Publications - OC Bus 360

“For decades, bus ridership closely tracked with the ups and downs of employment, and more service on the streets translated into more ridership. This is no longer the case. Successful public transportation in the future will result from targeted solutions for the individual needs of the 3.1 million people in Orange County.”

Darrell Johnson, CEO, OCTA

Signs of Success

OC Bus 360° has slowed ridership decline and attracted riders by optimizing the efficiency and effectiveness of the bus system.

3.7%

Increase in OC Bus average weekday ridership on improved routes
(Q1 2018 vs Q2 2018)

8.2%

Total fare revenue generated by mobile ticketing—double the industry average
(September 2017 – August 2018)

2.9%

Increase in OC Bus systemwide boardings per revenue hour
(Q1 2018 vs Q2 2018)

Optimize Service / Improved Service Plans

In 2016, OCTA began reallocating bus resources to areas of highest demand while reducing or eliminating unproductive and inefficient routes.

Number of high-frequency routes, increased by 6

92%

Riders who experienced an improvement or same level of service

57%

Riders who saved 15 minutes or more using a new BRT-like limited stop service

Technology

Introduced in 2016, OCTA’s mobile-ticketing app allows riders to easily purchase all fixed-route bus fares using their smartphones.

130,114

Mobile-app downloads
(Jun 2016 - Aug 2018)

520

Mobile app readers installed in buses to speed boarding

335

New app users per week, on average

Fares & Funding / Costs & Efficiencies

The state’s Low Carbon Transit Operations Program partially funds the Santa Ana College Pass Pilot Program, which increases educational opportunities and introduces younger riders to transit.

6,775

Number of students eligible to ride OC Bus for free with college IDs
(2017-2018 school year)

1,086,456

Student boardings
(2017-2018 school year)

9,000

Santiago Canyon College students added
(2017-2018 school year)

Match Modes with Demand

To offer the targeted solutions that today’s public transportation riders demand, OCTA is delivering service in the most efficient way – whether that means a full-size bus, community circulators or on-demand vans that provide door-to-door service.