Roxanna Ibarra

The committee discussed several key items, including the review of the ridership and outreach report which highlighted positive trends in fixed route and dial-a-ride ridership. The meeting also covered the presentation of the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Valley Express final budget, which incorporates funding from various federal and local sources, and a recommendation for a two-year extension of the community outreach program contract with Celtis Ventures to continue marketing and transit promotion efforts.

This document provides an implementation framework for integrating Ventura County's nine public transit demand-response services. The framework prioritizes enhancing the overall rider experience, ensuring ADA compliance, delivering coordinated community-level services, and improving productivity and cost control. Key strategies include leveraging a unified trip scheduling platform, consolidating call and dispatch functions, and establishing sustainable funding and governance structures to create a more seamless and efficient regional transit network.

The committee discussed findings for the Fiscal Year 2026/2027 Unmet Transit Needs, reviewed the final Transportation Development Act triennial audit reports for various transit recipients, and received a presentation on the Draft Demand-Response Integration Plan aimed at improving customer experience through phased initiatives. Additionally, the committee received the monthly update on the ADA Certification Services Program.

This plan outlines strategies to enhance the demand-response customer experience across Ventura County, focusing on improving on-demand and paratransit services. Key priorities include enhancing the overall rider experience, ensuring ADA compliance, delivering coordinated public transportation, and improving investment return through increased productivity. The plan emphasizes adopting guiding principles such as promoting fixed-route services, maintaining countywide ADA eligibility, embracing dynamic scheduling via a unified mobile application and phone number, and fostering consistent service branding and uniform policies. It also explores various regional service models and cost allocation approaches to ensure efficient and equitable service delivery.

The committee meeting focused on updates regarding upcoming project timelines and training from Caltrans, as well as an overview of the Connect SoCal Local Data Exchange provided by the Southern California Association of Governments. Additionally, the committee discussed newly adopted programming procedures related to FHWA-administered federal funding.