OCTA Seeks Input on New OC Bus Fare Payment System

The following is a press release from an organization unaffiliated with Voice of OC. The views expressed here are not those of Voice of OC.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Jan. 30, 2025

OCTA Seeks Input on New OC Bus Fare Payment System

A series of virtual and in-person community meetings are planned to hear from riders to ensure the new system, scheduled to be launched this summer, is best for those who ride public transit

ORANGE – The Orange County Transportation Authority is preparing this summer to launch a new and modernized fare payment system, designed to enhance accessibility and improve the rider experience for all bus passengers.

As part of this effort, OCTA has scheduled a series of public meetings to get input on the new system to make sure the technology best meets the needs of passengers.

“We want to ensure that every OC Bus rider, from those using public transit for the first time to our most frequent commuters, has a way to pay to ride that works best for them,” said OCTA Chair Doug Chaffee, also Orange County’s Fourth District Supervisor. “This is about modernizing our system to provide flexibility and convenience, reflecting the ways our riders use technology and can most easily and efficiently ride public transit.”

Both virtual and in-person community meetings are planned to get feedback from riders leading up to the planned summer launch. The meetings include:

• A virtual meeting (in English) at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4
• A virtual meeting (in Spanish) at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5
• In-person meeting at the Norman Hertzog Community Center, 1845 Park Ave. in Costa Mesa at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 11
• A virtual meeting (in Vietnamese) at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 12
• In-person meeting at Laguna Hills Community Center, 25555 Alicia Parkway at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 12.
• In-person meeting at Fullerton Community Center, 340 W. Commonwealth Ave. on Thursday, Feb. 13
• In-person Community Meeting Santa Ana College, 1530 W. 17^th St. on Thursday, Feb. 20.

Each of the meetings leads up to a public hearing in front of the full OCTA Board of Directors, which will have the final vote on the new system. The hearing will be at OCTA Headquarters, 550 S. Main St. in Orange, at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, March 24.

Spanish and Vietnamese interpreters will be available at each in-person meeting, as well as other languages requested in advance.

Key to the new system is the introduction of a smart card fare media, known as a Wave card, which will replace traditional paper passes with a more durable, flexible, and user-friendly payment option.

The Wave card would also be used on OCTA’s OC Streetcar when it debuts next year in Santa Ana and Garden Grove.

The new system will allow riders to load fare values onto a smart card or use a virtual smart card through their mobile wallets, making it easier than ever to pay for bus rides. Riders will also benefit from enhanced features such as fare capping to ensure riders always pay the best fare, discounted passes, automatic fare loading, balance protection, and the ability to manage accounts through an online portal.

Riders who choose to can continue to pay for a bus fare on-board with cash. Additionally, rides will remain free through the youth and college pass programs for those under 18 and community college students. 

As part of this project, OCTA is also expanding the number of retail locations where riders can purchase and reload their smart cards using cash or credit at locations throughout Orange County, making the system more accessible for riders without bank accounts.

In the lead up to launching the program, OCTA is conducting an extensive outreach campaign that includes bus advertisements, brochures and surveys, and digital communications. Information will be distributed at major transportation centers, the OCTA store, and through events in communities across Orange County.

To sign up to attend any of the virtual or in-person community meetings, or to take an online survey, visit www.octa.net/wave.

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About OCTA: The Orange County Transportation Authority is the county transportation planning commission, responsible for funding and implementing transit and capital projects for a balanced and sustainable transportation system that reflects the diverse travel needs of the county’s 34 cities and 3.2 million residents. With the mission of keeping Orange County moving, this includes freeways and express lanes, bus and rail transit, rideshare, commuter rail and active transportation. To sign up for more OCTA news, visit octa.net/GetConnected.

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