By Manuel Muñoz Jr.
On Friday, July 24th, the city of Oxnard held a ceremony to officially unveil the newly renamed John C. Zaragoza Oxnard Transit Center, honoring former Mayor John C. Zaragoza’s more than six decades of public service and lifelong commitment to public transportation and the Oxnard community.
The celebration was held inside the lobby of the transit center and the guests in attendance included prominent local leaders, elected officials, members of the Zaragoza family, and the general public. The master of ceremonies was the executive director of the Ventura County Transportation Commission Martin Erickson.
John C. Zaragoza is the former mayor of Oxnard as well as a former city councilmember and county supervisor. Born and raised in Oxnard, Mr. Zaragoza began his career as a bus driver and has been a dedicated advocate of the transportation system that serves the local community for over 60 years.
The Oxnard City Council unanimously approved the renaming in December 2024, recognizing Zaragoza’s more than 60 years of public service. Zaragoza served as a City bus operator in 1962 before rising through the ranks to become Refuse Superintendent.
Following his retirement from City service, he continued serving the public for nearly three decades as an elected official, including as an Oxnard City Councilmember, Ventura County Supervisor and Mayor of Oxnard.
City Councilmembers Gabe Teran [District 2] and Gabriela Rodriguez [District 4] both spoke on the ways Zaragoza has faithfully served the city of Oxnard and Ventura County in his various positions as well as his lasting influence on their careers as public officials.
Although he was unable to attend the event in-person, Oxnard Mayor Luis A. Mc Arthur released a statement highlighting Mr. Zaragoza’s accomplished career in public service as well as his deep-rooted commitment to transportation and investment in local infrastructure. Congresswoman Julia Brownley, Senate President pro Tempore Monique Limón, and Assemblymember Steve Bennett sent representatives to attend the ceremony on their behalf.
Zaragoza was welcomed with a round of applause when he took to the podium to receive a commemorative plaque honoring the occasion. He spoke on the crucial role the local transportation system plays in upholding the community and reaffirmed his commitment to public transit. He thanked his family as well as all those that have helped him in his career.
“Service has always been at the heart of my life’s work,” said former Oxnard Mayor John C. Zaragoza. “From my days as a bus driver to serving as Mayor and representing our community throughout Ventura County, my goal has always been to serve the people of Oxnard. Having my name placed on this Transit Center is incredibly humbling because it represents far more than my own journey—it represents the generations of community members, transit workers, public employees and civic leaders who have helped move our city forward. I hope the Transit Center will remind people that when we dedicate ourselves to serving others, we can make a lasting difference in the lives of our community.”
Originally constructed in 1986, the newly renamed John C. Zaragoza Oxnard Transit Center was granted a multi-million dollar investment to modernize its facilities to become a more efficient transportation hub for the community. The transit center is home to Amtrak, Metrolink commuter rail service, Greyhound bus service, VCTC Intercity Service, Gold Coast Transit, and Airporter Shuttle. In addition to helping transport hundreds of passengers each day, the transit center has a spacious indoor waiting area complete with concessions, public telephones, comfortable seating, restrooms, and security service.
Located at 201 East Fourth Street in the Downtown Oxnard area, the John C. Zaragoza Oxnard Transit Center is open Monday to Friday 5:00 am to 10:00 pm and Saturday and Sunday 6:00 am to 10:00 pm.