Efforts to boost ridership would increase service and frequency to high-demand areas by reallocating buses from low-performing routes
ORANGE – In an effort to reverse the trend of declining bus ridership, the Orange County Transportation Authority board has released a draft plan for public review that would reallocate bus service throughout the county.
The draft service change plan is part of OC Bus 360°, a strategy to better meet the needs of Orange County bus riders. Under the proposal, 92 percent of bus riders in Orange County would see improved service or no change in service if the draft plan is implemented next year. The overall strategy would shift service from low-performing routes to areas where there is higher demand to offer passengers more frequent and faster service.
The plan is expected to increase ridership by 1.6 million boardings during the next three years and reverse a trend of seeing a decline in riders. Since 2008, OCTA has lost more than 20 million passengers, a reduction of 30 percent.
The proposed service change plan puts limited resources where they’re most needed by:
- Creating a more efficient and cost-effective transit system
- Adding service where there is the highest demand
- Increasing frequencies and improving travel times by adding two new Bravo! routes and a second Xpress route
- Reallocating service from the least productive routes
In addition to these proposed changes, plans for OC Bus 360° include the development of mobile ticketing and real-time passenger information, studying fare adjustments, as well rebranding new vehicles.
OCTA wants to hear from riders about the proposed changes. Detailed booklets with surveys will be placed on buses, passengers will be able to comment online at www.octa.net//2016BusPlan and a series of community meetings are set to present the plan. Comments will be reviewed and considered as a final plan is developed prior to the board considering it during a public meeting in February.
Four community meetings are scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. at the following times and places:
- Monday, Dec. 7 at OCTA Headquarters, 550 S. Main St., Orange, CA 92868
- Tuesday, Dec. 8 at San Juan Capistrano Community Center, 5925 Camino Del Avion, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
- Wednesday, Dec. 9 at the Laguna Hills Community Center, 25555 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Hills CA 92653
- Thursday, Dec. 10 at Huntington Beach Central Library, 7111 Talbert Ave., Huntington Beach, CA 92648
