May 10 Hearing for South County Changes
News Articles
04/10/2006
Bus riders, community representatives, and the general public are invited to participate in public hearings regarding proposed service changes in Fremont and Newark. The public hearings will be held on May 10 at 2pm and 6pm, at the Newark City Council Chambers, 37101 Newark Boulevard in Newark.
Background
In 2003, the cities of Fremont and Newark requested that AC Transit commission a comprehensive study of the bus transit needs in the community, and to recommend improvements or changes to the existing service, including the possibility of introducing “flexible service” alternatives.
Focus groups, stakeholder interviews, and rider surveys were conducted as part of the study. Municipal leaders and staff also helped evaluate the study results and formulate the final recommendations. The study concluded that a combination of three distinct service options should be implemented: mainline fixed-route services; community services routes; and flexible routes for late-night service.
Proposed Service Changes
The proposed service plan for Fremont and Newark is intended to improve bus service in areas with high ridership and to reroute or terminate lines or line segments with relatively low ridership. Highlights include introducing mid-day community service routes linking key destinations for local seniors and transit dependent riders; offering late-evening flexible-route service; modifying selected lines to serve the Indian Community Center and the Pacific Commons business area; discontinuing one line and adding two new lines; and reducing the span of service on some cross-town lines.
Following is a line-by-line description of the proposed plan. See also AC Transit Board Memo.
Line 99 (Hayward BART to Fremont BART)
- Extend service from Union City BART to Fremont BART via Mission Blvd. and Walnut Ave.
- Service may deviate via King Ave., Terrace Dr., and Gurdwara Rd. to the Sikh Temple on specific days and hours to be determined.
Line 210 (Ohlone College to South Hayward BART)
- Minor schedule changes to reduce running time.
Line 211 (Fremont BART to Union City BART)
- No proposed changes.
Line 212 (Fremont BART to Pacific Commons)
- Discontinue service to Fremont industrial area via Fremont Blvd., Lakeview Blvd., Bayside Pkwy., Landing Pkwy., and Northport Loop.
- Reroute service to Pacific Commons via Cushing Pkwy., Auto Mall Pkwy., Boscell Rd., Curie St., and Christy St.
Line 213 (Fremont BART to Lido Faire via New Park Mall)
- No proposed changes.
Line 214 (Fremont BART to Union City BART via Stevenson Blvd. and Cherry St.)
- Reduce span of service to end at 8:00 p.m. (currently 9:00 p.m.).
Line 215 (Fremont BART to Pacific Commons)
- Discontinue service to Warm Springs industrial area from Auto Mall Pkwy. and Osgood Rd. via Warm Springs Blvd., E. Warren Ave., Kato Rd., Milmont Dr., and Page Ave.
- Reroute service to Pacific Commons via Auto Mall Pkwy., Boscell Rd., Curie St., and Christy St.
Line 216 (Union City BART to New Park Mall)
- Reduce span of service to end at 8:00 p.m. (currently 9:00 p.m.)
Line 217 (Fremont BART to Milpitas Great Mall Transit Center)
- Discontinue service on Abel St. and to the Weller & Main Transit Center.
- Reroute service via Milpitas Blvd., Calaveras Blvd., Hillview Dr., Los Coches St., S. Milpitas Blvd., Calaveras Blvd., and Main St. into Great Mall/Main Transit Center (providing new direct service to the India Community Center).
Line 218 (Lido Faire to Ohlone College via Thornton Blvd. & Grimmer Blvd.)
- Reduce span of service to end at 8:00 p.m. (currently 9:00 p.m.).
Line 231 (Union City BART to Fremont BART via Blacow Rd.)
- Discontinue service.
Line 232 (Union City BART to New Park Mall via Paseo Padre Pkwy. and Cedar St. )
- Operate all trips via Commerce Dr., Paseo Padre Pkwy., Kaiser Dr., Campus Dr., and Dumbarton Circle.
- Reduce span of service to end at 8:00 p.m. (currently 9:00 p.m.).
Line 235 (Fremont BART to Pacific Commons)
- Reduce frequency to every 60 minutes.
- Extend route to Pacific Commons via Christy St., Auto Mall Pkwy., Boscell Rd., Curie St., and Christy St.
Line 332 (Fremont BART to New Park Mall)
- No proposed changes
Line 328 (Lake Elizabeth community circulator)
- New bi-directional loop service
- Service to operate every 60 minutes between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
- Service to operate from Fremont BART via Walnut Ave., Mission Blvd., Las Palmas Ave., Lemos Lane, Chiltern Dr., Driscoll Rd., Paseo Padre Pkwy., Grimmer Blvd., High St., Chapel Way, Fremont Blvd. Mission View Dr., Paseo Padre Pkwy., Walnut Ave., Fremont Blvd., Country Dr., Parkside Dr., Mowry Blvd., Civic Center Dr., and Walnut Ave. into Fremont BART.
Line 329 (Newark-Fremont community circulator)
- Increase frequency and span of service to every 60 minutes. 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
- Extend route from New Park Mall to Lido Faire via Mowry Blvd. (serving Siliman Activity Center), Cherry St., Smith St., Cedar Blvd., Central Ave., Filbert St., Sycamore St., Thornton Ave., Birch St., Civic Terrace Ave., Newark Blvd., Musick Ave., Cedar Blvd., Edgewater Dr., Lake Blvd., Cedar Blvd., Lido Blvd., Jarvis Ave., and Newark Blvd.
Line 333 (Newark flex-bus)
- New evening service between Union City BART and New Park Mall
- Service to operate every 60 minutes between 7 p.m. and 12 midnight
- Service to depart from Union City BART and New Park Mall on fixed departure schedules; passengers may ask to be dropped off at the bus stop of their choice within the City of Newark.
Getting to the Public Hearing
AC Transit Line 213 stops in front of Newark City Hall and operates every 30 minutes through the afternoon and evening until 10:00 p.m. AC Transit Line 218 stops nearby on Thornton Ave. at Newark Blvd. and operates hourly all day until 9:00 p.m. The public hearing site is wheelchair accessible.
How to Comment
Individuals, organizations, and agencies may submit comments on the proposed service changes in a number of ways:
- Speak at the public hearings
- Submit written comments at the public hearings
- Submit written comments, which must be received by 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 10:
- By mail to AC Transit Board of Directors, 1600 Franklin St., Oakland, CA 94612
- By fax to (510) 891-4874
- By email to planning@actransit.org
- Leave comments in a voicemail message by 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 10, by calling (510) 891-4854
Translation and Sign Language Services
American Sign Language, Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Farsi, Punjabi, and Hindi interpreters can be provided, if needed. Please contact the AC Transit District Secretary’s Office at (510) 891-4851 by 5:00 p.m. Friday, May 5, to make arrangements.