OCTA Board Approves Bus Service Reductions

The proposal eliminates 150,000 vehicle hours because of declining revenue and state funding cuts and will go to the board of directors on Nov. 23
ORANGE – The Transit Committee voted Thursday to recommend a bus service reduction plan to the board that would eliminate 150,000 annual revenue vehicle hours in March through a combination of eliminating routes, reducing bus frequency, restructuring routes and reducing trips.
The service reduction plan is scheduled to be considered by the board of directors on Nov. 23. The reduction is necessary to make up for major cuts in state funding, significant drops in sales tax revenue and fare revenue.
To date, 233,000 hours have been reduced to bring service in line with available revenue. OCTA faces a more than $330 million shortfall over the next five years.
On weekdays, the plan proposes eliminating eight routes, maintaining Night Owl service until 1 a.m., reducing frequency on 11 routes, restructuring eight routes and reducing trips on one route.
Committee members expressed displeasure in being forced into making these difficult cuts because of the current financial situation. In making the decision, committee members said they recognized the impacts this would cause on the community however the plan attempts to keep as much of the service footprint as possible throughout the county.
To view the committee’s recommendation, go to www.octa.net/marchchange