Week in Review : MAJOR EVENTS, IMAGES AND PEOPLE IN ORANGE COUNTY NEWS. : COUNTY : Irvine Co. Starts Commute Buses

The Orange County Transit District has considered running an express minibus in the commuter lane of the Costa Mesa Freeway since the lane was opened earlier this year, but the service was never begun: The district feared too few riders.

So the Irvine Co. has hired the district to operate the express buses--two each weekday morning from Anaheim Hills and Orange to Newport Center and two returning each weekday evening. The fare will be $1 each way.

A company spokeswoman said the Irvine Co. has enough of its own employees expressing interest to justify starting the bus line. Total employment at Newport Center is about 12,000, the spokeswoman said. Each bus holds 18 passengers. While waiting for the return trips in the evening, the buses will act as shuttles within Newport Center.