After a successful trial run that helped push ridership to new heights, the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) is working to keep the free transfers coming. VCTC unanimously voted to extend its free transfer program between Ventura Intercity Service Transit Authority (VISTA) lines at last Friday’s Commission meeting, while also requesting continued participation from other bus services countywide. The nine-month pilot project introduced earlier this year has translated to increased ridership for VCTC’s popular VISTA bus service as well as robust usage on all participating transit operators.

“The bus is a key and vital component of a sustainable local transportation system for Ventura County,” noted Cameron Yee, spokesman for the Ventura County Bus Riders Union. “Therefore, we strongly support this recommendation.”

The countywide bus transfer program allows local transit riders to pay a single fare at the time of initial boarding, and to make a single transfer onto a second bus in order to complete their trip. The free transfer is issued at time of fare payment and is valid in a single direction and for a specified time period. Operators participating in the trial program include Camarillo Area Transit, Gold Coast Transit, Moorpark City Transit, Oxnard Harbors and Beaches Dial-A-Ride, Simi Valley Transit, and Thousand Oaks Transit, as well as Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District.

While ridership growth varied by individual operator, VISTA ridership skyrocketed more than 12 percent in May and more than 21 percent in June. In fact, VISTA, which marked its seventeenth anniversary this year, exceeded the one million-rider mark.

More information about VCTC and VISTA bus can be found by visiting www.goventura.org or by calling (800) 438-1112.