AC Transit Realign
The comment period for the Board of Directors Workshop ended on June 5. We are currently reviewing all public feedback and making several refinements to produce an updated plan, which will be released in August.
Explore the Draft Plan proposals for your area here.
Realign Draft Plan
After a year of gathering feedback from riders and the community, AC Transit has formulated the Realign Draft Plan, outlining the vision for an all-new network. The Plan is now available and we encourage you to share your feedback by June 5.
Unconstrained Vision Scenario
With direction from the AC Transit Board of Directors, an unconstrained vision as presented during Phase 3 will be moved forward on a longer timeframe than the immediate service changes. This extended time will allow for staff and community focus on the near-term Realign Plan as well as provide additional time to refine an unconstrained vision plan for Board and community consideration after an updated Service Standard Policy is approved. These recommendations will follow a separate process in early 2025.
Service Standards
In summer of 2024, the Realign project team will update AC Transit’s service standards. This effort will take all public input received over the course of the project and combine it with the latest planning practices to draft a blueprint for how the agency will plan service and measure its performance now and into the future.
Meetings & Events
AC Transit Realign Workshop (Virtual)
Date: May 23, 2024
Time: 6 pm
AC Transit Board Special Board Meeting – Realign Workshop (Hybrid)
Date: June 5, 2024
Time: 5 pm
In-person: AC Transit General Office, 1600 Franklin Street, 2nd Floor Board Room, Oakland, CA 94612
Past Events
Event Date | Time | Activity | Location |
4/9/2024 | 1 pm | AC Transit General Manager's Accessibility Committee | Hybrid: In person - 1750 Broadway, Community Room, Oakland, CA 94612 | Zoom link: https://actransit.zoom.us/j/93413761483 Phone: 877 369 0926 Webinar ID: 934 1376 1483 |
4/18/2024 | 9 am | AC Transit Alameda ILC | Hyrbid: In person - City Hall, 2263 Santa Clara Avenue, Room 360, Alameda, CA 94501 | Zoom link https://actransit.zoom.us/j/91750176813 Phone 877 369 0926 Webinar ID: 917 5017 6813 |
4/24/2024 | 4-7 pm | Fremont Unified School District's Inaugural Career Day | Centerville Middle School - Gym, 37720 Fremont Blvd., Fremont 94536 |
4/25/2024 | 9 am | AC Transit Richmond ILC | Hyrbid: In person - Richmond Council Chamber 440 Civic Center Plaza, First Floor Richmond CA 94804 | Zoom link https://actransit.zoom.us/j/82519827976 Phone: 877 369 0926 Webinar ID: 825 1982 7976 |
4/27/2024 | 11:30 am - 2:30 pm | Alameda Bike Festival | Love Elementary School, 2025 Santa Clara Ave., Alameda, CA |
5/5/2024 | 10 am - 5 pm | Richmond Cinco de Mayo | 23rd Street between Rheem Ave. and Clinton Ave., Richmond, CA |
5/6/2024 | 7 pm | San Leandro City Council | City Hall Council Chambers, 835 East 14th Street San Leandro, CA 94577 |
5/6/2024 | 6 pm | Piedmont City Council | City Hall Council Chamber, 120 Vista Avenue, Piedmont, CA 94611 |
5/6/2024 | 7 pm | Albany City Council | Albany City Hall Council Chambers, 1000 San Pablo Avenue, Albany, CA |
5/7/2024 | 9:30 am | Ashland Cherryland Food & Basic Needs | Via Zoom w/approx. 35 CBO/Agency/HOA representatives |
5/7/2024 | 7 pm | Alameda City Council | City Hall Council Chambers, 3rd Flr., 2263 Santa Clara Avenue, Alameda |
5/7/2024 | 3:30 pm | Oakland City Council | City Hall Council Chambers, 3rd Flr., One Frank Ogawa Plaza, Oakland |
5/7/2024 | 7 pm | Hayward City Council | City Hall Council Chambers, 2nd Flr., 777 B Street, Hayward |
5/7/2024 | 6 pm | El Cerrito City Council | El Cerrito City Hall, 10890 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito, CA |
5/7/2024 | 5 pm | North Richmond MAC | Corrine Sain Senior & Family Community Center, 515 Silver Ave., Richmond, CA |
5/8/2024 | 7 pm | El Sobrante MAC | Hybrid: In person - El Sobrante Library, 4300 Garden Rd. El Sobrante | Zoom: https://cccounty-us.zoom.us/j/82363394353 |
5/8/2024 | 9 am | AC Transit BART ILC | Hybrid: In person - East Bay Paratransit Office, Community Room, 1750 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612 | Zoom link https://actransit.zoom.us/j/98019885781 Tel: 877 369 0926 Webinar ID: 980 1988 5781 |
5/9/2024 | 6-8 pm | Cherryland Community Association | Cherryland Community Center, 278 Hampton Rd, Hayward, CA 94541 |
5/9/2024 | 7 pm | Newark City Council | Smith City Hall, 37101 Newark Boulevard, 1st Floor |
5/11/2024 | 9 am - 2 pm | Ohlone College Flea Market | 43600 Mission Blvd Parking Lot E, Fremont, CA 94539 |
5/13/2024 | 10 am - 12 pm | Mayor of Oakland's Commission on Persons with Disabilities | Hayward Office, 439 A St, Hayward, CA 94541 |
5/14/2024 | 6 pm | Eden Area MAC | San Lorenzo Library: 395 Paseo Grande, San Lorenzo, CA |
5/14/2024 | 6:30 pm | City of Alameda Board of Education | Council Chambers at City Hall, 2263 Santa Clara Avenue, 3rd Floor, Alameda, CA |
5/14/2024 | 6 pm | Berkeley City Council | 1231 Addison St., Berkeley, CA 94702 |
5/14/2024 | 1-2:30 pm | AC Transit General Manager's Accessibility Committee | Hybrid: In person - 1750 Broadway, Community Room, Oakland, CA 94612 | Zoom link https://actransit.zoom.us/j/93413761483 Phone: 877 369 0926 Webinar ID: 934 1376 1483 |
5/15/2024 | 4:15-5:15 pm | Trybe | San Antonio Park, 1701 E 19th St, Oakland, CA 94606 |
5/16/2024 | 7-9 am | Bike East Bay: Bike to Wherever Day - Fremont (Warm Springs) | Warm Springs BART Station, 45193 Warm Springs Blvd, Fremont |
5/16/2024 | 7-9 am | Bike East Bay: Bike to Wherever Day - Hayward | Hayward BART Station, 699 B St, Hayward |
5/16/2024 | 4-8 pm | Bike East Bay: Bike to Wherever Day - Old Oakland | Old Oakland, Washington Street at 10th Street |
5/16/2024 | 7-9 am | Bike East Bay: Bike to Wherever Day - El Cerrito Plaza BART | El Cerrito Plaza BART Station along the Ohlone Greenway by the bike lockers |
5/16/2024 | 7:30-11 am | Bike East Bay: Bike to Wherever Day - UC Berkeley | Sproul Plaza - Intersection of Bancroft & Telegraph |
5/18/2024 | 9 am - 1 pm | Castro Valley Farmer's Market | Corner of Redwood Rd. and Norbridge Ave. (Castro Valley BART Station Parking Lot. (Handicap Accessible) |
5/18/2024 | 9 am | AC Transit Operator Hiring Event | AC Transit Training & Education Center, 20234 Mack Street, Hayward, CA 94545 |
5/18/2024 | 9 am - 2 pm | Lived Experience Advisory Group (LEAG) Meeting | Hybrid Zoom/AC Transit G.O., 1600 Franklin Street, 10th Floor, Oakland, CA 94612 |
5/19/2024 | 10:45-11:30 am | Glad Tidings Community Church | 970 Glad Tidings Way at Tyrrell Avenue, Hayward, CA |
5/19/2024 | 1 pm | Black Cultural Zone | Liberation Park, 7101 Foothill Blvd. (corner of 73rd & Foothill Blvd.), Oakland, CA |
5/20/2024 | 10 am | United Seniors of Oakland Alameda County (USOAC) | Palo Vista Gardens Community, 1100 64th Ave., Oakland, CA 94621 |
5/20/2024 | 11 am - 1 pm | Bus Stop: Richmond BART Transit Center | 1700 Nevin Avenue, Richmond |
5/20/2024 | 11 am - 1 pm | Bus Stop: Broadway & 12th Street | 12th Street Bart Transit Center |
5/20/2024 | 11 am - 1 pm | Bus Stop: Eastmont Transit Center | 73rd & Foothill Blvd., Oakland |
5/20/2024 | 11 am - 1 pm | Bus Stop: Warm Springs BART Transit Center (south Fremont) | 45193 Warm Springs Blvd, Fremont |
5/20/2024 | 4-6 pm | Bus Stop: Richmond BART Transit Center | 1700 Nevin Avenue, Richmond |
5/20/2024 | 4-6 pm | Bus Stop: Broadway & 12th Street | 12th Street Bart Transit Center |
5/20/2024 | 4-6 pm | Bus Stop: Eastmont Transit Center | 73rd & Foothill Blvd., Oakland |
5/20/2024 | 4-6 pm | Bus Stop: Warm Springs BART Transit Center (south Fremont) | 45193 Warm Springs Blvd, Fremont |
5/20/2024 | 6 pm | Castro Valley MAC | Alameda County Office Building, 224 W. Winton Avenue, Room 160, Hayward, CA |
5/20/2024 | 6 pm | San Pablo City Council | Council Chambers, 1000 Gateway Avenue, San Pablo, CA |
5/21/2024 | 7:15 pm | Emeryville City Council | 1333 Park Ave, Emeryville, CA 94608 |
5/21/2024 | 7 pm | Fremont City Council | City Hall Building A, Council Chambers, 3300 Capitol Avenue, Fremont |
5/22/2024 | 10 am - 1 pm | Richmond 40th Annual Senior Information & Health Faire | Richmond Auditorium, Civic Center |
5/22/2024 | 9:30 am | AC Transit Emeryville ILC | Hybrid: In person - Emeryville City Hall, Council Chambers, 1333 Park Avenue, Emeryville CA 94608 | Zoom link - https://actransit.zoom.us/j/97154123990 Tel: 877 369 0926 Webinar ID: 971 5412 3990 |
5/22/2024 | 11-11:45 am | The Latina Center | The Latina Center: 3701 Barrett Ave. (corner of 38th & Barrett Ave.), Richmond, CA 94805 |
5/23/2024 | 11 am - 1 pm | Bus Stop: Lake Merrit Transit Center | 800 Madison Street, Oakland (Oak St. & 8th St.) |
5/23/2024 | 11 am - 1 pm | Bus Stop: (Alameda - westend) | Webster Street at Atlantic Ave. Alameda |
5/23/2024 | 11 am - 1 pm | Bus Stop: Santa Clara Avenue & Park Street | Santa Clara Av & Park St, Alameda |
5/23/2024 | 4-6 pm | Bus Stop: Lake Merrit Transit Center | 800 Madison Street, Oakland (Oak St. & 8th St.) |
5/23/2024 | 4-6 pm | Bus Stop: (Alameda - westend) | Webster Street at Atlantic Ave. Alameda |
5/23/2024 | 4-6 pm | Bus Stop: Santa Clara Avenue & Park Street | Santa Clara Av & Park St, Alameda |
5/23/2024 | 6 pm | Oakland Bicyclist & Pedestrian Advisory Commission (Oakland BPAC) | City Hall, Hearing Room 4, 2nd Floor, One Frank Ogawa Plaza, Oakland or via Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88149695280 |
5/23/2024 | 2 pm | Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC) | 1111 Broadway, Ste. 800, Mary V. King Conference Room, Oakland, CA 94607 |
5/23/2024 | 6 pm | AC Transit Realign Workshop (Virtual) | Zoom recording link: https://youtu.be/5DcaSx-mvV0?si=8rqAbUDBrBxFHt8p |
5/24/2024 | 8 am | WCCTAC | City of El Cerrito Council Chambers, 10890 San Pablo Ave. El Cerrito, CA 94530 |
5/24/2024 | 11 am - 1 pm | Bus Stop: 7th & Franklin | 7th Street and Franklin Street, Oakland |
5/24/2024 | 11 am - 1 pm | Bus Stop: Fremont BART Transit Center | 2000 BART Way, Fremont |
5/24/2024 | 4-6 pm | Bus Stop: 7th & Franklin | 7th Street and Franklin Street, Oakland |
5/24/2024 | 4-6 pm | Bus Stop: Fremont BART Transit Center | 2000 BART Way, Fremont |
5/27/2024 | 11 am - 1 pm | Bus Stop: West MacArthur & Broadway/Broadway & Kaiser Hosp. entrance | Near Kaiser Permanente Oakland Broadway Medical Offices, 3701 Broadway, Oakland |
5/27/2024 | 4-6 pm | Bus Stop: West MacArthur & Broadway/Broadway & Kaiser Hosp. entrance | Near Kaiser Permanente Oakland Broadway Medical Offices, 3701 Broadway, Oakland |
5/28/2024 | 11 am - 1 pm | Bus Stop: Salesforce Transit Center | Salesforce Transit Center, Level 3 |
5/28/2024 | 11 am - 1 pm | Bus Stop: West MacArthur & Broadway/Broadway & Kaiser Hosp. entrance | Near Kaiser Permanente Oakland Broadway Medical Offices, 3701 Broadway, Oakland |
5/28/2024 | 4-6 pm | Bus Stop: Salesforce Transit Center | Salesforce Transit Center, Level 3 |
5/28/2024 | 4-6 pm | Bus Stop: West MacArthur & Broadway/Broadway & Kaiser Hosp. entrance | Near Kaiser Permanente Oakland Broadway Medical Offices, 3701 Broadway, Oakland |
5/28/2024 | 6:30 pm | Richmond City Council | 440 Civic Center Plaza, Community Services Building, Richmond |
5/28/2024 | 3-4 pm | Oakland Chinatown Chamber | Oakland Asian Culture Center, Pacific Renaissance Plaza, 388 - 9th Street, Ste. 290, Oakland, CA |
5/29/2024 | 11 am - 1 pm | Bus Stop: San Pablo Avenue & 40th Street (Emeryville) | On San Pablo Ave., bet. 40th & 41st |
5/29/2024 | 4-6 pm | Bus Stop: San Pablo Avenue & 40th Street (Emeryville) | On San Pablo Ave., bet. 40th & 41st |
5/30/2024 | 10 am | AC Transit Berkeley ILC | Hybrid: In person - Cypress Room, 2180 Milivia, 1st Floor, Berkeley, CA | Zoom link - https://actransit.zoom.us/j/85319764729 Tel: 877 369 0926 Webinar ID: 853 1976 4729 |
5/30/2024 | 11 am - 1 pm | Bus Stop: El Cerrito Del Norte BART Transit Center | 6400 Cutting Blvd., El Cerrito, Bays 2, 4, 5 |
5/30/2024 | 4-6 pm | Bus Stop: El Cerrito Del Norte BART Transit Center | 6400 Cutting Blvd., El Cerrito, Bays 2, 4, 5 |
5/31/2024 | 10 am | AC Transit Hayward ILC | Hybrid: In person - City Hall, Conference Room 2A - 777 B Street, Hayward, CA 94541 | Zoom link https://actransit.zoom.us/j/94999872586 Tel: 877 369 0926 Webinar ID: 949 9987 2586 |
5/31/2024 | 11 am - 1 pm | Bus Stop: Berkeley BART Transit Center (Downtown Berkeley) | Shattuck Avenue & Allston Way, Berkeley |
5/31/2024 | 4-6 pm | Bus Stop: Berkeley BART Transit Center (Downtown Berkeley) | Shattuck Avenue & Allston Way, Berkeley |
6/1/2024 | 10 am - 6 pm | San Leandro Cherry Festival | Downtown San Leandro (Details coming) |
6/3/2024 | 11 am - 1 pm | Bus Stop: Bancroft & Telegraph and Bancroft & Dana | On Bancroft near Sather Lane/ASUC Student Union |
6/3/2024 | 4-6 pm | Bus Stop: Bancroft & Telegraph and Bancroft & Dana | On Bancroft near Sather Lane/ASUC Student Union |
6/5/2024 | 10 am | AC Transit Oakland ILC | Hybrid: In Person - AC Transit General Office, 1600 Franklin St., 2nd Floor Board Room, Oakland CA 94612 Zoom link https://actransit.zoom.us/j/87011398495 Phone (669) 900 6833 Webinar ID: 870 1139 8495 |
6/5/2024 | 4-6:30 pm | AC Transit Realign Open House | AC Transit General Office, 1600 Franklin St., Lobby, Oakland, CA 94612 |
6/5/2024 | 5 pm | AC Transit Board of Directors Meeting | Hybrid: AC Transit General Office, 1600 Franklin St., 2nd Floor Board Room, Oakland, CA 94612 |
Additional Resources
Additional Resources
- Interactive Story Map on Existing Conditions
- Existing Conditions Executive Summary
- Service Profile
- Market Analysis
- Origin-Destination Analysis Memo
- Ridership Summary Memo
- Individual Route Profiles (Fall 2019)
- Individual Route Profiles (Fall 2022)
- Survey Results Technical Memo
- Outreach and Engagement Summary
- Guiding Principles Memo
- Balanced Coverage Scenario
- Frequent Service Scenario
- Realign Data
- Draft Service Proposal (January 2024)
Board of Directors Meeting Materials
- June 5, 2024 Board of Directors Special Meeting
- March 13, 2024 Board Meeting Presentation (Timeline update plus consultant extension) | Video
- January 24, 2024 Board Meeting Presentation
- December 13, 2023 Board Meeting Presentation
- November 1, 2023 Board Workshop Presentation
- September 13, 2023 Board Meeting Presentation
- July 26, 2023 Board Workshop Presentation
- July 26, 2023 Board Meeting Financial Update
- June 28, 2023 Board Meeting Presentation
- May 24, 2023 Board Meeting Presentation
- April 26, 2023 Board Meeting Presentation
What is Realign?
AC Transit is reviewing how bus service works across our service area through the Realign plan. AC Transit Realign is an inclusive planning process that evaluates our existing service network and responds to changing travel patterns. This quantitative and qualitative assessment of AC Transit’s bus lines will gather both data and the rider feedback to develop a new network focused on riders and equity. Your feedback will tell us how well our service is currently operating, meeting your travel needs, and ultimately how to realign our service. The Realign process will also require analyzing post-pandemic revenue losses, funding shortfalls, and Bus Operator workforce challenges to right-size our operations.
AC Transit Realign also permits our transit district to overhaul service policies and standards, aligning our guidelines with current transit conditions and industry best practices. In doing so, we reaffirm our decades-long commitment to equity and better position the future of how we deliver bus service.
Goals
- Assess today’s travel patterns and the community’s current AC Transit service needs.
- Implement an inclusive planning process that incorporates quantitative and qualitative data along with rider and community feedback – including the voices of hard-to-reach equity communities.
- Align service schedules, coverage, and frequencies based on major needs identified by the community, riders, travel pattern data, finances, and workforce availability.
- Update our service standards with best practices for the design of our bus service.
Why Realign?
We are updating our service to meet the travel patterns of the new normal. The pandemic led to a historic decline in riders, which resulted in unprecedented fare loss. AC Transit sought and received federal relief funds to keep bus lines moving. After three years, however, ridership has not returned to pre-pandemic levels and relief funds will soon be exhausted. As of March 2023, AC Transit’s overall ridership is 69% of pre-pandemic levels. As Bay Area employers continue to operate remote and hybrid work schedules, we forecast that our ridership and fare recovery will continue to be adversely affected. To save East Bay transit, we must now assess the needs of current riders and travel patterns with new focus on where, when, and how we deliver bus service.
AC Transit is facing what’s being called a “fiscal cliff” or budget shortfall. Why? The onboard fareboxes capture a small percentage of the dollars needed to operate our transit district. And as the graph below highlights, we rely on a variety of public funding subsidies to support operations. As a result, without a substantial increase in fare revenues and subsidies (regional, state, and federal), AC Transit may be forced to consider service cuts.
Phases & Timeline*
*Timeline is preliminary and subject to change
Phase 1 - Develop Plans and Learn Rider Needs
Dates: March - June 2023
Realign begins with a thorough analysis of current AC Transit service area conditions. The habits, needs, concerns, and priorities of riders and community members will be identified during this phase through quantitative data review, customer survey responses, and feedback through robust outreach. This phase encourages survey participation, which begins April 17, 2023. The survey will help us understand what’s important, identify priority destinations/connections, and weigh trade-offs/priorities that will inform the development of a draft set of guiding principles.
Phase 2 - Aligning Guiding Principles with Community Assessment
Dates: July - August 2023
This phase will solicit and incorporate feedback from riders, community members and AC Transit’s Board of Directors on the draft guiding principles developed from information gathered in Phase 1. In this phase, a final Guiding Principles document will be adopted by the Board and will establish the support, clarity, and direction for the development of Realign (new bus service network plan).
Phase 3 - Develop Service Scenarios and Gather Feedback
Dates: September - December 2023
Based on the feedback and direction from the first two phases, this phase presents draft service scenarios that offer alternative configurations of AC Transit’s routes and schedules throughout our service area. This is an important opportunity for our riders and community to provide feedback on these service scenarios.
Phase 4 - Draft Final Service Plan and Plan Adoption
Dates: January - October 2024
Following the comprehensive review of data and community input on the draft scenarios, a draft Final Service Plan will be created, including an extensive update to AC Transit’s Service Standards. The draft Final Service Plan will be shared with the community during a formal public comment process. The Realign process will culminate with review and a formal vote by the AC Transit Board of Directors. An Equity Analysis (under Title VI of the American Civil Rights Act) will ensure that any negative impacts on both minority and low-income populations will be identified and presented for approval on a parallel track.
Phase 5 - Develop Service Standards and Inform Riders about Service Changes
Dates: October 2024 - April 2025
Once the Final Service Plan and updated Service Standards are approved, the new service is expected to begin in March 2025. In this final phase, robust promotion will educate riders and community members on how to use the new service network. The updated service policies and standards will help guide future planning and monitoring of AC Transit’s service network. These standards, including hours, days of operation, frequency, and location of bus routes, will guide how service we will operate on the streets and in neighborhoods throughout the AC Transit service area. The standards are based upon multiple factors, including equity, land use, population density, access to jobs, commercial activity, and major attractors such as schools, hospitals, and grocery stores.
Give Feedback
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Community Project Line:
(510) 267-5631 (English)
(510) 267-5632 (Spanish)
(510) 267-5633 (Mandarin Chinese)
(510) 267-5634 (Cantonese Chinese)