CEO Will Kempton Shares Update on OCTA Budget

Reductions in Bus Services Begin
As OCTA Cuts 150,000 Service Hours

OCTA Chairman Jerry Amante and CEO Will Kempton participated in a news conference last week to provide information about the bus service reductions that began Sunday, March 14.

Television, radio and newspaper media covered the news event, including members of Spanish and Asian news media outlets.

“We have taken every measure to preserve as much service as possible, and we have tried to implement these changes in a way that will affect the fewest number of riders,” Amante said. “Our mission is to provide the best public transit system possible and there’s not one single person at OCTA who wants these cuts to occur.”

OCTA reduced approximately 8 percent of bus service on Sunday in response to state budget cuts, sales tax drop and declining ridership.

The board of directors voted in November to eliminate 150,000 annual hours of bus service through a combination of eliminating routes, reducing bus frequency, restructuring routes and reducing trips.

The service reductions will save OCTA approximately $13 million as it faces a more than $30 million budget shortfall this year. The reductions are necessary to make up for major cuts in state funding and significant drops in sales tax revenue and fare revenue.

Since September 2008, OCTA has reduced 20 percent of bus service – 383,000 revenue vehicle hours – to bring service in line with available revenue.

For detailed route information, please go to www.octa.net/marchchange.

OCTA will be able to move forward with shovel-ready transportation projects thanks to the new bill Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed last week allowing the California Transportation Commission to advance projects using local funds. Development of shovel-ready transportation projects allows OCTA to compete more effectively for available funding – providing more transportation improvements to Orange County residents and commuters.

Governor Signs New Bill
Bringing Jobs to Orange County

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed AB X8 11 legislation early last week.

The bill – sponsored by Assemblyman Jose Solorio, Senator Bob Huff and Senator Lou Correa – allows the California Transportation Commission to enter into agreements with local transportation agencies allowing them to advance local funds on Proposition 116 projects and be eligible for reimbursement later once state bonds are sold.

Currently, the state’s inability to sell bonds is affecting projects across the state and could begin to cause delays in Orange County. Mechanisms such as AB X8 11 will allow these projects to move forward and begin to put people back to work in Orange County quickly. OCTA estimates that the Proposition 116 projects will produce approximately 6,000 jobs.

As special session bills take effect 90 days after adjournment, the bill will take effect in early June, also assisting OCTA with meeting the Proposition 116 project deadline of June 30, 2010.

The OCTA board of directors will honor Solorio, Huff and Correa for their leadership and contribution to this issue at the March 22 board meeting.

Darrell Johnson Appointed to Deputy CEO

Darrell Johnson will become OCTA’s new Deputy CEO beginning Monday, March 29.

CEO Will Kempton announced Monday that Darrell Johnson has been appointed and has agreed to serve as the deputy CEO of OCTA effective March 29.

Johnson has nearly 19 years of experience in the planning, development, implementation and operations of major transportation projects in California. He serves OCTA as executive director of the Rail Division.

Johnson began his career as part of a highly competitive management development program with the National Railroad Passenger Corporation or Amtrak. During the management development program, he was assigned to the planning, development, finance, operations, safety, engineering, government relations and executive departments.

During his 12 years with Amtrak, Johnson held increasingly responsible positions in operations and planning and contributed to the development of passenger rail corridors in California, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia.

Johnson will fill the position after current Deputy CEO Jim Kenan retires on March 25.

Kenan has served OCTA for more than 30 years and has agreed to continue in a part-time capacity, providing support to the CEO and deputy CEO.

Assemblyman Tran Honors
Kris Murray as Woman of the Year

Assembly Republican Leader Martin Garrick and Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez joined Assemblyman Van Tran and Speaker Pro Tempore of the Assembly Lori Saldaña to recognize OCTA’s Kris Murray as Woman of the Year for the 68th Assembly District.

Assemblyman Van Tran honored OCTA’s Kris Murray as Woman of the Year for the 68th Assembly District.

Tran recognized Murray last Monday, March 8, during a formal ceremony on the Assembly floor in Sacramento in appreciation of her outstanding community services to Orange County.

“Kris brings nearly 20 years experience on behalf of Orange County securing regulatory relief, vital infrastructure funding and programs to expand economic development in Anaheim,” Tran said. “I am pleased to name her as my Woman of the Year for all that she has given to Anaheim and Orange County.”

Murray serves as the executive director of Government Relations for OCTA and the executive director of the Orange County Council of Governments.

She also is the vice chair of Anaheim Public Utility, board member of Metropolitan Water District representing Anaheim and former vice president of the Orange County Business Council.

The Woman of the Year ceremony celebrates California’s exceptional women and commemorates women’s contributions to make the state a better place to live.

The California Legislative Women’s Caucus sponsors the “Woman of the Year” awards every March in conjunction with Women’s History Month.

This is the 30th annual event to recognize and honor remarkable women in California.

Metrolink Riders’ Alerts Available at OCTA.net

Orange County Metrolink passengers can now access information for planned track construction, track closures and related delays directly through OCTA’s Web site.

Find up-to-date riders’ alerts at www.octa.net/mlalerts.

OCTA Chairman to Speak At Cal State Fullerton

Wednesday, March 17 – Chairman Jerry Amante will speak to the Phi Beta Lambda business fraternity at Cal State Fullerton. The event will take place from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Titan Student Union on Cal State Fullerton’s campus.

For more information, contact Laura Scheper at (714) 560-5697 or lscheper@octa.net.

Kempton To Address Planning Directors

Thursday, March 18 – CEO Will Kempton will attend the Planning Directors Association of Orange County and speak on transportation plans affecting land-use development, including SB 375, the Sustainable Community Strategy, the Regional Transportation Plan and the collaboration between of OCTA and the Orange County Council of Governments. The meeting will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Tustin Ranch Golf Club.

For more information, contact Laura Scheper at (714) 560-5697 or lscheper@octa.net.

Director Cavecche to Speak At Brea Lions Club

Thursday, March 18 – Director Carolyn Cavecche will speak to the Brea Lions Club regarding local transportation projects. The presentation will take place from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Boy Scout Center in Brea.

For more information, contact Laura Scheper at (714) 560-5697 or lscheper@octa.net.

March 6 – The Orange County Register wrote a story about the city of Laguna Niguel’s Measure M revenue loss.

March 5 – The Orange County Register published a story regarding OCTA reducing bus service in the city of Buena Park.

March 8 and March 10 – The Orange County Register and Los Angeles Times both ran stories about the proposed high-speed rail corridor route through Buena Park.

OCTA hopes to ease traffic congestion on the Riverside Freeway (SR-91) by adding an additional eastbound lane between the Eastern Toll Road (SR-241) and the Corona Expressway (SR-71).

March 8 – The Riverside Press-Enterprise ran a story about Caltrans and the California Highway Patrol reviewing data for 2009 and finding that the Riverside Freeway (SR-91) has eight of the Inland Empire’s 10 worst bottlenecks.

March 6 – The Orange County Register ran an article about funding concerns for the a tri-city “trolley” linking San Clemente, Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano.

March 5 – The Orange County Register wrote a story about repaving work beginning in late April on a stretch of Pacific Park Drive between La Paz Road and Alicia Parkway.

March 5 – The Orange County Register included an article about OCTA reducing bus service in Cypress.

March 5 – The Orange County Register printed an article about the Central Coast Railway Club and the Pacific Locomotive Association presenting a train excursion featuring the old Santa Fe Locomotive 3751.

March 9 – The Orange County Register ran a story online regarding the OCTA board of directors’ decision to accelerate the schedule for the Orangethorpe corridor railroad grade separation projects.

OCTA reduced its excising bus service by 150,000 hours – a smaller cut than the 300,000 hours that had been expected – on March 14.

March 10 – The Orange County Register, 89.3 KPCC, KOCE, Nguoi Viet, ABC Channel 7 News, Telemundo 52, Channel 3 Garden Grove, Santa Ana College and KNX 1070 all covered stories regarding the bus service reduction plan that started Sunday, March 14.

March 10 – The Orange County Register wrote a story about OCTA eliminating bus route 693 that runs between Wal-Mart and the Talega community.

March 11 – The Orange County Register posted a story about Caltrans delaying progress on the Oso Parkway bridge project.

March 11 – The Orange County Register included an article about the Irvine City Council approving a pair of agreements with the Irvine Community Development Company and Caltrans to add a third lane in each direction on Laguna Canyon Road between the San Diego Freeway (I-405) and the future Lake Forest Drive intersection.

March 11 – The Orange County Register published a story regarding OCTA reducing bus service in Laguna Woods.

March 11 – The Orange County Register printed a brief about OCTA eliminating bus route 82, which runs from Foothill Ranch to Laguna Niguel.

March 11 – The Orange County Register ran an article about Buena Park Mayor and OCTA Board Director Art Brown joining the race to replace Chris Norby on the Orange County Board of Supervisors.

For the latest media news, follow Joel Zlotnik, media relations manager, on Twitter.

Approved Travel Requests

March 10 – Will Kempton, California Transit Association, Sacramento, Calif.

March 11 to March 16 – Will Kempton, Mobility 21, Orange County Business Council advocacy meetings and American Public Transportation Association Annual Legislative Conference, Washington, D.C.