OCTA - Service Changes

[nickv]

OCTA Service Change Highlights

The changes below will be implemented on March 9, 2008.



Color Key
Green = Upgrades & Additions
Purple = Modification
Brown = Service Reduction
Red = Route Cancellations

Stationlink Shuttle ROUTE 463
The Depot at Santa Ana to Hutton Centre Metrolink Feeder
Weekdays: Change the loading stop from Santa Ana Boulevard near the railroad
crossing to inside the depot at Dock #2. This will further ease the train-bus connection.

Stationlink Shuttle ROUTE 464
The Depot at Santa Ana to Costa Mesa Metrolink Feeder
Weekdays: Change the loading stop from Santa Ana Boulevard near the railroad
crossing to inside the depot at Dock #3. This will further ease the train-bus connection.

Metrolink Weekends Shuttle ROUTE 686
Irvine Transportation Center to Irvine Spectrum Metrolink Shuttle
Saturdays & Sundays: Cancel the 6:49 AM trip. The first trip of the day will now
start at 8:29 a.m.

In addition, schedule adjustments will be made on the following routes:
26, 29, 42, 43, 47, 50, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 64, 66, 70, 74, 76, 83, 87, 147, 463, 464 and 686.

Preview the March 2008 Bus Book / Schedules

[nickv]

OCTA - Proposed Service Changes

Public Hearing on April 14, 2008.



Color Key
Green = Upgrades & Additions
Purple = Modification
Brown = Service Reduction
Red = Route Cancellations

Irvine Business Park Shuttle
Irvine Business Park area
Weekdays: Launch Routes A & B in June.
Route details TBA.

Stationlink Shuttle ROUTE 470, 471
Tustin Metrolink Station to Irvine Business Complex / UCI
Weekdays: Modify the routing in conjunction with the new shuttle service.
Route details TBA.

OC Flyer Route 671
Anaheim - Orange - OC Fairgrounds
Weekends: Launch route for OC Fair.
Route details TBA.

Metrolink Weekends Shuttle ROUTE 686
Irvine Transportation Center to Irvine Spectrum Metrolink Shuttle
Saturdays & Sundays: Cancel line in June.

OC Express ROUTE 792
Riverside - Corona - Anaheim Canyon Metrolink - ARTIC - Disneyland
Weekdays: Launch new commuter bus service in September or later.


Maps to be posted when the route details are released by OCTA.

Visit this page for more information

[nickv]

OCTA - Proposed Service Changes with my comments

Public Hearing is on April 14, 2008.



Color Key
Green = Upgrades & Additions
Purple = Modification
Brown = Service Reduction
Red = Route Cancellations






Irvine Business Park Shuttle
Irvine Business Park area
Weekdays: Launch Routes A & B in June.
The shuttles will be operated by the Irvine Shuttle. The service will be free to all passengers until September 1, 2008. After September 1st, the fares will be as follows:

$1.00 - Boarding During Peak Period (5:30am – 9:30am and 3:30pm – 7:30pm on Weekdays)
$.50 - Boarding During Off-Peak Period (9:30am – 3:30pm Weekdays and All Day Saturday and Sunday)
Free - Riders Presenting Valid Metrolink Pass/Ticket for Rider Connecting to and from Tustin Metrolink Station

Route A
Route A connects the Tustin Metrolink Station to the John Wayne Airport via Von Karman Ave. The Route will meet the morning and afternoon Metrolink trains and provide 30-minute midday service. Weekday service starts at 5:00a and ends at 7:30p. Service will also be provided on Saturday, Sunday, and Holidays on a 30-minute frequency from 8:00a to 5:30p. Service starts on this route on June 9, 2008.

Route B
Route B connects the Tustin Metrolink Station to the heart of the IBC via Jamboree Rd and Michelson Dr. The Route will also meet the morning and afternoon Metrolink trains and provide 30-minute midday service. Weekday service starts at 5:00a and ends at 7:30p. Service will also be provided on Saturday, Sunday, and Holidays on a 30-minute frequency from 8:00a to 5:30p. Service starts on this route on June 9, 2008.

Route C
Route C is a midday service in the busiest section of the IBC. The route is a bi-directional loop providing service every 10 minutes from 10:30a to 2:30p. Route C has no weekend or holiday service. Service starts on this route on March 31, 2008.


Stationlink Shuttle ROUTE 470, 471
Tustin Metrolink Station to Irvine Business Complex / UCI
Weekdays: Modify the routing in conjunction with the new shuttle service.
MY COMMENTS: I have strong concerns regarding the proposed routing for Route 471 (472). There is no replacement service proposed for the Alton Pkwy corridor between Red Hill and Jamboree. I therefore oppose the proposed Route 471 routing until replacement service is proposed and strongly suggest working with the City of Irvine so that workers along the Alton Pkwy corridor can continue to use Metrolink. I do not object to the Route 470 (473) proposal, but request that the southbound terminal be extended to Campus and University.

OC Flyer Route 671
Anaheim - Orange - OC Fairgrounds
Weekends: Launch route for OC Fair.
MY COMMENTS: I support this route and request that select trips be timed with Metrolink Weekends Trains.

Metrolink Weekends Shuttle ROUTE 686
Irvine Transportation Center to Irvine Spectrum Metrolink Shuttle
Saturdays & Sundays: Cancel line in June.
MY COMMENTS: This shuttle connects a major transportation hub to a very active entertainment and shopping area in which several service sector employees work. Since Stationlink 482 and Route 188 do not operate on weekends, Route 686 provides a key connection to the Spectrum for these workers on weekends where this center is most active. Also since major transit upgrades are proposed for the Irvine Transportation Center area which includes frequent Metrolink service, the Irvine Guideway project, bus rapid transit, and California High Speed Rail; and that transit oriented development is also proposed in the area, timed feeder routes will be very necessary for these upgrades to operate properly. Therefore, I oppose this proposal and request that any other service cuts in this area be held back.


OC Express ROUTE 792
Riverside - Corona - Anaheim Canyon Metrolink - ARTIC - Disneyland
Weekdays: Launch new commuter bus service in September or later.



MY COMMENTS: I support this line with the following requests:
The proposed routing and Route 794 currently bypass a major RTA transfer hub at the Galleria of Tyler which is served by 9 RTA bus routes. The current Riverside bus stop at Hughes Alley is about a 1/4 mile walk from the Galleria at Tyler transfer hub. Both of these commuter routes should have stops at the hub to maximize productivity and allow RTA bus riders connections to the service. In Corona, I strongly suggest working with RTA and have this route and Route 794 connect with RTA CommuterLink Route 206 at the North Main Corona Metrolink Station with timed connections and a streamlined transfer agreement. This will give Inland Empire commuters better travel options. At the Anaheim Canyon Station stop, the existing Stationlink shuttles should also be timed with Route 792. I also suggest that this route operate midday, late night, and weekend service as resources become available given the high level of activity at the Anaheim Resort area.


Visit this page for more information

[nickv]

OCTA -Service Changes (6/8/2008)
OCTA - June Service Change Highlights



Bus Service Change Highlights summarizes upcoming service improvements to the OCTA bus system. These improvements are made to better serve you, our customers. Service may be adjusted four times a year (March, June, September and December) and allows OCTA to respond to customers’ comments and suggestions to improve the bus system. The changes below will be implemented on June 8, 2008.

For specific route and schedule information, please look for OCTA’s Bus Book — dated June 8, 2008 — on buses, in schedule racks throughout the county.

Color Key
Green = Upgrades & Additions
Purple = Modification
Brown = Service Reduction
Red = Route Cancellations

ROUTE 38 - Local Route
Lakewood to Anaheim Hills
Weekdays: Extend the current eastbound 7:40 p.m. trip to the end of the line at the Festival Shopping Center. Start the current westbound trip at the Festival at 9:00 p.m. to provide later service to Anaheim Hills.

ROUTE 47 - Local Route
Brea to Newport Beach
Weekdays: Add a new southbound trip from Westminster & Fairview to 23rd & Balboa starting at 4:45 a.m.

ROUTE 89 - Local Route
Mission Viejo - Laguna Hills TC - Laguna Beach Bus Station
Saturdays & Sundays: Switch to the summer schedule (later evening service from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. between the Laguna Hills Transportation Center and the Laguna Beach Bus Station).

ROUTE 131 - Community Shuttle
Yorba Linda to the Villages at Orange
Weekdays: All southbound trips will start approximately ten minutes later.

ROUTE 167 - Community Route
Anaheim to Irvine
All Days: Change the south terminal from Bryan & Yale to Bryan & Culver. View Map

Irvine Business Park Shuttle
Irvine Business Park area
Weekdays: Launch Routes A & B in June.
The shuttles will be operated by the Irvine Shuttle. The service will be free to all passengers until September 1, 2008. After September 1st, the fares will be as follows:

$1.00 - Boarding During Peak Period (5:30am – 9:30am and 3:30pm – 7:30pm on Weekdays)
$.50 - Boarding During Off-Peak Period (9:30am – 3:30pm Weekdays and All Day Saturday and Sunday)
Free - Riders Presenting Valid Metrolink Pass/Ticket for Rider Connecting to and from Tustin Metrolink Station

Route A - Metrolink Rail Feeder Shuttle
Route A connects the Tustin Metrolink Station to the John Wayne Airport via Von Karman Ave. The Route will meet the morning and afternoon Metrolink trains and provide 30-minute midday service. Weekday service starts at 5:00a and ends at 7:30p. Service will also be provided on Saturday, Sunday, and Holidays on a 30-minute frequency from 8:00a to 5:30p. Service starts on this route on June 9, 2008.

Route B - Metrolink Rail Feeder Shuttle
Route B connects the Tustin Metrolink Station to the heart of the IBC via Jamboree Rd and Michelson Dr. The Route will also meet the morning and afternoon Metrolink trains and provide 30-minute midday service. Weekday service starts at 5:00a and ends at 7:30p. Service will also be provided on Saturday, Sunday, and Holidays on a 30-minute frequency from 8:00a to 5:30p. Service starts on this route on June 9, 2008.

Route C - Shuttle
Route C is a midday service in the busiest section of the IBC. The route is a bi-directional loop providing service every 10 minutes from 10:30a to 2:30p. Route C has no weekend or holiday service. Service started on this route on March 31, 2008.


ROUTE 470, 471 - Metrolink Rail Feeder Shuttles
Tustin Metrolink Station to Irvine Business Complex / UCI
Weekdays: Modify the routing in conjunction with the new shuttle service. Start a NEW ROUTE 472 to replace, in part, Route 471 to serve Red Hill, MacArthur, Jamboree, to the current Route 471 terminal on Fairchild. Begin a NEW ROUTE 473 to replace, in part, Route 470 to serve Harvard and Campus to the current Route 470 terminal at UCI. View Map


ROUTE 671 - OC Fair Flyer Route
Anaheim - Orange - OC Fairgrounds
Weekends: Start a new Orange County Fair special service for the four weekends the Fair is open from Anahein Canyon Metrolink Station with one stop at the Lincoln Park-and-Ride lot. Get a schedule onboard.

ROUTE 633, 662, 670, 691 - OC Far Flyer Routes
Saturdays & Sundays: Begin summer weekend service during the Orange County Fair for four routes to the Fairgrounds from the following cities: Fullerton (Route 633), Santa Ana (Route 662), Huntington Beach (Route 670) and San Juan Capistrano (Route 691). These are direct service routes to the Fair with no stops. Get a schedule onboard. View Map


ROUTE 686 - Metrolink Weekends Rail Feeder Shuttle
Irvine Transportation Center to Irvine Spectrum Metrolink Shuttle
Saturdays & Sundays: Cancel this route due to low ridership.


OC Express ROUTE 792 - Commuter Express Route
Riverside - Corona - Anaheim Canyon Metrolink - DT Anaheim - Disneyland
Weekdays: This new commuter bus service will be scheduled to be launched in September or later.





Visit this page for more information

[nickv]

OCTA -Service Changes (9/14/2008)
OCTA - September 2008 Service Change Highlights


Photo by Matthew Jude Brown


ROUTE 21 (Local)
Fullerton to Huntington Beach
Weekdays: Reroute to serve the Buena Park Metrolink Station.

ROUTE 29 (Local)
Brea to Huntington Beach
All Days: Reroute short trips to the Buena Park Metrolink Station via Malvern instead of Artesia.

ROUTE 30 (Local)
Cerritos to Anaheim
All Days: Make the current detour in East Anaheim permanent.

ROUTE 38 (Local)
Lakewood to Anaheim Hills
All Days: Make the current detour in East Anaheim permanent.

ROUTE 64 (Local)
Huntington Beach to Tustin
All Days: Continue the current detour that uses stops on the street instead of going inside the Santa Ana Transit Terminal.

ROUTE 89 (Local)
Mission Viejo to Laguna Beach
Saturdays & Sundays: End the summer-only runs of the three late evening trips between Laguna Hills Transportation Center and the Laguna Beach Bus Station.

ROUTE 473 (Metrolink Rail Feeder)
Tustin Station to U.C. Irvine
Weekdays: Reroute the approach to UCI via Harvard, California, Campus instead of Harvard, Bridge, Campus.

In addition, scheduleadjustments have been made to the following routes:

1, 25, 33, 35, 37, 47, 50, 53, 60, 70, 71, 82, 83, 85, 87, 89, 91, 131, 172, 173, 175, 177, 188, 191, 462, 472, 757, 758

Visit this page for more information

[nickv]

OCTA - Proposed Fare Adjustments


Photo by Matthew Jude Brown

OCTA - Why is a fare adjustment being proposed?

The high price of gas has impacted all of us across the country. Here in Orange County, thousands of new customers are seeking relief from skyrocketing gas prices by riding buses for reliable and cost-effective trips.

During the past fiscal year, Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) buses delivered more than 67 million boardings. More and more people are taking advantage of OCTA’s buses. However, the nation’s fuel crisis significantly has increased the cost to operate our bus system. OCTA is addressing this issue by proposing reasonable fare increases.

What can you do?

We are reviewing different proposals that would increase fares. Our proposed fares will be available by October 9, 2008. After the proposal is posted, we want to hear from you. Your comments, ideas and suggestions will help us continue to provide quality bus service for Orange County.

Attend a community open house

You can get more information on the proposed fare adjustment at either of these community open houses:

Between 5 and 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 13
Laguna Hills Community Center
25555 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Hills
Served by bus routes: 87, 177, 187 and 212

Between 5 and 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 16
OCTA Headquarters
600 S. Main Street, Orange
Served by bus routes: 53, 56 and 83

Attend a public hearing at the OCTA Board of Directors meeting

9 a.m., Monday, Oct. 27
OCTA Headquarters
600 S. Main Street, Orange
Served by bus routes: 53, 56 and 83

Visit this page for more information

[nickv]

OCTA - Santa Ana Transit Bus Terminal


Photo by Matthew Jude Brown

Effective December 14th, the Santa Ana Transit Terminal will be closed due to advances of alternative fuel technology and more stringent bus storage parameters that exceed the design limitations of the current bus station.

A new on-street transfer point will be established at 6th and Flower Streets (west of the county courthouse & City Hall). OCTA Routes 55, 83, 145, 206, and 757 will serve this bus stop. Routes 51, 53, 62, and 64 that operate on adjacent streets to the new transfer point will be realigned to to operate in straight lines along their primary roadways without deviating.

This will therefore result in some direct connections between bus routes to be no longer available, so riders might have a short walk or transfer to an intersecting bus route to reach their target bus route.

OCTA reports over 6,000 weekday boardings and alightings at this station; proper notification and transit ambassadors will be deployed during the first several days of the change.

[nickv]

OCTA - December 2008 Bus Service Change Highlights


Photo by Matthew Jude Brown

December 2008 Bus Service Change Highlights
Effective December 14th

ROUTE 1 (Local)
Long Beach to San Clemente
Weekdays: Cancel one evening northbound and one morning southbound short trip Between the Newport Transportation Center and Laguna Beach Bus Station

ROUTE 43 (Local)
La Habra to Costa Mesa
Saturdays: Reduce frequency between Fullerton and Costa Mesa during midday hours on Saturdays

ROUTE 47 (Local)
Brea to Newport Beach
Weekdays: Increase afternoon service frequency

ROUTE 51 (Local)
Santa Ana to Costa Mesa
All Days: Continue routing straight along Flower Street and no longer deviate to the Santa Ana Civic Center

ROUTE 53 (Local)
Brea to Irvine
All Days: Continue routing straight along Main Street and no longer deviate to the Santa Ana Civic Center
Weekdays: Reduce service frequency during most of the day

ROUTE 55 (Local)
Santa Ana to Costa Mesa
All Days: Relocate northern terminus from Santa Ana Transit Terminal to 6th & Flower

ROUTE 57 (Local)
Brea to Newport Beach
Weekdays & Saturdays: Reduce service frequency.

ROUTE 62 (Local)
Huntington Beach to Santa Ana
All Days: Continue routing straight along Civic Center Drive

ROUTE 64 (Local)
Huntington Beach to Tustin
All Days: Continue routing straight along 1st Street and no longer deviate to the Santa Ana Civic Center
Weekdays: Reduce service frequency during morning and afternoon rush hour

ROUTE 75 (Local)
Tustin to Newport Beach
Weekdays: Reroute to serve the District Shopping Center

ROUTE 83 (Local + Express)
Anaheim to Laguna Hills
All Days: Relocate northern Short LINE terminus from Santa Ana Transit Terminal to 6th & Flower and route Long LINE to serve 6th & Flower

ROUTE 86 (Local)
Costa Mesa to Mission Viejo
All Days: Route will now enter the bus plaza area at the Irvine Transportation Center stop instead of the street.
Saturdays: Reschedule service to operate hourly all day

ROUTE 145 (Community Connector / Shuttle)
Santa Ana to Costa Mesa
All Days: Relocate northern terminus from Santa Ana Transit Terminal to
6th & Flower

ROUTE 167 (Community Connector / Shuttle)
Orange to Irvine
Weekdays: Relocate northern
terminus from Kraemer Place & La Palma to Jefferson & Tustin and extend the southern segment from Bryan & Culver to the Jeffrey Park-and-Ride via Bryan and Jeffrey
Note: No change on weekends

ROUTE 206 (Commuter Express Bus)
Santa Ana to Lake Forest Express
Weekdays: Relocate northern terminus from Santa Ana Transit Terminal to 6th & Flower

ROUTE 757 (OC Express Commuter Bus)
Pomona to Santa Ana Express
Weekdays: Relocate southern terminus from Santa Ana & Flower to 6th & Flower

In addition, schedule adjustments have been made to the following routes:
24, 29, 33, 35, 38, 46, 56, 59, 60, 71, 76, 79, 85, 89, 91, 172, 175, 187, 188, 191, 193, 480 and 758.

Effective December 14th, the Santa Ana Transit Terminal will be closed due to advances of alternative fuel technology and more stringent bus storage parameters that exceed the design limitations of the current bus station.

A new on-street transfer point will be established at 6th and Flower Streets (west of the county courthouse & City Hall). OCTA Routes 55, 83, 145, 206, and 757 will serve this bus stop. Routes 51, 53, 62, and 64 that operate on adjacent streets to the new transfer point will be realigned to to operate in straight lines along their primary roadways without deviating.

This will therefore result in some direct connections between bus routes to be no longer available, so riders might have a short walk or transfer to an intersecting bus route to reach their target bus route.

OCTA reports over 6,000 weekday boardings and alightings at this station; proper notification and transit ambassadors will be deployed during the first several days of the change.

[spokker]

Speaking of the fare adjustment, if the price of gas is going down, why continue with the plan to raise fares? And since the rapid bus service hasn't started yet, I hardly think a fare increase is justified now.

[nickv]

ACTION ALERT - Notice of Public Hearing
Proposed OCTA Bus Service Major Reductions
OCTA will hold a series of community meetings and a public hearing on May 22


Photo by Matthew Jude Brown

The recently approved state budget resulted in devastating impacts for Orange County bus riders. The Legislature reduced the State Transit Assistance program, the only ongoing source of state funding for day-to-day transit operations, representing a loss of more than
$17 million through June. Next year these funds will be eliminated completely -- resulting in a loss of approximately $100 million over the next five years.

The continuing economic crisis and declining sales tax revenue also have reduced available funding for transit services. Even with the extensive cost-cutting measures already taken by the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), these significant funding reductions mean that the current level of bus service can no longer be sustained. OCTA is planning a large service reduction program that includes the following potential service changes effective September 2009 through June 2010.

Routes 43, 50, 57, 60 (Local Routes)
All Days: Cancel owl service

Frequency and/or Span Reductions:
On weekdays and weekends, there may be route adjustments and reductions of service hours and frequency on routes 26, 29, 37, 38, 42, 43, 47, 50, 53, 54, 55, 57, 60, 64, 66, 70, 71, 83, 89, 91 and 794.

Frequency, Span Reductions, or Possible Route Cancellations:
On weekdays and weekends, there may be route adjustments and reductions of service hours and frequency including the possibility of cancellation of one or more of the following routes: 01, 20, 21, 24, 25, 30, 33, 35, 46, 51, 56, 59, 62, 72, 74, 75, 76, 79, 82, 85, 86, 87, 131, 145, 147, 164, 167, 172, 173, 175, 177, 178, 187, 188, 191, 193, 206, 211, 212, 213, 216, 410, 411, 430, 453, 454, 462, 463, 464, 472, 473, 480, 482, 490, 693, 701, 721, 757 and 758.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the OCTA Board of Directors will hold a public hearing at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, May 22, 2009, at OCTA Headquarters, 1st Floor, Room 154, 600 South Main Street, Orange, CA. The public hearing shall be for the purpose of considering major service reductions.

Description of Service Area: The service areas affected by the potential service reductions include Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties.

Relocation: No person, families or businesses will be displaced by the potential service reductions.

Comprehensive Planning: The necessity for the bus service reduction program is the result of state and local revenue declines and an analysis of feasible bus service conducted by OCTA.

Elderly and Persons with Disabilities: The service reduction program may affect public transit availability for the elderly and persons with disabilities who utilize fixed route bus and ACCESS paratransit service.

Public Participation: Interested persons may submit, orally or in writing, recommendations and evidence with respect to the potential bus service reductions. A description of the potential bus service reduction program will be available for public inspection between April 23, 2009 and May 22, 2009. Please contact the Clerk of the Board, Wendy Knowles, at the OCTA Administrative Offices, 550 South Main Street,

P.O. Box 14184, Orange, CA 92863-1584.
Telephone [phone]

ALL INTERESTED PARTIES for the public hearing are invited to submit, orally or in writing, evidence and recommendations with respect to the potential bus service reduction program. Written comments may be addressed to the Clerk of the Board:

Wendy Knowles, Clerk of the Board
Orange County Transportation Authority
550 South Main Street
P.O. Box 14184
Orange, CA 92863-1584[/i]

Telephone [phone]

Or call OCTA Customer Relations at
(714) 636-RIDE, extension 2, or from South
Orange County (800) 636-RIDE, extension 2.

Or visit www.octa.net/servicefeedback to provide your comments online.

At the May 22, 2009 Public Hearing, the OCTA Board of Directors will afford interested persons or agencies an opportunity to submit, either orally or in writing, evidence and recommendations with respect to the effects of the potential bus service reductions.

[/color]

[nickv]

Apr 17, 2009 23:08:39 GMT -8 nickv said:

ACTION ALERT - Notice of Public Hearing
Proposed OCTA Bus Service Major Reductions
OCTA will hold a series of community meetings and a public hearing on May 22

[/i][/quote]


Click on the image to enlarge.

OCTA's proposed changes are available in this Web site and a detailed TTC Map of the proposed changes can be viewed here.

[billcousert]

Apr 18, 2009 15:39:35 GMT -8 nickv said:

Apr 17, 2009 23:08:39 GMT -8 nickv said:

ACTION ALERT - Notice of Public Hearing
Proposed OCTA Bus Service Major Reductions
OCTA will hold a series of community meetings and a public hearing on May 22

[/i][/quote]


Click on the image to enlarge.

OCTA's proposed changes are available in this Web site and a detailed TTC Map of the proposed changes can be viewed here.


[/quote]

How much money would OCTA need to raise to avoid these cuts?

Would doubling fares be enough to accomplish this?

[spokker]

I wonder what doubling the fares would do to ridership. I wouldn't pay double for the current OCTA service. They can't even get Bravo up and running.

[billcousert]

Apr 18, 2009 21:25:14 GMT -8 spokker said:

I wonder what doubling the fares would do to ridership. I wouldn't pay double for the current OCTA service. They can't even get Bravo up and running.

Double fares is only $2.50. I'd rather pay that than be forced to walk, or give up my job.

Bravo! is probably going to be postponed until this depresson ends.

[spokker]

The base fare would be $3 if it were doubled.

After telling a bunch of co-workers today that their VLF is doubling soon, I'm less opposed to the idea of fares doubling. I heard a lot of cursing after I told them that!

[billcousert]

Apr 19, 2009 17:00:53 GMT -8 spokker said:

The base fare would be $3 if it were doubled.

After telling a bunch of co-workers today that their VLF is doubling soon, I'm less opposed to the idea of fares doubling. I heard a lot of cursing after I told them that!

You are correct. I thought the fare change was going to take place in June. I think that's when RTA is scheduled to increase theirs...

Still, $3.00 per trip, or $110 per month is an incredible bargain compared to the costs of owning and operating a car.

OCTA is about to reduce service to what it was in the early 80's, and that is unacceptable. Too many people rely on them to get to their jobs. I think a fare increase is better than drastic cuts in service.

[spokker]

Have you thought of moving somewhere else? When I see that transit is getting cut while freeway projects keep on truckin', I get the feeling nobody here really cares that you won't be able to get to work anymore.

I reckon' I have a year left here and then I'll try to move to some enclave for train homos like myself.

[billcousert]

One of these days I plan to move back to civilization, but for the moment I'm stuck here in hicks ville.

[spokker]

What line(s) do you take? I take the 54/57 mostly, but I also do a 26/47 combo sometimes. I've also taken the 43 occasionally.

[spokker]

I sent in a comment card to the OCTA and asked them to double the fares.

I really wanted to include a snarky remark about reducing spending on road and highway projects, but thought it would be counterproductive.

[billcousert]

Did you attend the meeting?

Apr 17, 2009 23:08:39 GMT -8 nickv said:

ACTION ALERT - Notice of Public Hearing
Proposed OCTA Bus Service Major Reductions
OCTA will hold a series of community meetings and a public hearing on May 22


Photo by Matthew Jude Brown

The recently approved state budget resulted in devastating impacts for Orange County bus riders. The Legislature reduced the State Transit Assistance program, the only ongoing source of state funding for day-to-day transit operations, representing a loss of more than
$17 million through June. Next year these funds will be eliminated completely -- resulting in a loss of approximately $100 million over the next five years.

The continuing economic crisis and declining sales tax revenue also have reduced available funding for transit services. Even with the extensive cost-cutting measures already taken by the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), these significant funding reductions mean that the current level of bus service can no longer be sustained. OCTA is planning a large service reduction program that includes the following potential service changes effective September 2009 through June 2010.

Routes 43, 50, 57, 60 (Local Routes)
All Days: Cancel owl service

Frequency and/or Span Reductions:
On weekdays and weekends, there may be route adjustments and reductions of service hours and frequency on routes 26, 29, 37, 38, 42, 43, 47, 50, 53, 54, 55, 57, 60, 64, 66, 70, 71, 83, 89, 91 and 794.

Frequency, Span Reductions, or Possible Route Cancellations:
On weekdays and weekends, there may be route adjustments and reductions of service hours and frequency including the possibility of cancellation of one or more of the following routes: 01, 20, 21, 24, 25, 30, 33, 35, 46, 51, 56, 59, 62, 72, 74, 75, 76, 79, 82, 85, 86, 87, 131, 145, 147, 164, 167, 172, 173, 175, 177, 178, 187, 188, 191, 193, 206, 211, 212, 213, 216, 410, 411, 430, 453, 454, 462, 463, 464, 472, 473, 480, 482, 490, 693, 701, 721, 757 and 758.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the OCTA Board of Directors will hold a public hearing at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, May 22, 2009, at OCTA Headquarters, 1st Floor, Room 154, 600 South Main Street, Orange, CA. The public hearing shall be for the purpose of considering major service reductions.

Description of Service Area: The service areas affected by the potential service reductions include Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties.

Relocation: No person, families or businesses will be displaced by the potential service reductions.

Comprehensive Planning: The necessity for the bus service reduction program is the result of state and local revenue declines and an analysis of feasible bus service conducted by OCTA.

Elderly and Persons with Disabilities: The service reduction program may affect public transit availability for the elderly and persons with disabilities who utilize fixed route bus and ACCESS paratransit service.

Public Participation: Interested persons may submit, orally or in writing, recommendations and evidence with respect to the potential bus service reductions. A description of the potential bus service reduction program will be available for public inspection between April 23, 2009 and May 22, 2009. Please contact the Clerk of the Board, Wendy Knowles, at the OCTA Administrative Offices, 550 South Main Street,

P.O. Box 14184, Orange, CA 92863-1584.
Telephone [phone]

ALL INTERESTED PARTIES for the public hearing are invited to submit, orally or in writing, evidence and recommendations with respect to the potential bus service reduction program. Written comments may be addressed to the Clerk of the Board:

Wendy Knowles, Clerk of the Board
Orange County Transportation Authority
550 South Main Street
P.O. Box 14184
Orange, CA 92863-1584

[/i]

Telephone [phone]

Or call OCTA Customer Relations at
(714) 636-RIDE, extension 2, or from South
Orange County (800) 636-RIDE, extension 2.

Or visit www.octa.net/servicefeedback to provide your comments online.

At the May 22, 2009 Public Hearing, the OCTA Board of Directors will afford interested persons or agencies an opportunity to submit, either orally or in writing, evidence and recommendations with respect to the effects of the potential bus service reductions.

[/color]

[/quote]

[spokker]

No, because I don't think the OCTA are the ones we should be talking to.

www.newuniversity.org/main/article?slug=public_buses_to_uci192

When asked about how much OCTA is going to listen and accommodate the public’s need, Zlotnik mentioned OCTA’s lack of options.

“We have no choice; we feel the same way about the service reduction as the bus riders. We just have a $33 million deficit because State Transit Assistant Fund is taking away $20 million every year from the public transit funding. With the sales tax drop and the worsening economy, the situation of OCTA is just the same as some business, families and individuals,” Zlotnik said.

If you want to save service, the only thing you can do is ask the OCTA to raise fares. Otherwise, it's cuts across the board.

Sacramento is to blame.

[billcousert]

May 26, 2009 19:21:44 GMT -8 spokker said:

the only thing you can do is ask the OCTA to raise fares. Otherwise, it's cuts across the board.

Sacramento is to blame.

That's what I've been saying all along (here and on Steven Chan's blog).

Doubling fares is not unreasonable, at least temporarily. I believe most people would be willing to pay $3.00 per trip than risk losing their jobs.

Btw... Do you know if OCTA publishes statistics on their ridership? (number of boardings per year, and which trips are paid in cash or by pass)

[ieko]

Doubling the fares would be insane, I love public transport but unless fuel was outrageously expensive there wouldn't be any way for me to justify a $3 fare for local bus service. Imagine the price of a monthly pass for $3 fares? It might make more sense to buy a used car or lease a car for those prices...

[bluelineshawn]

^IAWTP. Doubling fares will barely increase revenue as half the riders will abandon the service.

[Transit Coalition]

May 30, 2009 14:15:44 GMT -8 ieko said:

Doubling the fares would be insane, I love public transport but unless fuel was outrageously expensive there wouldn't be any way for me to justify a $3 fare for local bus service. Imagine the price of a monthly pass for $3 fares? It might make more sense to buy a used car or lease a car for those prices...

Can you imagine how folks are going to get around with 70% of the service going away? Can you imagine $15 and $30 taxi rides?
If you have a $9-$12 / hour job, you are hardly making rent and food. Where would you get the money for a car, insurance, repairs, license tabs, fuel? The decision choice is draconian. If you increase fares and kept some of the service, you'd have a chance to keep your job or get to the doctor without using up your rent or food money. If you are forced to take a taxi, something is going to give.

[ieko]

May 30, 2009 18:56:27 GMT -8 Transit Coalition said:

May 30, 2009 14:15:44 GMT -8 ieko said:

Doubling the fares would be insane, I love public transport but unless fuel was outrageously expensive there wouldn't be any way for me to justify a $3 fare for local bus service. Imagine the price of a monthly pass for $3 fares? It might make more sense to buy a used car or lease a car for those prices...

Can you imagine how folks are going to get around with 70% of the service going away? Can you imagine $15 and $30 taxi rides?
If you have a $9-$12 / hour job, you are hardly making rent and food. Where would you get the money for a car, insurance, repairs, license tabs, fuel? The decision choice is draconian. If you increase fares and kept some of the service, you'd have a chance to keep your job or get to the doctor without using up your rent or food money. If you are forced to take a taxi, something is going to give.

The money would come from not using public transport because the costs could be nearly the same per month if fares double. If you increase fares while providing the same or worse service you force people to rethink how they get around. I think the car would win because it's faster and more flexible than a bus ever could be. Remember their family members can share the car and costs, in contrast they all would need individual bus passes without a car. I think it may be fair to say that most families will usually have one car, even a poor one.

If fares stay the same and service is cut then you're likely to consider a car, which may rival the same cost as if there were increased fares.

This is a lose-lose.

[spokker]

The problem in this scenario is that the personal automobile is still heavily subsidized in more ways than one, and in ways that aren't apparent to the average driver.

If drivers and riders were both forced to the pay the true cost of the chosen mode of transportation, mass transit might be the better choice. Of course, that's just my opinion.

[spokker]

May 30, 2009 19:29:38 GMT -8 ieko said:

I think the car would win because it's faster and more flexible than a bus ever could be.

Of course it is. You're comparing the personal automobile with a basic bus system with stops spaced about a quarter mile apart. If the OCTA had implemented rapid bus routes as they planned there would be much more at stake and the bus would be a better alternative to the car.

Remember their family members can share the car and costs, in contrast they all would need individual bus passes without a car.

What happens when everybody needs to work at the same time? Also, will this cheap, used car be able to handle the heavy load it's tasked with taking on each and every day?

If fares stay the same and service is cut then you're likely to consider a car, which may rival the same cost as if there were increased fares.

So you buy a used car for four grand. You pay for registration and insurance. You have to pay for tires, oil changes, tune ups, etc. Then after the warranty (if the dealer actually intends to honor it) expires the transmission goes out and you have to pay $800 to fix it, money you don't have all at once. You also had to pay $50 to get it towed to a mechanic.

Mass transit, even at double the fares, is looking a lot better now, isn't it? I didn't even mention gas, which is steadily rising as we get closer to summer.

[ieko]

May 30, 2009 20:03:40 GMT -8 spokker said:

May 30, 2009 19:29:38 GMT -8 ieko said:

I think the car would win because it's faster and more flexible than a bus ever could be.

Of course it is. You're comparing the personal automobile with a basic bus system with stops spaced about a quarter mile apart. If the OCTA had implemented rapid bus routes as they planned there would be much more at stake and the bus would be a better alternative to the car.

What happens when everybody needs to work at the same time? Also, will this cheap, used car be able to handle the heavy load it's tasked with taking on each and every day?

If fares stay the same and service is cut then you're likely to consider a car, which may rival the same cost as if there were increased fares.

So you buy a used car for four grand. You pay for registration and insurance. You have to pay for tires, oil changes, tune ups, etc. Then after the warranty (if the dealer actually intends to honor it) expires the transmission goes out and you have to pay $800 to fix it, money you don't have all at once. You also had to pay $50 to get it towed to a mechanic.

Mass transit, even at double the fares, is looking a lot better now, isn't it? I didn't even mention gas, which is steadily rising as we get closer to summer.

Stop spacing is pretty much in a limited stop fashion compared to LA anyway, having a rapid bus in Orange County won't make much of a difference in a lot of the county. It's just the way the streets have been laid out in Orange County provide for much quicker travel than in LA county, they had the luxury of starting later. Anyway the fact is they haven't done anything like that and to the rider who is either about to face a service cut or huge increase in fare this doesn't matter at all, what matters is what is the most effective way to get to work, and if the car is cheaper, there you go. I'm not saying the car is the answer to all our problems guys, I'm saying if you give someone a choice and another option is better well then isn't that what they're going to take?

We know what happens when everybody works at the same time, it's exactly the same situation we have now, traffic. But even then, the car is faster.

Paying for a car per month can be quite reasonable, and like I said earlier we live in LA most families have a car. A person going to and from work everyday who can't afford luxuries isn't about to go on a road trip and need their oil changed every week. Car ownership isn't as bad as you're making it out to be, all you really need is a small economy car like an old civic and you'll be quite fine. I'm sorry you feel that cars can be such a pain, but I really don't feel that is a fair depiction of car ownership.