transit | 511 Contra Costa - Part 6

Tag: transit

Would you take a date on transit?

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First dates are hard. Even third and fourth dates can get the stomach butterflies churning. You want to make your best impression, and you’re looking for warning signs in your date. Where does transportation fit into this?

Would you suggest riding the bus to dinner on a first date?

What would you think of someone that suggested meeting at BART for a movie?

Do you think the choice to take transit makes you look practical, environmentally conscious, or otherwise like a good potential partner?

Do you think you’ve ever been shot down for not rolling up in your own ride?

Share your stories in the comments!

A halfway summary of Streetfilms Moving Beyond the Automobile (MBA) video series

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From Streetfilms.org comes Moving Beyond the Automobile,

. . . a visual handbook that will help guide policy makers, advocacy organizations, teachers, students, and others into a world that values pedestrian plazas over parking lots and train tracks over highways. Cars were then, and this is now. Welcome to the future.

Every Tuesday, Streetfilms releases a new chapter. As we’re just past the halfway point the series, we’re posting all videos released to date. The trailer for the series is above; the full list of published and unpublished videos is below.
Continue reading “A halfway summary of Streetfilms Moving Beyond the Automobile (MBA) video series”

Capital Corridor smashes January ridership record

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Amtrak’s Capitol Corridor (connecting Sacramento, Davis, Richmond, Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland, and San Jose among others) set a new ridership record in January. Over 130,800 passengers boarded the Capitol Corridor route last month, which is 13,000 more riders than January 2010. The 11% increase made January 2011 the best performance of any January in the history of the service.
Expect a new record next January – the Capitol Corridor will have WiFi on every train by the end of 2011.
The Capital Corridor carried 1.62 million riders in the last 12 months – a 4% increase over the previous year. Why are so many people ditching their cars for Amtrak?
The route’s 96% on-time arrival performance might have something to do with it (especially compared to I-80’s on-time rush hour performance). Or is it the frequency of trains? The comfort of the ride?
The answer might be as simple as savings. Amtrak offers multiple ride and unlimited monthly passes. When you consider the cost of gas and the wear and tear on a car, driving get expensive. The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) released a Transit Savings Report in 2008 estimating that transit riders save an average of $9,656 a year. San Francisco residents save even more – $12,738 a year. That doesn’t include the cost of caffeine to stay alert on the freeway or the lost productivity wasted in traffic.
Calculate your own commute to see how much you could save if you used transit more often.
Ready to start a more relaxed commute? Explore 511 Contra Costa’s resources for making the switch to public transit.
Can’t avoid driving? We understand – not everyone commutes along a transit route. Consider looking into carpools or vanpools. Start your own vanpool and we’ll give you $1,000 cash! Guaranteed rides home will make sure you never get stranded at work.
Looking for an even greener way to get around? Use 511CC to plan a scenic bike ride, find a bike buddy, or make biking part of your everyday transportation. Get rolling!

BART to replace all train cars by 2023

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SAN FRANCISCO – BART’s 39-year-old cars are scheduled for an upgrade. Design is underway now, and the transit agency wants your help.
The original cars weren’t intended to last forever, and new cars are an opportunity to advance with the times. BART expects its ridership to increase to 500,000 people per day (up from 335,000 today), and is preparing for its biggest capital investment since opening in 1972. Designing, building, and installing 700 new train cars is expected to cost $3.4 billion.
BART is reaching out to the public to answer the tough questions on the new system, such as:

  • Should the seats be smaller? The current 22-inch wide seats are large relative to other systems such as the D.C. Metro (18 inches) or the Los Angeles Metro (17).
  • Should the cars have more space for bikes, and if so, how? Currently, 4% of BART riders arrive at the station by bike, and bicycle ridership is expected to continue increasing throughout the Bay Area.
  • Should BART keep fabric-covered seats and carpet, or move to other materials that are easier to clean?
  • Should each car have more doors?
  • What type of passenger information should display inside each car?
  • How can BART reconfigure seats to provide more seating?
  • Should the cars have power outlets?

Some of these questions are based more on comfort than science, so BART recently unveiled a new “seating lab” with train seats in all different shapes, sizes, spacing, and materials. BART staff began exploring the examples in late January, and the exhibit will open to the public soon.
BART is looking for your feedback on the new car design, and asks anyone that is interested to sign up for news alerts on the new car project. A design will be chosen some time this year, and the first new cars will start showing up in the BART system in 2018.
For more information: BART’s New Car Project
Previously on 511CC: Fleet of the Future

Transit/vanpool tax benefit extended through 2011

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Along with the holidays comes some good news for commuters who take transit and carpool or vanpool.
As we tweeted a couple of weeks ago, the mass transit tax for commuters was about to expire this year. In 2009, a part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) increased the tax benefit from $120 per month to $230 per month–achieving parity with parking benefits–but it was set to expire on December 31, 2010.
However, last week President Barack Obama signed a bill including a provision that extends the $230/mo. benefit at least through the end of 2011.
What does this mean for you? Under the tax break, mass transit riders can save up to $1,000 a year by setting aside $230 a month to cover transit costs. The money is not taxed, and is equal to the pre-tax amount that drivers can set aside for parking.
Continue reading “Transit/vanpool tax benefit extended through 2011”

Two Big BART Projects Break Ground

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(Oakland Airport Connector groundbreaking left, East Contra Costa Bart Extension right)
The past two weeks have marked not one, but two monumentous groundbreakings for BART and Contra Costa County commuters.  The Oakland Airport Connector (OAC) was inaugurated last week and today BART broke ground on the East Contra Costa Bart Extension (eBART) which will extend BART access to eastern Contra Costa County.
Both of the controversial extensions were able to overcome opposition and will in turn stimulate the local economy.  Estimates vary, but the two projects are expected to create anywhere from several hundred to several thousand new jobs over the course of the next five years.
The OAC, a $484 million, 3.2 mile automated people mover will connect the Oakland Coliseum BART Station to the Oakland international Airport. On November 1st, BART will give contractors official notice to proceed, at which point they will have 30 days to deliver their plans for moving forward with construction. Utility relocation will begin shortly thereafter, with construction set to begin in early 2011.
The $462 million, ten mile eBART extension will extend the Pitsburg /Bay Point terminus to a new station on Hillcrest Ave. in Antioch.  The extension will accompany Caltrans’ expantion of Highway 4 from four to six and eight lanes.  The new BART line will be constructed in the median of the new Highway 4 construction and is expected to carry the equivilant of one additional lane worth of commuters.

“For those who sit in traffic every day in this corridor, it’s clear that we need major improvements to address the growth in East Contra Costa County,” said Bijan Sartipi, Caltrans’ Region 4 Director
Due to financial constraints, the extension will use Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) technology but BART and local officials haven’t ruled out the possibility of converting to the traditional system should funds become available in the future.
Construction is expected to start late this year or in early 2011 and BART hopes to have both extensions operational by 2015
For more information, please visit www.bart.gov
Photo credits: Sf.Streetsblog.org

Tri Delta Transit adds real-time arrival information

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Tri Delta Transit, East Contra Costa County’s public transit authority, is in the process of adding GPS-based vehicle locator system for its 69 buses. The system is expected to go live in the next three months after it has been thoroughly tested.
According to Steve Ponte, the Chief Operating Officer for Tri Delta Transit, the top phone inquiry from riders is “When is the next bus going to be here?” With the new system, riders will be able to access real-time arrival information via text message, calling an automated phone line, or online with a laptop or cell phone. At the line’s most popular stops, information for the next bus will be displayed on LED signs.
New features important for disabled riders include verbal announcements and textual displays of the next stop inside of buses.
Tri Delta Transit will join BART, AC Transit and a number of other transit agencies in having real-time information available to riders.
Source: When will next bus arrive? Tri-Delta Transit system will tell you – Contra Costa Times

This Week’s Headlines in Transportation & Transit: Mar. 6-12, 2010

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Local News

Bay Area and California News

Did you know we’re on Twitter? To receive these headlines, information for local transit agencies, 511CC promotions, and more, follow @511CC.

Car-free hiking & camping adventures in the Bay Area

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With the rain almost on its way out and with little but gorgeous days ahead, we thought we would point out one resource for helping you take advantage of the more than 1 million acres of publicly accessible open space in the Bay Area this weekend. The best part? You don’t even have to drive. By visiting the Transit & Trails website, you can plan to use public transit to travel to your next adventure, be it camping, hiking or cycling.

[Photo by richardmasoner]

The map, shown above, was last updated in April of 2009 and features a list of transit-accessible hikes, details about which spaces are open to the public or have limited access, and routes for a number of different modes of transit, including but not limited to: BART, Caltrain, VTA, SamTrans, Tri Delta Transit, WestCAT, Wheels, and the County Connection. The map is free, and can be downloaded from the Bay Area Open Council website.

This Week’s Headlines in Transportation & Transit: Feb. 20-26, 2010

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For the most up to date transportation and transit news (as well as information about our promotions, contests, and giveaways), follow 511CC on Twitter.
Local News

Bay Area and California News

This Week’s Headlines in Transportation & Transit: Feb. 13-19, 2010

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Follow 511CC on Twitter for the latest updates in Contra Costa County and Bay Area transportation and transit news. If you’ve been snoozing, here’s what you missed out on in the last week:
Local News

Bay Area and State News

This Week’s Headlines: Feb. 6-12, 2010

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Follow 511CC on Twitter for these headlines every week. For those of you not yet on the bandwagon, here’s what we Tweeted or blogged about in the last week:

This Week’s Headlines: Jan. 30-Feb. 5, 2010

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Happy Friday! If you haven’t been following 511CC on Twitter, here’s a summary of this week’s transit news affecting Contra Costa County and the Bay Area:

This Week's Headlines: Jan. 23-29, 2010

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If you haven’t been following 511CC on Twitter, here’s what’s happening in Contra Costa County and Bay Area transit news that we tweeted or blogged about in the past week:

Bay Area public transit options for New Year's Eve 2009

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Don’t drive irresponsibly or get stuck being DD – put on your party hat and shades and ride home on public transit! Also, be glad you live in the Bay Area, where public transit options are rockin’.
Here’s what you need to know for each one:
BART

  • Service runs til 3 am
  • After 8 pm:
    • Pittsburg/Bay Point and Richmond trains will not stop at Embarcardero. Exit at Montgomery Station instead. After midnight, also board at Montgomery Station to get back on the Pittsburg/Bay Point or Richmond trains.
    • Dublin/Pleasanton and Fremont trains will not stop at Montgomery Street Station. Exit at Embarcadero. Likewise, board at Embarcadero to get back on a Pittsburg/Bay Point or Richmond-bound train.
  • More information about BART services on NYE

AC Transit

  • On December 31st, 2009, consider taking the Eastbound Line 800, which runs overnight.
  • On January 1st, 2010, AC Transit buses will operate on Sunday schedules.
  • For more information, visit AC Transit’s Website.

Muni

  • Free for travelers between 8 pm – 6 am between Dec. 31, New Year’s Eve and Jan. 1, New Year’s Day.
  • More information on the SF Muni NYE Page.

Caltrain

  • Free service after 11 pm.
  • Details for New Year’s Eve service on Caltrain.

Care for some more?

Just kidding, we know you wanted more transit info!
Well, here’s your cap. Scroll down to see the full list of Bay Area transit agency services on New Year’s Eve, including SamTrans and Golden Gate Transit.

2009 Holiday Hours and Services for Transit Agencies serving Contra Costa County

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Need to get from Point A to Point B on public transit this holiday season? 511 Contra Costa has compiled a list of transit agencies serving the Contra Costa area and their holiday services for Dec. 24th, Dec. 25th, Dec. 31st and Jan. 1st. If a transit agency is not listed on a certain date, it is running on its normal schedule.

Thursday, December 24, 2009 – Christmas Eve:

  • Tri Delta Transit: Routes 392, 393 and 394 will operate on a Sunday schedule.
  • WestCAT routes: Exp J, 30Z, JPX & JX, and LYNX will run their regular service. The DAR and Local routes will run the regular service with 7 PM close. Route C3 will not have service.
  • Wheels: most routes will run their regular service.

Friday, December 25, 2009 – Christmas Day:

  • BART will run on its Sunday schedule.
  • WestCAT route Express J will run on its Sunday schedule.
  • AC Transit will run on a weekend schedule.
  • Tri Delta Transit: Routes 392, 393 and 394 will operate on a Sunday schedule.
  • Golden Gate Transit Bus will have Holiday Service and Golden Gate Larkspur & Sausalito Ferry will have no service.
  • The County Connection buses will not be in operation.
  • Capitol Corridor will run on a weekend schedule.
  • Fairfield and Suisun Transit (FAST) Routes: no service.
  • Vallejo Transit: no service.
  • Wheels: Route 10 – Special Service, Route 15 – Sunday Service

Thursday, December 31, 2009 – New Year’s Eve:

  • BART will extend its service until 3 am.
  • WestCAT routes: Exp J, 30Z, JPX & JX, and LYNX will run their regular service. The DAR and Local routes will run the regular service with 7 PM close. Route C3 will not have service.
  • Tri Delta Transit: Routes 392, 393 and 394 will operate on a Sunday schedule.
  • Wheels: most routes will run their regular service.

Friday, January 1, 2009 – New Year’s Day:

  • BART will run on its Sunday schedule.
  • WestCAT route Express J will run on its Sunday schedule.
  • AC Transit will run on a weekend schedule.
  • Tri Delta Transit: Routes 392, 393 and 394 will operate on a Sunday schedule.
  • Golden Gate Transit Bus will have Holiday Service and Golden Gate Larkspur & Sausalito Ferry will have no service.
  • The County Connection buses will not be in operation.
  • Capitol Corridor will run on a weekend schedule.
  • Fairfield and Suisun Transit (FAST) Routes: no service.
  • Vallejo Transit: no service.
  • Wheels: Routes 1, 10, 15 – Sunday Service Only.

For more information, please refer to each transit agency’s individual website:
BART – Holiday Schedule
BART – New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day Information
WestCAT – Holiday Rider Information
AC Transit – Home
Tri Delta Transit – Holiday Service
Golden Gate Transit & Golden Gate Ferry Christmas & New Year’s Service Schedules
The County Connection – Home
Capitol Corridor – Home
Fairfield and Suisun Transit (FAST) Routes
Vallejo Transit Routes
WHEELS – Holiday Service

Real Time BART arrival info now on 511cc maps

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We’ve added a new map that shows estimate positions of BART trains based on real time arrival data.Where Is BART.
Train positions are estimated based on the data that BART provides. Our map is great for visualizing the system and checking when the next trains are estimated to arrive. BART also provides arrival predictions on their website, if you choose a station you get a page full of useful info about that station, for example see the page for Pleasant Hill.
» Where is BART? real time location prediction map

New Unofficial Transit Map of All Rail in the Bay Area

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bay_rail_7201San Francisco Cityscape has just released its third version of a Bay Area rail map that includes all lines:
“The last version was more detailed; like the new BART map, it listed destinations that couldn’t be fit on the map. But we’d like to think that this version combines the simplicity of the BART map with a relatively accurate rendering of geography, and it includes some detail that the BART map doesn’t, like major Muni stops.”
Read more at the San Francisco Cityscape website and check out the map  here.

BART Off-peak Service Reductions Begin Monday

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bart_logo_300From the BART Website:

“Starting Monday, September 14, BART will reduce service during off-peak hours (weekday evenings, weekends and holidays) by running fewer trains and single-route service South of Daly City.

Weekdays after 7:00 pm, weekends and holidays

  • 20-minute service (instead of 15-minute)
  • Single route service south of Daly City:
    • Pittsburg/Bay Point (Yellow) line extended to Millbrae from SFO
    • Dublin/Pleasanton (Blue) line stops at Daly City instead of Millbrae
  • Direct service between Millbrae and SFO
  • Timed transfers at 12th Street and MacArthur station
  • More even spacing of trains throughout the system
  • No change to Richmond (Red) or Fremont (Green, Orange) lines”

For more information on the BART service reductions check out the BART Website.

Start Your 2 in September

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511_dy2_logo
Huh?  Do Your 2?  What does this mean?  511 Contra Costa wants you to try green commuting by sharing your ride to work or school just two times per week.  Hence, do your 2.
We’ve  added a little extra whip or foam to  the carpool and transit incentive–if you know the special promo code.  Receive a $5 Peet’s Coffee & Tea gift card with your incentive by adding the promo code at the bottom of your online application.  Current promotions can be found is here. Even if you are not eligible to receive the carpool or transit incentive, you may still receive a Peet’s Coffee & Tea gift card –if you submit the online application and the know the promo code.  Hurry and apply as this special offer ends September 30, 2009.
Read the details of special offers on the promotions page.

ATU Approves Tentative Four Year Contract

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30844137_4253ef4f71Last night members of the Amalgamated Transit Union approved the tentative four year labor agreement between BART and the ATU.  The last minute agreement which helped narrowly avoid a BART strike last week now just needs to be ratified by the BART board.
If you live or work in Contra Costa County you can help us celebrate the avoided BART strike by letting us buy you a $40 BART card.
For more information on the the ATU vote check out the BART news page and the Contra Costa Times.
Photo Credit: Thomas Hawk via Flickr

Is a Plane More Fuel Efficient Than a Prius?

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trans0209gettingaroundrevGOOD Magazine recently did a pretty cool piece examining the fuel usage per person for various modes of transportation from bicycles to cruise ships.  It is definitely worth a look.

“What’s the most efficient way to get around? Planes might burn a lot of fuel, but they also are filled with people, making each gallon go a lot farther. How does that stack up against trains, buses, cars, or the gasoline equivalent of eating a burger and hopping on your bike? The answer may surprise you.”

You can read more on good.is.

Don't Get Struck by the Strike: Check Out Your Many BART Alternatives

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Carpool
Carpool…Casually by pulling up to a curb and picking someone up at a casual carpool location. Unless otherwise arranged all carpools from the East Bay drop passengers at Fremont and Howard streets–or nearby–in downtown San Francisco.  Check out our extensive list of casual carpool locations.
Vanpool
Find a vanpool to join at www.511.org. Once you do, sign up for the 511 Contra Costa vanpool incentive providing 50% off for three consecutive months.
Take the Bus
Since you will probably only be able to drive as fast as the local bus, give it a try. County Connection, Tri Delta Transit, or WestCAT.
Take the Ferry
May want to take a reverse commute to access the Vallejo Ferry with service to San Francisco.
Telework
Work from home perhaps just one day a week. Write your reports, read your mail or reports – doesn’t have to required heavy computer connections.
Flex Your Schedule
Come in early or late – avoid the peak commute hours. Work 4 10-hour days and avoid commuting altogether one day a week.
Take the BART Express Bus From Walnut Creek Bart to Downtown San Francisco
Details are being worked out. Visit www.bart.gov for more updated info.
Muni has added Casual Carpooling departure points between 3 and 7 p.m. M-F in downtown SF.
Take the Lynx Express Bus From Hercules to Downtown San Francisco
WestCAT is providing service from the Hercules Transit Center.
Bike
Now is a fine time to ride your bike if you work and live in Contra Costa. Need help planning your route? Give us a call at 925-969-1083.
Need fuel for your ride?  Have some coffee on us!