OC Bus 360°, an initiative launched in 2016 to improve bus service and increase the efficiency of bus travel in response to shifting travel patterns and declining ridership, continues to offer innovative ways to keep Orange County on the go.
Efforts include implementing new and faster bus routes, reallocating bus service to areas with higher demand and rolling out new technology, including mobile ticketing and real-time bus arrival information. In addition, in October OCTA launched OC Flex, a one-year microtransit pilot program, in two areas of the county.
Ridership on improved bus routes has increased 3.7 percent between April and June compared to ridership between January and March. Ridership has also increased slightly compared to last year, while nationwide bus ridership has decreased by nearly 1.5 percent.
A new limited-stop bus service, Bravo! Route 529, is expected to launch in February as part of OC Bus 360°. The new service will operate on Beach Boulevard from the Fullerton Park-and-Ride to the Goldenwest Transportation Center through the cities of Anaheim, Buena Park, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Stanton, and Westminster.