Gold Coast Transit District Celebrates Opening of New Operations, Maintenance Facility

GCTD General Manager Steven Brown, from left to right, Ventura County Supervisor and GCTD Board Member John C. Zaragoza, Mayor Pro Tem City of Port Hueneme and GCTD Vice Chair Will Berg, Congresswoman Julia Brownley, VCTC Executive Director Darren Kettle, FTA Administrator Region 9 Ray Tellis, Ventura Councilmember and GCTD Board Chair Cheryl Heitmann and Assemblymember Monique Limón.

The ceremony began with Assemblymember Monique Limón speaking to the important role this facility will play in helping to meet the growing public transit needs throughout Ojai, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Ventura and western Ventura County. “This expansion will allow greater access to jobs, to schools, to individuals receiving medical services, and so much more,” said Limón. Other speakers included City of Ventura Councilmember and GCTD Board Chair Cheryl Heitmann who added, “The construction of this facility created over 400 construction jobs. It has been a great boost to the economy and our local workers.” Heitmann was joined by speakers, Ventura County Supervisor and GCTD Board Member John C. Zaragoza, Ventura County Transportation Commission Executive Director Darren Kettle, Federal Transit Administration Region 9 Administrator Ray Tellis, as well as GCTD’s General Manager Steve Brown and Assistant General Manager Reed Caldwell.

Congresswoman Julia Brownley concluded the ceremony stating, “There is no question this facility represents the very best of a forward-thinking county. Green state of the art facilities like this one are absolutely vital to the economic vitality of our communities.” She added that investing in transit is an investment in our local economy and nationally public transit directly employs 400,000 people with high quality, well-paying jobs. In fact, GCTD employs nearly 200 employees in the local community.

Design management on the new 15-acre facility was provided by architects HDR, Inc.; architectural design by STANTEC; and the general contractor was ICON WEST, Inc; with active support from furniture supplier The Sheridan Group and bus wash system manufacturer NS Corporation. The facility includes an eight-bay maintenance and repair building, a compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel station, bus wash, and an operations and administration building. It replaces an outdated and deteriorating bus garage and office space located on a three-acre site originally built in the 1970’s for a much smaller fleet. The new site is positioned well to handle GCTD’s growing fleet expected to climb from 56 buses to approximately 125 over the next thirty to forty years.

Ribbon cutting, from left to right, GCTD General Manager Steven Brown, Ventura County Supervisor and GCTD Board Member John C. Zaragoza, Mayor Pro Tem City of Port Hueneme and GCTD Vice Chair Will Berg, Congresswoman Julia Brownley, VCTC Executive Director Darren Kettle, FTA Administrator Region 9 Ray Tellis, Ventura Councilmember and GCTD Board Chair Cheryl Heitmann and Assemblymember Monique Limón.

Unique elements of the project include environmentally sensitive construction such as low-flow water fixtures, day-lighting for office areas, and the minimization of life-cycle costs and energy usage throughout the site for the greatest potential of long-term operating cost savings. Interestingly, the administration building is positioned on the property in a way that takes maximum advantage of the sun and wind helping to decrease lighting, heating and air conditioning costs. Noteworthy, is the emphasis on employee education, health and wellness, from the dedicated Wellness and Training Centers, to a Sleep/Relaxation Room, three fully equipped break rooms, and an outdoor courtyard that includes an employee garden, bocce ball, and BBQ.