Transit System Posts Gains in Ridership

After two months of operation, Camarillo Area Transit continues to attract an increasingly large number of riders. In February, 2,965 people took to the city’s buses--565 more than in January.

CAT provides access to people who would otherwise not be able to get around town, including the elderly and disabled and those with no fixed-route buses running through their neighborhoods.

A dial-a-ride service, the newest feature of the bus system, seems to be the main reason for the increase in ridership, said Tom Fox, transportation engineer.

“Dial-a-ride is like a taxi service--it takes you from door-to-door where you want to go within city limits,” Fox said. Dial-a-ride operates from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and until 8 p.m. Friday.

“If ridership grows even more, then we’ll look at extending hours through other nights of the week,” Fox said.

The prior system had only two fixed-route buses that covered most, but not all, of the city.

“The old system was put into place before the western part of the city was developed four to five years ago,” Fox said. “We either had to add new routes or go to a new system.”

The new system has the three dial-a-ride buses as well as a fixed-route bus that starts at Leisure Village in the east end of town and runs to the center of Camarillo through the commercial areas. Hours of operation for the fixed route are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Dial-a-ride reservations may be made up to two weeks in advance and with as little as an hour’s notice.

“More people are riding because we have longer hours of service, serve more areas of the city and have the dial-a-ride, which serves people who maybe just couldn’t use the fixed route,” Fox said.

For route and schedule information, call 988-4CAT.