Community Offers Input On Bus Service Reductions

Sixty people gave input on strategies for reducing service in March
ORANGE –Bus riders and transit supporters weighed in on the bus service reduction strategies planned by the Orange County Transportation Authority at Monday’s public hearing.
OCTA is planning to reduce up to 300,000 hours of service in March in an effort to bridge a continuing budget gap. OCTA faces a more than $330 million shortfall over the next five years due to a decline in sales tax revenue and fare revenue and the elimination of the State Transit Assistance fund.
In addition to the public hearing, more than 175 bus riders and transit supporters attended community meetings and nearly 500 comments have been mailed or submitted online.
Public feedback will assist OCTA as it explores ways to reduce service in March, which could include reducing or eliminating the least productive routes, reducing service proportionally system wide and/or modifying days and hours of operation.
OCTA’s board of directors will vote on the specific service reductions at the November 23 board meeting.
For more information on the bus service reductions, visit www.octa.net/marchchange .