VCTC |

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.

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.”

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.