On October 26, 2009, the OCTA heard from 60 speakers about the problems that will be caused by the March 2010 cuts to bus service. Speakers pointed out potential problems getting to work, school, medical care, and supportive services. Public members speaking represented the Mission Viejo City Council, Rancho Santa Margarita, Kaiser Permanente, Capistrano Unified Adult Transitional Services, Dayle McIntosh Center, the Futures Program, Southwest Community Center, Vocational Visions, United Cerebral Palsy, OC Labor Federation, Teamsters, and others who just need to get to work or school.
OCTA Board Members Curt Pringle and Jerry Amante want to use the bus service cuts as a way to improve the "operating efficiency" of the system. Improving "operating efficiency" can include dropping routes used by only a few people in favor of heavily used routes, cutting service to peak hours only, and contracting out more bus service to transportation companies. Board Member Pat Bates pointed out that there needs to be a balance between quality and quantity because some people don't have alternatives. Bates represents south Orange County, which has four bus routes targeted for possible elimination.
Trish Kelly from Mission Viejo City Council pointed out her Council sent a letter to OCTA detailing potential problems coming from proposed service cuts to routes 82, 85, 86, and 87. The routes service high schools, Saddleback College and several large apartment complexes. Cuts on these routes would impact the ability of high school and college students to get to school, senior citizens to get to medical appointments, employees to get to work, and the mobility of disabled residents.
A traffic engineer from Rancho Santa Margarita spoke of the frustration his city is experiencing with the proposed cuts. Under Option A, Rancho Santa Margarita would be cut off from OCTA bus service, leaving students, employees, and other residents stranded. On top of this, the City has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars upgrading bus shelters to improve workforce mobility using public transportation.
An Employee Transportation Coordinator from Kaiser Permanente told the Board her phone has been ringing off the hook because of the proposed cuts. Kaiser is one of the largest employers in the area. Large employers are given incentives to reduce traffic by encouraging employees to use public transportation or carpool. Employees have been calling her with their concerns about being able to get to work.
Disabled Orange County residents expressed concern about loss of both bus service and ACCESS service. When a bus route is cut, OCTA is allowed to cut ACCESS service to the same route. OCTA is not required by law to provide transportation services for the disabled if regular public transportation does not exist along the same route. The other issue with ACCESS is time - ACCESS is only required to be available when the regular route is available. So, if a route doesn't run on a weekend, ACCESS is not available over a weekend. If a route runs only at peak hours, ACCESS is only available during peak hours.
A client of Capistrano Unified Adult Transition Program reminded Board members that public transportation allows the disabled to work, socialize, and lead productive lives. Vocational Visions pointed out that if the 86 route is cut, about 375 people won't be able to get to their vocational programs. A CPA and single father who has degenerative eye disease spoke about the need to maintain the 87 route and the ACCESS service. "Quashing the 87 quashes my American dream," he said. Students and teachers from the Futures program reminded the Board that they need public transportation because they cannot drive. One teacher thanked the Board for the valuable civics lesson they provided her students - her students now have learned how to attend and speak at public meetings and how to get others to help them lobby for what they need.
Christie Rudder from the Dayle McIntosh Center addressed Board Member Curt Pringle about the issue of making cuts on the least used lines to avoid impacting the people on the most heavily used lines. Christie pointed out that a large component of quality of life is not being trapped at home and public transportation can prevent that from happening. She also reminded the Board that ACCESS users have been hit by fare increases, which has caused some users to not come to the Dayle McIntosh Center as often because they cannot afford the trip. Christie pointed out the Pringle's assertion, that bus riders can move closer to transportation if routes are cut, doesn't work for disabled residents because there is a four to six year wait for affordable, accessible housing.
Patrick Kelly, representing coach drivers and other members of the Teamsters, talked about the thousands of workers impacted by these cuts. He asked the Board to look outside the box for new funding sources and said the Teamsters would be willing to partner with OCTA to find a solution and negotiate for more Federal transportation funds. Julio Perez from the OC Labor Federation talked about the thousands of Orange County workers who will have trouble getting to work because of the service cuts. Bus service is used by many hotel, restaurant, resort and other service workers to get to work because they cannot afford to buy a car or choose not to in order to save money. Perez offered his group's assistance in leveraging resources and in changing the conversation from cutting service to finding new sources of revenue.
The next OCTA meeting is on Wednesday, Oct 28, 2009 at 10:30 AM. The subject is alternative funding for the bus system. On Monday, November 9, 2009, the OCTA Board will vote on the proposed funding solutions at the 9 AM meeting. On Monday, November 23, 2009, at 9 AM the OCTA Board is scheduled to vote on the March 2010 service cuts. All meetings are held at OCTA Headquarters, 500 S Main St, Orange, CA. Staff is still accepting input on the proposed March 2010 service cuts.
For updates on the OCTA March 2010 service cuts, visit the Transit Advocates of Orange County (TAOC) at http://www.transitrideroc.com/transit-advocates-orange-county
Quite inspiring,
Thew cuts had to be done, and excuses will be made anf people will moan,
Thanks for writing about it
Posted by: custom software | 01/14/2010 at 03:37 AM