Working, shopping or dining along Main Street is about to become more convenient, thanks to the Orange County Transportation Authority’s new OC Bus limited-stop 53Xpress service.
The new service, launching Monday, Feb. 13, runs along Main Street through downtown Santa Ana, with fewer stops along the popular Route 53 to speed up the commute for those riders traveling longer distances.
The route runs between the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC) and the Hutton Centre in Santa Ana, making 12 stops in all, including destinations such as Angel Stadium, Honda Center, the Orange Plaza and Mainplace Mall.
Route 53Xpress provides provide area residents, visitors and workers a quicker way to get to all of their favorite destinations. The launch of this new service complements the rest of OCTA’s already popular express routes.
The 53Xpress service will operate Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Buses traveling the 53Xpress route will look the same as other OC Buses but will be easy to spot: Stops will be clearly marked with a unique 53X sign and buses will show 53X on the digital-message sign at the front of the bus.
The cost to ride the express service is the same as regular service: $2 per boarding, or $4 for an unlimited one-day pass. Passes can be quickly and conveniently purchased by downloading the OC Bus mobile ticketing smartphone app. Paper passes can also still be purchased at retail locations including Ralphs, Vons, Pavilions and Northgate markets.
The launch of the 53Xpress service is part of OC Bus 360°, OCTA’s ongoing effort to improve bus service and increase the efficiency of bus travel throughout the county. The new service is one step in a series of adjustments that have been implemented over the past year.
The new service launch coincides with other service changes going into effect this month. Along with the addition of 53Xpress, routine adjustments will be made to several bus routes. In addition, the 5-Rides Pass and 7-Day Pass will be discontinued starting Feb. 12 because of low usage. OCTA will continue to accept existing passes until Feb. 1, 2018.
Express service bus routes will also be recategorized with the February service change. Routes 206, 211, 212, 213 and 216 will be rebranded as OC Express routes, with $4 fares. Routes 701, 721 and 794 will continue to operate as intercounty express routes, with fares at $7.
