OCTA’s non-stop service to OC Fair helped take thousands of cars off local roads
ORANGE – Tens of thousands of people chose to skip the traffic and parking hassles, and saved money in the process, by hopping aboard the OC Fair Express this summer.
In all, a total of 83,010 people took the non-stop bus service to the OC Fair during the five weekends of the fair’s run, which wrapped up Aug. 11. That was up more than 4 percent compared to last year when 79,684 people to the express bus service.
The last weekend of the fair (Aug. 10 -11) also set a record for a single weekend of the OC Fair Express, with 18,341 riders that Saturday and Sunday.
“It’s great to see so many people discover what a good deal the express bus service is,” said OCTA Chairman Tim Shaw, also a La Habra City Councilman. “And each person who took the OC Fair Express helped improve overall traffic conditions and reduced air pollution as they did it.”
The OC Fair Express operated from 10 a.m. to midnight each Saturday and Sunday during the fair, picking up fair-goers from nine locations across Orange County and dropping them off just feet from the fair’s entrance.
Bus riders used the service to get to the OC Fair’s wide range of entertainment choices, including rides, games, food and weekend concerts that included Motown legend Smokey Robinson, Mariachi bands and alternative rockers Bush and Live, among others.
Five of the OC Fair Express pickup locations connected directly from Metrolink and Amtrak passenger rail stations. Riders used their valid Metrolink and Amtrak Pacific Surfliner passes from connecting trains to ride the bus service for free.
Riders also saved money. Regular bus fare was $4 round trip and riders received a coupon for $4 admission to the OC Fair – a savings of up to $10 off the regular entrance price. Bus riders also saved on the regular $10 cost to park a car.
The OC Fair Express service has been transporting passengers directly to the OC Fair every year since 2011. The service has been funded in part by a grant from the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee. The committee provides subsidies for cleaner transportation alternatives.
Look for the OC Fair Express again when the fair returns next July. For more information: www.ocfairexpress.com.
