Countywide : Special Bus Offered for Commute Hours

In a bid to reduce traffic congestion caused by construction on the Santa Ana Freeway, the Orange County Transport District on Tuesday started a special bus route for commute-hour travelers between San Juan Capistrano and Anaheim.

The first 19-seat passenger van left the Junipero Serra Road Park-and-Ride station in San Juan Capistrano at 5:31 a.m. It arrived in Anaheim 80 minutes later, after making scheduled stops in Laguna Hills, Irvine, Tustin and Orange.

The number of commuters using the service Tuesday was not immediately available, but OCTD officials are optimistic.

“We hope some motorists will seize this opportunity and leave their cars at home,” OCTD spokeswoman Mona Ziada said. “Everyone benefits--they don’t have to drive through the congestion, and they help to free up traffic.”

To encourage commuters to use the new route, OCTD is offering free rides during the first two weeks of service. From Sept. 17, commuters will pay $1.80 for the Anaheim-San Juan Capistrano run and $1.30 for either Anaheim-Laguna Hills or Anaheim-Irvine. Transfers to connecting OCTD routes are free.

Ziada said the district had signed a $82,746 contract for the Yellow Cab Co. to operate the new route.

The service includes four morning trips leaving the South County station at 30-minute intervals. The first of four return trips leave the Anaheim station at Katella Avenue and State College Boulevard at 4:10 p.m.

Caltrans has agreed to pay 50% of the costs as part of an agreement between the state agency and OCTD. The agreement calls for the district to provide ride-sharing programs during the freeway reconstruction, the spokeswoman said.

Ziada said the district is almost certain to make the route permanent, even after construction work on the freeway is completed.

New Bus Route The first express bus linking San Juan Capistrano to Anaheim will run, with stops in Laguna Hills, Irvine, Tustin and Orange. The buses will leave every 30 minutes.