Board Considers Weekend Service Cuts As Agency Nears 50 Years Of Service

Press Releases
09/21/2010

With AC Transit on the verge of celebrating its 50th anniversary in October, the revered and indispensable bus system could be facing one of the most drastic cutbacks in its history-the reduction of almost half its weekend service by the end of the year.

The District’s Board of Directors will consider a handful of cost-saving plans at its regularly scheduled meeting this Wednesday-including one that cuts all but mainline bus routes on weekends, and another that consolidates ParaTransit services.

The reduction of weekend and late night service service will save the District approximately $ 11.1 million annually. Consolidation of Paratransit services– which will have no impact on those who use it — could save the District as much as $ 760,000 annually. However, the weekend service cuts would eliminate approximately 90 union jobs, and up to another 65 positions could be transferred to other providers with the Paratransit consolidation.

“The declining economy coupled with funding losses from the state and federal governments and the refusal of our bus drivers’ union leadership to compromise in contract negotiations has placed the District in a very difficult financial situation,” said Interim General Manager Mary King. “The District’s 50th anniversary this October will be no celebration. Given our current circumstances, we have to take painful measures to make sure we are still around for the next fifty years.”

Consolidating Paratransit means AC Transit will no longer operate the service, opting instead to shift the duty to three vendors who currently supplement the District’s paratransit service. The swap simply saves the District money without any reduction in service to paratransit clients.

In March, the District cut 7.8 percent of its bus service, and additional 7.2 percent of service cuts are scheduled to occur in October.

In July, the agency instituted a new contract with Amalgamated Transit Union workers to save $1.2 million a month and stave off more cuts. But the union sought a court order that overturned the contract and, subsequently, quashed the savings.

50th Anniversary of the AC Transit Bus System
Voters created the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) in 1956 and subsequently approved a $16,500,000 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. The new District built up the bus fleet with 250 new “transit liner” buses, extended service into new neighborhoods, created an intercity express bus network, and increased Bay Bridge bus service.

October 2010 marks the 50th anniversary of AC Transit bus service. In the half century that AC Transit has been in operation, the District has expanded its service area considerably, broadened the types of services it offers , become a leader in the use of alternative fuels, and routinely recognized as one of the best public transit agencies in the world.
As at its inception, AC Transit is continually looking forward for better ways to move people.

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