Public Transit

Transportation is an important issue for many and can become even more so as you move further into your retirement. As you consider your options of where to retire, Ventura County, California, has you covered if you want to maintain your independence with or without driving every day.

Retirement Community Transportation

The majority of adults who live in a retirement community don’t even need to consider Ventura County public transit, as most of their transportation is taken care of by the community. For example, most retirement communities offer:

• Group transportation to recreational and cultural events
• Scheduled transportation to major shopping and public events
• Transportation to doctor’s offices and medical appointments

The transportation services available in Ventura County retirement communities are often cited as one of the reasons adults choose to move from an independent home. Community transportation is simple, easy and convenient.

However, for those who want other transportation options, Ventura County, as well as individual cities, offer plenty of options.

Ventura County Transit

The Ventura County Department of Transportation (VCDT) provides several types of public transportation that can help you get where you need to go. The VCTC (Ventura County Transportation Commission) Intercity covers six intercity commuter bus routes across Ventura County. Ventura bus routes also offer service to Warner Center and Santa Barbara. Buses are wheelchair accessible, have comfortable reclining seats and provide free Wi-Fi. Click here for the Ventura County bus schedule and here for information concerning the purchase of a Ventura bus pass.

Additionally, regional and national rail service is provided in and out of the city of Ventura by Amtrak and Metrolink. Metrolink also provides connecting service to LAX.

Gold Coast Transit, formerly known as SCAT, provides fixed-route bus services in Ventura, Oxnard, Ojai, Port Hueneme and unincorporated areas of Ventura County. All buses are senior- and disability-friendly.

The VCAAA (Ventura County Area Agency on Aging) can provide transportation tickets to older adults (age 60 and older) and disabled individuals free of charge. Click here to learn more about the ElderHelp Transportation program which includes fixed-route bus tickets and Dial-A-Ride tickets (paratransit).

Perhaps you’ve never used public transit before and you’re finding yourself overwhelmed with the prospect. Not to worry! If you need a little help navigating the public transit system for any reason, free travel training assistance is available. Or, if you’d prefer to simplify things even more, consider a luxury senior living community in Ventura County that offers concierge services as well as transportation to make getting around simple and easy.

Westlake Village Transportation

Additional transportation services are available if you live in Westlake Village. The Westlake Village Trolley provides transportation services free of charge each Friday and Saturday night during the summer season and again during the winter holiday. The trolley makes a one direction loop through the City.

Contracting directly with the City of Thousand Oaks, Westlake transportation services provide senior and disabled Dial-A-Ride services for those who qualify. Watch this video to learn more about the program.

Simi Valley Transit

Simi Valley Transit (SVT) offers a fixed-route bus service with connections to Ventura County VCTC-East County and Los Angeles County’s METRO, making it easy for residents to enjoy not only Simi Valley, but big city attractions as well. Online trip planning assistance is available for Ventura County and Los Angeles County. Click here for Simi Valley bus schedules and route maps and here for Simi Valley bus fare and pass information. One Simi Valley resident had this to say about exploring surrounding towns while living in Simi Valley:

“While there is much to explore in this city, there are also very nearby surrounding cities with that much more. You can travel out of Simi for a day and explore the busy cities around it and feel relieved in the comfort of coming back home to your quiet, cozy city at night.”

Simi Valley Transit also provides specialized transportation services to older adults and those with disabilities. Persons aged 65 and older, Medicare cardholders and those with an ADA-certified disability may obtain reduced fares – half price – on SVT fixed-route buses. All buses are ADA-accessible with wheelchair accessible seating and ramps.

SVT also offers CONNECT InterCity services. Passengers aged 65 and older and certified-ADA individuals can now travel across most of eastern Ventura County and never worry about transferring between transit providers.

Amtrak provides services out of the Simi Valley train station. The station is served by Coast Starlight train and Pacific Surfliner with connections to Metrolink and Simi Valley Transit. Many individuals and couples who retire in Ventura County are particularly happy with Simi Valley’s train station because it makes it easy to take trips throughout the state to visit relatives or simply go sightseeing.

Public Transit in Ventura County

With so many options, it’s easy to see that you’ll have all your transportation needs met when you decide to retire to Ventura County. Whether you’d prefer the ease and luxury of transportation from a retirement community or the adventure of taking a train, Ventura County public transit makes it possible for everyone to travel they way they prefer.