Transit Advocates: Thank you. Now, for some good news and bad news...

Good news. Bad news.

Bus service to be cut 150,000 more hours instead of 300,000 more....for now.
OC Register front page article at www.ocregister.com/news/bus-218479-service-board.html.
Thank you to the over 60 bus riders and local elected officials who attended Monday's crucial, unadvertised, OCTA meeting. Despite the indignity of waiting almost 3 hours and having public comment time reduced to 1 minute each (1 board member suggested 10 seconds!), 30 speakers pleaded with OCTA to reduce the planned cuts at least by half, if not all the way. Without your activism we would be facing even worse cuts, so thanks to everyone who slugged through it. Thanks also to the hundreds of people who couldn't make it, but called the board. You made a difference!

Now that OCTA has decided how big the pie is, they'll decide who gets a piece.
View a summary of the exact routes OCTA plans to cut at www.transitrideroc.com and view OCTA's original report.
The total of OCTA's cuts to the bus system is now 20%, not 30%. That is still a stunning amount. We are still losing whole routes and 24-hour Night Owl buses, though a skeletal late night service is being proposed (with service until 1am). Take a look at the route restructuring in north Orange County with its 60-minute service, even during rush hour. We haven't been able to determine if there are any span (first and last bus) cuts. There are 2 scenarios — 150,000 hours cut in March and an additional 150,000 if it looks like State transit funds won't come through any time soon. If you would like to weigh in on what should be kept and what gets the hatchet, there are 2 more meetings: