Transit Advocates

We've been working on a new concept for an exciting Transit Vision for Orange County, and we'd like your input!

Given the worst transit cuts in OCTA history, it may seem like an odd time to focus on a blue sky vision of what we'd like transit to be, but two significant OCTA projects are coming up, and we want to make sure OCTA knows what we think good bus service looks like. (The projects are OCTA's Long Range Transportation Plan, and their Transit System Study.) Keep in mind that this Vision is just in draft stage now and may change considerably, especially where the wording is unclear.

Please send us your comments by this Sunday evening, December 5.

Then, if you have questions, or want more information, join us for a follow-up phone conference call Thursday, December 9, 7 pm.

We'll send the phone number next week — there's no charge for the call except normal toll charges to the 323 / downtown Los Angeles area code. We may be able to have Spanish translation on the call — let us know if you're interested.

• Step 1: Please take a look at our Transit Vision Draft.
• Step 2: Fill out our short survey.

Thank you — your comments will help make the Transit Vision the best it can be!

  read more→

Major New Downtown Santa Ana to Los Angeles Transit Line

The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), along with Metro and OCTA, is conducting a Transit Alternatives Analysis on the old Pacific Electric Right-of-Way that runs diagonally through the county into LA, going through:

Santa Ana, Garden Grove, Buena Park, Stanton, Cypress, Cerritos, Artesia, Bellflower, & Paramount.

The study will determine if the Right-of-Way can support future transit options such as Bus Rapid Transit, Streetcars, Light Rail, or Commuter Rail. Now it's the public's turn to give input. Attend one of the Community Meetings and let them know what a difference a transit line here can make for OC transit riders!

• GARDEN GROVE: Tuesday, June 15 - 6:30-8:30 pm - Garden Grove Community Center: 11300 Stanford Ave.
• CYPRESS: Thursday, June 17 - 6:30-8:30 pm - Cypress Community Center: 5700 Orange Ave.
• CERRITOS: Saturday, June 19 - 1:00-3:00 pm - Cerritos Park East Community Center: 13234 East 166th St.
• STANTON: Wednesday, June 23 - 6:30-8:30 pm -Stanton Council Chambers: 7800 Katella Ave.

For more info on the PE Right-of-Way, visit www.pacificelectriccorridor.com.

Tell OCTA to build better transit for Central County

Do you think OCTA should build a new street on the Pacific Electric rail Right-of-Way to connect the SR-22 freeway directly with downtown Santa Ana? How about enhancing Bus Rapid Transit with bypass lanes at intersections, traffic signal priority for transit, real-time passenger information and other improvements at bus stops? Or making pedestrian and bicycle improvements at key intersections and arterials in central Orange County?

Don't miss an opportunity to have your views counted in OCTA's Central County Corridor Major Investment Study survey at www.octa.net/ major_investment_studies(2).aspx. Please take it today!

Also, you can attend the Open Houses:

• FOUNTAIN VALLEY - Wednesday, June 16, 2010, 5 - 7 p.m. Monroe Elementary School, 16225 Newhope Street, Fountain Valley, CA 92708.
• TUSTIN - Thursday, June 17, 2010, 5 - 7 p.m. Tustin Library, 345 East Main Street, Tustin, CA 92780

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Designed by a Parking Garage Consultant

Current concept plans call for the relocation of the bus terminal at the Fullerton Transportation Center to be relocated to the ground floor of a proposed new 5-story retail / residential / parking structure close to the railroad tracks east of the train station (there's a surface parking lot there now.) The designers of the terminal are nationally known parking garage consultants who designed the Sierra Madre Villa Gold Line bus station, also in a parking garage. While the City will be discussing the 6-block project as a whole (in-fill development east from Harbor to Lemon to Lawrence and south from Commonwealth to Santa Fe to the train tracks), here's your chance to see the bus terminal plans early on so we can make this plan the best it can be to incorporate bus, rail, biking, taxi, pedestrian, and disabled access needs. As you listen to the presentation, keep in mind that the new development needs to incorporate future transit growth as well as what currently exists.

This Monday, April 19th, 6 - 8:30 pm
Fullerton Senior Center, 340 W. Commonwealth Ave.,
across from the Fullerton Public Library
(Route 26 takes you there directly. Route 24 and route 43 are a short walk away.)
For more info, call the City of Fullerton (714) 738-6834

Let us know if you're thinking of attending, and see you there!

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Tell us how March's Service Change went. What went right? What went wrong? We've seen buses 30 minutes late, bus bunching (the bus is late and then 2 or 3 buses arrive at one time), and signs giving wrong information. We're compiling a list of things OCTA can improve on. With your feedback, we can advocate for better, more reliable bus service changes.

When writing to us, be as specific as possible. If you can, include the exact date and time, bus number, run number, operator number, route, headsign, and final destination of the bus. Or, if applicable, include the bus stop number and intersection. Specific details gives OCTA data upon which they can improve your bus service.

Click here to tell us about your experience.

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Google Maps recently added bicycle directions to their list of features which also include directions by car, walking and public transportation. (For public transportation, see article below.) This new feature can help you find a convenient route that makes use of dedicated bike lanes or trails and avoids hills whenever possible.

1. Go To: maps.google.com
2. Click on: Get Directions
3. Choose: "Bicycling"

You'll get turn-by-turn directions for a suggested route. You can "drag" the route if there are streets you prefer. Once in this mode, the colors change to indicate where there are marked bike lanes and paved bike trails. You'll see three types of lines on the map:

• Dark green indicates a dedicated bike-only trail;
• Light green indicates a dedicated bike lane along a road;
• Dashed green indicates roads that are designated as preferred for bicycling, but without dedicated lanes

Unfortunately, it looks like not all the marked bike lanes appear yet, but will eventually be added. If you notice any glitches, feel free to use the Report a Problem tool.

This new bike mode is an important improvement for planning car-free transit.

The next step would be to integrate bicycle and transit directions. Those who can ride a bicycle to a stop or station have more options for bus/train connections due to their extended range. For example, a commute from UCI to San Juan Capistrano using Google Transit shows the 473 bus to Tustin and the Metrolink to San Juan Capistrano for a point to point travel time of 1 hour. If you had a bicycle, however, you could ride 2 miles to catch the 212 bus that also goes to San Juan Capistrano and also takes about 1 hour, but costs $5 less!

If You've Never Tried Google Transit...

Transit riders in Orange County can use Google Maps to get step-by-step transit directions on their web browsers and mobile phones for OCTA, Metro (Los Angeles), Long Beach Transit, Metrolink and Amtrak. It's much easier to use than other trip planners!

1. Go To: maps.google.com
2. Click on: Get Directions
3. Choose: "By Public Transit"

Be sure to click on "show options" so you can choose an arrival or departure day and time. If not, the system defaults to "next available trip".

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Good news everyone.

On Monday night, Governor Schwarzenegger signed into law the "gas tax swap" package, restoring funding to the State Transit Assistance (STA) program that was zeroed-out last year.

This news comes at a particularly good time for Orange County bus riders, since OCTA decided last year that without renewed state funding, they were going to cut service again this coming September, doubling the impact of the already devastating March cuts we just suffered.

This legislation does not reverse the cuts implemented last week, and it doesn't address the loss of other bus operations funding, but it at least we will not suffer MORE cuts in September!

• Thanks again to everyone who attended last year's OCTA board meeting to defer half of the proposed March 2010 cuts to September 2010, which allowed enough time for this state funding to come through, preventing the second half of the cuts.
• Thank you to everyone who called the governor last week to restore state transit funding!

Together, bus riders can make a difference!

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Tell the Governor to Sign the New Gas Tax Legislation that Restores Bus Funding

The alternate gas tax bill — ABX8 6 — that funds transit is now on the Governor's desk for signature! This legislation will send a minimum of $350 million in transit funding annually.

It's our best and possibly only chance to prevent even more devastating bus cuts that are scheduled for September.

The Governor has publicly expressed his intention to veto this bill. We need to tell the governor today what we are going through this week in Orange County, one of the wealthiest counties in the state! Did you lose your job? Are you missing time with your kids because it takes you an extra two hours to get to work? Ask him to sign this bill — the alternate gas tax for transit. Then let us know you called, and forward this to a friend.

Call the Governor now at
213-897-0322 or 916-445-2841.
Then tell us that you called! read more→