Calls to Cut Service for Orange County Buses

Orange County is dealing with falling transit use, and its transit authority is looking for ways to stay afloat.

1 minute read

June 3, 2017, 9:00 AM PDT

By Casey Brazeal @northandclark


OCTA Bus

George / Flickr

Like many transit services around the United States, the Orange County Transit Authority (OCTA) is dealing with declining ridership. Its approach to the problem could result in reduced service. "The cuts would come from removing bus trips from 12 routes and eliminating three bus routes to train stations, including bus service to ARTIC, Anaheim’s new transit hub which officials say will improve productivity by trimming resources from routes with fewer riders and eliminating five buses from the agency’s fleet," Thy Vo reports for Voice of the OC.

These cuts would be part of a plan to focus service on the most heavily used routes. "…cuts also reflect the Transportation Authority’s ongoing struggle to cope with falling bus ridership and productivity, which has declined by 19 percent since 2013 despite the fact that the total number of service hours has remained constant," Vo writes. 

An article from February 2016 reveals that OCTA has already provoked public outcry by proposing to cut routes.

Thursday, May 25, 2017 in Voice of Orange County

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