Courtesy photos.
OXNARD — Gold Coast Transit District (GCTD) celebrated a remarkable career milestone this month, honoring Bus Operator Guadalupe “Lupe” Juarez for 45 years of safe and dedicated service to Ventura County.
Since joining GCTD in 1980, Lupe has served as a model of dedication, reliability, and care. Over the course of her career, she has driven an estimated 2 million miles, safely transporting thousands of passengers and embodying GCTD’s commitment to quality public service.
“Lupe has truly been the heart of this agency for nearly half a century—almost as long as GCTD itself has served this community,” said Vanessa Rauschenberger, General Manager of GCTD. “Her dedication to her passengers and her colleagues is truly inspiring. She represents everything we value in public transit: safety, reliability, and a deep connection to the community we serve.”
The celebration of Lupe’s milestone included multiple recognitions throughout the month:
- On July 2nd, she was recognized during GCTD’s Board of Directors meeting, where the new edition of the Bus Book was shared—featuring Lupe on the cover.
- During GCTD’s quarterly safety awards last week, Lupe was honored with the unveiling of a street sign bearing her name at the entrance to the Operator’s main driveway, recognizing her legacy. Colleagues and leadership shared heartfelt remarks about her contributions.
When asked about her decades of service, Lupe said:
“I love my job—even when I arrive at 4 a.m. and it’s dark outside. When I get on the road, it feels like the sun is shining. I love what I do.”
She also shared that she has no plans to retire any time soon.
GCTD encourages the community to join in congratulating Lupe on this incredible achievement and to recognize the vital role of bus operators in keeping Ventura County connected. To facilitate this, GCTD is running a social media campaign with posts every Monday, “Lupe Mondays’”, encouraging the public to share their memories and congratulatory messages.
Stay Connected:
- Facebook: @GoldCoastTransitDistrict
- “X” (Formerly: Twitter): @GoldCoastBus
- Instagram: @GoldCoastTransit
- LinkedIn: Gold Coast Transit District
- Website: www.gctd.org
- Subscribe to GCTD’s Newsletter here.
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 3.6 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.gctd.org.