SANTA ANA : City Bans Specified Buses From Streets

Responding to residents’ complaints about noise and traffic problems, the City Council has banned private buses weighing more than 10,000 pounds from parking or driving on local streets.

The council voted last week to adopt the ban, which will not affect buses used solely for the transportation of school children, the elderly, the disabled or people being picked up or dropped off from an airport or other mass transportation facilities.

The adopted ordinance defines local streets as any two-lane road which is predominantly residential.

The council first considered the ordinance on Feb. 16 but delayed a decision after a transportation analyst for the county Board of Education said the plan would affect some school buses. The ordinance was then changed to exempt those buses and apply to buses weighing more than 10,000 pounds.

Richard Gomez, general manager of Los Angeles-based Transportes Californias, said that the new law will force the company to close its Santa Ana bus station. The business, which has operated in the city since 1986, moved to 1535 E. 1st St. in November, prompting complaints over noise and traffic.

“We’re not happy with the ordinance. Most certainly it will put us out of business, but we are happy that the city is willing” to help try to move the company into the regional transportation center nearby, he said.

He added: “I hope the city recognizes the benefit we have for the city, which is to provide intercity transportation. We want to work with the city. We don’t want to be difficult. We don’t want to be an annoyance to the community.”