June 29 Bus Schedule Changes

News Articles
06/27/2003

Changes in AC Transit bus service in northern Alameda and western Contra Costa counties beginning Sunday, June 29, will restructure routes and schedules where patronage is light. This will better meet transit demand in heavily-traveled corridors.

Two new bus lines will augment the route network between west Contra Costa and Oakland, while service reduction or elimination of other local lines – including segments of Lines 6, 8, 9, 62, 64, 67 and 325 – will help AC Transit achieve $4 million in much-needed cost savings in the new fiscal year.

Improvements include new Line 72R – for ‘Rapid’- weekday service, replacing current Line 72L-Limited on San Pablo Avenue. A new Line 19 will link North Berkeley with Alameda, serving Sixth, Hollis and Peralta Streets in West Berkeley, Emeryville, and West Oakland. In Alameda, Line 19 replaces Line 12 with all (instead of peak-hour only) service. Also, new Line 21 replaces the discontinued portion of Line 67 between Moeser Lane in El Cerrito and BART/North Berkeley.

AC Transit is rolling out ‘Rapid’ bus service on San Pablo Avenue in stages this summer, beginning with new schedules that start Monday, June 30. Patterned on streetcar systems, Rapid will provide faster weekday service between Contra Costa College and downtown Oakland, with frequent trips and fewer stops. As new Rapid is introduced on Monday, local Line 72 service will continue seven days a week, as will Line 72M (the new name for Line 73 service) and overnight owl service on San Pablo Avenue.

Once fully in place, Rapid bus will rely on new technology, such as traffic signal automation, high-tech rider info systems, and automated schedule monitoring to insure frequent, reliable service. Eye-catching new multiple-door, low-floor coaches will help to speed up passenger boarding and alighting, and reduce the dwell-time Rapid buses spend in loading zones

Other substantive service changes and reductions will affect Lines 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 42, 49, 50, 51, 52/52L, 53, 58, 59/59A, 65, 76, 82/82L, 88, 91, 315 and 354, and Transbay Line A and F.  Go here for more schedule information.