U.S. to Fund 12 Commuter Buses for the 91 Freeway

A dozen commuter buses using cleaner fuel will soon be on the 91 Freeway between Orange and Riverside counties to ease traffic congestion, officials announced Thursday.

Money for the buses will come from a $4.3-million federal transportation grant announced by Rep. Ken Calvert, (R-Corona), whose district includes part of Orange County and western Riverside County. The money will also help pay for projects in Fullerton and Anaheim.

The Orange County Transportation Authority had applied for the grant in September to help introduce its first dozen buses powered by compressed natural gas for the Riverside Freeway, the main connector linking Riverside and Orange counties.

“Easing congestion on the 91 Freeway is a significant priority for our agency,” said Kristine Murray, OCTA manager of federal relations.

The authority already has 223 buses powered by liquid natural gas, she said. Experts said traffic on the 91 Freeway was expected to grow from 250,000 trips a day to as many as 480,000 by 2030.

“These funds will help improve the transit system, particularly in Orange County and between Riverside and Orange counties,” Calvert said.

Regional transportation agencies recently approved a major widening of the freeway and further study of elevated lanes down its median, or alongside it, and a tunnel between Orange and Riverside counties through the Santa Ana Mountains. The authority has requested $7.5 million in federal money to design the freeway widening.

In addition, the grant announced Thursday will pay for a security camera system at the Fullerton Transportation Center, fund “rapid buses” on Harbor Boulevard and buy fare collection equipment for buses in Anaheim.