CAPISTRANO BEACH : OCTA to Consider Rerouting 2 Bus Lines

Residents on Camino Capistrano who have long complained about large, 40-passenger buses rumbling past their homes dozens of times each day may soon be in for some relief.

The Orange County Transportation Authority today will consider a recommendation to reroute two bus lines out of Capistrano Beach and start using minibuses instead.

The recommendation suggested by OCTA staff members is identical to a proposal made by the Dana Point City Council on June 23.

Under the proposal, Lines 1 and 85 would end at Domingo Road in the Doheny Park area, rather than continuing through Capistrano Beach to the K mart Plaza on Camino de Estrella in San Clemente. Bus Line 91/91A, a popular route that services San Clemente and stops at K mart Plaza, would remain the same, and minibus Line 394/394A would be rerouted to serve Capistrano Beach and shuttle people between Domingo Road and K mart Plaza.

“This proposal will reduce bus volumes in response to Dana Point resident concerns while maintaining access to K mart Plaza,” according to an OCTA report to the Board of Directors.

The recommendation differs from one made by the San Clemente City Council on June 17, which would have kept the K mart Plaza stop for Lines 1 and 85, but would have had the buses avoid Camino Capistrano by making a U-turn on Camino de Estrella at Hermosa.

After several weeks of negotiations, officials from both cities had been unable to agree on a compromise.

San Clemente Councilwoman Candace Haggard said she wants to help the Capistrano Beach residents, but also wants to keep bus travel convenient for the many San Clemente residents who use the K mart Plaza stops.

“The more you have to switch lines, the less likely you are going to do it,” she said. “This compromise to me doesn’t seem to be the best solution. I just hope it won’t be as inconvenient as it sounds.”

According to a recent OCTA survey of 276 bus riders at K mart Plaza, about 86% of the riders said they don’t have a car or don’t drive, while 84% said they use the bus lines more than three times a week.

Any changes in the lines adopted by OCTA would start on Sept. 13 and would be subject to review for effectiveness after six months.