(a) The district shall provide, operate, manage, and maintain a public transportation service serving and connecting the territories of the members. Within the district’s capabilities, as determined by the board, service may also be provided to points outside the territories of the members, with the prior approval of the nonmember city having jurisdiction of the territory to be served. Within the district’s capabilities, expanded transportation services, routes, and facilities may also be provided. If the district proposes to provide expanded services that would serve the area of interest surrounding a nonmember city, as defined by the Ventura County Local Agency Formation Commission, the district shall provide at least 90 days’ prior written notice to that city of the proposed service and thereafter shall make a reasonable effort to meet and confer with officials from that city regarding the proposed service before commencement of the service.
(b) (1) The district shall provide a standardized system of fares and a uniform system of transfers. Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (2), changes in fares and changes in routes shall be made only following a public hearing on the proposed change, with detailed notice made to the governing bodies of the members and the public at least 30 days prior to the proposed public hearing.
(2) Implementation of minor changes in routes and times may be made without notice and hearing by the board. Those minor changes may be implemented by the general manager without notice and hearing under guidelines established by the board, if the district has the equipment to make the minor changes without reduction of its existing services elsewhere and the changes do not result in additional costs to the district or the members. The term “minor change” means less than 20 percent of the miles or hours of a route.
(c) In the performance of its operations, the district shall seek out and make maximum use of all available programs of assistance, may apply for and receive public and private grants that promote the operation of the district, and shall establish and maintain close liaison with federal, state, and regional agencies.
(d) The district may either operate the transit system itself or a part thereof or it may contract with any other public or private agency or corporation to operate all or part of the transit system for the district or it may contract with any public or private agency or corporation for the improvement in transit services, facilities, equipment, or operations being operated and conducted by that agency or corporation in, or out of, the district, as permitted by law.
(Added by Stats. 2013, Ch. 503, Sec. 1. (AB 664) Effective January 1, 2014.)