The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) is giving a serious look at cutting back routes in Orange County.
Ridership in Orange County has gone down 30% since 2008 and the OCTA is investigating ways to reallocate resources to routes with more riders. From 2008 to 2014, the number of people boarding the bus went from 69 million to 48 million, according to Joel Zlotnik, an OCTA spokesperson.
The route changes that are being proposed will affect not only Laguna Niguel, but Dana Point as well. If the mooted changes go ahead, route 85 will stop prior to Laguna Niguel’s Alicia Parkway, while Dana Point and the beach will no longer be included in the route.
On November 23, the OCTA board reviewed a draft proposal that will prompt four community meetings throughout the county. After receiving public feedback, the board expects to render a final decision in February of 2016. It will not be until then that the new bus schedule can be provided to printing services in preparation for bus route changes, which will not taking place until June and October next year.
In addition to changes to route 85, bus route 82, which serves Saddleback College, Mission Viejo’s commercial sector and train station, would terminate south of Rancho Santa Margarita, and route 87 would be abolished altogether.
