Bus Ridership Reaches Record High in 1996-97

A record number of Orange County residents used the bus last year, transportation officials announced this week.

Orange County Transportation Authority officials credited the 47.8-million ridership in fiscal year 1996-97 to an improving economy and aggressive marketing campaign.

“This is by far our most successful year in providing public transit service,” OCTA Chairman Robert P. Wahlstrom said.

The previous high came in fiscal year 1990-91, when about 47.3 million riders used the bus system.

Ridership slumped in the mid-1990s, bottoming out at 41.2 million before registering steady increases.

The high of 47.8 million riders is about 7% higher than last year’s total of 44.7 million.

OCTA officials say ridership has increased steadily since 1995, when the agency implemented a new publicity campaign and the local economy began to improve, creating more jobs and need for public transportation.

With the jump in riders taxing some popular lines, OCTA officials say they plan to add more buses and hire new drivers.

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Riding Tide

Orange County bus ridership hit a 10-year high in fiscal year 1996-97. The trend, in thousands:

Year: Passengers

1987-88: 33,344.1

1988-89: 38,466.7

1989-90: 44,372.2

1990-91: 47,252.4

1991-92: 46,813.9

1992-93: 43,597.9

1993-94: 41,227.1

1994-95: 41,634.6

1995-96: 44,693.9

1996-97: 47,830.6

Source: Orange County Transportation Authority