ORANGE – Orange County Transportation Authority board directors moved forward Monday on proposed bus service changes that will eliminate some routes and add others, giving staff the green light to start gathering feedback from the public.
The unanimous vote on Monday sets up four community meetings the second week of December on the 2016 Draft Bus Service Plan, which if approved would be the biggest systemwide change since the authority slashed 20 percent of its service between 2008 and 2010.
Faced with the lowest boarding numbers since fiscal year 1996-97 – a historic low – the authority devised a service change plan that directs resources away from low-performing routes and toward high-demand areas. Under the plan, 75 percent of riders would not be affected, 17 percent would see improved frequency, 4 percent would experience reduced frequency and 1 to 4 percent would be with no service or need to use another route.
“I think our goal here is a wise one, our step here is a smart one. I think the devil is going to be in the details,” said OCTA Board Chairman Jeffrey Lalloway. “For the greater good here, staff needs to go out and talk to the public.”
Mission Viejo resident Michael Rotcher, one of only three public comment speakers, heard about the plan through an email from his city saying it would be affected by the complete elimination of Route 87, partial elimination of Route 82 and reduced service on Route 85.
“I believe if you increase the routes, then you will increase ridership. If you build it, they will ride,” said Rotcher, 57, adding he does not ride OCTA buses regularly because the closest stop is more than a 30-minute walk.
Booklets on the plan and surveys will be placed on buses and passengers can comment online at octa.net. Staff will review and consider comments for a final plan for the board to consider in February.
The board on Monday also approved updated guidelines for cities to apply for funding for community-based “transit circulators,” which are small shuttle routes, for areas with service shortages. Staff was authorized to issue a 2016 call for projects totaling about $20 million.
Contact the writer: 714-796-7762, jkwong@ocregister.com or on Twitter: @JessicaGKwong
