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Residents riding the bus this summer could see an easier ride to the beach or to tourist destinations such as Disneyland on Orange County’s public bus system.
Service changes – including the transition to summer schedules for routes to coastal cities – are scheduled to take effect May 11.
Seasonal route changes come amidst the implementation of a new bus fare system this summer.
[Read: Will Orange County’s Public Buses Stop Taking Cash?]
Since January, the Orange County Transportation Authority has been advertising the new changes to their riders, including “pay-as-you-go” using a fare card and mobile app, as well as a rider validation system.
The proposed fare system includes the daily and monthly spending caps for frequent riders.
For daily riders, trips after spending $4.50 will be free of charge, while monthly riders can expect to pay no more than $69 per month under the new system.
“I think it will be better,” OC Bus rider María Ortiz said in an interview with the Voice of OC in Spanish. “To pay $4.50 per day or $69 per month will be better or a little more cheaper.”
Ortiz also noted that she currently uses daily tickets for her trips on OCTA buses, adding that getting a monthly pass for her could make her experience more convenient.
However, some riders were not aware of the upcoming change in bus fare and have concerns as to how the changes will be implemented.
“When I went to the OC Bus [OCTA office] to get my new pass recently, they said the toll boxes that are in the buses are not up to date,” said Ralph Morales, another frequent OC Bus rider, speaking on the concerns he often hears from fellow passengers. “A lot of them are not up to date. They’re not accepting smartphones, even sometimes passes.”
Drivers check the fareboxes before leaving on their routes and monitor them throughout the day, providing an immediate report if an issue occurs while a bus is in service, according to Joel Zlotnik, spokesperson for OCTA.
The agency encourages riders to report concerns directly by calling (714) 636-7433 or contacting departments directly.
Summer traffic jams heading down to the beach lead to slower speeds and longer travel times for bus vehicles, according to Eric Carpenter, spokesperson for OCTA.
Coastal routes 1, 29, 47 and 89 will transition to summer schedules and more buses will be dispatched to ensure on-time arrival amidst the traffic, according to Carpenter.
Rapid Route 553 — one of four interconnected routes in Orange County along major corridors that make one third of the stops typical routes do – will extend further down Katella Ave. and Harbor Blvd. to reach Disneyland Resort.
The route – along with Route 473 – will also make additional one-way trips on its existing route.
Route 71 will stop more frequently along its route – reducing the wait time between trips.
A number of stops – routes 26, 30, 33, 38, 43, 54, 56, 57, 71, 72, 86, 143, 150-151, 178, 473, 480, 529, 543 and 553 – will have adjusted schedules to ensure arrival on-time.
Scheduling for routes 35, 60, and 129 have been adjusted based on customer feedback, according to Carpenter.
In 2024, OC buses were boarded a total of 36.3 million times, according to Carpenter.
Ridership fluctuates seasonally, with the highest level of bus ridership during spring and fall seasons when schools are in session, according to Carpenter.
Scheduling for routes changes four times a year in February, May, August and November.
OCTA’s next board of directors meeting will fall on April 14.
Erika Taylor is a Voice of OC Tracy Wood Reporting Fellow and photojournalist. You can find her on Instagram @camerakeepsrolling or email at etaylor@voiceofoc.org
Rubén Montoya is a Voice of OC intern. You can reach him at rubenmontoya47@outlook.com or on Twitter @Rmontoya47.
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