Score: +1 (1/0/0)

Ventura County Grand Jury • 2012-2013

Senior Transportation in Ventura County

Published: May 30, 2013 19 pages

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⚠️ Aviso de traducción: Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.

⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.

Findings and Recommendations 12 findings

F01

The Grand Jury found that senior transportation in the County is inadequate. There is little coordination among the ten cities in the County and/or the 10 transportation companies, making it difficult, if not impossible, for a senior citizen to travel easily. (FA-01-04)

No recommendations for this finding

F02

The Grand Jury found that mobility and transportation options are limited to the existing bus routes, and there is little or no coordination of the time schedules. (FA-05, 07)

No recommendations for this finding

F03

The Grand Jury found that the aging of the County population impacts accessibility to essential services and cultural events. (FA-06, 08-09)

No recommendations for this finding

F04

The demand-response transit services are found in all ten cities, although each city’s service is independently operated and functions differently. This has been found to be very confusing and in some cases potentially dangerous to seniors. In Thousand Oaks, the service is for seniors only. However, in the Heritage Valley (Fillmore, Piru and Santa Paula) seniors, children, farm workers and others are allowed the use of this service. (FA-08, 09)

No recommendations for this finding

F05

The Grand Jury found that many bus routes, fees, stops, and schedules differ so profoundly that this is confusing to many. The cognitive limitations of many senior citizens add to this issue. (FA-01, 02, 04-09, 11, 12) Recommendations

No recommendations for this finding

F06

The Beverly Foundation emphasizes the following factors as essential to effective and acceptable senior transportation: availability, acceptability, accessibility, adaptability and affordability. [Ref-02]

No recommendations for this finding

F07

The Beverly Foundation stated senior men may live as many as six years and women as many as ten years after the time that they no longer drive. They become dependent on family, as well as on a broad array of community transportation services. [Ref-02]

No recommendations for this finding

F08

The Federal Government’s Older Americans Act of 1965 provided for transportation needs of the elderly. This was termed demand–response transit. These services are found in most cities in the County. [Ref-04]

No recommendations for this finding

F09

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the national elderly population is projected to double to approximately 80 million by the year 2050. [Ref-05]

No recommendations for this finding

F10

In Thousand Oaks, demand-response transit service is restricted to seniors only. Senior Transportation 3

No recommendations for this finding

F11

In Fillmore, seniors, children, farm workers and others are allowed the use of this service without priority to seniors.

No recommendations for this finding

F12

The VCTC Bus Book print size is small and difficult to read. [Ref-06] Findings

No recommendations for this finding

Commendations 2

CM1 Page 7

The Ventura County Area Agency on Aging is an outstanding advocate for the transportation needs of the County’s senior citizens. VCAAA staff actively participates in and collaborates with other County entities concerned with identifying resources and resolving senior transportation issues in each community. Senior Transportation 5
CM2 Page 8

References Ref-01. Ventura County Regional Transit Study, Final Report-Executive Summary and Report to Legislature as adopted by the VCTC, April 13, 2012, pp. 3-4. Ref-02. Beverly Foundation – www.beverlyfoundation.org/about Ref-03. Eldercare, Ventura County Star 2012-2013 Resource Guide for Services in Ventura County, Community Resources, p. 21. Ref-04. Older Americans Act of 1965. (Pub. L. 89-73, 79 Stat. 218, July 14, 1965) Ref-05. www.census.gov/population/socdemo/statbriefs/agebrief.html.

Agency Responses 11

Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.

City of Camarillo

July 31, 2013 • 3 pages View Details ▾

PDF

City of Moorpark

July 17, 2013 • 3 pages • 3 responses View Details ▾

PDF

3 responses to findings and recommendations

R02

In cooperation with the VCTC and VCAAA, programs should be implemented that are designed to assist senior citizens with transportation within their cities and throughout the County. Senior Transportation

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

It is the City of Moorpark's understanding that VCTC currently provides funding for travel training through Federal and State grants both through its contractor, Mobility Management Partners, and local transit operators. Moorpark would support VCAAA also providing travel training (either directly or through a third party contractor). Ventura County transit agencies work collaboratively with the VCTC and the VCAAA in the development of programs with the focus of addressing the transportation challenges faced by Ventura County seniors. Examples of county-wide collective ventures include computer...

R03

The Ventura County Board of Supervisors should allocate specific funding for senior transportation.

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

The City of Moorpark believes that each agency in Ventura County operating transportation services should allocate funding that best meets the needs of the residents served. R-04. The VCTC, working with the VCAAA, should standardize requirements for participation in the senior transportation programs. They should also publicize the availability of programs that fulfill the transportation needs of seniors. City Council Response: The VCTC has already established standards for participation in senior transportation through the Ventura County Coordinated Public Transit - Human Services Transportat...

R04

The VCTC, working with VCAAA, should standardize requirements for participation in the senior transportation programs. They should also publicize the availability of programs that fulfill the transportation needs of seniors.

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

The VCTC has already established standards for participation in senior transportation through the Ventura County Coordinated Public Transit - Human Services Transportation Plan. The City of Moorpark currently publicizes the availability of senior transportation services through its website, quarterly city-wide City Magazine, and Moorpark Active Adult Center. Although standards for senior transportation are beneficial, the City of Moorpark also believes that local communities should have the discretion to adjust their respective transit services to meet the local needs/desires of their respecti...

City of Ojai

November 13, 2013 • 2 pages View Details ▾

PDF

City of Port Hueneme

May 23, 2013 • 2 pages View Details ▾

PDF

City of Santa Paula

August 19, 2013 • 1 pages View Details ▾

PDF

City of Simi Valley

August 12, 2013 • 3 pages • 1 response View Details ▾

PDF

1 response to findings and recommendations

R03

The Ventura County Board of Supervisors should allocate specific funding for senior transportation.

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

The City of Simi Valley will continue to follow and improve Best Practices while administering this program in a way that properly monitors fuel usage while safeguarding those resources. R-04: The Grand Jury recommends that Oxnard, Simi, Thousand Oaks, Ventura and the County review their respective vehicles for instances of underperforming vehicle mileage. Then they should consider reassigning the vehicles to more efficient usage. (FI-07-08) Response: The City of Simi Valley will continue to review vehicle reports from the City's fuel monitoring software and ensure that inefficient vehicles ar...

City of Simi Valley

July 16, 2013 • 3 pages • 4 responses View Details ▾

PDF

4 responses to findings and recommendations

R01

The Grand Jury recommends that an independent, non-elected County administrator be assigned to oversee the collaborative efforts of all the senior transportation modalities in the County and produce strategies to simplify senior transportation. This administrator would seek consensus with the independent companies and city transportation agencies with a goal of consistency in the areas of availability, acceptability, accessibility, adaptability, and affordability. Further, the administrator woul...

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

The Summer Reading Program that the Ventura County Library System has previously used, and the Simi Valley Public Library currently uses, is part of a nationwide curriculum for the Summer Reading program. Expansion of the program could be positive for Library System patrons. R-02. The Grand Jury recommends that a means to reach out to potential volunteers be initiated. There are a number of programs that could be staffed with volunteers. Also the VCLS may find that the community will help support the development of new programs, such as: used book sales; tutoring for remedial reading, English ...

R02

In cooperation with the VCTC and VCAAA, programs should be implemented that are designed to assist senior citizens with transportation within their cities and throughout the County. Senior Transportation

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

The City is supportive of the County of Ventura's effort to expand the use of volunteers in the County Libraries and expand its programs and services to enhance the use of the County Library System. Honorable Judge Brian J. Back July 16, 2013 Page 3 R-03. The Grand Jury recommends that the library system be viewed on the basis of what it can provide to the community rather than from a monetary position. This may provide the incentive to find a means to allow libraries to meet or exceed the claims of independent systems and to become a credit to the County.

R03

The Ventura County Board of Supervisors should allocate specific funding for senior transportation.

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

The City of Simi Valley withdrew from the Ventura County Library System as a result of the restrictions that AB 438 was going to place on local cities should they wish to consider withdrawal from a County Library System in the future, effectively tying the hands of local government when determining the best method for the delivery of library services. The City's withdrawal was not based on monetary considerations, but rather, local control. As a result of the City's establishment of a municipal library, and the exercise of local control of the tax dollars allocated for Library services, librar...

R04

The VCTC, working with VCAAA, should standardize requirements for participation in the senior transportation programs. They should also publicize the availability of programs that fulfill the transportation needs of seniors.

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

Although the City is no longer a member of the Ventura County Library System, the City of Simi Valley would be willing to participate in any discussions related to Library services. The City Council considered the Grand Jury's report at its July 15, 2013 meeting and authorized this response. We appreciate the efforts of the Grand Jury in reviewing this matter and providing the City an opportunity to respond. Sincerely HOWW Robert O. Huber Mayor President of the Simi Valley Library Board of Trustees

City of Simi Valley

July 01, 2013 • 3 pages • 3 responses View Details ▾

PDF

3 responses to findings and recommendations

R02

In cooperation with the VCTC and VCAAA, programs should be implemented that are designed to assist senior citizens with transportation within their cities and throughout the County. Senior Transportation

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

Through county-wide collective ventures such as computer-aided dispatching software; Automated Vehicle Locators (AVL); and working groups such as the Transit Operators Advisory Committee, the Americans with Disabilities Act Intercity Committee, and the Citizens Transportation Advisory Committee/Social Services Transportation Advisory Committee, Ventura County transit agencies work collaboratively with the VCTC and the VCAAA in the development of programs with the focus of addressing the transportation challenges faced by Ventura County seniors. Additionally, Senate Bill 716 requires all Ventur...

R03

The Ventura County Board of Supervisors should allocate specific funding for senior transportation.

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

The VCTC and the VCAAA currently receive Federal and State funds, which allocate funds to Ventura County senior transportation agencies for the purpose of meeting the transportation needs of Ventura County senior citizens. As such, the City of Simi Valley is not opposed to the allocation of additional funding for senior transportation services. R-04: The VCTC, working with the VCAAA, should standardize requirements of participation in the senior transportation programs. They should also publicize the availability of programs that fulfill the transportation needs of seniors. 106/6-13 The Honor...

R04

The VCTC, working with VCAAA, should standardize requirements for participation in the senior transportation programs. They should also publicize the availability of programs that fulfill the transportation needs of seniors.

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

While the VCTC has made several attempts to standardize participation in senior transportation programs among transportation service providers, this effort has not achieved the intended results. However, during discussions regarding SB 716, Ventura County transportation agencies have agreed to consider standardizing senior transportation program participation requirements. R-05: The VCAAA should plan for increased staffing to accommodate a growing senior population. Response: Due to the anticipated growth in the senior population within Ventura County, it is practical for human services agenci...

Ventura County Transportation Commission

July 12, 2013 • 1 pages View Details ▾

PDF

Ventura County Transportation Commission

July 12, 2013 • 6 pages View Details ▾

PDF

City of Santa Paula

August 19, 2013 • 3 pages • 1 response • Score: +1 (+1, 0, 0) View Details ▾

PDF

1 response to findings and recommendations

F03

The Grand Jury found that the aging of the County population impacts accessibility to essential services and cultural events. (FA-06, 08-09)

Response: Agree Score: +1

senior transportation. The Honorable Brian J. Back August 14, 2013 Page 3 Limited transportation funding and differences in funding allocation per jurisdiction make it difficult for smaller communities like Santa Paula to focus funding solely on senior transportation. Additional funding from the County for senior transportation would greatly assist the City in the provision of additional senior transportation opportunities. The allocation of any additional funds is a decision properly left to the City (and its staff), which is in the best position to assess the transportation needs of its sen...

No Responses Found 5

Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.

Fillmore City

Oxnard City

San Buenaventura City

Thousand Oaks City

Ventura County Board of Supervisors Elected County Office