Rider Gains Prompt OCTD to Add Buses

With ridership at record-breaking levels, the Orange County Transit District Board of Directors voted unanimously Monday to beef up peak-hour service on some of the district’s most popular routes.

The frequency of buses will be increased on most of the 18 bus routes that together have accounted for 82% of OCTD’s ridership gains this year. The OCTD staff has not yet selected which routes will benefit but has scheduled service increases to begin in September and February.

The increases are expected to cost $1.12 million. “With cost savings and good budget management, we can fund this” within the current budget, said John B. Catoe Jr., manager of transportation.

Since January, OCTD ridership has averaged about 118,500 passengers per weekday--up from last year’s average of about 108,000 passengers.

Ridership peaked last spring, breaking previous OCTD records. During a 10-week period from March into May, the district recorded the 10 highest ridership days in its history. The highest was April 12, when 121,309 passengers boarded OCTD buses.

“Our marketing efforts seem to be paying off,” Catoe said.

OCTD officials also attribute this year’s ridership gains to the county’s high rate of employment, especially in the manufacturing sector, which traditionally has yielded many bus-riding employees, Catoe said.

According to an OCTD staff report released last week, “the good state of the local economy and its traditional positive impact on patronage suggests a continuation” of the upward trend in ridership.

The increases will have the effect of adding 10 buses during peak hours in September, and four more in February. The total increase is 75% more than anticipated in the district’s five-year plan, which was approved by the board in April.

As a result of the increase, OCTD will hire more drivers, Catoe said.

Catoe added that even though the current budget can absorb the added costs, he is prepared to ask for increased funding in the next budget, if warranted.

The board Monday also voted to spend $12.1 million for 69 new, full-size buses. The vehicles will be purchased from Gillig Corp. of Hayward, Calif., the only bidder among the 10 bus manufacturers invited to submit bids.

The district plans to purchase 247 such buses during a five-year period to replace vehicles that have exceeded their normal service life, defined by the district as 12 years or 500,000 miles.

OCTD ROUTES ACCOUNTING FOR RIDERSHIP GAINS

The 18 OCTD routes that have accounted for 82% of the system’s ridership gains this year:

Route--Streets

No. 54--Chapman Avenue

No. 57--Laguna Beach

No. 60--Westminister Avenue

No. 64--Bolsa Chica Road

No. 66--McFadden Avenue

No. 70--Edinger Avenue

No. 72--Warner Avenue

No. 85--Crown Valley Parkway

No. 91--Marguerite Parkway

Ridership on OCTD is up 10% this year over last.

Note: Not all of these lines will necessarily see additional service, as some had unused capacity at times.

Source: Orange County Transit District

OCTD RIDERSHIP DAILY HIGHS

Highest single-day ridership totals in OCTD history.

Data as of July 8, 1988.

Rk. Date Riders 1. April 4, 1988 121,309 2. April 6, 1988 121,187 3. May 4, 1988 120,549 4. May 16, 1988 120,090 5. March 14, 1988 120,064 6. April 26, 1988 120,174 7. March 24, 1988 119,636 8. March 8, 1988 119,574 9. March 18, 1988 119,559 10. April 18, 1988 119,430

Current average weekday ridership: 118,000

Average weekday ridership one year ago: 108,000

Source: Orange County Transit District