AC Transit
Encyclopedia
AC Transit is an Oakland
-based regional public transit agency serving the western half of Alameda County
and parts of western Contra Costa County
in the western, Bay-side area of the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area
. In addition, AC Transit operates "transbay" routes across San Francisco Bay
to San Francisco
and selected areas in San Mateo
and Santa Clara
counties. Buses operate out of four operating divisions, or yards: Richmond, Emeryville, Oakland, and Hayward. Central Dispatch is located in Emeryville.
AC Transit is constituted as a special district
under California law. It is governed by seven elected members (five from geographic wards and two at-large). It is not a part of or under the control of the Counties of Alameda or Contra Costa or any local jurisdictions.
The District is the public successor to the privately owned Key System
.
Oakland
,
Fremont
,
Hayward
,
Berkeley
,
Richmond
,
San Leandro
,
Alameda
,
Castro Valley
,
Newark
,
San Pablo
,
El Cerrito
,
San Lorenzo
,
Ashland
,
Albany
,
Cherryland
,
El Sobrante
,
Piedmont
,
Fairview
,
Emeryville
,
Kensington
, and
East Richmond Heights
.
The District's bus lines also serve parts of some other East Bay communities, including Milpitas
, Pinole
, and Union City
.
AC Transit serves many colleges and universities including the University of California, Berkeley
; Stanford University
; California State University, East Bay
; Chabot College
; Holy Names University
; Peralta Colleges
(Laney College
, College of Alameda
, Berkeley City College
, and Merritt College
), Contra Costa College
; Ohlone College
; and Mills College
.
Most routes connect with regional train service, primarily BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit
), in addition to ACE
and Amtrak
, including (among other trains) the Capitol Corridor
. AC Transit routes also connect with several other regional transit services, including Union City Transit
, SamTrans
, WestCAT
, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority
(VTA), San Francisco Municipal Railway
(Muni), Golden Gate Transit
, the Alameda-Oakland Ferry, the Harbor Bay Ferry, and Emery Go Round
.
While most AC Transit service consists of local lines throughout the East Bay, the District also provides many transbay lines. Most of these run across the San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge to connect communities as distant as El Sobrante
and Newark
with San Francisco
's Transbay Terminal
(formerly the terminus of the Key System). Bus service is also provided across the San Mateo and Dumbarton bridges to the south.
stations, major shopping centers, and points of interest, which are spread out throughout the East Bay. Most route serve and/or terminate at BART stations, providing convenience for transit users. The hubs include:
See also AC Transit's page on fares and passes or AC Transit's page on bus fares.
Notes:
Notes:
and Hayward
with Foster City
and San Mateo
's Hillsdale Caltrain
station. A second San Mateo-Hayward Bridge route, Line MA, was added in 2006 and discontinued in 2007. (The M replaced the SamTrans
90E, which had been canceled in 1999.)
In 2003, a new "rapid bus" line operating on San Pablo Avenue was introduced. Designated as Line 72R (or San Pablo Rapid), the service connected Oakland
with Richmond
and operated at faster speeds than regular local service due to wide stop spacing and signal priority treatments.
In 2004, the District began service on Line U across the Dumbarton Bridge
, connecting Stanford University
with ACE
and BART trains in Fremont. As part of a consortium of transit agencies including AC Transit, BART, SamTrans, Union City Transit
, and VTA
), the District already operated Dumbarton Express
bus service across the Dumbarton Bridge.
Beginning 10 December 2005, AC Transit began participating in the regional All Nighter
network, providing 24-hour bus service throughout its service area to supplement BART service, which does not operate during owl hours. AC Transit had provided 24-hour service on many of its trunk lines prior to this date, except in the late 1990s due to budget limitations.
On 30 July 2007, AC Transit announced that it had entered into a 25-year partnership with SunPower
, MMA Renewable Ventures, and PG&E to install solar energy systems at its facilities in an effort to reduce its carbon footprint
, improve local air quality, and save money on energy costs that could be used instead to spend on transit service.
In 2008, AC Transit sponsored the world's largest chalk drawing at the old Alameda Naval Base and provided free transportation for children to the site.
On 28 March 2010, several major service changes were implemented to reduce a severe budget shortfall. Changes included reduced service on local and Transbay lines, elimination of unproductive routes, splitting of the 51 into two sections, and the introduction of limited-stop line 58L.
Starting in February 2011, all buses on Line 376 were being escorted by a marked Contra Costa County Sheriff's patrol vehicle through the unincorporated community of North Richmond
. Line 376 provides late-night service through North Richmond and the nearby cities of Richmond, San Pablo
, and Pinole
. The escorts were introduced to improve the safety of the service, which had five serious incidents between 5 January and 9 February.
in Oakland and Contra Costa College
in Richmond, and buses receive signal priority at several intersections. The line does not have scheduled timepoints en route, and instead buses travel along the route as fast as traffic allows.
A second rapid bus line was introduced on 24 June 2007. Line 1R (or International Rapid) operates on Telegraph Avenue
and International Blvd.
between Berkeley, Oakland, and San Leandro on weekdays. Weekend and holiday service operates between Oakland and San Leandro only.
The Line 1R corridor has been identified for replacement by a bus rapid transit
line.
AC Transit utilized the GM "old-look" transit buses of its predecessor, the Key System, when service first began. AC Transit soon ordered GM New Look buses and operated a mixed fleet throughout the 1960s. AC Transit pioneered the use of an articulated bus
in the mid-1960s, operating the experimental GM XMC 77 bus primarily on Transbay service.
AC Transit continued to purchase GM New Look buses through the early 1970s and also began purchasing buses from Flxible
too. No more GM buses were purchased by the late 1970s, instead procuring buses from Flyer
and Gillig through the 1980s. AC Transit also purchased buses from NABI
in the 1990s.
In 2003, AC Transit began purchasing low-floor buses from Van Hool
. More recently, it also purchased new, custom-designed 30-foot buses from Van Hool.
Starting in 2003, AC Transit added satellite tracking units on all vehicles. The GPS tracking
units fix the position of the vehicle, and a private radio network sends updates to headquarters every 3 to 16 minutes. Vehicle locations on selected lines can be viewed from AC Transit's NextBus
passenger information system.
AC Transit has developed the most comprehensive fuel cell bus program in the United States. Three hydrogen-powered buses, based on the Van Hool A330, operated in revenue service from 2006 to 2010. AC Transit began taking delivery of 12 new, third-generation fuel cell buses based on the Van Hool A300L in 2011.
AC Transit buses are wheelchair accessible and have front-mounted bicycle racks. Buses in active service:
Note: NA = Not available.
Most AC Transit vehicles are not air-conditioned. However, in 2007 the District's board of directors voted to purchase new buses equipped with air conditioning.
In March 2004, voters throughout the San Francisco Bay Area
approved Regional Measure 2, which funds regional transportation capital and operating programs through a US$1.00 surcharge on State-owned bridges operated by the BATA
. (The Golden Gate Bridge
is owned and operated by the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District
.)
In November 2004, voters approved Measure BB, which increased the parcel tax by US$48 annually for 10 years beginning 1 July 2005, to help fund AC Transit services.
In April 2005, a federal class-action lawsuit was filed against the Metropolitan Transportation Commission alleging that it discriminates against AC Transit's primarily minority
riders by giving AC Transit disproportionately less money than BART
and Caltrain
. AC Transit is not party to the lawsuit, and the court sided with MTC in 2009.
In November 2008, voters approved Measure VV, which increased the parcel tax by US$48 annually for 10 years beginning 1 July 2009, to help fund AC Transit services. Measure VV also extended the US$48 parcel tax approved under Measure BB so a total US$96 annual tax is effective through 30 June 2019.
via dial-up access
and digital subscriber line
. AC Transit also offers wireless internet on some buses that serve Transbay lines.
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
-based regional public transit agency serving the western half of Alameda County
Alameda County, California
Alameda County is a county in the U.S. state of California. It occupies most of the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 1,510,271, making it the 7th most populous county in the state...
and parts of western Contra Costa County
Contra Costa County, California
Contra Costa County is a primarily suburban county in the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 1,049,025...
in the western, Bay-side area of the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
. In addition, AC Transit operates "transbay" routes across San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay is a shallow, productive estuary through which water draining from approximately forty percent of California, flowing in the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers from the Sierra Nevada mountains, enters the Pacific Ocean...
to San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
and selected areas in San Mateo
San Mateo County, California
San Mateo County is a county located in the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California. It covers most of the San Francisco Peninsula just south of San Francisco, and north of Santa Clara County. San Francisco International Airport is located at the northern end of the county, and...
and Santa Clara
Santa Clara County, California
Santa Clara County is a county located at the southern end of the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 it had a population of 1,781,642. The county seat is San Jose. The highly urbanized Santa Clara Valley within Santa Clara County is also known as Silicon Valley...
counties. Buses operate out of four operating divisions, or yards: Richmond, Emeryville, Oakland, and Hayward. Central Dispatch is located in Emeryville.
AC Transit is constituted as a special district
Special-purpose district
Special-purpose districts or special district governments in the United States are independent governmental units that exist separately from, and with substantial administrative and fiscal independence from, general purpose local governments such as county, municipal, and township governments. As...
under California law. It is governed by seven elected members (five from geographic wards and two at-large). It is not a part of or under the control of the Counties of Alameda or Contra Costa or any local jurisdictions.
The District is the public successor to the privately owned Key System
Key System
The Key System was a privately owned company which provided mass transit in the cities of Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda, Emeryville, Piedmont, San Leandro, Richmond, Albany and El Cerrito in the eastern San Francisco Bay Area from 1903 until 1960, when the system was sold to a newly formed public...
.
Service area
The District encompasses the following cities and unincorporated areas:Oakland
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
,
Fremont
Fremont, California
Fremont is a city in Alameda County, California. It was incorporated on January 23, 1956, from the merger of five smaller communities: Centerville, Niles, Irvington, Mission San Jose, and Warm Springs...
,
Hayward
Hayward, California
Hayward is a city located in the East Bay in Alameda County, California. With a population of 144,186, Hayward is the sixth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area and the third largest in Alameda County. Hayward was ranked as the 37th most populous municipality in California. It is included in...
,
Berkeley
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
,
Richmond
Richmond, California
Richmond is a city in western Contra Costa County, California, United States. The city was incorporated on August 7, 1905. It is located in the East Bay, part of the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a residential inner suburb of San Francisco, as well as the site of heavy industry, which has been...
,
San Leandro
San Leandro, California
San Leandro is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It is considered a suburb of Oakland and San Francisco. The population was 84,950 as of 2010 census. The climate of the city is mild throughout the year.-Geography and water resources:...
,
Alameda
Alameda, California
Alameda is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It is located on Alameda Island and Bay Farm Island, and is adjacent to Oakland in the San Francisco Bay. The Bay Farm Island portion of the city is adjacent to the Oakland International Airport. At the 2010 census, the city had a...
,
Castro Valley
Castro Valley, California
Castro Valley is a census-designated place in Alameda County, California, United States. As of the 2000 census, it is the fifth most populous unincorporated area in California, and the twenty-third in the United States...
,
Newark
Newark, California
Newark is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It was incorporated as a city in September 1955. Newark is an enclave, completely surrounded by the city of Fremont. Its population was 42,573 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
,
San Pablo
San Pablo, California
San Pablo is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. The city of Richmond surrounds nearly the whole city. The population was 29,139 at the 2010 census. The current Mayor is Paul V. Morris, and the current Vice Mayor is Cecilia Valdez. Current Councilmembers include Arturo M....
,
El Cerrito
El Cerrito, California
-Transportation:The city's primary transportation infrastructure consists of the El Cerrito Plaza and El Cerrito del Norte BART stations along with several local bus lines, operated by AC Transit, providing access to the surrounding area and the nearby cities of Albany, Berkeley and Richmond...
,
San Lorenzo
San Lorenzo, California
San Lorenzo , also known as San Lorenzo Village is a census-designated place in Alameda County, California, United States. The population was 23,452 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
,
Ashland
Ashland, California
Ashland is a census-designated place in Alameda County, California, United States. The population was 21,925 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
,
Albany
Albany, California
Albany is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. The population was 18,539 at the 2010 census.-History:In 1908, a group of local women protested the dumping of Berkeley garbage in their community...
,
Cherryland
Cherryland, California
Cherryland is a census-designated place in Alameda County, California, United States.The unincorporated community is located between the cities of San Leandro to the north and Hayward to the south...
,
El Sobrante
El Sobrante, California
El Sobrante is a census-designated place in Contra Costa County, California, United States. The population was 12,669 at the 2010 census...
,
Piedmont
Piedmont, California
Piedmont is a small, affluent city in Alameda County, California, United States. It is surrounded by the city of Oakland. The population was 10,667 at the 2010 census. Piedmont was incorporated in 1907 and was developed significantly in the 1920s and 1930s...
,
Fairview
Fairview, California
Fairview is a census-designated place in Alameda County, California, United States. It borders on the city of Hayward. The population was 10,003 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
,
Emeryville
Emeryville, California
Emeryville is a small city located in Alameda County, California, in the United States. It is located in a corridor between the cities of Berkeley and Oakland, extending to the shore of San Francisco Bay. Its proximity to San Francisco, the Bay Bridge, the University of California, Berkeley, and...
,
Kensington
Kensington, California
Kensington is an unincorporated community and census-designated place located in the East Bay, part of the San Francisco Bay Area, in Contra Costa County, California, United States. The population was 5,077 at the 2010 census.- Law and government :Kensington is an unincorporated area of Contra...
, and
East Richmond Heights
East Richmond Heights, California
East Richmond Heights is an unincorporated and census-designated place in western Contra Costa County, California, United States. The community is locally referred to as Richmond View or Arlington Heights, especially in the context of real estate advertisements...
.
The District's bus lines also serve parts of some other East Bay communities, including Milpitas
Milpitas, California
Milpitas is a city in Santa Clara County, California. It is a suburb of the major city of San Jose, California. It is located with San Jose to its south and Fremont to its north, at the eastern end of State Route 237 and generally between Interstates 680 and 880 which run roughly north/south...
, Pinole
Pinole, California
Pinole is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. The population was 18,390 at the 2010 census. It is one of many small “bedroom communities” along the I-80 corridor in Western Contra Costa County. It is located about northeast of San Francisco, and approximately a half-hour...
, and Union City
Union City, California
Union City is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It was incorporated in 1959, combining the communities of Alvarado and Decoto. Alvarado was the original county seat of Alameda County, and the site of the first county courthouse is a California Historical Landmark . The city...
.
AC Transit serves many colleges and universities including the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
; Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
; California State University, East Bay
California State University, East Bay
California State University, East Bay is a public university located in the eastern region of the San Francisco Bay Area. The university, as part of the 23-campus California State University system, offers over 100 areas of study...
; Chabot College
Chabot College
Chabot College is a community college located in Hayward, California.-Campus:The campus has a 200-seat theatre, a 1,432-seat performing arts center, a full-size planetarium, four major athletic fields, an HD television studio, and an Olympic-class swimming pool.-History:Chabot College was the first...
; Holy Names University
Holy Names University
Holy Names University is a private, coeducational university located in Oakland, California. It is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church and is administered by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary.-History:...
; Peralta Colleges
Peralta Community College District
The Peralta Community College District is the community college district serving northern Alameda County, California. The district operates four community colleges: Berkeley City College, Laney College and Merritt College in Oakland, and College of Alameda. From 1968 to 1988, non-contiguous Plumas...
(Laney College
Laney College
Laney College is a community college located in Oakland, California, next to the Lake Merritt BART station and the Kaiser Convention Center. Laney is the largest of the four colleges of the Peralta Community College District which serves northern Alameda County.Laney College originally opened in...
, College of Alameda
College of Alameda
College of Alameda is a two-year community college located in Alameda, California.The college is part of the Peralta Community College District and was opened in 1968. The college has been located at its campus at Atlantic Avenue and Webster Street since 1970...
, Berkeley City College
Berkeley City College
Berkeley City College , formerly Vista Community College, one of the California Community Colleges, is part of the Peralta Community College District. It is centrally located in downtown Berkeley, two blocks west of the UC Berkeley campus...
, and Merritt College
Merritt College
Merritt College is a two-year community college located in the Oakland Hills in Alameda County, California. The school's enrollment is approximately 6,000 students. The college is named after physician Dr...
), Contra Costa College
Contra Costa College
Contra Costa College, in San Pablo, California, is the west campus of the Contra Costa Community College District. It is part of the California community colleges system, one of the three college systems in California.- History :...
; Ohlone College
Ohlone College
Ohlone College is a community college located in Fremont, California. It was established in 1965. Ohlone College is a single college, multi campus district serving the areas of Fremont, Newark, and Union City with its main campus and district office in Fremont...
; and Mills College
Mills College
Mills College is an independent liberal arts women's college founded in 1852 that offers bachelor's degrees to women and graduate degrees and certificates to women and men. Located in Oakland, California, Mills was the first women's college west of the Rockies. The institution was initially founded...
.
Most routes connect with regional train service, primarily BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit
Bay Area Rapid Transit
Bay Area Rapid Transit is a rapid transit system serving the San Francisco Bay Area. The heavy-rail public transit and subway system connects San Francisco with cities in the East Bay and suburbs in northern San Mateo County. BART operates five lines on of track with 44 stations in four counties...
), in addition to ACE
Altamont Commuter Express
The Altamont Commuter Express is a regional rail service in California connecting Stockton with San Jose....
and Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
, including (among other trains) the Capitol Corridor
Capitol Corridor
The Capitol Corridor is a 168-mile passenger train route operated by Amtrak in California. Because it is fully supported by the state, the Capitol Corridor operates under Amtrak California. It runs from the San Francisco Bay Area to Sacramento, roughly parallel to Interstate 80...
. AC Transit routes also connect with several other regional transit services, including Union City Transit
Union City Transit
Union City Transit is a public transit service in Union City, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area. It began operations in 1974 with the opening of the Union City BART station.The service was formerly known as "the Flea."...
, SamTrans
SamTrans
SamTrans is a public transport agency in and around San Mateo, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area. It provides bus service throughout San Mateo County and into portions of San Francisco and Palo Alto...
, WestCAT
WestCAT
WestCAT is a public transportation service in western Contra Costa County . It is a service of the Western Contra Costa Transit Authority....
, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority is a special-purpose district responsible for public transit services, congestion management, specific highway improvement projects, and countywide transportation planning for Santa Clara County, California, United States...
(VTA), San Francisco Municipal Railway
San Francisco Municipal Railway
The San Francisco Municipal Railway is the public transit system for the city and county of San Francisco, California. In 2006, it served with an operating budget of about $700 million...
(Muni), Golden Gate Transit
Golden Gate Transit
Golden Gate Transit is a public transportation system serving the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area in California, United States. It mainly serves Marin and Sonoma Counties, and also provides limited service to San Francisco and Contra Costa County.Golden Gate Transit is one of three...
, the Alameda-Oakland Ferry, the Harbor Bay Ferry, and Emery Go Round
Emery Go Round
Emery Go-Round is a zero-fare bus service in Emeryville, California, near Oakland, California. It has three lines that run five days a week, with more limited service on weekends, and no or reduced service on holidays...
.
While most AC Transit service consists of local lines throughout the East Bay, the District also provides many transbay lines. Most of these run across the San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge to connect communities as distant as El Sobrante
El Sobrante, California
El Sobrante is a census-designated place in Contra Costa County, California, United States. The population was 12,669 at the 2010 census...
and Newark
Newark, California
Newark is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It was incorporated as a city in September 1955. Newark is an enclave, completely surrounded by the city of Fremont. Its population was 42,573 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
with San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
's Transbay Terminal
San Francisco Transbay Terminal
San Francisco Transbay Transit Terminal, or simply Transbay Terminal, was a transportation complex in San Francisco, California, USA, located roughly in the center of the rectangle bounded north–south by Mission Street and Howard Street, and east–west by Beale Street and 2nd Street...
(formerly the terminus of the Key System). Bus service is also provided across the San Mateo and Dumbarton bridges to the south.
Hubs
AC Transit's primary hubs include BARTBay Area Rapid Transit
Bay Area Rapid Transit is a rapid transit system serving the San Francisco Bay Area. The heavy-rail public transit and subway system connects San Francisco with cities in the East Bay and suburbs in northern San Mateo County. BART operates five lines on of track with 44 stations in four counties...
stations, major shopping centers, and points of interest, which are spread out throughout the East Bay. Most route serve and/or terminate at BART stations, providing convenience for transit users. The hubs include:
- Bayfair BART
- Castro Valley BARTCastro Valley (BART station)Castro Valley is a Bay Area Rapid Transit station serving Castro Valley, California.The station consists of an island platform located in the center median of Interstate 580, with the concourse mezzanine located underneath the freeway's westbound lanes...
- Contra Costa CollegeContra Costa CollegeContra Costa College, in San Pablo, California, is the west campus of the Contra Costa Community College District. It is part of the California community colleges system, one of the three college systems in California.- History :...
- Downtown Berkeley BART
- Eastmont Transit CenterEastmont Town CenterEastmont Town Center is a shopping mall and social services hub located on bounded by Foothill Boulevard, Bancroft and 73rd Avenues, and Church Street, in the Eastmont neighborhood of East Oakland. The mall opened in 1970 on the site of a 1920's-era Chevrolet truck factory. Architect William...
- El Cerrito del Norte BART
- El Cerrito Plaza BART
- Fremont BARTFremont (BART station)Fremont is a Bay Area Rapid Transit station that serves Fremont, California. The elevated island platform serves as the southernmost terminal station of BART's Fremont line, which is served by trains on the Fremont - Daly City Line, which runs daytimes Monday-Saturday, and the Richmond - Fremont...
- Fruitvale BART
- Great Mall VTA Station
- Hayward BARTHayward (BART station)The Hayward station is a Bay Area Rapid Transit station that serves the Downtown Hayward area of Hayward, California. It is directly across the street from the rear of Hayward City Hall. The station consists of two train platforms and a free five-level parking garage.-History:Service at the...
- Hillsdale Caltrain Station
- Hilltop MallHilltop MallHilltop Mall is a mall in the Hilltop neighborhood of Richmond, California. Hilltop is managed and co-owned by Simon Property Group, and is anchored by longtime tenants JC Penney, Macy's, Sears, and lastly Wal-Mart, a 2007 addition. -History:...
- MacArthur BARTMacArthur (BART station)MacArthur is a rapid transit station on three lines of the Bay Area Rapid Transit system in Oakland, California. It is the largest station in the BART system, being the only one with four platform tracks in regular use.-Location:...
- Newpark MallNewpark MallNewpark Mall is a super-regional mall in Newark, California. Opened in August 1980, it currently houses more than 140 stores. It serves the Tri-City area . In 2011, it was one of 30 mall properties spun off by General Growth Properties to its shareholders...
- Richmond BART/AmtrakRichmond Station (California)Richmond Station is an at-grade Bay Area Rapid Transit and Amtrak station located in Richmond, California. Each system is served by an island platform. The Capitol Corridor, San Joaquins, California Zephyr, and Coast Starlight stop here and connect to BART. The station is currently being rebuilt...
- Richmond Parkway Transit CenterRichmond Parkway Transit CenterThe Richmond Parkway Transit Center or RPTC is a park and ride lot and bus terminal located in Richmond, California. It is named after the adjacent Richmond Parkway. It serves as a transfer point for the WestCAT and AC Transit...
- Rockridge BART
- San Francisco Transbay TerminalSan Francisco Transbay TerminalSan Francisco Transbay Transit Terminal, or simply Transbay Terminal, was a transportation complex in San Francisco, California, USA, located roughly in the center of the rectangle bounded north–south by Mission Street and Howard Street, and east–west by Beale Street and 2nd Street...
- San Leandro BARTSan Leandro (BART station)San Leandro is a Bay Area Rapid Transit station located near the downtown area of San Leandro, California. It is the busiest station in the city and is also one of the busiest in the East Bay....
- South Hayward BARTSouth Hayward (BART station)South Hayward is a Bay Area Rapid Transit station located near Tennyson Road in the southern part of Hayward. The station consists of two side platforms. The station serves the less ritzy industrial part of hayward...
- Southland MallSouthland Mall (Hayward, California)Southland Mall is a major shopping mall in Hayward, California. The mall is primarily a single-level structure, with a small lower level beneath anchor retailer JC Penney, and free standing restaurants in the outlying parking areas. The center is located off I-880 at Winton Avenue, at the western...
- Union City BARTUnion City (BART station)Union City is a Bay Area Rapid Transit station located near the Decoto district of Union City. Service at this station began on September 11, 1972. The station sits near Decoto Road east of Alvarado-Niles Road, directly behind James Logan High School's campus...
- Uptown Transit CenterUptown Transit Center-History:The transit center was built in 2006 to provide an easy transfer location for AC Transit buses. Before it was built there were serious vehicular circulation issues. The location at Boradway and 19th Street is a downtown area subject to heavy congestion from private cars, cyclists, taxis...
(19th Street/Oakland BART19th Street/Oakland (BART station)19th Street/Oakland is an underground Bay Area Rapid Transit station located at 19th Street and Broadway in Downtown Oakland. It is an official northbound transfer station along the BART system, since September 13, 2010....
) - West Oakland BARTWest Oakland (BART station)West Oakland is a Bay Area Rapid Transit station located in the neighborhood of West Oakland in Oakland. It has two elevated side platforms, and is located near the eastern end of the Transbay Tube...
Fares and transfer policies
Fares
| Fare category | Local cash | Transbay cash | Local 31-day pass† | Transbay 31-day pass† |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | US$2.10 | US$4.20 | US$80.00 | US$151.20 |
| Youth (5-17) | US$1.05 | US$2.10 | US$20.00 | Not available |
| Senior (65+), disabled , and Medicare | US$1.05 | US$2.10 | US$20.00‡ | Not available |
Notes:
- † 31-day passes are available only with Clipper.
- ‡ This is the price per calendar month. Also available as a sticker on the Regional Transit Connection discount card.
Transfers
All transfers are issued at the time of initial fare payment, and are valid for one use within two hours.| Transfer type | Adult | Youth (5-17) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local bus to local bus | Add US$0.25 | Add US$0.25 | Add US$0.25 |
| Transbay bus to local bus, and vice versa† | Free | Free | Free |
| BART to local bus (with transfer issued inside BART station)‡ | Add US$1.85 | Add US$0.80 | Add US$0.80 |
| Golden Gate Transit (Routes 40 and 42 only) to local bus (with transfer issued aboard Golden Gate Transit)‡ | Free | Free | Free |
| Union City Transit to local bus (with transfer issued aboard Union City Transit) | Free | Free | Free |
| Amtrak (Capitol Corridor and San Joaquin trains only) to local bus (with transfer issued aboard Amtrak) | Free | Free | Free |
Notes:
- † Transfers from local buses to Transbay buses are issued only with payment of full Transbay fare on the first bus.
- ‡ Transfers from BART and Golden Gate Transit are calculated automatically when using Clipper.
Timeline
In 2003, the District introduced a San Mateo-Hayward Bridge route. Designated as Line M, the service connected the BART stations of Castro ValleyCastro Valley, California
Castro Valley is a census-designated place in Alameda County, California, United States. As of the 2000 census, it is the fifth most populous unincorporated area in California, and the twenty-third in the United States...
and Hayward
Hayward, California
Hayward is a city located in the East Bay in Alameda County, California. With a population of 144,186, Hayward is the sixth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area and the third largest in Alameda County. Hayward was ranked as the 37th most populous municipality in California. It is included in...
with Foster City
Foster City, California
Foster City is an affluent planned city located in San Mateo County, California, 94404. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 30,567. Forbes ranked Foster City #10 on their 2009 list of America's Top 25 Towns to Live Well. Money has also recognized Foster City multiple times as...
and San Mateo
San Mateo, California
San Mateo is a city in San Mateo County, California, United States, in the San Francisco Bay Area. With a population of approximately 100,000 , it is one of the larger suburbs on the San Francisco Peninsula, located between Burlingame to the north, Foster City to the east, Belmont to the south,...
's Hillsdale Caltrain
Caltrain
Caltrain is a California commuter rail line on the San Francisco Peninsula and in the Santa Clara Valley in the United States. The northern terminus of the rail line is in San Francisco, at 4th and King streets; its southern terminus is in Gilroy...
station. A second San Mateo-Hayward Bridge route, Line MA, was added in 2006 and discontinued in 2007. (The M replaced the SamTrans
SamTrans
SamTrans is a public transport agency in and around San Mateo, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area. It provides bus service throughout San Mateo County and into portions of San Francisco and Palo Alto...
90E, which had been canceled in 1999.)
In 2003, a new "rapid bus" line operating on San Pablo Avenue was introduced. Designated as Line 72R (or San Pablo Rapid), the service connected Oakland
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
with Richmond
Richmond, California
Richmond is a city in western Contra Costa County, California, United States. The city was incorporated on August 7, 1905. It is located in the East Bay, part of the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a residential inner suburb of San Francisco, as well as the site of heavy industry, which has been...
and operated at faster speeds than regular local service due to wide stop spacing and signal priority treatments.
In 2004, the District began service on Line U across the Dumbarton Bridge
Dumbarton Bridge (California)
The Dumbarton Bridge is the southernmost of the highway bridges that span the San Francisco Bay in California. Carrying over 81,000 vehicles daily, it is also the shortest bridge across San Francisco Bay at 1.63 miles...
, connecting Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
with ACE
Altamont Commuter Express
The Altamont Commuter Express is a regional rail service in California connecting Stockton with San Jose....
and BART trains in Fremont. As part of a consortium of transit agencies including AC Transit, BART, SamTrans, Union City Transit
Union City Transit
Union City Transit is a public transit service in Union City, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area. It began operations in 1974 with the opening of the Union City BART station.The service was formerly known as "the Flea."...
, and VTA
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority is a special-purpose district responsible for public transit services, congestion management, specific highway improvement projects, and countywide transportation planning for Santa Clara County, California, United States...
), the District already operated Dumbarton Express
Dumbarton Express
The Dumbarton Express is a California bus service operating between Union City BART station and Palo Alto Caltrain station via the Dumbarton Bridge. The service is operated by a group of operators including BART, VTA, Union City Transit, and AC Transit...
bus service across the Dumbarton Bridge.
Beginning 10 December 2005, AC Transit began participating in the regional All Nighter
All Nighter
The All Nighter is a night bus service network in the San Francisco Bay Area, California. Portions of the service shadow the rapid transit and commuter rail services of BART and Caltrain, which are the major rail services between San Francisco, the East Bay, the Peninsula, and San Jose...
network, providing 24-hour bus service throughout its service area to supplement BART service, which does not operate during owl hours. AC Transit had provided 24-hour service on many of its trunk lines prior to this date, except in the late 1990s due to budget limitations.
On 30 July 2007, AC Transit announced that it had entered into a 25-year partnership with SunPower
SunPower
SunPower Corporation designs and manufactures high-efficiency crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, roof tiles and solar panels based on a silicon all-back-contact solar cell invented at Stanford University. SunPower Corporation is publicly traded on the NASDAQ as SPWRA and SPWRB...
, MMA Renewable Ventures, and PG&E to install solar energy systems at its facilities in an effort to reduce its carbon footprint
Carbon footprint
A carbon footprint has historically been defined as "the total set of greenhouse gas emissions caused by an organization, event, product or person.". However, calculating a carbon footprint which conforms to this definition is often impracticable due to the large amount of data required, which is...
, improve local air quality, and save money on energy costs that could be used instead to spend on transit service.
In 2008, AC Transit sponsored the world's largest chalk drawing at the old Alameda Naval Base and provided free transportation for children to the site.
On 28 March 2010, several major service changes were implemented to reduce a severe budget shortfall. Changes included reduced service on local and Transbay lines, elimination of unproductive routes, splitting of the 51 into two sections, and the introduction of limited-stop line 58L.
Starting in February 2011, all buses on Line 376 were being escorted by a marked Contra Costa County Sheriff's patrol vehicle through the unincorporated community of North Richmond
North Richmond, California
North Richmond is a community in Contra Costa County, California, a census-designated place of 3,717 adjacent to and nearly surrounded by the city Richmond, to which it is generally socially and culturally attached...
. Line 376 provides late-night service through North Richmond and the nearby cities of Richmond, San Pablo
San Pablo, California
San Pablo is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. The city of Richmond surrounds nearly the whole city. The population was 29,139 at the 2010 census. The current Mayor is Paul V. Morris, and the current Vice Mayor is Cecilia Valdez. Current Councilmembers include Arturo M....
, and Pinole
Pinole, California
Pinole is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. The population was 18,390 at the 2010 census. It is one of many small “bedroom communities” along the I-80 corridor in Western Contra Costa County. It is located about northeast of San Francisco, and approximately a half-hour...
. The escorts were introduced to improve the safety of the service, which had five serious incidents between 5 January and 9 February.
Rapid Bus and Bus Rapid Transit
A rapid bus line was introduced on San Pablo Avenue on 23 June 2003. Designated as Line 72R (or San Pablo Rapid), it operates from 6 am to 7 pm at 12-minute intervals throughout the day. Bus stops are spaced 2/3-mile apart on average, running between Jack London SquareJack London Square
Jack London Square is a popular tourist attraction on the waterfront of Oakland, California. Named after the author Jack London and owned by the Port of Oakland, it is the home of stores, restaurants, hotels, an Amtrak station, a ferry dock, the historic Saloon, the cabin Jack London lived in the...
in Oakland and Contra Costa College
Contra Costa College
Contra Costa College, in San Pablo, California, is the west campus of the Contra Costa Community College District. It is part of the California community colleges system, one of the three college systems in California.- History :...
in Richmond, and buses receive signal priority at several intersections. The line does not have scheduled timepoints en route, and instead buses travel along the route as fast as traffic allows.
A second rapid bus line was introduced on 24 June 2007. Line 1R (or International Rapid) operates on Telegraph Avenue
Telegraph Avenue
Telegraph Avenue is a street that begins, at its southernmost point, in the midst of the historic downtown district of Oakland, California, USA, and ends, at its northernmost point, at the southern edge of the University of California campus in Berkeley, California...
and International Blvd.
California State Route 185
State Route 185 is a state highway in the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California. It runs along sections of Mission Boulevard in Hayward, East 14th Street in San Leandro and International Boulevard in Oakland.-Route description:...
between Berkeley, Oakland, and San Leandro on weekdays. Weekend and holiday service operates between Oakland and San Leandro only.
The Line 1R corridor has been identified for replacement by a bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
line.
Bus fleet
Articulated bus
An articulated bus is an articulated vehicle used in public transportation. It is usually a single-deck design, and comprises two rigid sections linked by a pivoting joint...
in the mid-1960s, operating the experimental GM XMC 77 bus primarily on Transbay service.
AC Transit continued to purchase GM New Look buses through the early 1970s and also began purchasing buses from Flxible
Flxible
The Flxible Co. was a motorcycle sidecar, funeral car, ambulance, intercity coach and transit bus manufacturing company based in the United States that was founded in 1913, and which closed in 1996.-History:In 1913, Hugo H. Young and Carl F...
too. No more GM buses were purchased by the late 1970s, instead procuring buses from Flyer
New Flyer Industries
New Flyer Industries Inc. is a bus manufacturer in North America, headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It also has factories in Crookston and St. Cloud, Minnesota, USA.-History:...
and Gillig through the 1980s. AC Transit also purchased buses from NABI
North American Bus Industries
North American Bus Industries, commonly known as NABI, is a major transit bus manufacturing company based in Anniston, Alabama. NABI was founded in 1992 when the Hungarian firm Ikarus Bus, a key bus supplier to Central, Eastern Europe, spun off a majority share of their American operations to...
in the 1990s.
In 2003, AC Transit began purchasing low-floor buses from Van Hool
Van Hool
Van Hool NV is a Belgian coachbuilder and manufacturer of buses, coaches, trolleybuses, and trailers.The company was founded in 1947 by Bernard van Hool in Koningshooikt, nearby Lier, Belgium. In the early years, the company introduced serial production and exported their products all over Europe...
. More recently, it also purchased new, custom-designed 30-foot buses from Van Hool.
Starting in 2003, AC Transit added satellite tracking units on all vehicles. The GPS tracking
GPS tracking
A GPS tracking unit is a device that uses the Global Positioning System to determine the precise location of a vehicle, person, or other asset to which it is attached and to record the position of the asset at regular intervals...
units fix the position of the vehicle, and a private radio network sends updates to headquarters every 3 to 16 minutes. Vehicle locations on selected lines can be viewed from AC Transit's NextBus
NextBus
NextBus is a vehicle tracking system which uses global positioning satellite information to predict when the next bus will arrive at any given bus stop, thereby eliminating wait times and any need for schedules for all transit riders...
passenger information system.
AC Transit has developed the most comprehensive fuel cell bus program in the United States. Three hydrogen-powered buses, based on the Van Hool A330, operated in revenue service from 2006 to 2010. AC Transit began taking delivery of 12 new, third-generation fuel cell buses based on the Van Hool A300L in 2011.
AC Transit buses are wheelchair accessible and have front-mounted bicycle racks. Buses in active service:
| Length (feet) | Year | Make and model | Floor type | Fuel propulsion | Quantity | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 2005 | Van Hool Van Hool Van Hool NV is a Belgian coachbuilder and manufacturer of buses, coaches, trolleybuses, and trailers.The company was founded in 1947 by Bernard van Hool in Koningshooikt, nearby Lier, Belgium. In the early years, the company introduced serial production and exported their products all over Europe... A300K |
Low | Diesel-electric hybrid Diesel-electric Diesel-electric transmission or diesel-electric powertrain is used by a number of vehicle and ship types for providing locomotion.A diesel-electric transmission system includes a diesel engine connected to an electrical generator, creating electricity that powers electric traction motors... |
101 |  |
| 40 | 1998 | NABI North American Bus Industries North American Bus Industries, commonly known as NABI, is a major transit bus manufacturing company based in Anniston, Alabama. NABI was founded in 1992 when the Hungarian firm Ikarus Bus, a key bus supplier to Central, Eastern Europe, spun off a majority share of their American operations to... 416 |
High | Diesel | 67 | NA |
| 2000 | NABI 40-LFW | Low | 44 | |||
| 2003 | Van Hool A330 | 134 | ||||
| 2003 | Van Hool A330 | Hydrogen Hydrogen Hydrogen is the chemical element with atomic number 1. It is represented by the symbol H. With an average atomic weight of , hydrogen is the lightest and most abundant chemical element, constituting roughly 75% of the Universe's chemical elemental mass. Stars in the main sequence are mainly... |
3 | |||
| 2005 | Van Hool A300L | Diesel | 98 | |||
| 45 | 2000 | MCI Motor Coach Industries Motor Coach Industries International Inc. is an American bus manufacturer based in Schaumburg, Illinois, and is a leading participant in the North American coach bus industry. It has various operating subsidiaries:... D4500 |
High | Diesel | 79 | NA |
| 60 (articulated Articulated bus An articulated bus is an articulated vehicle used in public transportation. It is usually a single-deck design, and comprises two rigid sections linked by a pivoting joint... ) |
1996 | New Flyer New Flyer Industries New Flyer Industries Inc. is a bus manufacturer in North America, headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It also has factories in Crookston and St. Cloud, Minnesota, USA.-History:... D60HF |
High | Diesel | 30 | NA |
| 2003 | Van Hool AG300 | Low | 74 |  |
||
Note: NA = Not available.
Most AC Transit vehicles are not air-conditioned. However, in 2007 the District's board of directors voted to purchase new buses equipped with air conditioning.
Funding
AC Transit is funded with a mix of federal, state, and local government subsidies.In March 2004, voters throughout the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
approved Regional Measure 2, which funds regional transportation capital and operating programs through a US$1.00 surcharge on State-owned bridges operated by the BATA
Bay Area Toll Authority
The Bay Area Toll Authority was created by the California State Legislature in 1997 to administer the base $1 auto toll on the San Francisco Bay Area's seven state-owned toll bridges. On January 1, 1998, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission — the transportation planning, financing and...
. (The Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the opening of the San Francisco Bay into the Pacific Ocean. As part of both U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1, the structure links the city of San Francisco, on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula, to...
is owned and operated by the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District
Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District
The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District is a quasi-governmental corporation that owns and operates three regional transportation assets in the San Francisco Bay Area:* Golden Gate Bridge* Golden Gate Transit* Golden Gate Ferry...
.)
In November 2004, voters approved Measure BB, which increased the parcel tax by US$48 annually for 10 years beginning 1 July 2005, to help fund AC Transit services.
In April 2005, a federal class-action lawsuit was filed against the Metropolitan Transportation Commission alleging that it discriminates against AC Transit's primarily minority
Minority group
A minority is a sociological group within a demographic. The demographic could be based on many factors from ethnicity, gender, wealth, power, etc. The term extends to numerous situations, and civilizations within history, despite the misnomer of minorities associated with a numerical statistic...
riders by giving AC Transit disproportionately less money than BART
Bay Area Rapid Transit
Bay Area Rapid Transit is a rapid transit system serving the San Francisco Bay Area. The heavy-rail public transit and subway system connects San Francisco with cities in the East Bay and suburbs in northern San Mateo County. BART operates five lines on of track with 44 stations in four counties...
and Caltrain
Caltrain
Caltrain is a California commuter rail line on the San Francisco Peninsula and in the Santa Clara Valley in the United States. The northern terminus of the rail line is in San Francisco, at 4th and King streets; its southern terminus is in Gilroy...
. AC Transit is not party to the lawsuit, and the court sided with MTC in 2009.
In November 2008, voters approved Measure VV, which increased the parcel tax by US$48 annually for 10 years beginning 1 July 2009, to help fund AC Transit services. Measure VV also extended the US$48 parcel tax approved under Measure BB so a total US$96 annual tax is effective through 30 June 2019.
Internet access
AC Transit and its partner EcoNetwork offer RideAC.org, which offers Internet accessInternet access
Many technologies and service plans for Internet access allow customers to connect to the Internet.Consumer use first became popular through dial-up connections in the 20th century....
via dial-up access
Dial-up access
Dial-up Internet access is a form of Internet access that uses the facilities of the public switched telephone network to establish a dialled connection to an Internet service provider via telephone lines...
and digital subscriber line
Digital Subscriber Line
Digital subscriber line is a family of technologies that provides digital data transmission over the wires of a local telephone network. DSL originally stood for digital subscriber loop. In telecommunications marketing, the term DSL is widely understood to mean Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line ,...
. AC Transit also offers wireless internet on some buses that serve Transbay lines.
External links
- NextBus arrivals
- AC Transit info at transit.511.org: Local, Transbay
- AC Transit web page about Van Hool buses
- List of AC Transit routes and descriptions