Transit Advocates: 2 easy ways to help save bus service

Ask for Bus Funding In The New Jobs Bill

Our partners at Transportation for America are asking everyone to sign on to their letter asking President Obama to  make sure transit jobs and America's bus and rail systems are a priority in the upcoming jobs bill. They’ll deliver the letter in person during a meeting with administration officials. With your help, they’ll urge the President to make sure the jobs bill includes funding to stop the hemorrhaging in our transit agencies and prevent layoffs, loss of service and draconian fare hikes. Here are their 3 principles to ensure funds go to where they’re most needed:

1.       Prioritize improvements to existing transit systems, rail lines, roads, and bridges. Rehabilitating existing transportation systems creates more jobs, faster than constructing new roadways from scratch, and investing in transit can create twice as many jobs than traditional highway spending.

2.       Invest in greener jobs and projects. Modern high-speed rail, rapid rail and bus systems, safe streets that promote walking and bicycling, will bring our transportation policy into the 21st century while bringing new green job opportunities.

3.       Keep an eye on long-term transportation needs. We urge the President to limit any jobs package for transportation to one year so that Congress can both create jobs now, and also continue longer-term transformation of our transportation system in the future.

Please urge your friends and family to get involved. There are only a few days left!

Sign on here:  http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/t/3224/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=632

Attend the Free Southern California Transit Forum:
Seeking Solutions for the Transit Funding Crisis

Friday, Feb. 5, 2010, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m

Chapman University, Orange, walking distance from Orange Metrolink

Transit: Bus Routes 54, 56, 59, Train:  Metrolink (not Amtrak)

For the program and full information see:

http://www.octa.net/socalforum_overview.aspx

They are offering complimentary Metrolink passes to the event.

RSVP  714.560.5939 or pwandelear@octa.net by 12 noon, Monday, February 1, asking for your Metrolink pass when you register.  The luncheon is sold out.

Did You See Us in The OC Weekly?

If not, check:  http://www.ocweekly.com/2010-01-14/news/night-owl-bus-octa

Our thanks to reporter Spencer Kornhaber for his thoughtful, in-depth reporting on the loss of Night Owl service and the problems with bus operations funding. There are opportunities to comment at the end of the article.

Save the Dates:

Transit Advocates Bus Cuts Update

Wednesday, February 24, 6 pm – 8 pm

Sana Ana Depot (train station)

We will have our first 2010 public meeting with bus service change updates and refreshments. Please attend; We’d like to meet you!

OCTA Service Change
March 14, 2010

Be sure to study the changes that will affect you; they will be substantial since many routes are being severely reduced or eliminated. Summary information is available atwww.octa.net/service0310.aspx New: There will be a Bus Service Change brochure with route maps available soon online, and on buses in mid-February. Schedules will be available in the online Bus Book in late February, and on buses early March.