Opinion: Making O.C. Bus Routes Faster, More Reliable

Opinion Piece Submitted by Orange County Supervisor Janet Nguyen

Bus riders often complain about bus-timeliness and efficiency, especially along heavily traveled bus routes. The solution to these problems may be simple: fewer stops

In June 2013, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) launched Bravo! a bus service pilot program that only stops at major transfer points and destinations. The pilot route, Bravo! Route 543, travels down Harbor Boulevard from the Fullerton Transportation Center to MacArthur Boulevard. This route is one of OCTA’s busiest, serving an average of 13,000 riders per day.

To minimize the delay caused by passengers hopping on and off the bus, Bravo! Route 543 only makes 16 stops, instead of the 52 stops made by the existing Route 43; both routes cover the same 12-mile distance. A ride on Route 543 from start to finish takes an average of 20% less time compared to Route 43. For passengers traveling longer distances, this alternative route gets them to their destination in a timelier manner.

Bravo!, which uses orange and blue buses branded with its name, only operates on weekdays and also encourages the use of prepaid bus passes instead of cash to further expedite the trip. Given the overall success of this program, OCTA is now seeking to add additional Bravo! routes.

With 40% of OCTA’s ridership residing in the First District, I understand the need for faster, more reliable public transportation that can be trusted. As a member of the OCTA Board of Directors and Chair of the Transit Committee, I am fully supportive of the Bravo! pilot program and am currently advocating for the inclusion of another route here in the First District, along Westminster Boulevard/17th Street.

Since Orange County’s unique landscape does not allow for a mass countywide transit system, we must use innovative solutions to address transportation challenges and to attract new riders. The Bravo Route is just one of the many solutions that we can utilize to enhance the quality of our bus system, especially in the First District which is home to some of the most overcrowded bus routes.

Long routes with fewer stops may be a key solution to solving reliability issues countywide and could attract a demographic of new riders that currently do not see buses as practical means of transportation.

As we work to further improve our transportation services, Bravo! routes should be replicated along other heavily traveled routes in Orange County.

Janet Nguyen
Orange County Board of Supervisors, First District
Member of the OCTA Board of Directors

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