OCTA cuts off southbound route 53 stop, shutting out transit riders in deference to NIMBY Anaheim homeowners

How much is OCTA sticking up for bus riders? OCTA recently upgraded a Line 53 stop with concrete paving and seating for bus patrons. Afterwards, in deference to neighborhood complaints, they shuttered the stop, forcing riders traveling southbound to walk upwards of a mile to reach their destinations.

Customer Tony Cynor recently sent to me his chronicles of getting someone in OCTA and Anaheim — anyone — to restore service to the area. I put together this map on the right — with circles representing quarter-mile walking distances from southbound 53 bus stops. The red circle represents the loss of this bus stop. Unfortunately, OCTA's removal of this stop leaves a huge 1-mile gap between stops, inconveniencing riders.

OCTA is not the only entities fouling up service.  The stop was closed by three people in the neighborhood and the apparently lied about abuses.

Dear Tony, Your Anaheim Anytime request # 283194 has been resolved with the resolution: The bus stop was closed in August in response to neighborhood concerns. The specific concerns of the residents neighboring this bus stop were centered on the activities of bus riders while they wait for their bus. Reported activities included sitting on the front lawn and porches, theft of items from private property, leaving trash and shopping carts, public urination, chaining bicycles to the private fence, hanging backpacks and other items on the fence next to the bus stop, loitering, and solicitation. On March 10, 2009, two citizens addressed the City Council regarding this bus stop. Three letters were also submitted addressing concerns regarding this bus stop, two from the citizens who addressed the City Council, and one from another neighbor on Sunkist Street. City Council directed staff to look at options to relocate or close the bus stop to address these concerns. City staff reviewed the vicinity around the bus stop for potential options, and then contacted OCTA about this issue. OCTA staff agreed that there is no feasible location for a bus stop on southbound Sunkist Street for Route 53 due to the residential uses with front doors facing Sunkist Street, and that the former bus stop was in a location that generated a significant amount of complaints. OCTA decided that the bus stop should be closed, and the new transfer point from Route 38 to Route 53 is on La Palma Avenue at Chantilly Street. Please call me at (714) 765-5183 if you have any further questions. David Kennedy Thank you for contacting the City of Anaheim using Anaheim Anytime. This is in reference to the Anaheim Anytime request you submitted on 08/24/2009 6:36 PM

Description: OCTA Route 53 Bus Stop Discontinued. Southbound Location one block south of La Palma on Sunkist
  Anyone know why this was done just after upgrade of stop with benches and concrete paving. It is more than one mile between bus stop now and the neighborhood is no longer served! Yes this can be considered a complaint and I don't know if anyone can do anything about it. OCTA does not respond to questions concerning the matter

Cynor then spoke with an Anaheim representative, confirming a not-in-my-backyard attitude of Anaheim residents towards transit users:

Talked to David Kennedy at the city yesterday on the phone. He says the residents are very anti transit in that area. Anaheim requested relocation but OCTA does not want to bother. If the mayor, city council or he gets enough letters the city will again approach OCTA on the matter. So far there are only three letters and various police reports. I have used the stop since its inception and never saw any of the things described there. Sounds more like something from a bad neighborhood in Detroit!

Here's the map again. If anyone has any more information about this or is willing to write a letter of support to help Cynor and other transit riders restore this stop, please post in the comments.