COUNTYWIDE : Agency Merger Saves $30 Million a Year

The merger of six county transportation agencies into a single authority last year has cut costs by about $30 million a year and reduced staff by 54 positions, officials said Wednesday.

The dollar figure represents the first attempt by the newly created Orange County Transportation Authority to quantify the financial impact of last June’s merger that created OCTA.

OCTA Chief Executive Officer Stanley T. Oftelie said the savings come from budget reductions achieved between June, 1991, and January, 1992.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Roger R. Stanton, who also chairs OCTA, has often said “there’s more to come” in the way of savings.

“I consider that to be my direction,” Oftelie said Wednesday.

The savings figure was noted in an announcement about OCTA’s recognition as the 1992 Organization of the Year by the California Transportation Foundation.

OCTA was singled out for the Tranny Award for successfully completing the merger, which occurred six months ahead of schedule.

Most of the jobs that have been eliminated were unfilled posts identified as duplicative after the merger, officials said.

The two biggest agencies involved in the consolidation effort were the former Orange County Transportation Commission and the Orange County Transit District.

The Tranny Award will be presented to the transportation commission on May 14 at the annual California Transportation and Public Works Conference in Sacramento.