As Ventura County’s regional transportation planner and bus operator, the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) is monitoring COVID-19 closely and staying in contact with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Ventura County Office of Emergency Services and other local transit providers. Currently, VCTC Intercity buses are running as usual while VCTC takes steps to reduce health risks for the community.

“Currently, our service is not affected by the coronavirus; however, should changing circumstances require us to adjust or cancel service, we will provide timely and detailed information via email, our website, and social media. We are monitoring the situation closely, along with the community of transit operators across Ventura County,” said Darren Kettle, VCTC executive director.

The following are highlights of the hygiene protocols we have implemented across VCTC Intercity Transit services:

Enhancing cleaning: VCTC has increased frequency of cleaning on fleets and at ticket sales office to multiple times a day, including with every shift change. VCTC utilizes recommended disinfectants to wipe down surfaces and equipment, with specific emphasis on high touch points.

Increasing supplies of antibacterial products: VCTC has increased available supplies to staff and drivers, such as antibacterial hand-sanitizer wipes, and made them available throughout employee workspaces.

Reinforcing good hygiene practices: We are sharing with employees and passengers the best ways to prevent communicable diseases, as well as implementing social distancing techniques, when possible. Training and other materials are distributed throughout our operations and will be revisited regularly by staff.

VCTC also shares the following CDC-recommended tips for riders to keep themselves and the community healthy:

Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
When sneezing and coughing, use tissues, promptly dispose of them and immediately wash your hands.
If you are feeling ill, please stay home until feeling better.
Practice social distancing by staying six feet from anyone who appears sick and selecting a bus seat far from other riders when possible.

For more information on COVID-19, please visit cdc.gov, and for local emergency planning information go to vcemergency.com.

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 is available at goventura.org.