Written by: InfrastructureWeak Despite operating reduced service since 2020, like many Bay Area transit operators, AC Transit has been projecting a ~$35 million annual budget deficit beginning next year, as revenue growth falls behind expenses and pandemic financial support expires. The AC Transit Board will hear at its Wednesday meeting this week, with updated revenue […]
Two major projects completing the ring of rail around San Francisco Bay advanced in recent weeks. The $12.75B project to bring BART from Berryessa to downtown San Jose and Santa Clara broke ground. The project is now estimated to start rail service in 2036. The groundbreaking took place before VTA received a commitment from the
On Friday, VTA announced that the federal government would fund $5.1Billion toward the BART Silicon Valley project, about 41% of the cost of the project, currently estimated at $12.7 billion. This leaves a gap of $1.2Billion from the amount that VTA had been requesting, and a gap of $700million to complete the project, following the
Electrifying the Capitol Corridor would enable fast, frequent travel between the South Bay, East Bay and Sacramento. It would connect the economic and political capitals of Northern California– but powerful interests are pushing unproven hydrogen trains technology that could instead lock in poor train service for decades. The Capitol Corridor is the spine of Northern
Transportation is all about bringing people together and so for this “Star Wars Day,” the Transbay Coalition was delighted to host our “May the 4th Happy Hour! ‘Episode 1: A Hayward Awakens’” Folks from around the Bay Area came out to the World Famous Turf Club in downtown Hayward to chat all things transit. For
In March 2024, the AC Transit Board of Directors scheduled a vote on a proposal to raise bus fares for riders by 20% over two years. Raising bus fares burdens low-income riders who have no other transportation option. Higher fares also push more people to choose to drive, increasing congestion and emissions. Recognizing these issues
In Spring 2024, Transbay Coalition led a successful campaign to get weekend evening bus service restored to the Broadway Corridor in downtown Oakland. Months ago AC Transit enacted a “temporary” weekend evening service detoured from Broadway between 14th and 20th. It inconvenienced riders, slowed Oakland’s downtown recovery, and made transit a less useful option for
On Tuesday, June 28th, the Oakland City Council will be meeting to authorize a letter of support for the San Pablo Avenue Corridor Project to move to the detailed design phase. This would help the Alameda County Transportation Commission (CTC) begin detailed design and funding acquisition for the project – a key step in bringing
Thanks to your help, the Bay Bridge Bus Bill AB 455 (Wicks, Wiener), sailed through the Senate Transportation Committee and it is now on to the Senate Appropriations Committee. We are now one step closer to faster, more reliable, equitable, and greener travel across the Bay Bridge Corridor keeping the Bay Area\’s people and economy
At long last, the Bay Bridge Bus Bill AB 455 (Wicks, Wiener), is coming to a vote in the Senate Transportation Committee this Tuesday, June 14th! Although the bill passed the Assembly in 2021, it got held up in committee and its fate was uncertain. But after much collaboration between the Transbay Coalition, the Assemblymember’s
At its July 14 meeting, the AC Transit Board reviewed its priorities for restoring service that had been cut early in the pandemic. Lines that had the highest ridership and serving disadvantaged communities were understandably given high priority. Unfortunately, this leaves the M bus, which had been the only public transit line on the
Oakland’s new bus lanes (above) will soon be joined by bus-only lanes on Durant Avenue in Berkeley (photo from Streetsblog). AC Transit, in partnership with the Cities of Berkeley and Oakland, will soon implement quick-build “tactical transit” bus lanes on Durant Avenue in Berkeley and boarding islands on MacArthur Boulevard in Oakland. In May, the
On January 22, 2020 the AC Transit Board of Directors voted unanimously to endorse bus lanes on the Bay Bridge and its approaches. Board President Elsa Ortiz authored the resolution putting AC Transit, the transit operator that moves over 10,000 bus riders across the Bay Bridge each weekday, on the record supporting prioritizing space for
Great news! The language for the bill to improve bus travel times on the Bay Bridge and the approaches has been filled out and is a lot closer to being finalized. You can view the language for the bill, “AB-2824 Bay Bridge Fast Forward Program (Bonta)” here. Before, there was just “placeholder language” which is
Imagine a quick and reliable ride between the East Bay and San Francisco. Imagine healthier air and a reduction in carbon emissions. We want to turn that imagination into a reality. Will you join us?
