ORANGE – The Orange County Transportation Authority’s OC ACCESS paratransit service is expected to return to regular, full service by Monday after the contracted drivers who have been on strike voted today to accept the contract offer from their employer, First Transit/Transdev.
OC ACCESS riders are asked visit www.octa.net or contact (714) 636-7433 for the latest information.
“We are very pleased that the two sides have reached a resolution and that full service will return for the paratransit riders who rely on OC ACCESS to maintain their independence, and reach critical destinations,” said OCTA Chairman Gene Hernandez, also the mayor of Yorba Linda. “We understand what a tremendous burden this work stoppage has been, and we look forward to restoring this vital service.”
OCTA contracts its OC ACCESS paratransit service, for riders with physical or cognitive limitations preventing them from using the regular OC Bus service, to a third-party provider. That contractor, First Transit/Transdev, had been in contract negotiations for several months with Teamsters Local 952, the union representing approximately 250 drivers.
The previous contract between the two parties expired at the end of 2022 and negotiations had been ongoing until the union chose to strike on May 3. OCTA was not involved in the labor negotiations.
On average, OC ACCESS provides about 3,500 trips per day.
With the announced end to the strike, Same-Day Taxi service and OC ACCESS subscription service are also being restored, as well as full service for OC Flex, OCTA’s on-demand microtransit service operating in Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo and Aliso Viejo.
OC Flex passengers are urged to check the OC Flex app for the latest.
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.
