Calif.'s OCTA to launch new bus design

The existing design, more than 20 years old, will be phased out to make way for the new look that prominently features a light blue and orange wave across the bus and the words “OC Bus.”

Staff Writer・Editorial

Read Staff's Posts

June 23, 2015

Calif.'s OCTA to launch new bus design — OCTA Chairman Jeff Lalloway, also Irvine’s mayor pro tem, (left) and OCTA CEO Darrell Johnson stand in front of the redesigned OCTA bus, which will soon roll out on Orange County streets.

1 min to read

OCTA Chairman Jeff Lalloway, also Irvine’s mayor pro tem, (left) and OCTA CEO Darrell Johnson stand in front of the redesigned OCTA bus, which will soon roll out on Orange County streets.

Calif.’s Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) board voted Monday to roll out a colorful new design for its buses as part of an ongoing and comprehensive effort to maximize service, retain riders and get the attention of new customers.

The existing design, more than 20 years old, will be phased out to make way for the new look that prominently features a light blue and orange wave across the bus and the words “OC Bus.” The recognizable blue-and-white OCTA logo also remains.

The timing was right for the re-branding because OCTA is in the process of replacing more than 40% of its bus fleet with 201 compressed natural gas-powered buses. The buses are scheduled for delivery from late 2015 to early 2017.

The newly designed OCTA buses include a prominent blue wave and the words “OC Bus.” The new design is set to roll out in phases as buses are replaced. All photos courtesy OCTA

OCTA continues to explore ways to make its bus service a transportation option of choice for more Orange County residents by optimizing service delivery and by marketing and discounting prices to targeted groups.

Concepts for the new bus designs were reviewed by customers, advisory committees, members of the OCTA’s Teen Council and the millennial generation, and other stakeholders. The final design, they said, is inviting and dynamic and captures the personality of Orange County.

The new look is cost-effective to implement and maintain and is a timeless enough to last for years.

Topics:branding CNG OCTA Management Bus

More Bus

Bus•by Alex Roman•March 13, 2026

Inside The Bus Coalition’s Push for Stronger Federal Transit Investment

In this conversation, TBC’s Executive Director Ed Redfern, President Corey Aldridge, and Washington Representative Joel Rubin outline the coalition’s key policy priorities, the challenges facing transit agencies, and how industry stakeholders can work together to strengthen the voice of bus transit at the federal level.