City Council Drops Bus Route to Ojai

The Ventura City Council has decided to cut bus service from Ventura to Ojai but will keep a route from Buenaventura Mall to Ventura Harbor.

City Transportation Engineer Nazir Lalani, who recommended dropping both routes, said too few people use the two lines, which cost the city nearly $150,000 a year to operate.

The fares from the Ojai bus line make up about 4% of its costs, and the fares from the Ventura Harbor line make up about 8% of its costs, Lalani said. The city’s goal is to subsidize only 80% of a bus line’s operation, he said.

But the council decided unanimously Monday to keep the bus route to Ventura Harbor because some residents who regularly travel that way pleaded with city leaders to retain it. No one spoke against dropping bus service to Ojai.

“We depend on the bus to get us to the bank,” said Beverly Decara, who opposed the cut.

Ventura Mayor Tom Buford said: “I think we’re asking for trouble if we sit here and eliminate a route with two days notice.”