Saturday Express Bus Service to Start

Fillmore’s civic leaders didn’t want Saturday transit service, but beginning this weekend, shoppers and beach-bound travelers will be able to ride the bus to Ventura anyway.

The new VISTA express service will leave Fillmore at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m., taking 20 minutes to reach downtown Santa Paula, 50 minutes to get to the Ventura Pier and an hour to arrive at Buenaventura Mall. A Dial-A-Ride service will connect residents of Piru, Fillmore and Santa Paula to the express route.

The Fillmore City Council recently voted against starting the one-year trial service. But the city was outvoted by the Santa Paula City Council and Ventura County Transportation Commission.

Fillmore officials balked at paying their $7,219 share of the service’s cost because of the expense and fears that it may not be used, City Engineer Bert Rapp said.

Fillmore will use a portion of the $560,000 it receives annually from gasoline taxes to pay for the service. That money is also used to pay for paving city streets, and Rapp estimates that revenues are sufficient to perform only half the needed maintenance.

No one spoke at a public hearing held to determine whether the service was needed. However, the commission conducted a random survey of bus riders on the existing weekday express route that showed almost 70% would use Saturday service if it were available, Executive Director Ginger Gherardi said.

Moreover, Fillmore leaders were concerned about possible sales tax leakage.

“It would be just another way for people to go out and spend their money in other towns beside Fillmore,” Rapp said.

A coupon for one free ride is available wherever schedules are obtained. Call (800) 438-1112 for information.