Orange County Transportation Authority

COVID-19 Safety Guidelines and Operations Update

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We are committed to safe transit

 

Displaying the APTA Health & Safety seal represents OCTA’s pledge for fulfilling the highest industry commitments for keeping transit safe during COVID-19.

The American Public Transportation Association is the only independent, non-profit organization that represents all modes of public transportation in North America and sets industry standards for safe and reliable operations and maintenance. The Association's Safety & Health Commitments Program was established to protect riders and employees so that public transportation can continue to deliver safe, valuable services to everyone.

OCTA is working every day to keep riders and employees safe from COVID-19. But we can’t do it alone. By sharing the responsibility for health and safety, and following the four commitments below, together we can keep each other safe while riding OC Bus.

Observing all local, state and federal regulations and guidelines

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What you should know about riding public transit

The following pertains to all public transit, including OC Bus, OC ACCESS, OC Flex, Metrolink, Vanpool and Senior Mobility Programs. The information provides answers to many of the questions you may have about OCTA’s response and actions related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. We will update it as necessary, so please check back.

• How has OC Bus been impacted?
  OCTA has implemented temporary service reductions to regular OC Bus service until further notice. OC Bus is operating on the Saturday schedule (Monday through Saturday), while also increasing service on routes and providing weekday service on some local routes. Regular Sunday service has resumed, and StationLink routes are currently continuing to operate on the regular Monday through Friday schedule to connect with Metrolink trains.
• Are face masks required for passengers?

  Wearing a face mask is now a federal requirement on all public transit, including OC Bus, OC Flex, OC ACCESS, Metrolink, OC Vanpool and Senior Mobility Programs. You must wear a face mask when waiting for or riding any public transit vehicle.* Face masks can help slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect the health of other passengers and drivers. Learn more about the federal regulation here.

  Please place your face mask over your nose and mouth. It should fit snugly against the sides of your face. By wearing your face mask properly, you can help keep everyone safe.

  Face masks are available for free to passengers on board all OCTA buses and at the OCTA Store, 600 S. Main Street in Orange, business hours, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

  * The federal directive states that the following are exempt from wearing a mask on board public transit:

  • Children under the age of 2.
  • People with a disability who cannot wear a mask for reasons related to the disability; such as those who do not understand how to remove their mask due to cognitive impairment, cannot remove a mask on their own due to dexterity/mobility impairments, or cannot communicate promptly to ask someone else to remove their mask due to speech impairments or language disorders, or cannot wear a mask because doing so would impede the function of assistive devises/technology.

  * Passengers must file a face mask exemption request in advance of their trip. To file a face mask exemption request, please visit http://octa.net/About-OCTA/ADA/Overview/

  
• What are other key tips for riding OC Bus during COVID-19?

  A bus pass is still required to ride OC Bus.
  Bus fare is not free while riding OC Bus. You’ll be required to pay your fare or show your bus pass upon request to the coach operator or transit police. You can buy passes at Ralphs, Northgate, Vons or Pavilions grocery stores, the OCTA store, octa.net or the OC Bus mobile app.

  Face masks are required.
  Face masks are still required when waiting for and riding OC Bus according to the Federal TSA guidelines. Refer to question above for full face mask requirement information.

  Boarding limitations have been removed.
  According to state and local guidelines, social distancing is no longer required. As a result, boarding limitations have been removed and passengers should experience fewer pass-by situations. It’s still a good idea to check to see if your bus has seats available by using the Transit App. This free digital mobile app will let you view the seating capacity of the buses on your route. Once you have the Transit App installed:

  • Tap on a route for the “route detail view”
  • Next, tap on the bus icon itself

  The OCTA Store hours
  Beginning, Monday, June 21 the OCTA Store will reopen to regular operating hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

  Please plan ahead before you ride.
  All adjusted routes and schedules can be found in our revised ebusbook.

  Your health and well-being are important to us. We will continue to monitor the situation as it evolves and respond proactively, so you can have safe, reliable service in Orange County.

• Is it safe to ride OC Bus?

  OCTA is taking proactive measures to safeguard the health of OC Bus riders by enhancing the cleaning of buses in operation, applying anti-viral disinfectant to every bus daily and taking extra time to clean surfaces that are touched most frequently. OCTA is also encouraging social distancing on OC Buses whenever possible. In addition, hand sanitizer dispensers are now available on all fixed-route buses.

  There are steps you can take to protect yourself from the virus. Based on advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

  • Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • Do not touch your face.
  • Clean and disinfect items and surfaces that you touch frequently.
  • Cough or sneeze into your elbow or use a tissue.
• Has OC ACCESS paratransit service been impacted?
  At this time, there are no changes to OC ACCESS paratransit service. It will continue to be available for regular service to eligible passengers.
• Is iShuttle service operating?
  iShuttle Routes 400A, 401B, 403D and 405F will resume service on July 1. iShuttle routes 402C and 404E are expected to resume service in October.
• Is OC Flex service operating?

  Huntington Beach and Westminster: OC Flex has temporarily suspended service due to significantly low ridership.

  Aliso Viejo, Laguna Niguel and Mission Viejo: OC Flex service will continue to operate until further notice.

• Has Metrolink train service been impacted?

  Metrolink weekday service has been reduced until further notice. Metrolink weekend service and Stationlink will continue to operate as scheduled.

  Visit https://metrolinktrains.com/temporary-service for schedule information.

• How has OC Vanpool been impacted?

  Wearing a face mask is now a federal requirement on all public transit, including all passengers and drivers in the OC Vanpool program. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an Order on January 29, 2021, requiring the wearing of masks by travelers to prevent spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. This Order must be followed by all passengers on public conveyances, including vanpools (rideshares). Masks that cover both the mouth and nose when awaiting, boarding, traveling on, or disembarking the vanpool.

  Minimum vanpool startup occupancy has also been temporarily reduced. In an effort to facilitate increased vanpool formation during the pandemic, the minimum startup occupancy for any vanpool formed between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022 has been reduced from the standard 70% to 50%. This rule change allows groups with as few as 4 riders to start a vanpool.

• Are the OCTA Store and OCTA Headquarters open?

  The OCTA Store is open with weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is located at 600 S. Main St. in Orange.

  The majority of OCTA’s administrative employees have been working remotely since March 16 following the Governor’s orders, to promote social distancing and help curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus in our community.

• Is the OCTA Lost and Found open?

  The OCTA Lost and Found is closed to the public until further notice. Passengers who need to pick up essential items, including medication and wallets, can contact us to arrange a time to retrieve those items.

  The OCTA Lost and Found can be contacted by emailing LostandFound@octa.net, calling (714) 560-5934 or completing this online form.

• Other travel considerations

  You should not expect to experience any significant travel issues with Orange County freeways due to COVID-19. The following questions provide answers to some concerns raised over freeway travel throughout Orange County:

  Are the 91 Express Lanes open?

  The 91 Express Lanes will remain open to drivers as usual.

  However, the 91 Express Lanes Customer Walk-In Center in Corona is closed until further notice. Customers can manage their accounts and pay a violation online at www.91expresslanes.com. Customers can also call (800) 600-9191 to reach the Call Center. Representatives are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

  Will any projects currently under construction be affected because of the health crisis?

  Work continues on important OCTA-led freeway improvement projects and OC Streetcar at this time. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide an update if delays are expected. These activities are considered essential services by the state and federal government. In many cases, because of low traffic volumes on freeways and city streets, efforts are underway to increase construction with extended lane closures and work hours.

  Your health and well-being are important to us. We will continue to monitor the situation as it evolves and respond proactively, so you can have safe, reliable service in Orange County.