Irvine's Connect shuttle service is gaining momentum, but the question remains: Could a citywide transit system be feasible in Irvine?
Irvine, California — The Irvine City Council is exploring ways to expand public transportation options in the city, but acknowledges that the car-centric master-planned design poses significant challenges.
The city's layout, characterised by wide roads and ample parking, has long favoured cars, bikes, walking, and trails. However, Councilmember James Mai noted that public transit expansion is desirable but difficult without a cultural shift among residents. Currently, residents experience little local congestion and have little incentive to use transit.
One of the transit initiatives under consideration is the expansion of the Irvine Connect shuttle system. The system, aimed at residents, launched as a city-run pilot in 2023 and has shown promising results. In its first year, ridership reached 141,000, peaking at 740 boardings on April 10. The system was expanded in July with five new stops and an extra bus to keep wait times under 20 minutes. Boardings on the expanded service rose 15% during the first week.
However, experts from UC Irvine express skepticism regarding the viability of a robust, high-quality transit network in Irvine due to land use patterns, wealth distribution, and design factors that favour automobile use.
Beyond local transit, California’s broader infrastructure initiatives such as the California High-Speed Rail project may eventually influence regional connectivity, but full implementation extends to 2050 and does not directly alter Irvine’s internal transit challenges in the near term.
The Council's plans are incremental and cautious, reflecting the logistical hurdles rooted in Irvine’s car-oriented urban planning and resident preferences. Changing this paradigm will depend largely on altering the public’s mindset and potentially integrating innovative policies like congestion pricing, though such measures have not been specifically endorsed by Irvine’s Council as of now.
City officials plan to assess the success of routes based on boardings per hour and individual stop usage. They also plan a new survey of the community to gauge ridership demand and identify which routes should come next. Councilmembers Larry Agran and Kathleen Treseder advocate for building out a larger system as a smart investment in mobility and climate goals.
Meanwhile, some councilmembers, like Mike Carroll, are wary of moving too quickly or committing too much money before gauging public support. Others, like Kathleen Treseder, suggest working with OCTA to subsidise OCTA service in the city or offer subsidised bus passes to Irvine residents.
The city can claim up to $3 million per year in Proposition 116 funds through 2041 to help pay for its transit systems. City staff estimate that Irvine would need to cover around $168 million for the expansion, or roughly $10.5 million per year. About $88.5 million in Prop 116 funding is still available for Irvine to use.
The iShuttle program, which operated for nearly 20 years, served business parks and office centers. Usage of the program declined since the pandemic, and the city voted to shut it down in April.
Despite the challenges, Treseder considers Irvine Connect as one of the most popular things the city has done lately, with many residents expressing positive feedback. Hyland questions the effectiveness of transit systems in improving sustainability in Irvine, but acknowledges their importance in connecting certain groups to their key destinations.
As the city moves forward, the debate on transit expansion will continue, with councilmembers divided on the expansion and development of a full-scale bus network in Irvine. Some suggest making connections between the Metrolink or Amtrak stations to the business locations in the city to improve commuting options.
In conclusion, the Irvine City Council is taking a measured approach to transit expansion, acknowledging the challenges posed by the city's car-centric design and the need for a shift in resident preferences. The future of public transportation in Irvine will depend on the city's ability to balance logistical hurdles with the need for sustainable, accessible, and efficient transit options.
The Irvine City Council is considering expanding the Irvine Connect shuttle system, a city-run pilot that showed promising results after its launch in 2023, as a way to supplement the current public transportation options. However, experts question the viability of a robust, high-quality transit network in Irvine due to its car-oriented urban planning and land use patterns that favor automobile use.
In addition to local transit initiatives, California's broader infrastructure projects, such as the California High-Speed Rail project, may potentially influence regional connectivity in the future, but they do not directly address Irvine's internal transit challenges in the immediate term. To balance logistical hurdles with the need for sustainable, accessible, and efficient transit options, the city might consider making connections between the Metrolink or Amtrak stations to business locations in the city to improve commuting options.
