Citing More Riders, OCTA Plans Major Bus Service Expansion

In the wake of reports showing that a record number of people rode buses last year, the Orange County Transportation Authority on Monday unveiled details of a major service expansion.

Among other improvements, OCTA officials said, they will add 50 drivers by year’s end and expect to receive the first of 157 new buses by mid-December.

“This looks like a very positive change,” OCTA Chairman Robert P. Wahlstrom said Monday after a public hearing on the issue.

Reports show that a record 47.8 million passengers rode on OCTA buses in fiscal 1996-97, which ended in September. That number represented a 7% increase over the 44.7 million who rode the year before and was the largest annual increase in six years.

“We attribute it to the vibrant and growing economy,” said Ileana Lopez, an OCTA spokeswoman. “You have more people going to work and . . . filling all kinds of jobs, some of which are not high-paying. So more people take the bus.”

Other factors are the county’s rapid population growth, a recent route reorganization and an aggressive marketing campaign by OCTA, Lopez said.

Anticipating more bus riders, OCTA officials earlier this year approved an increase of 39,000 service hours annually, to begin in February. In the last two months, Lopez said, the agency has hired 40 drivers, with 10 more to be added.

On Monday, OCTA officials released details of proposed changes that would affect about 19 bus routes. The plan would add service on some routes, particularly during peak morning and afternoon hours, and reroute some buses.

Board members said they expect to finalize the changes in early December and implement them beginning Feb. 8.

The new buses will cost about $41 million, with the money coming from federal and state funds, Lopez said. The new drivers and expanded hours will cost another $2.8 million annually, she said, with most of that money coming from savings that resulted from a 1995 route reorganization and a pact with drivers the following year. Under that collective bargaining agreement with the drivers’ union, more than 700 drivers took cuts in wages and benefits.

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Busy Buses

To handle more riders, the Orange County Transportation Authority plans to improve bus routes in February. Proposed changes to five routes with the heaviest ridership:

Route 29: Brea--Huntington Beach

* Increase seating during weekday morning, afternoon peak hours

Route 42: Orange-- Seal Beach

* Increase seating during weekday morning, afternoon peak hours

Route 50: Orange--Long Beach

* Reroute weekday and weekend service to include Disneyland; add nine trips

Route 53: Orange--Balboa

* Increase seating capacity during weekday morning, afternoon peak hours

Route 54: Orange--Garden Grove

* Add three trips during morning, afternoon peak hours

Source: Orange County Transportation Authority