PRESS RELEASE:

Vice Chairman Doug Chaffee and Orange County Transportation Authority Collaborate with Gilbert High School Students to Address Bus Route 46 Concerns

Anaheim, CA. (January 18, 2024) - Vice Chairman Doug Chaffee, in partnership with the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), attended a civic engagement forum at Gilbert High School to address student rider concerns and announce a temporary service change to OCTA Bus Route 46 on Euclid Street and Ball Road effective January 17, 2024.

The decision to change the service of Bus Route 46 was taken in consideration after 45 Gilbert High School students sent an email petition in December of 2023 and advocated for the change. Gilbert High School dismissed students at 2:22 p.m. and Bus Route 46 arrived at 2:19 p.m., which caused student riders to wait an additional 30-to-40 minutes for the next bus to arrive. At the civic engagement forum, students expressed how the Bus Route 46 schedule caused negative impacts such as being late to work shifts and extracurricular activities after school.

Vice Chairman Chaffee expressed appreciation for the proactive involvement of the students and recognized the importance of addressing the community's concerns.

"It's inspiring to see our youth actively participating in the democratic process,” said Vice Chairman Chaffee. “We greatly value their input, and their commitment to advocating for their needs and making positive changes in our community is commendable."

OCTA was receptive to the students' advocacy efforts and initiated a temporary adjustment to change Bus Route 46's arrival at Euclid Street and Ball Road from 2:19 p.m. to 2:39 p.m., which will be adopted as a permanent bus route change in May of 2024. The visit underscored the significance of community engagement and highlighted the responsiveness of OCTA officials to address issues directly impacting students and families.

“It’s always great to see the enthusiasm of students who understand public transportation’s many benefits. At OCTA, we are committed to delivering safe and convenient bus service and we always welcome the input of our riders to help us achieve our goals,” said Johnny Dunning Jr., OCTA’s Chief Operating Officer, who met with students at Gilbert High School to discuss the bus system and how it’s planned. “We really appreciate the students’ interest, and we hope they’ll continue to ride OC Bus for many years to come.”

Gilbert High School has been recognized by the state for their civic engagement. They received a Civic Learning Award of Excellence by the California Department of Education in 2023 for their civic engagement project that tackled food insecurity in their community. The designation is awarded to schools that exemplify institutionalized civic learning,

"I am proud of our students for learning about transportation issues affecting Orange County and taking civic action to make a change,” said Gilbert High School Principal Jose Lara. “I would like to thank Vice Chairman Chaffee and the OCTA for being responsive to our students and school community needs."

The collaborative effort between Vice Chairman Doug Chaffee, OCTA, and Gilbert High School reflects a commitment to open dialogue and finding solutions that enhance the public transportation experience, so services align with the needs of the students and residents they serve.

The OCTA Bus route 46 services the Long Beach to Orange Corridor with stops in Orange, Anaheim, Buena Park, Cypress, Los Alamitos, and Long Beach. For more information, visit www.octa.net.

Orange County Vice Chairman Doug Chaffee represents the Fourth District, which includes the Cities of Brea, Buena Park, Fullerton, La Habra, Placentia, Stanton, portions of Anaheim, and unincorporated communities. 

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