Board Actions

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October 26, 2009 Board Meeting

Public Weighs In On March Bus Service Cuts

Nearly 60 people concerned about cuts in bus service in Orange County provided feedback about the reductions OCTA has planned to implement in March.

Maintaining ACCESS service and preserving weekday routes were among some of the public’s concerns.

The service reduction could include decreasing frequency or eliminating the least productive routes, reducing service proportionally system wide and/or modifying days and hours of operation.

Earlier this year, the board approved reducing approximately 400,000 service hours in fiscal year 2009-2010. OCTA faces a more than $330 million shortfall over the next five years due to declines in sales tax revenue, fare revenue and the elimination of the State Transit Assistance Fund.

A parallel proposal to use reserves to decrease the necessary March service cuts from 300,000 service hours to 150,000 service hours will be presented to the Finance and Administration Committee on Oct. 28 and the board on Nov. 9. This strategy is based on the assumption that the State Transit Assistance Fund will be reinstated within the next two years, the result of a California Supreme Court ruling related to the diversion of transit dollars by the state.

On Nov. 23, the board will decide on the specific reduction for the March 2010 service change.

Go Local Program Moves Forward

The board approved the advancement of Irvine and Laguna Woods into step two of the Go Local program, which will entail detailed planning and additional studies.

Go Local, a four-step program, is designed to accommodate Metrolink’s service expansion in 2010 by enhancing connections between Metrolink stations and surrounding communities through the use of bus, shuttle and fixed-guideway services. Currently, 24 cities are participating in phase two of Go Local.

In step two, OCTA will work with the cities sponsoring bus/shuttle concepts to create a detailed plan to determine route locations, operating costs and anticipated ridership of the bus and shuttle systems.

Board Honors Employees Of The Month

Chairman Peter Buffa presented resolutions of appreciation to the three employees of the month for October.

Coach operator of the month Philip Rosin, who was recently honored for maintaining a 30-year safe driving record, has maintained an outstanding attendance and customer relations record.

Maintenance employee of the month Jose Lugo has consistently demonstrated a high level of achievement in providing bus riders with safe and clean vehicles. Lugo excels in all inspections and repairs he performs.

Mary Toutounchi, a project manager for the grade crossing safety enhancement program, is the administrative employee of the month. Toutounchi’s commitment to keeping city staff and consultant teams informed has resulted in the grade separation projects moving forward on schedule.