Project Elements

• Proposed Bus Stop Improvements: Relocating and upgrading bus stops will improve reliability and reduce travel time. The longer curbs and sidewalk enhancements at stops will provide better access to the buses. There are several factors that determine changes to an existing bus stop. Considerations include safety, adjacent land uses, accessibility, and bus operations. Maintaining proper stop spacing (i.e. how close was the previous stop and how far is the next stop) supports reliable and on-time local and rapid bus service as defined by AC Transit Board Policy No. 501. In addition, stops proposed to be removed are usually lower-ridership stops that are too close to a neighboring stop with higher ridership activity. 
  
  The Project proposes to relocate near-side bus stops (located immediately before crossing intersections) to far-side bus stops (located immediately after crossing intersections). Proposed near-side to far-side relocations will also allow buses to take advantage of proposed traffic signal changes and reenter traffic more easily.  Relocating the bus stops to the far-side of the intersections is expected to increase safety and promote healthy, and equitable mobility for all. This supports policies recently adopted by the Cities of Berkeley and Oakland.

• Proposed Traffic Signal Improvements: Improved traffic signals will help buses travel more efficiently by allowing for extra seconds of green light, or turning the light to green earlier when needed. Buses approaching traffic signals will either have an early green time or the traffic signal will hold green for buses to cross the intersection to the far side stop. This will minimize delay to the buses and vehicle drivers, and enhance traffic safety to pedestrians as they will be crossing the intersection behind the buses. The project will retime the traffic signals to provide more clearance timing for pedestrian crossing and more crossing timing for bicyclists.