Ventura Intercity Service Transit Authority

Ventura Intercity Service Transit Authority, or VISTA is a public transit agency providing bus service in Ventura County, California.It is intended to provide an intercity bus service between Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks,
Moorpark, Santa Paula, and Fillmore

History

Before VISTA was formed in 1994, the County of Ventura provided rudimentaryintercity bus service. One line ran along US 101 with stops in Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo,Thousand Oaks, and Westlake Village. Another service linked Thousand Oaks and Moorpark via SR 23.The City of Fillmore sponsored a few trips between Fillmore and Ventura along SR 126

Because of the limited nature of these services, the Ventura County Transportation Commissionproposed a comprehensive intercity bus system.

Service on four core lines (Highway 101, Highway 126, East County and a "Central" route servingCamarillo, Camarillo State Mental Hospital, Point Mugu and Oxnard) started in July 1994. Over time theseroutes have been adjusted according to ridership. With the closing of Camarillo State Hospital, andthe repurposing of the hospital grounds as a California State University campus, the Central routewas cancelled, and two new campus shuttle routes implemented. In 1998, service was extended to
Warner Center in Los Angeles County, and in 2001, service was extended to Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara.

The VISTA bus service is operated by a private company under contract to the VCTC. Due to thelength of the routes, over-the-road coaches are used.

Routes

Highway 101

Provides service along the length of US 101 in Ventura County, originating at the Pacific View Mall,and stopping at various places in Oxnard, Camarillo, and Thousand Oaks.

Highway 126

This route also originates at the Pacific View Mall in Ventura, and operates along SR 126 to Saticoy, Santa Paula and Fillmore.

East County

VISTA East County route operates in the SR 23 corridor between Westlake Village,Thousand Oaks, and Moorpark.

Conejo Connection

Four round trips, two in the morning and two in the afternoon, connect Oxnard, Camarillo, and Thousand Oaks with the Warner Center Transit Hub and other stops at Warner Center, a business and residential complex in the western San Fernando Valley, in Los Angeles County. At the transit hub, riders may connect with the Metro Orange Line and other transit services from a variety of agencies, providing access to many points in Los Angeles County.

Coastal Express

This route connects Ventura with Carpinteria and Santa Barbara. Peak hour trips alsoserve Goleta and the University of California, Santa Barbara.

CSUCI Camarillo and CSUCI Oxnard

These two shuttle routes connect the California State University, Channel Islandswith the Camarillo Metrolink Station and the Oxnard "C" Street Transfer Center, respectively. Students are encouraged to park in the lots and use the bus to get to campus.

Dial a ride services

VISTA also operates dial-a-ride services in Santa Paula, Fillmore and Piru.

Fares

Cash Fares Within Ventura County:
*Adult: $1.00
*Student: $1.00
*Senior/Disabled: $.50

Santa Paula and Fillmore Dial-A-Rides:
*Adult: $1.50
*Student: $1.50
*Senior/Disabled: $.75

Conejo Connection and Coastal Express:
*Adult: $2.00
*Student: $2.00
*Senior/Disabled: $1.00

Monthly passes are also available.

References

*Citation
title = County OKs Bus Expansion to Link 8 Cities
newspaper = Los Angeles Times (Ventura West Edition)
pages = 1
date = 1993-11-24
year = 1993
*Ventura County Interconnect schedule brochures: 1985-1991
*Various VISTA schedule brochures: 1992-present

External links

* [http://www.goventura.org/home/index.asp?page=101 VISTA homepage]