A recent workshop for members of the OCTA Board of Directors included information about ridership trends and an analysis of the current transportation system and ways to improve it.
Highlights of the presentation include:
- While current OC Bus ridership is about 55 percent lower than the previous year, due to the impacts of the COVID-19 public health crisis, service is only down 27 percent to allow for social distancing.
- Ridership declines on OC Bus are similar to declines experienced by other nearby transit agencies.
- Most riders do not have access to a car and household incomes are very low.
- Nearly 80 percent of travel on OC Bus in the morning is related to work or school.
- Existing ridership is concentrated in North and Central Orange County, near Santa Ana.
- Improving bus service may increase ridership and access to jobs, schools and activity centers.
- Of riders surveyed, most would like to see more frequent bus service, followed by reduced travel time.
- Travel time from origin to destination averages 47 minutes.
The next Future of Transit Workshop is scheduled to be held this summer and will discuss ways to improve service along the busiest routes, along with potential priorities and pilot projects.
