Monday 9 am — last day to tell OCTA which buses to save

Last meeting to tell OCTA which bus routes to save.

We're making a difference — but the Board votes on the final route plans this Monday.
The Board votes on the final route plans this Monday 9am, which still involves elimination and restructuring of routes. There are 2 scenarios: 150,000 hours cut in March and an additional 150,000 if state transit funds don't materialize. Although it's a huge improvement to "only" have 150,000 hours of cuts in March, OCTA's Board will still approve a full 300,000 hours, hoping not to have to implement the extra cuts if the economy doesn't get worse.

Thus far, OCTA staff are proposing to save Route 24 on Chapman Ave in Fullerton with hourly service weekdays only. They will also propose to change the terminals of the north ends of the restructured route 29 to La Habra Blvd. instead of Buena Park Metrolink and route 59 to Miller/Miraloma instead of the Orange Transportation Center. They'll be saving some night service with most routes starting after 12:30am — and there will be no span cuts (first and last buses of the day).

This is all "good" news (considering the alternatives) but we must show up to ensure these happen, and there are still plenty of issues to fight for: The newly restructured 57 should go to CSU Fullerton, routes 76 and 172 should not both be cut on weekends, route 82 should be retained on Sundays at least to central Rancho Santa Margarita, etc., etc. (see our letter to OCTA on www.transitrideroc.com/node/307). And, be sure to look at the 300,000 cuts scenario. OCTA's PowerPoint on the cuts is on their site at www.octa.net/pdf/agenda112309item3.pdf; and, find the spreadsheet with full route details here www.transitrideroc.com/sites/default/files/images-march2010/March 2010 Service Change Staff Recommendations.xls.

These meetings are at OCTA Headquarters, 600 S Main St. just south of La Veta, Orange, CA. If you can't attend, call the Board of Directors at these phone numbers (posted on www.transitrideroc.com), or e-mail the Board through Clerk of the Board at wknowles@octa.net.
 

Another chance for bus funding — this Monday

This Monday at 9am, we are early on the agenda (as Item 3) so we will not have to wait through hours of unrelated items. You may want to stick around for agenda item 23, though, as that is where OCTA will discuss closing the original Measure M program on time so there may be monies left over to backfill Bristol Street Widening project, allowing bus monies that were used for that road project to return to the bus system and prevent more cuts.

Learn about OCTA's new service model: "new" "restructured" routes with more transfers and less frequency

Be sure to look at the new "restructured routes" in far north Orange County. The current routes 29, 43, 47, 53, 57 and 59 will all be truncated to be shorter than they are now. Besides having to transfer more often, the new routes will run far less frequently than they do now:

The former northern sections of the 29 and 59 will be combined to be called the 129. The former northern sections of the 43 and 47 will be combined to be called the 143, and the former northern sections of the 53 and 57 will be combined to be called the 153.