Public hearing is slated for Friday, May 22 at OCTA board meeting
ORANGE – Nearly 150 bus riders and transit supporters attended community meetings to comment on service reductions planned by the Orange County Transportation Authority because of state funding cuts and dropping sales tax revenue.
The meetings were held May 12-14 in Anaheim, at OCTA Headquarters in Orange, and Laguna Hills and were a precursor to the public hearing on the service reduction plan scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday, May 22 at the OCTA board meeting.
OCTA is forced to make up a $33 million shortfall in the fiscal year 2009-2010 budget that goes into effect July 1. During the next five years, OCTA is facing a funding shortfall of nearly $275 million.
“This is the worst financial picture that I have seen in my 30 years at OCTA,” said Interim CEO Jim Kenan to the 50 people who attended the meeting at the Laguna Hills Community Center. “We are faced with some very difficult choices as we continue to try and provide bus service.”
The shortfall is in large part a result of California lawmakers eliminating the State Transit Assistance fund, OCTA’s only ongoing source of day-to-day bus operations money, which amounted to $20 million a year.
From September 2009 through June 2010, OCTA anticipates reducing approximately 400,000 vehicle service hours, roughly 22 percent of service. Night Owl service may be eliminated, route adjustments are possible, and frequency and service hours are expected to be impacted.
Comments from the community meetings will be presented to the OCTA board as it considers the service reductions at the public hearing. The public also is invited to attend and speak at Friday’s meeting.
For information or to comment online, please visit: www.octa.net
