The OCTA says it needs to scale back service hours to make up for major cuts in state funding and drops in sales tax and bus fare revenues. Ridership has also been declining.
Another 150,000 hours would be cut if the county does not receive additional transit funds through the state next year. OCTA faces a more than $330 million shortfall over the next five years.
The following bus routes will be impacted by the cuts:
- Weekday elimination of routes 62, 74, 75, 131, 147, 164 and 693
- Saturday elimination of routes 24, 76, 86, 172, 193 and 693
- Sunday elimination of routes 24, 51, 76, 82, 85, 172, 193 and 693
- Weekday reduced frequency on routes 25, 30, 35, 37, 50, 55, 64, 66, 72, 76 and 145
- Saturday and Sunday reduced frequency on routes 50, 55, 66 and 89
- Eliminates Night Owl service on routes 43, 50, 57 and 60 but maintains service until approximately 1 a.m. and resuming at approximately 4 a.m.
- Weekday elimination of midday service on route 21
- Weekday and weekend restructuring of routes 29, 43, 47, 53, 57, 59, 70 and 167
Board members say it was a difficult decision because it's going to impact a lot of people in the community who don't have any other means of transportation.
