Transportation & Housing: Connecting the Dots for Ventura County’s Future

Insights from the 2025 Ventura County Housing Conference Roundtable

Transportation and housing are deeply intertwined, shaping the way communities grow, how residents move through their neighborhoods, and the quality of life for people of all ages. At the 2025 Ventura County Housing Conference, one of the most engaged roundtable discussions focused on the relationship between transportation systems, housing production, community resistance, and the county’s changing demographics.

Participants from planning agencies, transportation organizations, and affordable housing partners came together to discuss key challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Their insights reveal a shared understanding: the future of Ventura County’s housing supply cannot be separated from the future of its transportation system.

This blog summarizes the major themes, questions, and ideas raised during the session.

Understanding VMT: A New Way to Measure Transportation Impacts

Senate Bill 743 replaced the traditional “level of service” metric with Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) as the key measure of transportation impact under CEQA.

For many affordable housing projects, the shift has had limited effect because of CEQA exemptions and existing mitigation fee structures. Still, VMT provides a framework for aligning environmental goals with housing production, and several agencies are exploring adaptive mitigation programs that could offer additional benefits for affordable developments.

Engaging Communities with Accurate Data: Addressing Traffic and Density Concerns

A consistent theme across the roundtable was the importance of data-driven communication when addressing community concerns about higher-density housing and infill development.

Residents often worry that new housing will worsen traffic or reduce parking availability. Panelists stressed that accurate parking studies, trip generation data, and localized traffic modeling can effectively counter misconceptions. When planners present clear evidence — such as how actual parking demand often falls below assumed thresholds — community opposition tends to soften.

One participant shared an experience where presenting real-world traffic data helped ease neighborhood fears related to a proposed development. Transparent, accessible information remains one of the strongest tools in reducing resistance and supporting well-planned housing.

Ventura County’s Changing Demographics: Planning for an Aging Population

Demographic projections show that Ventura County’s overall population will remain relatively stable over the next decade — but with a significant increase in older adults. By 2040, one in five residents will be over the age of 70, compared to one in ten today.

This shift will influence both housing demand and travel patterns:

• More older adults will require accessible, age-friendly housing close to services.

• Travel into the county may increase if local workers cannot afford to live nearby.

• Transportation systems must adapt to accommodate mobility limitations.

Participants emphasized that planning for an aging population is essential not only for equity but also for reducing congestion, greenhouse gas emissions, and cost burdens for families and local agencies.

Ensuring accessible and reliable transportation for older adults was another key topic. Efforts already underway include:

• Low-floor buses to ease boarding

• Countywide coordination of paratransit services

• New software to improve scheduling and routing

• Funding for wheelchair-accessible vehicles through programs such as Access for All

As Ventura County’s population continues to age, these efforts will play a critical role in ensuring mobility, independence, and social connection.

Transit & Density: Building Housing Where Transit Already Exists

A clear takeaway from the roundtable was the importance of aligning housing development with existing transit corridors.

Transit becomes viable only with sufficient density. This means housing should be sited near current transportation routes, rather than expecting buses or rail services to expand into low-density, isolated areas.

In practice, this may include:

• Prioritizing affordable housing near high-frequency bus lines

• Using proximity to transit as a factor in the housing element site selection process

• Considering opportunities such as integrating offices or housing into existing transportation hubs (e.g., exploring future potential for the train depot site)

With the 101 Express Bus Lane project launching next spring and ongoing traffic model updates, transit-oriented planning will continue to be central to countywide housing strategies.

Permitting Challenges: Complexity, Delays, and Added Costs

Participants highlighted a familiar obstacle: complex and time-consuming permitting processes.

Challenges discussed included:

• Multiple permit numbers across different agencies

• Delays that increase project costs

• Difficulty accessing local funding needed to leverage state and federal resources

• Homeowner challenges when building ADUs, including financing and prolonged timelines

Streamlining permitting processes remains a top priority to ensure Ventura County can meet its housing goals without unnecessary financial barriers.

Leveraging Transportation Investments to Support Housing

One compelling idea raised during the roundtable was the possibility of using transportation funding to support affordable housing near transit as a mitigation measure for new transportation projects.

This type of coordinated investment could help:

• Reduce vehicle trips

• Provide residents with convenient alternatives to driving

• Improve environmental outcomes

• Strengthen the funding stack for affordable housing developers

Examples shared included developments that incorporate EV amenities, provide residents with transit passes, or design communities that encourage multimodal transportation.

Looking ahead, participants expressed interest in exploring joint housing and transportation ballot measures, which could deliver greater impact when aligned with shared regional goals.

Looking Forward: Collaboration is Key

The roundtable concluded with a clear message: transportation and housing cannot be planned in silos.

To meet the needs of current and future residents, participants emphasized the importance of:

• Cross-department coordination

• Public education about the benefits of density and multimodal transportation

• Continued data sharing

• Integrating transit considerations into the next housing element cycle

• Seeking community feedback and elevating local voices

The insights from this discussion provide a roadmap for the county’s ongoing work to align land use, transportation, and housing strategies more effectively.

HOME will continue fostering these important conversations and providing the space for partners to work together toward lasting solutions.

Housing Opportunities Made Easier (HOME)

PO Box 191, Camarillo, CA 93011

Phone: (805) 323-6534

Email: info@vchome.org