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VCTC Seeks Input on Unmet Transportation Needs at Public Meetings in January and February
By Anonymous — Monday, January 25th, 2016
Interactive Transportation Forums will be held in Moorpark, Santa Paula and Oxnard and a public hearing will be held Camarillo
The Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) invites the public to a series of Interactive Transportation Forums to give input on whether the existing transportation system is meeting their needs. While the forums will focus on the needs and experiences of transit and paratransit riders in Ventura County, VCTC welcomes comments on all aspects of the region’s transportation system from bus and rail to freeways, bicycle paths and local streets. The forums will be held on the following dates. Additional details are available at www.goventura.org: Jan. 26, 6-7:30 p.m. Jan. 28, 6-7:30 p.m. VCTC will also hold a public hearing from 1:30-3 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 8 at Camarillo City Hall to gather input on unmet transit needs. All meetings are accessible by bus. Moorpark City Transit and Heritage Valley extend evening service until 8 p.m. to accommodate attendees. “We would like to hear what our citizens feel this County needs to keep traffic flowing, people moving and the economy growing. We’d like to hear what they need for better mobility in their daily lives,” said VCTC Executive Director Darren Kettle. ”These meetings help VCTC understand whether the existing transportation system is meeting the needs of our community, especially those who depend on transit.” To capture input from people who are unable to attend a meeting, VCTC has created a brief online survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZS83C7B. Comments may also be emailed to etalbo@goventura.org or mailed to VCTC, 950 County Square Dr., Ventura, Calif., 93003. The comment period will close on Feb. 15, 2016. The public meetings are a requirement of the Transportation Development Act (TDA), a California law that provides funds to improve transit service and surface transportation in communities across the state. Under the TDA, VCTC must annually identify any unmet transit needs in the Ventura County region. Since the priority for TDA funds is transit, a public outreach process is required in counties, such as Ventura, where local street and road projects may be eligible for TDA funding. The law requires that any reasonable unmet transit needs be identified and funded before local jurisdictions may expend the funds on streets and roads. Beginning in July 2014, only the cities of Camarillo, Fillmore, Moorpark and Santa Paula are eligible to use TDA funds for streets and roads. VCTC works collaboratively with other transit providers, however, to invite feedback from the public about all transit services in the county, so the Commission can work to develop policies that improve regional service delivery. About the Ventura County Transportation Commission |
