despite changes in travel patterns and major destinations.

    In February 2025, nearly 300 people responded to a VCTC survey about changes they would like to see on the Coastal Express route. The survey responses were in addition to requests VCTC had gathered through the annual Unmet Transit Needs process, as well as requests received through calls and emails to VCTC’s Regional Transit Information Center.

    A few themes emerged. Riders expressed that the current schedule was overly complicated and route paths and trip times were not meeting demand. Many also asked for more weekend service to various destinations. Through careful planning by VCTC’s transit staff, VCTC has been able to meet many of those requests.

    Service improvements:

    • Nine new weekday round trips and three limited-stop express trips;
    • Weekend service from Camarillo and Oxnard, an addition requested by more than 47 percent of people who took the survey;
    • More weekday service to Oxnard, downtown Ventura and downtown Carpinteria;
    • Daily service to Santa Barbara Airport.
    • Weekend service to UC Santa Barbara and increased daily service.
    • Revised route numbers and limited trip variations.

    Service reductions and stop changes:

    The addition of new stops and changed routes means some current stops will no longer be served and some stops have moved.

    • Carpinteria Tech Park and City Hall stops will no longer be served;
    • The Esplanade and Collection at Riverpark stops in Oxnard will no longer be served;
    • The Coastal Express stop in Oxnard has moved to Spur Drive and Wagon Wheel Road. Coastal Express riders may park for free in any of 50 designated parking spots. (Note: VCTC’s Highway 101 and Cross County routes will still stop at the Esplanade.)

    Flag stops

    Riders may notice “flag stops” that have replaced former scheduled stops. Buses visit flag stops but will stop only when signaled. Passengers planning to board at a flag stop should arrive early and wave to the driver as the bus approaches. Having few timepoints and flag stops in between is common for transit schedules and helps to speed up the bus.

    Questions?

    VCTC values feedback from riders and is ready to answer questions about the new Coastal Express schedule. To send a comment or to get more information, email ridercomments@goventura.org or call 800-438-1112 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

    To learn more about the new Coastal Express schedule, visit https://www.goventura.org/vctc-transit/rider-alert-schedule-change/

    Posted Nov. 3, 2025

  • Ventura County call box on roadside with natural landscape background.

    VCTC to remove emergency call boxes along Ventura County highways, invest savings in alternate motorist aid services

    Since 2004, motorists have made more than 58,000 calls from emergency call boxes on Ventura County highways. Yet times, and technology, have changed.

    Due to declining use and maintenance service challenges, the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) will end its emergency call box program and remove its system of call boxes along highways in Ventura County, the agency announced July 1.

    VCTC, in its role as the Service Authority for Freeway Emergencies (SAFE), maintains 427 call boxes along highways in Ventura County through the Ventura County Emergency Roadside Call Box System. The call boxes, which operate on the AT&T 4G cellular network, provide motorists who need roadside assistance with a direct line to the California Highway Patrol (CHP) dispatch.

    The VCTC board approved the decommissioning of the emergency call box program at its regular meeting in May. VCTC has notified the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) of its intent to decommission the program and has hired a contractor to place bags over the highway call boxes until the boxes can be removed. Once all the call boxes have been bagged, VCTC will terminate maintenance services and end cellular service. VCTC is hiring a contractor to remove the call boxes, dispose of or recycle the materials, and restore call box sites. The process is expected to be completed by September 1, 2025.

    Call box usage has declined significantly over the past 20 years as the use of personal cell phones has increased. In 2005, motorists on Ventura County highways placed more than 5,800 calls through the emergency call box system. That number had fallen to 849 calls by 2024, a decrease of 85 percent.

    Funding for the call box service comes through VCTC’s Motorist Aid Services Program, which is financed by a $1 annual vehicle registration fee on all vehicles registered in Ventura County. The total cost of operating the call box system ranges from $350,000 to $400,000 annually.

    VCTC has also encountered challenges in maintaining the call box system, with the state’s sole call box maintenance service contractor unilaterally suspending its twice-yearly preventive maintenance inspections. VCTC’s maintenance services contract ended June 30, 2025, and VCTC has elected to not renew the contract. Feasible alternatives to the patented call box technology that can meet the state’s call box guidelines have not been identified.

    VCTC staff is evaluating alternatives to the call box program to ensure motorists continue to receive emergency roadside assistance services. Options under consideration include:

    • expanding VCTC’s Freeway Service Patrol program, which has provided no-cost roadside assistance to Ventura County motorists since 2021. FSP currently operates along certain segments of Highways 101, 118 and 23 during peak traffic periods and provides such services as fixing flat tires and providing a gallon of gas;
    • additional signage to inform motorists of the SoCal 511 emergency phone system, which provides another option to receive roadside assistance by dialing 511;
    • extended CHP agreements for enhanced traffic enforcement.

    VCTC Executive Director Martin Erickson said: “VCTC, as the designated Service Authority for Freeway Emergencies, must balance its dual responsibilities to assist motorists on Ventura County highways and to use financial resources responsibly. By ending the call box system, VCTC will be able to redirect those cost savings into programs that provide a greater benefit to motorists. Staff will evaluate alternatives and return to the Commission with recommendations in the near future.”

    More information about VCTC’s Freeway Service Patrol program is available at goventura.org/fsp. More information about SoCal 511 is available at go511.com.

  • A modern contactless payment device inside a vehicle cockpit for transit fare collection.

    Introducing Tap2Ride, an easier way to pay fares on VCTC Intercity buses

    June 25, 2025

    No cash or a bus pass? No problem.

    The Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) is excited to announce that Tap2Ride, a new contactless fare payment system, is now available on its Intercity service buses.

    With Tap2Ride, passengers no longer need cash or a bus pass to ride VCTC Intercity buses. The Tap2Ride fare payment system accepts contactless-enabled Mastercard and Visa cards, plus Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay mobile payment systems.

    VCTC officially launched Tap2Ride on June 23.

    Passengers on VCTC Intercity buses will see yellow payment readers with the “contactless payment” symbol as they board. Riders simply tap their card or device below the symbol then wait for the green “Go!” screen to confirm payment.

    Currently, Tap2Ride is available only on VCTC Intercity’s blue buses. VCTC is working with Ventura County’s other transit operators to install Tap2Ride technology on every fixed-route bus in the county. That process is expected to be completed by the end of the year or early 2026.

    The Tap2Ride system makes it easier for more people to ride VCTC Intercity buses. Passengers no longer need to carry exact change or put money on a bus pass card.

    Tap2Ride users can also save money the more they ride VCTC Intercity. When paying through Tap2Ride, users will be eligible for pay as you go or “fare capping” discounts. The Tap2Ride system “caps” the amount a passenger pays when riding during a set period to mirror the same discount as a 31-day pass without the upfront cost of purchasing one.

    VCTC Chair and Simi Valley Mayor Pro Tem Mike Judge said: “The Tap2Ride system is an important step toward making public transit easier to use and more accessible to everyone in the community. We look forward to bringing the Tap2Ride system to the rest of the county’s transit systems soon.”

    VCTC Executive Director Martin Erickson said: “At VCTC, we are continuously focused on reducing barriers to using public transit. The Tap2Ride payment system eliminates the need to have cash on hand or purchase a bus pass in advance. Riders can simply board, tap their card or device and go!”

    Passengers who choose not to use Tap2Ride can still use traditional forms of payment, including cash and the VCbuspass card. VCbuspass is accepted by all of Ventura County’s transit operators. Reduced fares that are currently available on VCTC Intercity, such as for riders age 65 and older, are not yet available using the Tap2Ride payment system but will be available soon.

    Riders without access to a bank-provided contactless card or access to a bank account are encouraged to seek assistance through the Bank On national platform, which is led by the nonprofit Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE Fund). Bank On has partnered with more than 100 bank branches across Ventura County. More information about Bank On and a full list of Ventura County partner banks can be found on the Tap2Ride page on VCTC’s website at goventura.org/pay.

    Funding for Tap2Ride on VCTC Intercity buses comes from a state Solutions for Congested Corridors Program (SCCP) award received by the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG), VCTC’s partner on the Intercity Coastal Express route. The SCCP was created by the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 (SB 1).

    For complete information about Tap2Ride, including frequently asked questions, visit goventura.org/pay.

  • Vanessa Schoenewald

    VCTC selects Vanessa Schoenewald as director of programming

    June 6, 2025

    CAMARILLO, Calif. – The Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) is pleased to announce that Vanessa Schoenewald has been selected as the agency’s new director of programming.

    Schoenewald will oversee VCTC’s Programming Department, which is responsible for planning, administering and directing VCTC’s transportation program funds, including grant funding for multiple transportation programs and related government relations. The Programming Department works closely with local jurisdictions to secure state and federal funding for high-priority transportation projects and programs in Ventura County, and to facilitate development and delivery of these projects.

    Schoenewald was selected after a comprehensive search and interview process. She joins VCTC from the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA), where she has served as chief of fund administration since 2023. Before that she spent more than 15 years in progressively responsible management analyst roles at SBCTA and the City of Riverside.

    Schoenewald will join VCTC on June 9. She succeeds Peter De Haan, who retired in May after 26 years of service at VCTC.

    “I’m honored to join the Ventura County Transportation Commission as director of the Programming Department,” Schoenewald said. “I’m excited to support the region by advancing strategic funding efforts that will help move high-priority transportation projects and programs forward. I look forward to working closely with our local jurisdictions and partners to secure and deliver state and federal resources that will strengthen mobility, access, and economic opportunity across Ventura County.”

    VCTC Executive Director Martin Erickson said: “Vanessa comes with excellent experience in state and federal transportation and transit programming from one of our partner Southern California agencies. I am confident her relationships and experience with the California Transportation Commission as well as other agencies will allow her to advance VCTC’s goals and that she will be a great addition to the VCTC team.”

  • A woman riding a bicycle with a child trailer in a park with trees and green grass.

    May is Bike Month, and the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) is encouraging residents to ride to work or school, to improve their health and simply to have some fun.

    During Bike Month, VCTC invites people to pledge to bike at least once before May 31. People who make the pledge online will be entered into a raffle for a chance to win one of 10 prizes, including a bicycle valued at $600, a basic bike tune-up, and gift cards to local bike shops. Prizes are courtesy of VCTC and Bike Month sponsors Ventura Bike Depot and Ventura Cycling Center.

    The pledge form and more information are available at goventura.org/pledge.

    “As Ventura County’s regional transportation planning agency, VCTC helps plan for and supports the development of cycling infrastructure across the county. Bike Month is an excellent time for experienced and new cyclists to try out the multitude of local bike routes and paths available,” said Executive Director Martin Erickson, who often commutes to work using his bike and the VCTC Intercity service.

    Bike Month is a great time to try pairing cycling with public transit for longer journeys. VCTC’s Intercity buses are equipped with bike racks on the front and additional storage underneath, and all of Ventura County’s other transit operators allow bikes. Check with your local operator to learn more about their bike policy. For rail travel, Metrolink and Pacific Surfliner (Amtrak) services both allow passengers to bring bikes onboard trains. Pacific Surfliner passengers must make a free reservation in advance.

    “By choosing to ride a bike and take public transit, people are reducing the number of vehicles on the road. That leads to less traffic congestion, fewer greenhouse-gas emissions and better air quality,” said Claire Grasty, VCTC’s public transit director.

    With the popularity of electric bikes on the rise, VCTC reminds e-bike riders to practice safety and to always follow the rules of the road. The California Highway Patrol has an online e-bike safety and training program available, and the VCTC website has information about e-bikes available, including different classes of e-bikes and where e-bikes are allowed.

    Need suggestions for where to ride? VCTC can help with that, too. Resources include “Biking Ventura County: Routes & Tips for Beginners and Families,” plus a regional bike map that is available online and in printed form. The maps and guides are available at https://www.goventura.org/getting-around/bike/ or by sending an email to bike@goventura.org.

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