Advanced Reliable And Modern
Transportation Options

Improve the bus system

A comprehensive initiative, called OC Bus 360°, was developed to improve the bus system. One element was a 2016 bus service plan proposal to better meet community needs. Public outreach to gather feedback is ongoing and adjustments are scheduled for implementation in 2016.

In March, the Board approved the procurement of 16, 60-foot clean-fuel buses. All buses will be delivered by mid-2016. An additional 202, 40-foot clean-fuel buses will be delivered through 2017.
This year, 99 replacement ACCESS buses were put into service.

Following a comprehensive public outreach campaign, a new bus branding initiative was approved by the Board in June. The newly branded buses will be delivered as part of the procurement of the new 40-foot CNG buses. Enhance real-time bus information tools.
In January, OCTA launched a real-time bus locator application that allows customers to receive real-time bus locations via smartphone apps such as Transit and Moovit.
In December, OCTA released Text4Next 2.0, which provides real-time bus arrival time information via text.Expand express route service.
In February, Route 543 Bravo!, express service on Harbor Boulevard, was expanded with weekend service.
In October, Route 57Xpress was launched to reduce travel times along State College Boulevard.

In January, OCTA launched a real-time bus locator application that allows customers to receive real-time bus locations via smartphone apps such as Transit and Moovit.
In December, OCTA released Text4Next 2.0, which provides real-time bus arrival time information via text.

In February, Route 543 Bravo!, express service on Harbor Boulevard, was expanded with weekend service.
In October, Route 57Xpress was launched to reduce travel times along State College Boulevard.

In June, the Board approved the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) FY 2015-16 budget, which includes OCTA’s share of capital and operating expenses for Metrolink commuter rail service.
Mobile ticketing is under development and is expected to be fully available for general use in late 2016.
Metrolink’s 40 new low-emission locomotives have been ordered and are commencing testing in Illinois. The locomotives will begin arriving in Southern California in late 2016 to undergo final testing prior to deployment.

In January, the City of Santa Ana certified the environmental impact report for the OC Streetcar, a fourmile fixed-guideway project that will run from the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center (SARTC) to a new multimodal hub at Harbor Boulevard and Westminster Avenue in Garden Grove.
OCTA launched OCStreetcar.com to build public awareness for the project.
In April, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) finalized the environmental clearance to advance to the design and engineering phase.The locomotives will begin arriving in Southern California in late 2016 to undergo final testing prior to deployment.
In September, the Board selected the consultant for the preparation of plans, specifications and estimate for the OC Streetcar project.

Since January, more than 100 new vanpools have been established. This is the largest year-over-year increase for the vanpool program since OCTA began assisting employers and individual commuters with the goal of reducing congestion.
OCTA now supports 511 vanpools, a 12 percent increase from last year.

In July, the Board selected a firm to conduct the Central Harbor Boulevard Transit Corridor Study to assess future transit possibilities along Orange County’s busiest north/south corridor.