Ventura County, Calif.’s Gold Coast Transit District (GCTD) opened its new Operations and Maintenance facility with a ribbon cutting ceremony and tours. The new facility is located in Oxnard.

Design management on the new 15-acre facility was provided by 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 It replaces an outdated and deteriorating bus garage and office space located on a three-acre site originally built in the 1970s for a much smaller fleet.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 30 to 40 years.

Unique elements of the project include environmentally sensitive construction such as low-flow water fixtures, day-lighting for office areas, and the minimization of lifecycle 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.

Also 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.