Gold Coast Transit District will request all passengers on GCTD vehicles and visitors to GCTD facilities to wear a face mask or face covering beginning Monday, April 13, 2020. The CDC recommends that anyone leaving their homes should use face coverings to limit their potential exposure to the COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) and to prevent exposing others. Bus operators and all essential GCTD staff will also wear a face mask covering the nose and mouth effective immediately.
In addition, GCTD will implement new social distancing requirements by limiting the number of passengers to 14 on a 40-foot bus and 10 passengers on 35′ buses. GCTD will make every effort to deploy extra buses on routes where the passenger load may exceed the new capacity limits to help ensure passengers can take timely, essential trips. However, passengers may experience delays.
“We know these latest changes may not be convenient, but GCTD is following what health authorities believe are best practices to cut down on everyone’s potential exposure,” said Steve Brown, GCTD’s General Manager. “The health and safety of our employees and passengers is critical for the District’s mission to continue to deliver service to passengers making essential trips in our community during this pandemic.” GCTD Bus Operators and Supervisors will monitor compliance with the face covering requirement.
GCTD has taken other measures to limit bus operator and passenger exposure to the virus:
Buses are cleaned several times each day with EPA approved disinfectants
District employees are regularly cleaning buses during the daytime hours at the Oxnard Transit Center, Ventura Transit Center and other high ridership locations.
No fare is being collected, and passengers are required to enter and exit from the back doors of the bus. Passengers using the lift or who need special assistance can use the front door.
Encouraging six-feet distance from other passengers (social distancing) while on board.
Additionally, the service changes implemented on March 29th, are still in effect, including:
Daily bus service operates at an enhanced Sunday-level service with the addition of limited service on the Route 19.
GCTD’s paratransit service, ACCESS, is operating regularly but enforcing essential trips only.
“So far, the Governor’s message for everyone to stay home and stay safe has resonated with GCTD passengers,” Brown said. “Bus boardings have gone down from 11,000 or more per weekday to approximately 3,500 boardings per weekday.”
Brown added, “GCTD is doing everything possible to keep our employees and the community healthy and safe and reduce potential exposure. With planning, patience, vigilance, and putting public health first we are coming together as a community to keep ourselves and our neighbors healthy.”
More information can be found on GCTD’s COVID-19 information page www.goldcoasttransit.org/covid19. GCTD is posting real time updates across all of its social media channels, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Follow us there for the latest.
About the District: Gold Coast Transit District provides safe, responsive, convenient, efficient, and environmentally responsible fixed-route bus and paratransit public transportation that serves the diverse needs of the cities of Ojai, Oxnard, Port Hueneme and Ventura, and in the unincorporated County areas between the cities. Utilizing a fleet of 61 clean natural gas-fueled buses, and 26 paratransit buses and vans, GCTD carries nearly 4 million passengers annually on its 20 bus routes. GCTD is the largest provider of public transit in Ventura County and is governed by a Board of Directors made up of an elected official from each member jurisdiction. For more information or to plan your trip, visit www.GoldCoastTransit.org.
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