Better Bus Stops
This information is intended to offer guidance on bus stop amenities and transit-supportive design in AC Transit’s service area.
Click on the links below to learn more:
Maintenance
Trash and vandalism happen in the East Bay and pose challenges for transit customers and transit operations. AC Transit, municipalities, transit partners, and business/property owners all have a role to play in keeping our public spaces clean.
AC Transit contractors remove trash, pressure wash, clean graffiti, and perform repairs to the following bus stop furniture: shelters, benches in shelters, map casings, trash cans attached to shelters.
To report a persistent problem, call Customer Relations at 510-891-4777 (Hours: Monday-Friday 6 am – 7 pm, Saturday-Sunday 9 am – 5 pm) or complete an online comment form.
Bus Shelters in the following jurisdictions are NOT maintained by AC Transit contractors: Alameda, Emeryville, Oakland, Piedmont, Union City. Please contact your local jurisdiction for maintenance services.
Shelter and Bench Guidelines
AC Transit serves more than 5,400 bus stops. Its goal is to improve the transit rider’s experience by proactively identifying bus stops where shelters and benches would make the most positive impact. With many stops and limited resources, AC Transit must prioritize where to improve bus stops. These placement guidelines, which set priorities for shelters and benches, are developed based on the Bus Stop Furniture Guidelines.
Adding a Shelter:
AC Transit recommends adding shelters at bus stops as funding and maintenance resources allow based on the following criteria:
- Locations with high ridership and high wait times.
- Neighborhoods with higher populations of people of color and low-income individuals.
- Social Service Locations within a quarter mile of a bus stop. These include locations that serve people with disabilities, housing for older adults, hospitals, healthcare clinics, or social service providers.
These factors were combined and scored using the Bus Stop Furniture Placement Methodology to produce a list of priority locations.
Adding a Bench:
Some locations that may meet the criteria for a shelter may not have space to fit a shelter. Design, accessibility, and construction costs need to be considered when determining a shelter’s installation feasibility. AC Transit recommends adding a bench at bus stops, as funding and maintenance resources allow, at locations where there is not enough space to place a bus shelter. Most local jurisdictions have their own bench program, in which case AC Transit will work with them to request a stand-alone bench at these locations.
Removing a Shelter:
AC Transit recommends removing and/or relocating a shelter as funding and maintenance resources allow based on the following criteria:
- Locations with low ridership and low wait times.
- Changes in roadways or property boundaries that make it so the site cannot fit a shelter
- There are site problems, such as inadequate clearance around the shelter for pedestrians or traffic safety issues.
- A bus stop is permanently removed. Some exceptions, such as pre-pandemic service reductions, may apply.
Sometimes, a shelter may be temporarily removed if:
- It is in a construction zone, such as a streetscape project or development of a property. Local jurisdictions or developers must pay for temporary removals and reinstallations. For more information, see the “Roles and Responsibilities” section of this document.
Removing a Bench:
AC Transit recommends removing and/or relocating a bench if:
- A bus stop is removed or relocated. Some exceptions, such as pre-pandemic service reductions, may apply.
- Changes in roadways or property boundaries that make it so the site cannot fit a bench.
- There are site problems, such as inadequate clearance around the bench for pedestrians or traffic safety issues.
Sometimes, a bench may be temporarily removed if:
- It is in a construction zone, such as a streetscape project or development of a property. Local jurisdictions or developers should coordinate with AC Transit staff on this and recognize there is a cost for temporary removals and reinstallations.