AC Transit is set to launch its new service plan, known as AC Transit Realign, on Sunday, August 10, after two years of public engagement and negotiations with drivers.
The comprehensive changes will affect bus routes across the East Bay, modifying frequencies, introducing new lines, and eliminating others in an effort to create a more balanced service.
In total, the agency has redesigned or introduced 104 lines, aiming to align its operations with the new travel patterns post-pandemic, as ridership remains at 85% of pre-COVID levels.
AC Transit faces significant financial challenges, including a projected $41.5 million shortfall for the 2025-26 fiscal year, exacerbated by declining sales tax revenues and lower overall ridership.
The rollout of the Realign plan has experienced several delays over concerns about the disruptive impact of changes to popular lines, the adequacy of rider notifications, and drivers’ working conditions.
Despite these delays, the agency’s board eventually approved the plan, which aims to increase ridership without the necessity of hiring additional bus drivers, a daunting task given the agency’s struggles to expand its workforce.
Public testimony from drivers indicates that current schedules have contributed to fatigue and burnout, with some drivers unable to take sufficient breaks during their shifts.
One driver described a situation in which colleagues had to resort to extreme measures like wearing diapers to manage back-to-back shifts without adequate restroom breaks.
Jack Watkins, a driver for the NL Line, expressed his frustration, noting that scheduled breaks remain painfully short during peak hours.
Laurel Paget-Seekins, an advocate representing the driver’s union, acknowledged that while drivers hope for a smooth transition, they remain concerned about the adequacy of the new schedules and the lack of equity analysis.
Paget-Seekins emphasizes the importance of addressing fairness in service levels for underserved communities that have historically experienced reduced weekend service.
Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, AC Transit is mandated to assess its services for equity.
The agency’s 2023 report revealed statistically significant discrepancies in weekend headways for routes serving different demographic groups, prompting questions regarding the effectiveness of the new service plan.
R. Paul Marcelin, a rider from Alameda, highlighted the elimination of the 376 Line, which was tailored for UPS drivers working late shifts.
He critiqued the agency for not adequately adapting transit service to meet current socio-economic needs.
Carter Lavin, cofounder of the Transbay Coalition, raised additional concerns about the agency’s equity analysis and the overdue opportunity to rectify existing scheduling issues.
As the implementation date approaches, many riders might feel frustrated, as the service changes do not include any significant expansion in service offerings, which was a key preference voiced during community outreach.
In an earlier engagement, AC Transit surveyed riders regarding their desired vision for service, with the majority leaning toward more frequent and unconstrained options.
While the agency made some adjustments in response to feedback, such as retaining the previously popular 72R line until a replacement was created, the final plan has left several riders wanting more.
A summary of the changes reveals how the adjustments will impact AC Transit’s most-utilized lines.
The 1T Line, which sees an average of 14,784 daily riders, remains unchanged, disappointing those who hoped for increased service frequency.
The 51A and 51B Lines, which connect significant areas, will experience merely slight timing adjustments in the evenings.
For the popular 72 family of lines, while there are no major changes to the 72 or 72M lines, the 72R line will be replaced by the slower 72L, which will only run every 30 minutes instead of every 15 minutes.
The 40 Line will see minor schedule adjustments but will now offer earlier service to Bay Fair BART on weekends.
The 57 Line’s weekday service to the Emeryville Public Market will commence 10 minutes later at 4:41 a.m.
The 18 Line will undergo a significant reroute to include service to Montclair while improving weekday travel frequency from every 16 to every 15 minutes.
Service hours for the 14 Line will extend earlier and later into the day but will reduce weekend frequencies.
Various other lines will experience minor changes, while the 10, 20, 21, 29, 33, and 376 Lines, among others, will be discontinued entirely, with portions of their routes absorbed into new and existing lines.
New lines set to launch include Lines 9, 22, 27, 30, 31, 72L, 211, 231, and 281, which aim to enhance service coverage in the East Bay.
As the implementation date draws near, the agency emphasizes the importance of rider feedback regarding the effectiveness of these adjustments.
Line changes may yield varied responses from riders anticipating improvements or struggling with the reduced service on previous routes.
AC Transit has committed to keeping riders informed by placing notices at former stops detailing the new pick-up locations for affected lines.
As riders adapt to the upcoming changes, the agency remains hopeful that the Realign initiative will address both operational challenges and evolving community needs.
image source from：oaklandside
