The Brea City Council has approved a grant application seeking $750,000 from the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) to acquire new vehicles and preserve free senior shuttle services. The motion passed 5-0 at a council meeting in August, with the application subsequently submitted to OCTA on August 28. This funding aims to support scheduled transportation for Brea residents aged 60 or older, a decision that contrasts with a trend of increasing fees and service limitations observed in other Orange County municipalities.
Anthony Godoy, Senior Management Analyst for the Community Services Department, presented the proposal for the grant. If awarded, the funding is designated to provide Brea's senior center with one electric vehicle and one gas vehicle, aligning with OCTA’s 2024 sustainability initiative. The projected award date for this grant is January 2027.
Should the grant be awarded, Brea plans to amend its operating budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year to incorporate the funds. The city will authorize a 10% funding match, drawing from its Air Quality Improvement Fees Fund and the Vehicle Replacement Fund. Brea’s Mayor, Cecilia Hupp, expressed support for these efforts, noting that while the city’s Senior Transportation Program has previously received donated OCTA shuttles, the retired vehicles currently in use require upgrades.
Brea currently offers free shuttle services for seniors to facilitate essential errands, including grocery shopping and picking up medication. These scheduled trips to and from the Senior Center operate Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. In addition, Brea provides an unlimited van service for $4 per one-way trip, offering curb-to-curb personal trips within a five-mile radius of residents' homes to local shops or for visiting friends.
The city's decision to pursue funding to maintain free services occurs amidst a rapidly aging population in Orange County. Projections indicate that by 2060, one-third of the county's residents will be considered older adults. This demographic shift, sometimes referred to as the “silver tsunami,” contributes to an increased demand for senior support services.
In contrast to Brea's approach, several other Orange County cities have implemented fees and ride limitations for their senior shuttle programs as of March 2026. These cities include Mission Viejo, Costa Mesa, San Clemente, and Fullerton. Changes have introduced fees ranging from $3 to $10 per trip and established monthly ride limits as low as eight trips. For instance, one-way visits to a doctor’s office in Costa Mesa, once free, now cost $5. Fullerton also reduced its free senior rides from 30 per month in March 2026 to 20 per month by July 2026.
During the August council meeting, Councilmember Marty Simonoff underscored the importance of the services, noting that acquiring new vehicles through the grant would "do a service to our seniors that’s long overdue." Godoy further explained that Brea's efforts are "reducing barriers for transportation for seniors and individuals with disabilities," a stance that differentiates the city from those rolling back similar programs.
The grant application has been submitted, with a projected award date of January 2027. If the grant is awarded, Brea will proceed with amending its budget and acquiring the new vehicles to support its senior transportation program.
