Our Story
For five decades, GCTD has provided safe, responsive, convenient, efficient, and environmentally responsible public transportation that serves the diverse needs of our community.
Gold Coast Transit District was founded in 1973 as South Coast Area Transit with the merger of the Ventura City Transit Lines and the Oxnard Municipal Bus Lines. The system adopted the name Gold Coast Transit effective July 1, 2007. In October 2013, California Assembly Bill 664 was chartered as the enabling legislation to transition Gold Coast Transit from a joint powers authority to a special purpose transit district. On July 1, 2014, the agency officially became Gold Coast Transit District (GCTD). The district's founding member jurisdictions include the cities of Ojai, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, and Ventura and the County of Ventura. In July of 2019, GCTD moved from its original 3-acre site in Downtown Oxnard, to its newly built Operations and Maintenance facility.
Share your story!
Help us remember the good times! We are proud to have been a part of your life for the past five decades. Did you make a good friend on the bus? Meet your spouse? We want to hear it!
1973
Founding of GCTD
GCTD was founded in 1973 as “South Coast Area Transit” when the cities of Ojai, Oxnard, Port Hueneme and San Buenaventura executed a Joint Powers Agreement that created “SCAT” to develop and operate local and intercity public transportation in western Ventura County.
SCAT is Renamed to Gold Coast Transit
South Coast Area Transit is renamed to Gold Coast Transit to better reflect its location along California’s “gold coast”, a nickname often used to describe Ventura County.
2007
2014
GCTD Becomes a Special District
In October 2013, Governor Brown signed Assembly Bill AB 664, which formed the Gold Coast Transit District. The district legislation was initiated in response to Senate Bill SB 716, which required that all TDA funds in Ventura County be used solely for public transit purposes. Formation of a transit district allows GCTD’s Board of Directors and staff greater flexibility in implementing service improvements by looking beyond jurisdictional borders in order to efficiently and effectively meet the public’s transit needs. The agency officially became a district on July 1, 2014.
New Headquarters
In 2019 the District moved into new headquarters located at 1901 Auto Center Drive in Oxnard CA. The New Operations and Maintenance Facility will allow GCTD to continue to meet the growing transit needs of the community.
2019
1973
Founding of GCTD
GCTD was founded in 1973 as “South Coast Area Transit” when the cities of Ojai, Oxnard, Port Hueneme and San Buenaventura executed a Joint Powers Agreement that created “SCAT” to develop and operate local and intercity public transportation in western Ventura County.
2007
SCAT is Renamed to Gold Coast Transit
South Coast Area Transit is renamed to Gold Coast Transit to better reflect its location along California’s “gold coast”, a nickname often used to describe Ventura County.
2014
GCTD Becomes a Special District
In October 2013, Governor Brown signed Assembly Bill AB 664, which formed the Gold Coast Transit District. The district legislation was initiated in response to Senate Bill SB 716, which required that all TDA funds in Ventura County be used solely for public transit purposes. Formation of a transit district allows GCTD’s Board of Directors and staff greater flexibility in implementing service improvements by looking beyond jurisdictional borders in order to efficiently and effectively meet the public’s transit needs. The agency officially became a district on July 1, 2014.
2019
New Headquarters
In 2019 the District moved into new headquarters located at 1901 Auto Center Drive in Oxnard CA. The New Operations and Maintenance Facility will allow GCTD to continue to meet the growing transit needs of the community.
Looking forward to the Next 50 Years
Achieving Zero Emissions Transition by 2040.
GCTD recently received a $12.1 million FTA grant to fund the first phase of GCTD’s zero-emissions roll out plan. Learn more here.
Expanded Mobility Options
GCTD has recently expanded its mobility options to offer additional origin-to-destination services, including ACCESS ZONES and Late Night Safe Rides. This summer, GCTD will introduce GO NOW Microtransit, a new on-demand, shared-ride service within a specific zone in South Oxnard for a low cost of $2.00 per ride.
Convenient Payment Options
GCTD added mobile ticketing in 2016 with the launch of the Token Transit app. Since then, GCTD has added the countywide pass, VCbuspass, in both the mobile version and contactless tap card.
Strategic Planning
As we strive for improvement, GCTD is developing an agency-wide Strategic Plan to guide the organization into the future and to ensure our work is defined by a shared understanding of GCTD’s priorities and goals. The plan will include the following major tasks: (1) Organizational Needs Assesment; (2) Facilitated workshop with GCTD’s Board and staff; (3) Development of a Board-approved Strategic Plan.