weekly update 020413
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Weekly Update 020413TRANSCRIPT
New Bus Fares to Begin Feb. 10
New bus fares will be effective
next week after two months of
community outreach and
discussion about the upcoming
changes.
OCTA customers will see these
bus fare increases beginning
Sunday, Feb. 10. In addition,
the agency will offer several new
fare media and discounts
designed to help people save on the cost of riding the bus.
Based on recommendations from community members, OCTA will be offering a 10 percent discount
on pre-paid day passes, a discount for nonprofit agencies that provide bus service for those in need
and a pre-paid 5 Ride Pass that offers five bus rides for $9 or $1.80 each.
“We know the fare changes may be difficult for some of our customers, so we are providing ways to
help people in Orange County to continue to take advantage of our bus service and get to their
destinations safely and efficiently,” OCTA Chairman Greg Winterbottom said. “OCTA remains
committed to providing transit solutions that will help move all members of the community.”
Since the last fare increase four years ago, bus operating costs have risen dramatically as farebox
revenue generated from people riding the bus continued to decrease.
The agency proposed the fare increases in order to remain eligible for funds from a state transit
assistance program that requires OCTA collect a minimum of 20 percent of operating costs from
farebox revenue.
Feb. 4, 2013
O.C. Celebrates Lunar New Year Measure M Public Hearing Set for Feb. 12 OCTA Recognizes Employee Contributions
In time with the new bus fares, OCTA will be offering several new media and
discounts to help Orange County residents save on the cost of riding the bus.
By meeting this 20 percent farebox recovery requirement, OCTA will continue to receive the funds
that finance more than 80 percent of bus service operating costs.
For more information about the new bus fares and discounts, please visit the OCTA website.
West County Connectors Goes Real Time with Construction Information
At the midpoint of construction
with two more years to go, the West
County Connectors project
outreach team introduces a new
interactive detour map to help
commuters navigate through
construction closures.
The new online map utilizes Google
technology to highlight closures
and provides turn-b y-turn detours.
Before this new tool, the
construction team emailed
construction closure information
and detour notices that could not
be updated quickly to meet the
dynamic nature of the project.
Now, the team is able to update
information in real time, making it
simple to view on mobile devices
or computers.
“Because the West County
Connectors project is so complex,
we were trying to come up with a
solution to meet the real-time
demands of quickly changing
information,” said Sarah King, the
project’s outreach lead. “We hope commuters will view the real-time updates before beginning their
drives. We take our responsibility seriously to provide a user-friendly method to help ensure our
drivers have a smooth commute.”
Crews are continuing to work on constructing the carpool connectors between the Garden Grove
Freeway (SR-22) to the San Diego Freeway (I-405) and the San Gabriel River Freeway (I-605), and
continuing reconstruction efforts of the Seal Beach Boulevard bridge over the I-405 lanes.
Following the successful implementation of the real-time Orange Freeway (SR-57) construction
map, the new detour map for the West County Connectors Project will provide alternative routes for
commuters as connectors, ramps and stretches of the 405 freeway are closed intermittently through
2015.
OCTA’s outreach team will send out the map and construction updates that highlight closures and
detours for the week.
People may subscribe to the emails by contacting [email protected] or also view the map
directly by visiting www.octa.net/WCCdetourmap.
O.C. Set to Celebrate Lunar New Year
The new interactive online map shows real-time construction information for the
West County Connectors project, highlighting closures and providing turn-by-turn
detours for motorists.
Orange County residents may ring in the Lunar New Year beginning Friday, Feb. 8 through Feb. 10
with festivities celebrating traditional Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean culture.
OCTA is partnering with the Garden Grove Tet Festival to provide participants who show their bus
pass to enjoy the festivities for $1, a $4 discount off the regular $5 admission price.
OCTA representatives also will be on hand at the Vietnamese celebration of the Lunar New Year in
Garden Grove Park. The annual festival is among the world's largest, drawing approximately
100,000 people each year to experience traditional entertainment, food and a variety of Orange
County vendors and organizations, while raising funds to sponsor cultural and educational programs
within the community.
“We are very excited to partner with the Orange County Transportation Authority this year to
reward OCTA riders,” Tet Chair of the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations Billy Lê said. “Our
partnership has hopes of reducing traffic and promoting the great public transportation network
that OCTA provides.”
As part of other Lunar New Year festivities, OCTA is offering the chance to win 50 free Metrolink
round-trip tickets to L.A.’s Golden Dragon parade as well as other prizes by spinning a prize wheel on
Saturday Feb. 16 at the Irvine Metrolink station.
The event begins at 8 a.m. with a colorful Lion Dance, other entertainment and free pastries with
refreshments before revelers board the 9 a.m. train to continue the celebration in L.A.’s Chinatown.
For more information, visit www.octa.net/lunar2013.
OCTA's Lunar New Year event at the Metrolink Irvine station kicks off the festivities with a traditional lion dance, other
entertainment and refreshments before the Metrolink train takes participants to L.A.'s Golden Dragon Parade in Chinatown.
Taxpayers Oversight Committee to Conduct
Annual Measure M Public Hearing on Feb. 12
Members of the Measure M Taxpayers Oversight Committee (TOC) will conduct an annual public
hearing Feb. 12 on the countywide sales tax measure that funds transportation services and projects
throughout Orange County.
The hearing begins at 6 p.m. at OCTA headquarters in Orange. Committee members will report on
their recent activities and receive comments from members of the public on the implementation of
Measure M in the last year.
The independent, 11-member oversight committee serves as a voter safeguard to monitor OCTA’s
use of Measure M funding, approve all changes to the Measure M plan and hold annual public
hearings on the expenditure of funds generated by the sales tax measure.
Measure M has generated more than $4 billion worth of transportation improvements. Hundreds of
local projects that impact residents every day have already been completed. The projects include
enhancements to almost every freeway in the county, widening streets, signal coordination,
intersection improvements and funding the Metrolink commuter rail service in the county.
For more information, please visit the OCTA website.
Stakeholders Provide Input for Upcoming
Freeway Projects in San Clemente
To receive valuable feedback from the
San Clemente community, the outreach
team working on the Pico to San Juan
Creek, San Diego Freeway (I-5) South
County Improvement Project hosted its
first quarterly stakeholder working
group meeting last Wednesday.
Nearly 50 residents, business owners
and community leaders participated at
the San Clemente Community Center to
learn more about the project that will
widen the I-5 between San Juan Creek
Road and Avenida Pico and reconstruct
the Avenida Pico interchange.
The group of business leaders, school
representatives, public safety officers,
city leaders and other officials will be meeting quarterly throughout the duration of the project to
discuss issues and provide solutions to help the community through the impacts of construction.
Mayor Bob Baker of San Clemente thanked the outreach team for its timely communication and
responses to elected officials, city and the community.
San Clemente Councilwoman and
OCTA Director Lori Donchak as well
as Mission Viejo Councilman and
OCTA Director Frank Ury
participated in the stakeholder
meeting.
The OCTA public outreach team
continued its engagement efforts at
the San Clemente Craft Fair on
Avenida del Mar last Sunday. The
team will continue attending this
monthly craft fair to present
updates, share information and
answer questions from San
Clemente residents and visitors.
OCTA Employees Recognized for Contributions
Nearly 50 members of San Clemente community learn more about the
project that will widen the I-5 between San Juan Creek Road and Pico
and reconstruct the Avenida Pico interchange.
San Clemente Councilwoman and OCTA Director Lori Donchak and Mission Viejo
Councilman and OCTA Director Frank Ury join in the project's first quarterly
stakeholder working group meeting.
OCTA recognized the 2012 employees of the year at an event in Santa Ana last Wednesday.
OCTA CEO Will Kempton, Deputy CEO Darrell Johnson and OCTA director Tim Shaw recognized the
efforts of Coach Operator Sipriana Farrel, Maintenance Employee Albert Vailea and Administrative
Employee Jennifer O’Connor as employees of the year for 2012.
“Nothing pleases me more than to recognize the valuable contribution each of you has made to
OCTA as an employee,” Kempton said. “Thank you for your dedication and service during the past
year.”
Employees of the Year Albert Vailea (maintenance), Sipriana Farrell (coach operator) and Jennifer O'Connor
(administration) join OCTA CEO Will Kempton, Deputy CEO Darrell Johnson and Director Tim Shaw
OCTA CEO Will Kempton recognized 36 members of the agency for their exemplary work as
Employees of the Month before presenting one coach operator, maintenance and
administration employee awards for Employees of the Year.
Garden Grove Base Tour Takes OCTA Directors Behind the Scenes
Members of the OCTA Board of
Directors toured the agency’s Garden
Grove Operating and Maintenance
Base to meet with the staff that keeps
the bus service moving.
Staff from bus operations,
maintenance, health and safety and
transit police services met with
Director Steve Jones, Director Lori
Donchak and Director Gail Eastman
last Thursday to share how the
different branches work together to
deliver OCTA’s countywide fixed-
route bus service for residents and
visitors in Orange County.
Deputy CEO Darrell Johnson, General
Manager Beth McCormick and
Assistant General Manager Erin Rogers also joined the directors on the tour where staff shared about
the extensive training program in place to support the bus system and adapt to changing
technology.
Following the tour, all three directors received their first hands-on coaching session behind the
wheel of a 40-foot CNG New Flyer.
Outreach Team Helps Seniors Take Advantage of Transit
OCTA Senior Customer Relations Representative Nicci La Piana and Marketing Specialist Assistant
Heidi Hsing will present information on how to ride the bus at two different locations next week.
La Piana and Hsing will provide information at the Yorba Linda Community Center from 10 a.m. to
10:45 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 6.
La Piana will host additional senior presentations at the Asian American Senior Services Center from
1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 6.
Jan. 24 – The Asian Journal announced the Jan. 25 start of the Metrolink Ducks Express, providing
round-trip, weeknight train service to Anaheim Ducks games for $7, with special discounts for
seniors and youth.
Jan. 25 – The Orange County Register published a parking ban announcement for the east side of
Walnut Street and north Erna Avenue in La Habra because it obstructs OCTA ACCESS bus picks-ups
and drop-offs.
Jan. 26 & Jan. 27 – The Los Alamitos-Seal Beach Patch, Long Beach Patch and OC Breeze announced
construction closures on portions of the West County Connectors project.
Jan. 28 – The Orange County Register posted an article about the OCTA Board re-evaluating the San
Diego Freeway (I-405) Improvement Project alternatives and their previous recommendation of
adding one general purpose lane in each direction.
Jan. 28 – Cal State Fullerton’s The Daily Titan
penned an article about campus construction
and mentioned ongoing meetings with OCTA
regarding the Nutwood Avenue closure as part
of the SR-57 Northbound Widening project.
Jan. 29 – In an Orange County Register article,
three Laguna Niguel residents voiced
General Transit Manager Beth McCormick joins Director Steve Jones,
Director Gail Eastman and Director Lori Donchak on a tour of the Garden
Grove base to learn about bus operations.
frustrations about early-morning train horns.
That railroading crossing is ineligible for quiet
zone status because it runs through private
property.
Jan. 29– The Orange County Register, Long
Beach Post, Long Beach Press-Telegram, OC
Breeze and Grunion Gazette reported about a fallen construction crane that blocked the road from
the eastbound Garden Grove (SR-22) Freeway to the northbound San Gabriel River (I-605) Freeway.
Crews cleared the road several hours later.
Jan. 29 – The Orange County Register published an article about the planned railroad underpass
project in Anaheim that will run along State College Boulevard and the possibilities of buying out
businesses along the project path.
Jan. 29 – The Sacramento Bee wrote an article about a pension measure affecting public
transportation employees.
Jan. 30 – The OC Breeze posted an article about OCTA Chairman Gregory Winterbottom’s goals for
2013 which, among other initiatives, includes advancing delivery of M2020 projects.
Jan. 30 – The Orange County Register wrote a brief article about OCTA providing Mission Viejo a
grant for its senior transportation program.
Jan. 30 – The Orange County Register penned a construction update about the SR-57 Northbound
Widening project.
Jan. 30 – The Orange County Register wrote a piece about Dana Point applying for quiet zone status
at the railroading crossing at Palisades Drive and Beach Road, with implementation anticipated for
Feb. 14.
Jan. 24 – Richard Bacigalupo, California Trucking Association Legislation Committee meeting,
Sacramento
Jan. 28-29 – Kristin Essner, California Association of Governments meeting and the California
Transportation Forum, Sacramento
Jan. 29 – Christopher Veal, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Certification Program, San Diego, Calif.
Cal State Fullerton's The Daily Titan writes about campus
construction and mentions ongoing meetings with OCTA
regarding the Nutwood Avenue closure near the campus.
For the latest media news, follow Joel Zlotnik, media relations manager, on Twitter.
For the latest in transportation issues and programs in Southern California,
follow OCTA on Twitter.
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OCTA is keeping Orange County moving.
Stay updated on transportation promotions, events and more on OCTA's YouTube
channel.