IMPROVED BUS SERVICES SET TO ROLL OUT AUGUST 11, READY FOR FALL AND BACK-TO-SCHOOL COMMUTERS AND STUDENTS

Fall enhancements support service to schools, Transbay, and adds Bus Operators to key bus lines

OAKLAND, Calif. – The Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) is introducing a series of improvements to our bus network, which will include an increased number of trips for better commutes, improved frequency on routes, and redesigned schedules that provide Bus Operators with extended well-being breaks for greater alertness and road safety.

Each bus line improvement this fall was developed over several months in close collaboration with AC Transit's Bus Operators Union, Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 192. These improvements will be implemented on Sunday, August 11, to support students and their families for a return to the classroom and in response to the growing demand for Transbay service from workers returning to San Francisco offices.

Supplementary Service Improvements

AC Transit's Supplementary Service or bus lines to schools are crucial for students across the East Bay as several of our 600-series and other lines are timed to many school districts' bell times to ensure students arrive at school safely and on time. This includes the following improvements:

• Line 33, serving Oakland High School students, will introduce additional weekday trips.
• These include a morning eastbound trip and an afternoon westbound trip from Monday to Friday.
• Wednesdays will feature an early release westbound trip to accommodate student schedules.
• Line 76 will change to enhance onboard capacity for riders commuting to Summit and Tamalpais schools.
• Specifically, Line 76's weekday 3:46 p.m. trip from Hilltop Mall to Richmond BART will be streamlined into two shorter Line 676 trips.

Transbay Service Improvements

As workers return to offices, there is a noticeable trend toward choosing AC Transit for their San Francisco-bound commutes. This shift reflects a growing preference for Transbay lines, where some routes are experiencing a crush of standing passengers.

AC Transit's fall service improvements is not only essential to reduce overcrowding but also to boost hours of service and enhance the overall rider experience. As a result, the fall service change includes added trips for Transbay lines G, P, V, and W.

• Line P will offer westbound trips departing at 6:20 a.m. and 6:50 a.m. for San Francisco’s Salesforce Transit Center.
• Line V will have westbound departures at 7:20 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.
• Line W will feature a westbound trip departing at 6:25 a.m.
• A new eastbound trip for Line G at 6:40 p.m. is also being introduced.
• These additional Transbay trips will be managed within current resources and will not require deploying extra bus operators.

Additional Bus Operator Improvements

Several bus lines will undergo minor schedule changes, including lines 7, 12, 20, 21, 29, 39, 51B, 56, 57, 70, 71, 72R, 73, 74, 76, 95, 96, 97, 200, 217, 232, 376, F, G, LA, and L.

On select routes identified by the Bus Operators' union as having various operational issues, this fall's service improvements will include increasing the number of assigned Bus Operators to enhance service reliability, specifically on-time performance.

• Tempo Line 1T is increasing operator layover time to improve weekday restroom access.
• Line 18 will increase to 16-minute frequency and will now layover at Monroe and 10th Streets throughout the day, adapting to new student housing and streetscape reconfigurations.
• Line 51A is adding additional resources aimed at enhancing running times and ensuring better compliance with layover schedules, specifically for the evening peak commute hour.
• Line 72/72M will have improved schedules between 3:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Weekend service will also experience schedule adjustments.
• Line 93 is enhancing reliability throughout the day, which improves service beyond pre-pandemic levels.

Bus Operator Well-being Improvements

The fall service improvements are equally focusing on enhancing Bus Operator rest breaks and incorporating layovers. Ensuring operators have sufficient breaks enables them to recharge, maintain focus, and adhere to regulatory safety standards. Identified in collaboration with ATU 192, the coming improvements provide breaks on several bus lines exceeding 25 minutes, a notable increase from the 15-minute minimum meal-break requirement stipulated in the Bus Operator's Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Expanded layover locations across AC Transit's network represent another collaborative implementation with ATU 192 to enhance service operations. Downtown Berkeley layover improvements were a significant focus during this service change for the operator's union due to limited curb space and restroom access, coupled with the high number of bus lines serving the city.

• To enhance reliability on Line 6, additional time and resources will be allocated in the afternoon.
• The downtown Berkeley terminal has been relocated closer to Oxford and Center Streets, offering improved restroom facilities for Bus Operators in the downtown area.
• Access to restroom facilities is also necessary at the waterfront. Consequently, Line 51B has been moved to just outside the Berkeley Marina Sportsman Center, which will also significantly improve real-time predictions to better reflect actual road conditions for the route.

ATU 192 and AC Transit work together to revise our bus network schedules four times a year. This includes the fall 2024 service improvements detailed in this announcement. These regular adjustments are distinct from the AC Transit Realign initiative, which is still being developed and is expected to be implemented in 2025. For more information on Realign, visit www.actransit.org/realign.