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AC Transit
Top left to bottom right: Local, Tempo, and Transbay buses, and Fruitvale station bus terminal
Founded1960
Headquarters1600 Franklin St,
Oakland, CA
LocaleEast Bay
Service areaWestern Alameda and Contra Costa counties
Service type
Routes130[1]
Stopsapprox. 5,500[1]
Fleet630[1]
Daily ridership163,300 (weekdays, Q1 2025)[2]
Annual ridership40,609,500 (2024)[3]

AC Transit is a public transit operator in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, California. AC Transit is the third largest bus operator in California, serving the western portions of Alameda and Contra Costa counties, with a fleet of over 600 buses operating 130 routes.[1] The agency was founded in 1960 as the successor of the bankrupt Key System.

AC Transit's primary services are its local bus routes, which serve the entire East Bay region from Richmond to Milpitas; "Transbay" regional routes, which operate between the East Bay and the San Francisco Peninsula via the Bay Bridge and the Dumbarton Bridge; and the Tempo bus rapid transit line from Oakland to San Leandro.

AC Transit has its headquarters in Oakland, with four bus operations facilities throughout the East Bay and a control center in Emeryville. The agency is officially known as the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District, a special district under California law, which is governed by a seven-member board of directors. In 2024, AC Transit had a ridership of 40,609,500, or about 163,300 per weekday as of the first quarter of 2025.

Services

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AC Transit is the third-largest bus operator in California, behind WHICH ONE and WHICH OTHER ONE?[citation needed] AC Transit's local buses serve the urbanized areas of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties in the East Bay, extending north to Richmond and south to Milpitas in Santa Clara County. Most of AC Transit's Transbay services cross the San Francisco Bay on the Bay Bridge, terminating at the Salesforce Transit Center in San Francisco.

AC Transit forms part of the regional public transit network in the San Francisco Bay Area, and accepts the regional Clipper card for fare payment. AC Transit buses serve 23 BART stations in the agency's East Bay service area, and connect to multiple local transit operators including MUNI, Golden Gate Transit, and VTA. AC Transit also connects to regional and national transportation networks, with services to Oakland International Airport and connections to Amtrak and San Francisco Bay Ferry services.

AC Transit operates 24/7 service on 7 key routes in the regional All Nighter network, with a central hub in downtown Oakland. also operates multiple lines of the BART Early Bird network, which provides supplemental early-morning commuter service along BART lines before trains begin running.

Eastmont Transit Center

Richmond Parkway Transit Center

Hilltop Mall

NewPark Mall

Routes

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AC Transit buses at Bay Fair BART Station
Main article: List of AC Transit routes

As of September 2024, AC Transit operates 130 routes, which include 60 local lines, 15 Transbay lines, 6 All Nighter routes, and 45 special school routes.

Local lines provide all-day service in the East Bay. The most frequent lines include the

Fares

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AC Transit accepts the Clipper card for fare payments.

History

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Voters created the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) in 1956 and subsequently approved a $16.5 million bond issue in 1959 enabling the District to buy out the failing privately owned Key System Transit Lines. In October 1960, AC Transit's service began.[4] The new District built up the bus fleet with 250 new buses, extended service into new neighborhoods, created an intercity express bus network, and increased Bay Bridge bus service.[5][6]

Numerous AC Transit routes were modified in 1972–73 to serve the new BART system. AC Transit began operating express service connecting BART terminals with outer suburban points under contract to BART on December 2, 1974. With BART operating, suburban municipalities began contracting with AC Transit to operate local bus service. Service began in Fremont on November 12, 1974; in Newark on December 16, 1974; in Concord on September 8, 1975; in Pleasant Hill on December 8, 1975; in Moraga and Orinda on September 13, 1976; and in Antioch and Pittsburg (as Tri Delta Transit under contract to the Eastern Contra Costa Transit Authority) on June 5, 1977.[7] The lines in central Contra Costa County (County Connection) were transferred to the new Central Contra Costa Transit Authority in June 1982.[8] Tri-Delta Transit switched to a different operator in 1984.[9]

In 2003, the District introduced a San Mateo-Hayward Bridge route. Designated as Line M, the service connected the BART stations of Castro Valley and Hayward with Foster City and San Mateo's Hillsdale Caltrain station.[10] A second San Mateo-Hayward Bridge route, Line MA, was added in 2006 and discontinued in 2007. 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.[11]

On June 30, 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.[citation needed]

Beginning December 10, 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.[citation needed]

On December 13, 2013, AC Transit adopted a new fare policy that brought changes to the transit system July 2014, including a new day pass that is in line with other transit agencies including VTA and SamTrans.[12] The policy is also designed to speed boarding and help keep buses on schedule, provide greater convenience and value for customers, and encourage more customers to switch to Clipper[13]

Rapid Bus and Bus Rapid Transit

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See also: Tempo (bus rapid transit)
Tempo bus in Fruitvale, 2021

A rapid bus line was introduced on San Pablo Avenue on June 30, 2003. Designated as Line 72R (or San Pablo Rapid), it operates from 6 am to 7 pm at 12-minute intervals on weekdays, and 7 am to 7 pm at 15-minute intervals on weekends and holidays. Bus stops are spaced 2/3-mile apart on average, running between Jack London Square (via 20th Street and Broadway) in Oakland and Contra Costa College in San Pablo, and buses receive signal priority at several intersections. Although the line does have scheduled timepoints en route, most buses typically travel along the route as fast (or as slow) as traffic allows.

On June 24, 2007, the success of line 72R made it a model for another rapid bus line that was introduced.[14][15] Line 1R (or International Rapid) operated on weekdays between Berkeley Way and Oxford Street in Berkeley and Bay Fair BART station in San Leandro, mainly along Telegraph Avenue, International Boulevard, and East 14th Street. Weekend and holiday service operated between Downtown Oakland and San Leandro only.

Line 1R was discontinued on June 26, 2016. On August 9, 2020, the 1R was largely replaced by Tempo, AC Transit's new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route. Tempo operates between the Uptown Transit Center and the San Leandro BART station via International Boulevard and East 14th Street. It features 46 brand new platform stations (curbside and center-median) with dedicated bus lanes along the majority of the route.[16] The Telegraph Avenue alignment of the 1R between the Uptown Transit Center and U.C. Berkeley is currently being served by local route 6.

Bus fleet

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Main article: AC Transit fleet
Mixed "old-look" and New Look buses from GM at the Seminary Division bus wash

At its inception, AC Transit purchased the mixed White, Mack, and GM "old-look" bus fleet from its predecessor, the Key System. The ex-Key System buses were repainted in "clownface" livery, featuring a predominantly white (upper half) and orange (lower front) color scheme with teal side stripes, and AC Transit adopted a "wing" logo featuring the same colors. After its inception, the first new AC Transit orders were for GM New Look buses, which the agency advertised as "Transit Liners". AC Transit began New Look operation in late 1960.[17] AC Transit would continue to operate a mixed fleet of buses throughout the 1960s.[citation needed]

GM New Look and AM General/M.A.N. SG-220 buses, ca. 1980s

AC Transit also pioneered the use of articulated buses in the United States; in March 1966 it was the first transit agency to use the Super Golden Eagle long-distance coach (originally designed and built for Continental Trailways; AC Transit designated it XMC-77 and called it the "Freeway Train"), primarily on Transbay service.[18] By 1970, AC Transit was one of six agencies to participate in a "super bus project" coordinated by the National Transportation Center (Pittsburgh) to write a specification for a higher-capacity bus; once the specification had been written, two prototypes would be built and tested to select a winner for a large group procurement of 100 buses to keep per-unit costs low.[19] Two European-built articulated buses were tested in the summer of 1974: a Volvo B58, and a MAN SG 192 [de].[20][21] Riders received the M.A.N. bus favorably, and the specification was released for bid in 1975;[22] AC Transit placed an order for 30 buses in 1976 and deliveries began from the AM General/M.A.N. joint venture in 1978.[23]

For its rigid buses, AC Transit continued purchasing GM New Look buses through the early 1970s, then switched to purchasing Flxible New Look buses starting in 1974. Since the early 1980s, AC Transit began acquiring buses from Flyer, Neoplan, and Gillig. Around this time, AC Transit began ordering new buses in a "stripe" color scheme, featuring the same orange, teal, and white colors as the previous "clownface" livery. In the late 1990s, AC Transit added buses from NABI.[24] AC Transit supplemented these buses with a fleet of 45-foot over-the-road coaches purchased from Motor Coach Industries beginning in the early 2000s.

Van Hool AG300

In 2003, AC Transit began purchasing low-floor buses from Van Hool. The Van Hool buses were assembled in Belgium and featured low floors and three doors (four doors on articulated models), which AC Transit touted as the key to bus rapid transit service between Berkeley and San Leandro along Shattuck, Telegraph, International Blvd, and East 14th Street.[25] At the same time, AC Transit rolled out a revised "ribbon" livery featuring new colors (green and black), and a new logo.[26] The logo was simplified in 2014.[27]

After criticism over the use of federal funds to purchase foreign-made Van Hool buses and the tailoring of specification requirements to exclude domestic manufacturers,[28] AC Transit ordered locally-built Gillig buses in 2012.[29] In March 2013, AC Transit began operating the first of its new Gillig buses.[30] In August of the same year, AC Transit placed the first of its new New Flyer Xcelsior articulated buses into service.[31] Later that year, in November 2013, new Gillig buses with a suburban seating configuration and Transbay branding were introduced into service.[32]

All AC Transit buses are wheelchair accessible and have front-mounted bicycle racks. The MCI buses also feature luggage bay bicycle racks. AC Transit buses purchased after 2007 have air conditioning, as approved by the board of directors.[33]

Alternative power

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AC Transit GM New Look bus #666, converted to steam power in the early 1970s

In 1969, AC Transit received a grant and converted bus #666 to steam power, which ran in revenue service between 1971 and 1972. The propulsion system was designed by William Brobeck and used a triple-expansion reciprocating steam engine; power was improved compared to the original six-cylinder Detroit Diesel 6V71 engine and emissions were reduced, but fuel consumption was higher than the conventional diesel bus.[34] The steam system is a closed loop. Exhaust steam is condensed and returned to the steam generator, which is an externally-fired boiler that uses 1,400 feet (430 m) of coiled steel tubing.[35] Prior to entering service, the steam bus was exhibited in Washington DC[36] and to the public.[37] Bus #666 completed 3,403 miles (5,477 km) in revenue service when the trial ended in September 1972,[38] and the diesel engine was subsequently reinstalled in the bus.[39]

AC Transit bus #9076, a New Flyer XHE40 powered by a hydrogen fuel cell

AC Transit is the lead agency of Zero Emission Bay Area (ZEBA), a consortium of five Bay Area transit agencies (AC Transit, Golden Gate Transit, SFMTA, SamTrans, and VTA) demonstrating fuel cell buses.[40] The District began the HyRoad program in 1999 and tested several fuel cell buses with new hydrogen fuelling infrastructure, including the Ballard/XCELLSiS ZEbus (a New Flyer F40LF with a Ballard fuel cell) in November 1999.[41] Three hydrogen-powered buses, based on the Van Hool A330, operated in revenue service from 2006 to 2010. AC Transit took delivery of 12 additional third-generation fuel cell buses, based on the Van Hool A300L in 2011. In 2019, AC Transit began operating 11 additional hydrogen fuel cell buses from New Flyer, one of which is a 60-foot articulated bus, and 5 battery electric buses from New Flyer.[42]

Governance

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AC Transit is governed by a seven-member board of directors. The AC Transit service area is divided into seven wards, each of which elects a board member to a four-year term. As a special district, AC Transit is legally independent of its two namesake county governments. The board of directors hires a professional general manager to operate the agency.

From WHEN? to 2023, the AC Transit service area was divided into five wards, each of which elected a board member; the remaining two members were elected at-large. Planning began in 2023 to reapportion the AC Transit service area into seven wards, eliminating the at-large seats. The change will be fully implemented in 2026.[43][44][45]

Funding

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AC Transit is funded with a mix of federal, state, and local government subsidies, as well as passenger fares.

In March 2004, voters throughout the San Francisco Bay Area approved Regional Measure 2, which funds regional transportation capital and operating programs through a $1.00 surcharge on the 7 State-owned bridges operated by the Bay Area Toll Authority. In 2023, AC Transit received approximately $11 million in RM2 funds.[46]

In November 2004, voters approved Measure BB, which increased the parcel tax from $24 to $48 annually for 10 years beginning 1 July 2005, to help fund AC Transit services.[47]

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.[48]

In November 2008, voters approved Measure VV, which increased the parcel tax by $48 annually for 10 years beginning 1 July 2009, to help fund AC Transit services. Measure VV also extended the $48 parcel tax approved under Measure BB, so a total $96 annual tax is effective through 30 June 2019.[49]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Ridership, Buses, and Service". AC Transit. Retrieved 2025-02-24.
  2. ^ "Transit Ridership Report First Quarter 2025" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. May 15, 2025. Retrieved 2025-05-18.
  3. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2024" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. February 19, 2025. Retrieved 2025-02-25.
  4. ^ "Two-County Transit Hands Over $7.5 Million for Key". Newspapers.com. Martinez News-Gazette. September 30, 1960. p. 1–2. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  5. ^ History of AC Transit
  6. ^ "Chapter 1: Agency History". Draft Short Range Transit Plan (PDF). Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District. 2003.
  7. ^ History of Lines by Line: Major Changes Since 1960 (PDF). Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District). July 17, 1978.
  8. ^ Lattin, Don (January 17, 1982). "AC Transit losing part of its empire to secessionists". The San Francisco Examiner. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Short Range Transit Plan 2020 – 2029" (PDF). Eastern Contra Costa Transit Authority. August 26, 2020. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-04-21.
  10. ^ "Line M a Success" (Press release). AC Transit. December 21, 2004. Archived from the original on 2005-02-05.
  11. ^ "Cruise from Fremont to Stanford on Line U" (Press release). Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District. September 23, 2004. Archived from the original on 2005-02-13.
  12. ^ Board Adopts New & Improved Fare Policy. AC Transit. 13 December 2013. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  13. ^ "New Day Pass & Other Fare Policy Changes Coming in July". AC Transit. May 1, 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-06-04.
  14. ^ "Marketing & Community Relations Priorities Through December 2006" (PDF). AC Transit. April 19, 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-08-11.
  15. ^ "Change Happens: June 24," AC Transit Marketing, 15 May 2007 Archived November 1, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ "AC TRANSIT TEMPO OPENS TO RIDERS SUNDAY, AUGUST 9 | AC Transit". www.actransit.org. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  17. ^ "First of Luxury 'Transit Liners' Enter Transbay Service on Christmas Day" (PDF). Transit-Times. Vol. 3, no. 8–E. AC Transit. December 1960. Retrieved 2019-01-08.
  18. ^ "A New concept in Public Transit" (PDF). Transit-Times. Vol. 8, no. 11. AC Transit. March 1966.
  19. ^ "Super bus project: Design sought for future coach" (PDF). Transit-Times. Vol. 13, no. 1. AC Transit. July 1970. Retrieved 2019-01-08.
  20. ^ "New services require maximum effort: Activity level reaches high peak in June" (PDF). Transit-Times. Vol. 16, no. 12. AC Transit. June 1974. Retrieved 2019-01-16.
  21. ^ "Riders may have chance To test two new articulated buses" (PDF). Transit-Times. Vol. 17, no. 1. AC Transit. July 1974. Retrieved 2019-01-08.
  22. ^ "'Superbus' preliminary specifications Out to manufacturers for review" (PDF). Transit-Times. Vol. 17, no. 8. AC Transit. February 1975. Retrieved 2019-01-08.
  23. ^ "Articulated coaches will ease Space crunch on heavily-used lines" (PDF). Transit-Times. Vol. 20, no. 12. AC Transit. June 1978. Retrieved 2019-01-08.
  24. ^ "AC Transit GM Memo 06-864 Revised" (PDF). AC Transit. April 19, 2006. Retrieved 2019-01-08.
  25. ^ Gammon, Robert (January 23, 2008). "The Buses From Hell". East Bay Express. Retrieved 2019-01-16.
  26. ^ "Corporate Style Guide" (PDF). Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District. August 2003. Retrieved 2019-01-16.
  27. ^ "Interim Branding Guidelines" (PDF). Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District. June 2014. Retrieved 2019-01-16.
  28. ^ Gammon, Robert (January 23, 2008). "Belgium or Bust". East Bay Express. Archived from the original on 2013-04-06. Retrieved 2019-01-16.
  29. ^ Gammon, Robert (March 30, 2012). "AC Transit Made Right Choice to Finally Buy Local". East Bay Express. Retrieved 2019-01-16.
  30. ^ "New Gillig Buses Now on the Road". AC Transit. March 28, 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-04-03.
  31. ^ "The New Flyers Are Here!". AC Transit. August 12, 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-08-16.
  32. ^ "New Commuter Buses Launch November 8". AC Transit. November 7, 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-11-10.
  33. ^ "Consider approving the installation of air conditioning on buses" (PDF). AC Transit. September 19, 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-19.
  34. ^ "Government grant gives financial Support to bus test of steam power" (PDF). Transit-Times. Vol. 11, no. 8. AC Transit. February 1969.
  35. ^ "Introducing the modern steam bus" (PDF). AC Transit. 1971. Retrieved 2019-01-07.
  36. ^ "Steam Bus unveiled in Washington, D.C. Senators Cranston, Tunney among riders" (PDF). Transit-Times. Vol. 14, no. 5. November 1971. Retrieved 2019-01-10.
  37. ^ "Steam Bus unveiled to public" (PDF). Transit-Times. Vol. 14, no. 7. January 1972. Retrieved 2019-01-10.
  38. ^ "Steam bus project completed successfully After operation in revenue service" (PDF). Transit-Times. Vol. 14, no. 7. October 1972. Retrieved 2019-01-10.
  39. ^ "Steam bus reconverted As experiment ends" (PDF). Transit-Times. Vol. 14, no. 7. February 1973. Retrieved 2019-01-10.
  40. ^ "The HyRoad". AC Transit. Retrieved 2019-01-10.
  41. ^ "2". Short Range Transit Plan, FY2001-FY2010 (PDF) (Report). AC Transit. Retrieved 2019-01-10.
  42. ^ "AC Transit Board Bus Fleet Update". AC Transit. February 13, 2019.
  43. ^ Markovich, Ally (December 16, 2023). "Big changes coming to elections for AC Transit Board". Berkeleyside. Retrieved 2025-02-24.
  44. ^ Markovich, Ally (July 27, 2023). "AC Transit Board will switch to all district elections". Berkeleyside. Retrieved 2025-02-24.
  45. ^ "Seven-Ward Redistricting". AC Transit. Retrieved 2025-02-24.
  46. ^ "Resolution No. 4572: Allocation of Regional Measure 2 funds for transit operations and planning for FY 2023-24" (PDF). Metropolitan Transit Commission. June 28, 2023.
  47. ^ Smartvoter.org
  48. ^ Goebel, Bryan (April 2, 2009). "Despite Setback, Advocates Claim Partial Win in MTC Discrimination Suit". Streetsblog San Francisco. Retrieved 2025-02-24.
  49. ^ Smartvoter.org
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