VCTC: Listening session on unmet
public transit needs set for Jan. 28
January 28, 2015
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
If you have an opinion on what services area public transit lacks you won’t want to miss the bus when it comes to addressing needs at an upcoming Ventura County Transportation Commission meeting.
Victor Kamhi, the VCTC director of transit services, told the City Council at the January 20 meeting that a local “listening session” for VCTC’s annual Unmet Transit Needs meeting will be held Wednesday, January 28.
The session will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Santa Paula Community Center, 530 W. Main St.
Kamhi said such meetings are also being held in Moorpark and Oxnard; the sessions are to gather input into unmet transit needs - and which are reasonable to meet - that will be addressed by VCTC Commissioners at their February 9 meeting in Camarillo.
Kamhi said VCTC is also accepting written comments and those made by phone.
The agency holds the advance “listening sessions” because “so many are not able to make it” to the main meeting.
“If you have a concern about transit,” a need that is not being provided, said Kamhi, “let us know... “
Ventura County Transportation Commission staff will be on hand to take comments from the public regarding transit needs.
All public comments are considered important and noted Kamhi, “We very carefully convey that to our commission, we don’t edit it out.”
Mayor John Procter said he has been involved in the Unmet Needs hearing process in the past and it provides much needed information to VCTC.
Procter encouraged the public to be involved: “Agencies don’t know what’s going on if you don’t tell them,” he noted.
Those attending the meetings to provide input are encouraged to be as specific as possible, identifying what service, from and to where, at what times and for what group of people the transit service is being proposed.
In addition to identifying specific gaps in service, VCTC has to determine if the identified services are “reasonable” including financially.
Those unable to make Wednesday’s meeting in Santa Paula are invited to submit comments by calling 1-800-438-1112 or via email at kelam@goventura.org
