The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) this month held a kickoff meeting for the latest class of the Teen Council, the first time the group has resumed meeting since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
OCTA staff welcomed the 24 incoming members of the 2023-24 Teen Council, presenting information on Orange County’s current and future transportation projects and services, followed by a roundtable discussion with the participants.
“The work of the Teen Council is so important, both for the young people who are able to get valuable insights about OCTA’s transportation programs and services and for us to get their perspectives,” said OCTA Chairman Gene Hernandez, also the Mayor of Yorba Linda, Calif. “It’s great to see so many teens investing time and energy to help improve Orange County’s transportation network.”
The new members of the Teen Council come from high schools throughout Orange County and represent a wide variety of demographics and perspectives.
Teen Council, which first formed in 2015, allows young and diverse members of the community, ages 13 to 18, the opportunity to provide valuable insight on transportation programs that could most benefit the public. Students will participate in OCTA outreach events and contribute ideas to future marketing campaigns, improving their understanding of transportation issues, strengthening their skills and expanding their peer networks.
OCTA utilizes the feedback and suggestions from council members to enhance projects and programs and to encourage more efficient use of public transportation. The members will discuss land use, environmental equity and impact, transportation planning, funding, legislation, marketing, ridesharing and use of all transit modes, including active transportation such as walking and bicycling.
Past Teen Council participants have been a part of creating innovative marketing campaigns and sharing opinions on special OC Bus promotions. In previous years, participants have taken advantage of the program workshops to learn about a variety of job opportunities and career paths in transportation.
Individuals selected for the council will serve a one-year term and meet every other month during the 2023-24 school year.
The full list of council members can be found on OCTA's website.
