As part of OC Bus 360°, a plan to improve bus service from all angles, the OCTA Board of Directors approved several adjustments to its bus fares.
Adjustments include:
- Increasing the fare for express routes that travel within Orange County from $2 to $4 and increasing the fare for intercounty express routes from $6 to $7. These changes will affect about 0.5 percent of total boardings. Effective February 2017.
- Eliminating the 5 Ride Pass and 7 Day Pass, which account for less than 1 percent of pass usage. Effective February 2017.
- Requiring proof of eligibility for reduced fare passes, including those for seniors and people with disabilities, when the pass is sold. Effective October 2017.
Members of the public voiced their opinions on proposed changes to the fare policy at a public hearing and at community meetings in Anaheim, Laguna Hills and Santa Ana. Comments were also submitted via phone, mail and an online survey.
OCTA is making no changes to the ACCESS fare structure at this time.
In addition to these changes, in October OCTA reduced its day pass fare from $5 to $4 for a six-month promotional period. The reduced day pass price is expected to increase ridership by 600,000 boardings over the six months. Low Carbon Transit Operations Program funds provided by the state’s Cap-and-Trade Program will offset the loss in revenue.
Before the promotional period ends on April 9, OCTA will consider extending the reduced day pass price based on the impact to ridership and the availability of funding.
For more information about the fare study, visit here.