O.C. transit agency finalizes another round of deep cuts in service

Orange County transit officials today announced another round of major cuts to bus service — including the elimination of several routes — to offset a projected budget shortfall of more than $330 million over the next five years.

The latest cuts, which take effect in March, will eliminate 150,000 bus-service hours. Since September 2008, the Orange County Transportation Authority has reduced bus service by 20% — a total of 383,000 annual bus-service hours — because of the budget shortfall.

Beyond eliminating routes, the cuts will result in shortened routes, fewer stops, longer waits between buses and the elimination of the agency’s popular Night Owl service. In January, the agency raised fares to $1.50 from $1.25 for a single ride.

The eliminated routes are: 62, which runs from Huntington Beach to Santa Ana; 74, Fountain Valley to Irvine; 75, Tustin to Newport Beach; 131, Yorba Linda to Orange; 147, Brea to Santa Ana; and 164, Seal Beach to Westminster.

A complete list of cuts can be found on the agency’s website at www.octa.net/marchchange.

-- Paloma Esquivel in Orange County

Comments

[LAofAnaheim]

Where is the Bus Riders Union now? They continue to complain that LA metro is racist because rail is being built in the "affluent" neighborhoods (which is funny, to say the least) and LA is cutting bus service. Whereas, Orange County cuts bus service, has killed Bravo! rapid transit, and continues to widen freeways. They are widening the 91, again, and look to widen the 405, again, and the 22, again. That is transit racism!

[angeleno]

Our state's budgetary morass and the resultant hit on funds for transit is deplorable. But the foresight voters in LA County showed when passing Measure R has at least locally mitigated the draconian cuts other counties are suffering.

[Spokker]

LAofAnaheim, you forget that BRU goals do not include helping transit dependent riders, but empowering union bus drivers and Mann's checking account. If transit riders happen to benefit from a few new buses, hey, great. But don't let them benefit too much. The BRU wants to keep their members nice and poor, and feeling victimized, in perpetuity, suck out what little money they have and parade them like puppets in front of cameras during demonstrations for unions, er, I mean better transit.

Metro is spending billions in East LA and South LA on light rail. The transit dependent population in Orange County can only dream of such money being spent on transit. Indeed, where is the BRU?