Oceanside, Calif.’s North County Transit District (NCTD) officially brought its bus operations under direct management for the first time in five decades, completing a multi-year transition aimed at enhancing service delivery and strengthening internal organizational culture.

The San Diego County-based transit agency has hired previously contracted bus employees directly, signaling a major shift in how the agency runs its BREEZE fixed-route bus system, which operates alongside its COASTER and SPRINTER rail services. 

The move marks a milestone in NCTD’s long-term vision to unify all operational functions under a single, agency-managed team.

“Today, we celebrate the first time in 50 years that all of our operations employees are together as part of one world-class team,” said Shawn M. Donaghy, NCTD CEO. “Our BREEZE team, along with all of the amazing NCTD employees, have always been the very best of who we are, and we are excited to welcome them home.”

Benefits from Going In House

With this move, NCTD anticipates greater operational efficiency, service consistency, and responsiveness for riders across its 1,020-square-mile service area, which includes over 60% of the district’s total ridership. 

The shift also lays the groundwork for what agency leaders see as the next chapter in NCTD’s evolution.

“Bringing our bus operations in-house is a pivotal step in strengthening the service we provide to our customers and reinforcing the culture we want to build within our organization,” added Lilia Montoya, COO. “This transition allows us to deliver a more consistent, responsive, and customer-focused experience, while also creating a warm, welcoming environment for our team members.”

The Road to Today

NCTD operates a suite of transit services, including BREEZE, FLEX deviated fixed-route, LIFT paratransit, and NCTD+ microtransit, out of its two bus divisions located in Oceanside and Escondido. Combined, these services travel over five million miles annually, according to the agency.

The agency’s operational model has evolved over the decades. After launching bus service in 1976, NCTD introduced the COASTER commuter rail in 1995 and the SPRINTER light rail in 2008 — both operated by private contractors under NCTD oversight. In 2010, facing fiscal constraints, the agency also outsourced bus operations.

With financial conditions improving in recent years, NCTD began phasing operations back in-house starting in 2022 with rail operations and maintenance, followed by track and signal maintenance in 2023. The 2025 transition of bus operations marks the completion of a full return to public management across all transit modes.

The agency said this structural shift is part of a broader effort by NCTD leadership to align service delivery more closely with agency values while investing in workforce stability and a culture of excellence.