Orange County has 18 transit vehicles down for repairs, leaving residents without a ride

Orange County is temporarily suspending many of its transportation services, including its lunch transit program for older residents, after taking 18 vehicles off the road for repairs.

Most of the Orange County Transportation Services vehicles could be back online within a few days. The county will replace some of the older vehicles when new ones are delivered this summer, county spokesman Todd McGee said.

“I think the goal is to get them all back up and running as soon as possible,” he said.

It’s unknown how many residents will be affected by the change.

In a news release, McGee said the changes will let drivers continue providing fixed-route bus service and transportation to medical and dialysis center appointments.

The county’s fixed-route services are open to the public Monday through Friday on the Hillsborough Circulator, Orange-Alamance Connector and Orange-Chapel Hill Connector.

The services being suspended are the:

▪ Lunch transportation program, which picks up adults ages 60 and older and takes them to the Seymour and Passmore centers for lunch weekdays

▪ General shopping trips

▪ Orange Enterprise Group

▪ Mobility-on-Demand, which offers pickup service for residents in the Hillsborough area, including the Eubanks Road park-and-ride lot in Chapel Hill, where they can catch Chapel Hill Transit buses

“Your understanding in this matter is greatly appreciated and we apologize for the inconvenience to the Orange County community, especially its seniors,” McGee said.

The news echoed issues identified in Chapel Hill earlier this year when the Town Council heard about $60 million in critical needs, including repairs that have removed dozens of garbage trucks, police cars and firetrucks from service recently.

Residents can call Orange County Transportation Services for more information about the changes at 919-245-2008.

The story will be updated.