At a celebration outside of the Asian Garden Mall on Oct. 29, the Westminster community of Little Saigon joined OCTA and Westminster city officials to unveil the winning design of the new local bus service. The Little Saigon Shuttle is provided through a partnership with the City of Westminster and OCTA and is funded by Measure M, Orange County’s half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements.
OCTA Directors Andrew Do and Al Murray and Westminster City Council Members Margie Rice and Diana Carrey offered remarks along with Mayor Tri Ta and Mayor Pro Tem Sergio Contreras. Food for the celebration was provided by the Asian Garden Mall.
The Nhan Dung Lion Group kicked off the event with a lion dance. The Viet Fountain Valley Dance Group performed their graceful palm hat dance and the Doan Thien An Performing Arts Group closed the celebration with orchestrated drumming.
To the sound of a drumroll and a large eager crowd, emcee Quynh Huong counted down with OCTA directors and city officials.
Yellow and red streamers soared over the new Little Saigon Shuttle, and the crowd erupted in cheer as the blue tarp fell to reveal the winning design. Chosen by the community, the design depicts a woman wearing an Aa Dai, the Vietnamese traditional dress.
The Little Saigon Shuttle began service Monday, Oct. 31. It will travel daily along Bolsa Avenue and Bishop Place between Brookhurst Street and Magnolia Avenue, making 22 stops from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
This new service is free to ride and will connect passengers to more than 400 restaurants and 3,500 Vietnamese-owned businesses right on Bolsa Avenue.
