OCTA Faces Shrinkage Pains

In 2005, the Orange County Transportation Agency was named America's best bus service by the American Public Transportation Association for its impressive gains in bus ridership and plans to do a light-rail system. A bit over a decade later, though, the OCTA is in trouble. Bus ridership has declined for 36 straight months, with a 30% overall drop since 2008. Due to that, OCTA is planning to cut some lines, drawing criticism from advocates who say those lines serve working-class commuters. A a private contractor that OCTA hired to assume responsibility over some lines has drawn fire for stranding riders and not being able to staff its buses. What does the OCTA have to do to turn its performance around?