511 Contra Costa

A look at the interior of AC Transit’s new Gillg buses. Click the image for additional photos of the new buses Photo credit: AC Transit
Some good news for AC Transit riders– the transit agency recently acquired 65 new buses from Hayward based Gillig! The buses started being phased in March and will be replacing some of the agency’s older buses.
What makes these buses so great? Well, a number of things, including:

Low-floor accessibility

Stroller and wheel-chair areas
Catalytic reduction and gas recirculation system that makes the engines of these new buses 90-percent cleaner than the buses being replaced
Low-maintenance seating
Digital display of next stops

See the below video for other improvements are on the way for AC Transit and to see some views of what these new buses look like

Video credit: AC Transit… Read the rest

Whether for work, vacation, picking up or dropping off a friend – a trip to the airport is nearly as common as as trip to the market. But what is the best way to get there? Undoubtedly the simplest choice for some trips to the airport may be to drive but there’s a whole menu of transport options to choose from and consider. Let’s look at other options for getting to two of the Bay Area’s major international airports– SFO and Oakland International

AirBART…. Read the rest

AC Transit, one of the Bay Area agencies that received federal funding to improve transportation. Photo credit: Paul Sullivan
In July the Bay Area received several grants from the U.S. DOT to improve transit.
AC Transit received $7.5 million to improve fare collection and BART received about $3 million to improve departure and arrival information.
Grants were also awarded to San Francisco, Santa Clara, San Mateo and Monterey counties to replace diesel buses with fuel efficient hybrid buses…. Read the rest

AC Transit is holding several Saturday youth sign-up events.  To load a discounted 31-day AC Transit Youth pass on a
Clipper card, students need a personalized Clipper youth card.  Youths, age 5-18 are eligible to sign up and must bring one of the following documents as proof of age: birth certificate or passport, medical benefit card with birth date, Sate ID or driver’s license, military dependent card with birth date, alien registration/permanent resident card, consular ID card, student ID with birth date…. Read the rest

Things are looking bright for Bay Area transit with record high ridership, but if you really want to see a glowing view of the agencies serving the Bay, look no further.  The map below was created by deviantART user DylanofTilden.

 The Bay Area, through public transit lines. Image credit: DylanofTilden
According to DylanofTilden what started as an attempt to map San Francisco through public transit ballooned into the map that you see here…. Read the rest

 
On July 4, 2012 AC Transit local and transbay lines will operate on Sunday Schedules in observance of the Fourth of July holiday.
Check AC Transit schedules… Read the rest

AC Transit is filing a seat on its Citizens Advisory Committee. Interested individuals are to contact AC Transit District Secretary Linda Nemeroff at (510) 891-7201 for an application. Applications are due by Friday, June 29th and applicants must specify how they utilize AC Transit when applying.

AC Transit’s 25 line on the move. Photo credit: Paul Sullivan
 
See AC Transit for more information about the application  and to Alameda County Transportation Commission about the Citizens Committee…. Read the rest

AC Transit’s newest hydrogen dispensing station used to fuel the fleet’s zero-emission fuel cell buses in Emeryville produces the hydrogen in part by solar-powered electrolysis!

Photo credit: victor chavez
As reported by Solar Server, the station is fitted with  a 510 kilowatt DC solar photovoltaic system that will generate energy to help fuel the transit system’s hydrogen-powered buses throughout the Bay Area.
In the article AC Transit General Manager David Armijo shares his excitement of this milestone towards a more sustainable fleet:
“For over a decade, AC Transit has been developing the most comprehensive, zero-emission, fuel cell transit program in North America, and operating zero-emission buses in real-world service…. Read the rest

Wednesday, April 25th, the AC Transit Board of Directors will hold a public hearing to consider certifying the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) and to receive input on a locally preferred alternative for the East Bay Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project.
The BRT line would connect Berkeley, Oakland and San Leandro, running along Telegraph Avenue, Broadway, International Boulevard, and East 14thStreet.
The alternatives being studied are:

A 14.4-mile BRT line connecting Berkeley, Oakland, and San Leandro…. Read the rest

West Contra Costa residents will have an opportunity to participate in two public transit meetings which will be held in Richmond this month.
AC Transit will hold a board meeting at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 14, in the Richmond City Council Chamber located in the Community Services Building, 440 Civic Center Plaza.
This meeting is the first to be held since David Armijo was hired as AC Transit’s General Manager…. Read the rest