OCTA expands service on busiest routes

The Orange County Transportation Authority plans to expand service on

many of its busiest routes as part of its service change this month.

The enhancements will include frequency of service trips on busy

routes, as well as minor route changes, connections and efficiency, in an

attempt to generate an additional 429,000 annual boardings within the

county.

“We are constantly looking for ways to improve bus service in Orange

County,” said Greg Winterbottom, the transit planning and operations

committee chairman, in a statement. “We closely monitor ridership figures

and continually seek feedback from our bus drivers and customers to help

us make adjustments several times each year.”

Some of those adjustments include:

* Route 51, which travels from Santa Ana to Costa Mesa, will decrease

its operation from every 30 minutes to every 60 minutes on weekdays

during the evening because of low ridership.

* Route 57, which travels from Brea to Newport Beach, will be rerouted

in Fullerton and Brea from Associated Road between Yorba Linda Boulevard

and the Brea Mall to State College Boulevard. Route 53 will continue to

serve Associated Road.

* Route 86, which travels from Costa Mesa to Mission Viejo, will be

rerouted in Mission Viejo from Jeronimo Road between Alicia Parkway and

Los Alisos Boulevard to Madero to better serve the business park and

civic center area.

* Route 173, which travels from Costa Mesa to Newport Beach, will

eliminate some of its trips because of low ridership. On the weekdays,

the 5:30 a.m. northbound, and 5:30 a.m. and 7:39 p.m. southbound trips

will be eliminated; on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, the 7 a.m. and

6:15 p.m. northbound, and 7 a.m. and 6:15 p.m. southbound trips will also

be eliminated.