OCTA Prepares for Bus Service Reductions 
The OCTA Board of Directors voted in November 2009 to eliminate 150,000 bus service hours beginning in March 2010. The service reductions are necessary to make up for major cuts in state funding and significant drops in sales tax and fare revenues. The OCTA Board of Directors voted last November to eliminate 150,000 annual hours of bus service in March 2010 through a combination of eliminating routes, reducing bus frequency, restructuring routes and reducing trips. The service reductions will begin March 14 and are necessary to make up for major cuts in state funding and significant drops in sales tax revenue and fare revenue. “OCTA has taken every measure to preserve as much service as possible, and we have to tried to implement these changes in a way that that will affect the fewest number of riders,” said OCTA Chairman Jerry Amante, also mayor of Tustin. “Unfortunately, the tragedy of our state’s financial crisis will hit home when we are forced to reduce a vital service for thousands of people in Orange County.” The plan will reduce service on the following routes:
To help inform bus riders during this difficult time, OCTA implemented a public outreach program. 
In preparation for the March service reductions, the OCTA outreach team has been visiting local colleges throughout Orange County to share information on the service change. OCTA staff members visited Orange County junior colleges, universities, employers, senior centers, youth groups and schools to help prepare the bus riders for the service change. The OCTA team also will serve as transit ambassadors at major bus stops during the first days of the service change to help bus riders complete their trips. CEO Will Kempton will join Amante for a news conference 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 9, at OCTA headquarters to share information about the service reductions with members of the media. For additional information, please visit www.octa.net/marchchange. CEO and Board Members Travel to Sacramento CEO Will Kempton joined Directors Art Brown, Peter Buffa, Carolyn Cavecche and Curt Pringle in Sacramento on Wednesday and Thursday at the annual delegation trip to advocate for OCTA’s state legislative priorities. The meetings came at the height of budget negotiations proposing to dramatically alter transportation funding in California and included members of the delegation, legislative leadership and the respective chairs and vice chairs of such committees as budget, appropriations and transportation. Kempton and the OCTA directors discussed AB 32 and SB 375 implementation, state bond sales and transit/transportation funding with members of the Legislature, the governor’s administration, the California Transportation Commission and the Air Resources Board. OCTA also cohosted a reception with Mobility 21 on Wednesday evening to thank members of the Legislature for their ongoing support for transportation in Orange County. OCTA Staff Members Share Grade Crossing Information with Community Members Grade separations allow traffic to move smoothly and safely past railroad crossings. OCTA is planning to construct two underpasses and three overpasses beginning in 2011 and ending in 2015. For more Transportation in 2 videos, visit OCTA’s YouTube channel. The OCTA outreach team has been meeting with community members around the Orangethorpe rail corridor to share information about the scheduling of the grade separation project. Community members have sent letters of concern to OCTA about the simultaneous closures of adjacent intersections that may create traffic and safety issues. In response to community concerns, OCTA staff members developed an accelerated schedule that achieves the benefits associated with moving the construction of the projects forward, and avoids the simultaneous closures that raised concerns. Staff members presented project information to residents of the Del Cerro Mobile Estates on Sunday, Feb. 28 and reviewed the proposed accelerated schedule. More than 40 residents attended the discussion and shared their opinions about the Tustin Avenue/Rose Drive overcrossing project in particular. Team members also shared project information to the Backs Community Center on Thursday, March 4, for the property owners who are impacted by the undercrossing planned for the intersection of Kraemer Avenue and Crowther Avenue. 
CEO Will Kempton congratulates coach operators at the Santa Ana base for more than 31 years of safe driving. The CEO visited all three bus bases to recognize 20 coach operators for their achievements in safe driving. OCTA Celebrates More than 31 Years OCTA honored 20 coach operators at the 31+ Years of Safe Driving awards at the Garden Grove, Santa Ana and Anaheim bus bases over the past month. The coach operators were recognized for their accomplishments and continual commitment in providing safe, courteous and reliable service to OCTA's customers. The awards events were held at the three bases to recognize the coach operators for achieving accident-free records for more than 31 years. OCTA Board Member Greg Winterbottom joined the celebration at the Anaheim base and thanked the awardees for their service. CEO Will Kempton honored the following coach operators for their 31+ years of safe driving:
New Metrolink Cars Arrive at the Port of Long Beach 
Metrolink is first commuter rail system in the nation to adopt these state-of-the-art cab and passenger cars with unique collision-absorption technology. Photo courtesy of Metrolink blog. Metrolink officials held a press event last Tuesday to announce the arrival of the system’s first two Crash Energy Management-enabled cars. Delivered from their manufacturing site in South Korea, the cars are the first of 117 that Metrolink will put into service later this year after a rigorous testing program. “As the latest technological addition to our comprehensive public safety program, these new cars will help save lives,” said Metrolink Board Chairman Keith Millhouse. “Their arrival on our shore is the result of dynamic collaboration with world-class vehicle safety experts across two continents who share our commitment to passenger safety. On behalf of Metrolink’s thousands of loyal commuters, I want to thank them for their innovative work to enhance the safety of our transportation network.” Metrolink will be the first commuter rail system in the nation to adopt these state-of-the-art cab and passenger cars, which feature a unique collision-absorption technology. OC Sheriff's Department Sgt. Stu Greenberg Recognized 
The Newport Beach American Legion Post 291 will honor OCSD Sgt. Stu Greenberg for his heroic actions in keeping two children safe at the San Clemente Metrolink station. The Newport Beach American Legion Post 291 will honor Orange County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Stu Greenberg Sunday, March 14, with the American Legion Award for Heroism for his actions taken to keep two children safe during a potentially life-threatening incident at the San Clemente Metrolink station. Greenberg was conducting a patrol check of the San Clemente Metrolink Station on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009, when he saw an Amtrak train start to leave the station traveling southbound with two children, ages 8 and 4, running along the platform next to the train. He heard both children screaming “Daddy” and sounding very upset while they ran alongside the moving train. Inside the train, Greenberg saw the boys’ father pounding on the door window yelling at the children as the train pulled away from the station. As they were running along the side of the moving train, the older boy jumped and grabbed onto the door handle attached to the train. He hung on for about two seconds then let go and jumped back onto the train platform. The children were within inches of the moving train and they continued to run along the side of it. Greenberg immediately exited his patrol unit, ran to the children and carried them away from the train. The children continued to scream and explained that their father was on the train and they were supposed to be with him. Greenberg was speaking with the children as the train came to a stop south of the train platform. He then contacted the Amtrak conductor and was told that the father of the children had pulled the emergency brake cable to stop the train. The father feared his children would be pulled under the train and killed. “Words cannot express the gratitude that I feel for Sgt. Greenberg for being there for us on that day,” said Douglas Arthur, father of the two boys. “He handled the situation with professionalism, valor and empathy. My boys will never forget about the California policeman who saved them, or that the police truly are our friends.” CEO Meets with California League of Cities Will Kempton attended the Orange County Division - League of California Cities Advocacy Committee Friday. Kempton discussed some of the challenges facing OCTA and how the organization is addressing them, as well how cities can work with OCTA to overcome these challenges. The discussion also inlcuded the status of ABX8 6, which would dedicate sales tax on diesel for transit and AB 11 X8, a bill currently awaiting the governor’s signature that allows local agencies to move forward on projects funded through Prop. 116 and be reimbursed later by the state. 
APTA to Host Annual Conference March 13 to March 16 – The American Public Transportation Association will host its annual legislative conference in Washington, D.C. to focus on legislative issues facing the transportation industry and advocate for transportation on Capitol Hill. The conference will address new transportation opportunities in 2010, high-speed rail, transit advocacy and an outlook on the future of transportation. Contact Allison Cheshire at (714) 560-5490 or acheshire@octa.net. 
Feb. 25 – The Orange County Register included a story about OCTA changing a proposal to start construction on all the grade separation projects at once in Placentia. 
The proposed Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC) would provide rail, bus, taxi and trolley service for Southern California. Officials met last Wednesday at a public meeting to discuss design concepts and gather feedback on the proposed transportation hub to be built on 16 acres across from the Honda Center. Feb. 25 – The Orange County Register wrote a story about transportation officials meeting to gather public input on the proposed ARTIC transportation hub – a center serving rail, bus, taxi and trolley service to be built on 16 acres across from the Honda Center. Feb. 25 – The Orange County Register published a story about OCTA honoring Joel Rule of Buena Park as maintenance employee of the year for 2009. Feb. 26 – The Orange County Register ran an article about the Irvine City Council approving plans to widen the Dyer/Barranca/Red Hill intersection by adding through lanes in each direction along Dyer Road/Barranca Parkway and Red Hill Avenue. Feb 28 – The Los Angeles Times and Orange County Register both included articles about California’s proposed high-speed rail from Los Angeles to San Francisco. March 2 – The Orange County Register included an article about OCTA changing bus routes through the city of Laguna Hills. 
The first of 117 new Metrolink rail cars arrived from South Korea this week at the Port of Long Beach. Photo courtesy of Metrolink blog. March 2 and March 3 – The Los Angeles Daily News and KPCC News Radio both covered stories about Metrolink in Southern California receiving a new generation of crash-resistant rail cars designed to minimize damage and injuries in the event of a collision. March 4 – The Orange County Register, OCLNN.com and KABC Channel 7 News all included stories regarding the $7.25 million settlement in the lawsuit filed by Ronald Cunningham. March 4 – The Orange County Register ran an article about funding concerns for a tri-city "trolley" linking San Clemente, Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano.
Approved Travel Requests March 3 and March 4 – Darrell Johnson, California High-Speed Rail Authority meetings, Sacramento, Calif. March 3 and March 4 – Kristine Murray and Wendy Villa, Legislative Delegation meetings, Sacramento, Calif. March 4 and March 5 – Darrell Johnson, California Foundation on the Environment and the Economy roundtable conference on infrastructure, Napa, Calif.
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