AC TRANSIT BOARD CONSIDERS POTENTIAL SERVICE REDUCTIONS AMID FUNDING CRISIS

Without long-term funding, service could be cut by up to 16% and as many as 300 layoffs

OAKLAND, Calif. – Bus service operated by the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) is a lifeline for East Bay communities, connecting riders to jobs, schools, healthcare, and everyday destinations that shape lives.

More than 3 million riders depend on AC Transit every month. However, the cost of keeping that service on the road has skyrocketed. Funding for service has not kept pace, leaving AC Transit with a projected $200 million deficit over the next four years.

In March, the Board of Directors authorized the development of a plan that would address potential service and staffing adjustments. As a result, the Board will meet on Wednesday, June 10 at 5:00 p.m. to receive community input on that proposed Contingency Service Plan.

A recent “bridge” loan by the State of California will  stabilize service, but only through the coming fiscal year. The long-term fiscal crisis remains imminent and threatens our bus network. Without a sustainable funding source, AC Transit faces unavoidable service reductions of up to 16 percent and potential layoffs of 300 employees.

A proposed November 2026 ballot measure could deliver the long-term funding needed to protect service and prevent this worst-case scenario from becoming reality.

Should that measure fail to provided needed revenue, the Contingency Plan would preserve access for the greatest number of riders. The proposal seeks to keep most bus lines in service, recognizing that route eliminations can significantly affect access to essential services. Under this plan, financial savings are achieved primarily through reduced service frequency and shorter operating hours rather than widespread bus line eliminations.

Have questions about AC Transit’s Contingency Plan? Join us at an Open House on Wednesday, June 10, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at AC General Offices, 1600 Franklin Street in Oakland, to ask questions, learn more, and share your feedback.