All blog posts for March 2009
Bus cutbacks hitting students hard, while OCTA prepares to spend billions on ≥4 freeway expansions
Submitted by Steven on 25 March, 2009 - 11:27pm
This article in Tuesday's Orange County Register did a very good job at dispelling the myth that the bus is just for the "undocumented" and shows how hard OCTA's 25% cut in transit service impacts students. (read below)
I myself have had a lot harder time getting around Orange County since buses are more crowded. Line 57's less frequent scheduling has caused buses to show up late (it takes additional time for more riders to alight), along with some crazy bus bunching issues. I've had to abandon using my full-sized bicycle since the racks are almost always full. Now, I wouldn't have a problem with less service if Orange County weren't also studying a $3.8-billion tunnel to lengthen the 57 freeway under the Santa Ana River. Oh, and the 91 freeway expansion. And the proposal to double-decker the 55 freeway through Newport Blvd. And the freeway expansion along the 405-22 junction. The imbalance in transportation makes me pissed beyond belief. read more→
Steep bus service cuts and layoffs: 25% of all service to be cut in Orange County
Submitted by Steven on 25 March, 2009 - 10:46pm
This past Monday, OCTA officially voted to axe 25% of its bus service and lay off 400 bus drivers, supervisors, and maintenance personnel to cope with the zeroed State Transit Assistance funds and loss in local revenue to support the transit system.
Riders will endure longer waits at bus stops for more crowded buses, as OCTA is turning down service frequencies. My take: this is much more preferable to axing whole bus lines (San Diego's approach). Since Orange County is such a sprawling suburban area, there are unfortunately no "redundant" bus lines to cut. read more→
Three new Bravo! rapid bus lines to open 2010, with a possible link to UC Irvine
Submitted by Steven on 8 March, 2009 - 11:05pm
During last Wednesday's OCTA customer roundtable, the unofficial word from staff members was that rapid bus service couldn't begin this year because implementing it means dipping from the same financial pot as local service. They're hoping to launch both the Westminster Line and the Harbor Line at the same time in June 2010, and then the Brea-Irvine rapid bus later in 2010. read more→
Waiting for the bus gets longer this June, along with more transit cuts
Submitted by Steven on 5 March, 2009 - 11:51pm
The cuts will keep on coming. This June, OCTA will reduce bus frequencies and service times (bus lines may end service earlier or begin later). The major service reduction comes to line 60; full trips will go only as far as 7th/Channel at the Long Beach Memorial V.A. Hospital, forcing riders to transfer. This also makes 24-hour travel impossible between Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Orange County as Long Beach Transit offers no 24-hour service. So much for my plan to rely on OCTA while I'm doing my hospital rotations.
Although OCTA enjoyed double-digit increases in bus ridership last year, ridership plunged 7% in January and 14% in February, according to OCTA staff. They're attributing this to the rising unemployment rate in California and lowered gas prices. read more→
OCTA cuts bus frequencies, services in light of state budget
Submitted by Steven on 4 March, 2009 - 4:14pm
OCTA seems to be doing its best to stem the budget hemorrhage by not eliminating any routes, but instead slashing frequencies.
Schwarznegger and state Republican leaders forced the elimination of 100% of state transit funding, so now it's up to the county and cities to fend for themselves. OCTA has even dedicated a whole section of their website to the cuts taking place to public transit and to employees. They write:
Plummeting state sales tax revenue also will result in a $19 million loss for OCTA. The transportation agency is facing a more than $35 million shortfall in this year’s $263 million budget. read more→
