Hearing in Fremont on April 29
News Articles
04/08/2004
The AC Transit Board of Directors will hold a public hearing on proposed service changes in southern Alameda County.
Thursday, April 29, 2004, 6pm
California School for the Blind
500 Walnut Avenue
Fremont
Your comments are invited before or at the public hearing. See below for details on the proposed changes and how to make your comments.
Background
In July 2003, a public hearing was held on proposed service changes in Fremont, Newark, and Union City that would reduce AC Transit’s annual operating costs in southern Alameda County by $5 million. In September, the board approved the changes. In December, changes were implemented totaling $4 million in annual savings. The remaining $1 million in changes* was deferred until June 2004.
Earlier this year, AC Transit worked with staff from the affected cities, revising the changes in order to achieve the remaining $1 million in savings but better meet the needs of the communities. The revised service change proposal is the subject of the April 29 public hearing.
Following the hearing, the AC Transit board and staff will review all comments received before and at the hearing. The board may make its final determination on changes that evening or at its meeting on May 5 at the AC Transit General Offices, 1600 Franklin Street, Oakland. Changes would then go into effect this summer.
*Changes originally approved, but not implemented, were frequency reductions on lines 214 and 232 from every 30 minutes to every 60 minutes.
Proposed Service Changes
Line 213
- Shorten route to operate between Lido Faire Shopping Center and Fremont BART only. Replace service between Fremont BART and Union City BART via Niles Road with new Line 216.
- Reduce weekday service frequency between NewPark Mall and Fremont BART from every 15 minutes to every 30 minutes. Maintain weekend 30-minute frequency.
- Maintain current hours of service weekdays from 5:45 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and weekends from 7:00 a.m. to 7:45 p.m.
Line 232
- Shorten route to operate between Union City BART and NewPark Mall only. Replace service between NewPark Mall and Fremont BART via Central Avenue with new Line 216.
- Operate weekdays only. (See new Line 332 for weekend service.)
- Maintain current 30-minute frequency and hours of service from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Line 216
- Operate a new weekday-only line from NewPark Mall to Union City BART via Fremont BART.
- Route service along Cedar Blvd., Central Avenue, Dusterberry Way, Peralta Road, Mowry Avenue, and Civic Center Drive into Fremont BART, returning via Civic Center Drive to Mowry Avenue, Mission Blvd., and Niles Road into Union City BART.
- Set service frequency at every 60 minutes from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Line 332
- Operate a new weekend-only line from NewPark Mall to Fremont BART via Union City BART, combining the route of the shortened Line 232 and the Niles Road portion of new Line 216.
- Set service frequency at every 60 minutes from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
View a map of the proposed changes. You may also call (510) 891-4854 and leave your name and mailing address to have a map sent to you.
How to Comment
Individuals, organizations, and agencies may submit comments on the proposed service changes in a number of ways:
- Speak at the public hearing.
- Submit written comments at the public hearing.
- Submit written comments, which must be received by 12:00 noon, April 29:
- by mail to AC Transit Board of Directors, 1600 Franklin Street, Oakland, CA 94612.
- by fax to (510) 891-4874.
- by email to planning@actransit.org.
Leave your comments in a voicemail message by 12:00 noon, April 29, by calling (510) 891-4854.
Getting to the Public Hearing
The public hearing will take place in the theater at the California School for the Blind in Fremont, located at 500 Walnut Avenue, between Mission Blvd. and Galudet Drive. AC Transit Line 217 stops at the theater and operates every 30 minutes until approximately 10:00 p.m. Line 215 stops one-quarter mile away at the corner of Walnut Avenue and Galudet Drive, and operates every 60 minutes until 8:15 p.m. northbound and 7:00 p.m. southbound. Parking is also available adjacent to the theater.
A free AC Transit shuttle will run between Fremont BART and the public hearing site every 15 minutes between 5:00 p.m. and the conclusion of the hearing. (Please load at the Line 217 stop at the BART station.)
The public hearing site is wheelchair accessible.
Translation Services
An ASL sign language interpreter will be present at the hearing. Spanish, Cantonese, and Mandarin interpreters can be provided, if needed. Please contact the AC Transit District Secretary’s Office at (510) 891-4851 by 5:00pm, Monday, April 26, to make arrangements.