Local Bus Routes Targeted for Elimination; San Juan Capistrano Wants Alternatives

If San Juan Capistrano isn't successful in demanding alternatives from the county, tourists may no longer be able to view local sights from a trolley, and bus riders will lose service in the tri-city area. 

A consultant hired by the Orange County Transportation Agency to suss out its most highly performing services and to evaluate the lowest performing ones has found that taxpayers are subsidizing passengers' tickets from $4.81 to $15.70 on two routes in San Juan Capistrano, and two others in San Clemente.

The study calls for cutting those routes, as well the tourist-based Tri-City Trolley Program. The trolleys, however, may be saved and used as part of the regional public transit network.

The bus routes that could be affected:

• Route 191, with service from Dana Point to San Juan Capistrano
• Route 193, with service in San Clemente
• Route 91, with service in San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente
• Route 1, on Coast Highway, which is proposed to terminate at North Beach in San Clemente.

City staffers said that although the OCTA contends the routes will not be cut until it comes up with alternative service, it will not come up with those details until the plans are implemented.

"The plan does not provide any details on alternative services and no time frames for backfilling lost transit services," City Attorney Omar Sandoval wrote in a memo to City Manager Karen Brust.

The staff wants the City Council to send a letter to Orange County  Supervisor Pat Bates, asking her and other county leaders to demand alternatives from OCTA before the plan is adopted.

“While we understand the need to make transit more cost-efficient ... the proposals for alternative services are simply too vague to allow us to assess the services that will be available for our residents," the draft letter states.

The City Council will consider the letter Tuesday during its regularly scheduled meeting.

At that meeting, it will also from expiring, as the state budget mandates. To keep the redevelopment agency alive, the Legislature is requiring the city to make a $1.9-million payment to the county, most of which would be distributed to local schools.

There's also an item before the council to deny aa portion of their water bills. The basis of their claim is centered on the city's failure to issue bonds it used to justify rate hikes in 2010.

The City Council meets at 6 p.m. in City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto.