With help from OCTA, Orange County cities have brought back summer shuttle services as the county reopens after the pandemic. Funded in part by OC Go, the shuttles cost little or nothing to ride and provide convenient car-free service to popular destinations including festivals, the beach and shopping. OC Go, also known as Measure M, is the county’s half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements.
“The community shuttles are an important part of how we keep Orange County moving, especially during the great weather and abundance of activities in the summer,” said OCTA Chairman Andrew Do, also the county’s First District Supervisor. “As we reopen our economy, seeing these shuttles returning to our communities is an encouraging sign. It’s also a great way to keep our residents and visitors moving safely, while helping provide cleaner air with fewer vehicles on our roads.”
Many summer shuttles connect to one another, and to OC Bus and Metrolink stops, making it easier to travel to popular destinations without a car. Shuttle services allow residents to avoid driving and parking hassles while enjoying what Orange County has to offer.
Shuttles currently operating include:
San Clemente
Dana Point
San Juan Capistrano
Others expected to start soon:
Newport Beach Balboa Peninsula Trolley
Laguna Beach Trolley
Mission Viejo Community Circulator
La Habra’s Special Events Service
The remaining shuttles, including the Laguna Niguel Summer Trolley and the Huntington Beach Southeast Rideshare Pilot Program, are anticipated to start in 2022 or after.
Shuttles are operated by local jurisdictions. Some of the safety precautions they have in place include: requiring face coverings, operating at reduced capacity to allow for social distancing, equipping vehicles with hand-sanitizer stations and installing barriers between drivers and passengers. High-touch areas will frequently be wiped down and the shuttles will be fully disinfected at the end of each shift.
OCTA continues to work closely with cities in monitoring ridership and evaluating costs as the services return.
Thursday, June 24, 2021