Closing the terminal will actually benefit riders, he added. The site is two blocks off Main Street, which diverts most riders from their routes, he said. "By not having the bus go through all those detours, we speed up service."
Riders at the terminal, though, said they appreciate the expansive shelter, its shaded benches and restrooms.
Inside the open-air terminal, a woman sells hot dogs, sodas and snacks. Outside, a mural depicts centuries of Orange County history.
Gerardo Gonzalez, who retired recently after years of working as a baker, stood, his back to a concrete wall, reading a small book in Spanish called "The Gunwoman." He was wearing a crisp black dress shirt, worn jeans and a gold crucifix around his neck.
He said he takes the bus from Costa Mesa to the terminal every day.
He sits on benches and reads, has a cup of coffee at nearby restaurants and eats lunch -- usually a hot dog or a taco -- from local vendors.
He knows a few people who frequent the terminal, but that is not why he comes. He comes because it is like a park in the middle of the city.
If he didn't venture there, he said, "I'd just be at home, watching TV or listening to the radio."
Nearby, Salazar contemplated the fare increases, which would boost the cost of her monthly pass by $10. "In these times?" she said. "It's almost inhumane.
"Maybe you don't think $10 is a lot of money, but I can buy food for two days with that."
The OCTA meeting will be held at 9 a.m. Monday at agency headquarters, 600 S. Main St., Orange.
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paloma.esquivel@latimes.com
