New Camarillo Transit System Set to Begin

The city will roll out its new public transportation service on Jan. 6.

Camarillo Area Transit will consolidate the city’s two bus lines into one fixed-route line and add dial-a-ride service for the general public.

City Assistant Traffic Engineer Roc Pulido said that changes in demand spurred the changes in the service. People wanting to shop at outlying retail centers found that fixed routes didn’t accommodate them, he said.

The new fixed route will have 12 stops, including Leisure Village, Pleasant Valley Hospital, Village Square and the Camarillo Community Center.

Signs for smaller, infrequently used stops, including several along Las Posas Road, will be removed. Pulido said that at corners where it is safe for drivers to stop, patrons can flag a passing bus down, even though they’re not standing at designated stops.

“It’s going to take an hour to run the route,” Pulido said. Thus, if a bus leaves a stop at 9:20 a.m., the next bus will leave that stop at 10:20 a.m.

The new transit system is also taking over the dial-a-ride program from the Camarillo Health District, which previously provided the service for residents with disabilities.

Same-day service for the dial-a-ride may be available, depending on the demand, but Pulido recommended that reservations for service be called in one day ahead.

“We’re hoping that a lot of people will utilize this,” he said.

Hours for the fixed-route service will be 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Dial-a-ride service will be available 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Dial-a-ride reservations can be made starting Monday by calling (805) 988-4228.

The one-way fare for both services is $1 for adults and students, 50 cents for seniors and persons with disabilities.