Transit Times Volume 10, Number 7

8/8/2019 Transit Times Volume 10, Number 7

1/5

Vol. 10, No.7

Financial support forPublicly-owned transitSought on State level

State financing to assist publiclyowned transit systems was sought bythe District this month before two legislative committees.District representatives appeared before the Senate Transportation Committee, headed by Sen. Randolph Collier,and the Assembly Transportation andCommerce Committee, headed by Assemblyman John F. Foran.Revenue source

The District urged that AC Transit beincluded in any new, continuing sourceof revenue from the State, pointing outthat transit services cannot be paid outof the fare box alone. N.or can the District continue to call upon local propertytaxpayers to carry an increasing burdenof maintaining the high quality of transportation sufficient to lure travelers fromtheir private automobiles.District spokesmen urged that Statelegislation provide year-after-year revenue to aid all publicly-owned transit operations which will be involved in providing coordinated urban transportationservices.Although AC Transit's revenue has increased, expenses have increased at agreater rate, Alan L. Bingham, generalmanager, pointed out."Weare of the opinion we cannotcall upon our customers or local taxpayers for increasing assistance."

OAKLAND, NOVEMBER, 1967

New express slatedAs D;str;ct expandsServ;ce ;mprovements

A new commuter express, linking theeast end of Alameda with downtownOakland is scheduled to roll early nextmonth when the District moves into anew area to experiment with fast anddirect freeway service.

The peak-hour express will further testthe concept of bus transit which dips intoneighborhoods and makes use of freeways to provide convenient, speedy service of a type which competes favorablywith automobiles .

The Alameda express, designated asLine 35, will make use of the Park St.bridge and Nimitz freeway to giveworkers a direct ride to the Oaklandbusiness center. Similar freeway expressoperations on transbay lines has resultedin continuing rider growth.

With start of service on Dec. 4, theline will become the eighth intercityexpress inaugurated by the District sinceit commenced operations in 1960.Travel time cutBuses will make the trip from ParkSt. and Santa Clara Ave. in Alameda to13th St. and Broadway in Oakland in12 minutes, cutting 10 minutes frompresent travel time.Alameda civic officials, led by MayorWilliam M. McCall, were invited to jointhe District's Board of Directors at aninaugural preview on Dec. 1. Coffee and(Continued on Page 8)


2/5

Visitors from world's higgest transitSystem find common interests here

Two visitors from London, representing the largest rail and road transit operation in the world, found a warm welcome-and mutual interests-while guestsof AC Transit.Maurice A. Holmes, chairman of theLondon Transport Board, and KennethShave, board member, rode the articulated Freeway Train and "talked shop"with District representatives during aBay area visit.

While the transportation properties are"miles apart" in scope of operations, thetransit officials found much in common.Both properties purchase tires from thesame company. Both use the same brandof diesel fuel. Both face revenue challenges. And both are looking ahead, designing service to meet future needs.London Transport, with an extensivesurface and underground system, cantally 2,645 million passenger journeys ayear, bu t it operates in the red, with avery low fare.The State-owned system cannot "put

the fares up" without governmental permission and, like many fellow transitproperties, has the problems of a decline

in riding and increased congestion.Holmes said he and his fellow boardmember had found a realization in thiscountry and in Canada of a need tobuild up public transportation on a rapidtransit basis of one sort or another, withthe community bearing either the wholeor a part of initial ca pital assistance."This is a state of affairs we are tryingto seek in London," Holmes said.

"We are impressed by the publicmoney being made available here. Thereis awareness of the need of combattingthe automotive congestion."However, we have not let publictransportation fall as badly behind publicrequirements as apparent here. We havebeen running an extensive network ofrapid transit for a great many years.We haven't really lagged behind. Weare further developing our system andshall continue to do so," Holmes said.

The London bus service of the futureis being redesigned on these points:shorter routes; one-man operations extended throughout the fleet; more standing accommodation on short routes, andnew methods of fare collection.

TRANSIT TALE - Pattern ofDistrict service in East Bay citiesinterests visitors from LondonTransport, largest rail and roadtransit operation in the world.From left, Alan L. Bingham, ACTransit general manager, Maurice A. Holmes, board chairman,and Kenneth Shave, board member, of the London system.

We had no trouble with the traffic orthe parking lot at the Coliseum . . . Yousee, we parked our car on a street andtook the bus. We figure the parking fee,plus gas, more than offset the bus fare,to say nothing of eliminating janglednerves from a traffic snarl . . .

Mr. and Mrs. Albon WilliamsConcord

commuters on the F express bus. . are entitled to a bus with decentlighting so they can avail themselves oftheir time commuting by reading . . .We have had the same bus for yearsand its lighting is obsolete.

Mrs. Harry L. RouletteBerkeley(Older coaches must be used duringcommute hours until replaced by newer

models, but tests are now under way toboost candlepower of light bulbs. Interiorlight fixtures on 280 older model buseswill be dusted more frequently for brighter light.-Ed.)

. . . It may seem to be a small or perhaps even an impersonal thing, bu t to usthe opportunity of riding with Lorie(Lorraine McCormick) has been a veryenjoyable and pleasant experience. Notonly is she one of the most efficientdrivers we have had the pleasure ofriding with, but she also has been the

most considerate and kindest . . . Loriehas been a real treat to us and , I am sure,a real asset to the AC system. So wepetition not to take her off our run . . .Signed by 22 riders

Line S, Hayward(Lorie used her rank as a veteran driverto select another run more suited to herpersonal requirements. Your complimentsare appreciated and have been added toher record.-Ed.)

I would like to commend one of yourdrivers, Pat Crap (Mrs. Priscilla Grap)for showing kindness and safety for allof her passengers. Bud (Russell) Briscoeis also very courteous and a good driver.

Carol BornsteinOakland

I wish to register a complaint regarding bus # 81 which arrives at Spruce andMerced at 8:05 a.m. This morning thedriver . . . did not stop . . . There wasno one standing in his bus. He left atleast a dozen of us . . . I feel that it ismost unfair to pass us when there willnot be another bus for an hour.

Mrs. Juanita E. TaylorSan Leandro(Weare anxious to avoid such incidents. The operator has been instructedto keep a close watch.-Ed.)

3


3/5

, ransit crewsCall signals

For sports fans

4

UNDEFEATED TEAM - Veteran District"quarterbacks" ended one football season atUniversity of California's Memorial Stadiumin Berkeley this month, but kept a check listhandy for additional signal-calling at Oakland Coliseum and Golden Gate Fields.Maior sports events bring out superintendents and supervisors to assure that busesdeliver spectators to where they want to go-and in record time. Motor coach mobilityand the two-way radio have simplified today's iob. It was busier-and more excitingwhen ferry boats spilled fans into waitingstreetcars-but it wasn't nearly as convenient.Big{!.est game this year-U .C. versus U.S.C.-brought 70 buses to th e stadium and thesescenes. Clockwise, viewers head for SanFrancisco buses at game break. Don]. Potter, transportation superintendent, keeps atally on arrivals. L. H. Minear and L. L.McDonald, assistant superintendents, directbus to parking place. Supervisor L. A. Ballcounts riders arriving from Oakland.

e ~ s ~ Transbay riding continues growth

Transbay travelers continued to switchfrom cars to buses during the first threemonths of AC Transit's current fiscalyear, extending the growth in bay bridgetravel experienced by the District since

Ne w revenue records were talliedon District buses on Friday, Nov. 3 -second month in a row that fare boxcollections reached new highs. Totalpassenger revenue of $53,219 sur-passed the $52,322 which set a recordlast month. Transbay revenue alsowas a record, with $22,307 collected.The last high of $21,989 was madeon March 17.

it began business over seven years ago.Transbay bridge lines recorded an increase of 51,979 passengers, up 1.54 per

cent during the first quarter of the fiscalperiod, according to a report made to theBoard of Directors by John F. Larson,treasurer-controller.Riding on East Bay lines was down2 percent during the same period.Passenger revenue during the firstquarter showed a slight decrease of 0.17percent. Operating expenses, however,increased $224,495 or 5.84 percent. Larson attributed the major portion of theincrease to labor expenses, which wereup $196,327 or seven percent over thesame period last year.

District joins agencies in radioWatch program to aid Hayward policeAlert to community responsibilities

an d public advantages which may accruefrom additional use of the two-way radiosystem, AC Transit joined with otheragencies this month in a "radio watchprogram" instituted by the HaywardPolice Department.The program, launched by the Hay

ward Chamber of Commerce, calls formajor firms which use two-way radios incompany vehicles to cooperate by havingemployees report emergency matters requiring police attention.Reports are made to the company dispatcher, who in turn will alert policeover a special line or through a specialnumber.Allen F. Strutz, chairman of the chamber's community services committee, saidthe program was started in Cincinnatiand is now nationwide. It has resulted ina significant reduction in the crime ratesin cities which are trying it, he reported.Representing AC Transit on a commit-

tee to work out details was Harold Davis,executive assistant to the general manager. Other agencies cooperating includePacific Telephone, Veterans Cab andPacific Gas and Electric.

Workers welcomed toAC Transit familyNew District workers include:

General OfficeTreasury: Donald L. Sadler, Oakland,

vault clerk, part time.Emeryville Division

Schedules: Tommy R. Malone, EI Sobrante, traffic checker.Bus Operators: M. H. Sauceda, Berkeley; J. M. Prince an d C. E. Standley, ofOakland.

Seminary DivisionBus Operator: J. L. Davis, San Francisco.

5


4/5

l I I ~ ' M a t t England's loss IS District's gainEnglish-spoken as the "mother tongue"

-flowed freely in the East Bay as Supervisor Reginald G. Botell found a "bit ofhome" while driving representatives fromLondon Transport during their visit withAC Transit.Botell, who came to Oakland fromLondon in 1954, discovered some changeshave been made since he left England.

The word "commuters" is now beingused for peak-hour transit riders, ratherthan the "season ticket holders" he remembers.

The "killer black fogs," which he recalls vividly, have been practically eliminated by the use of kerosene as a fuelinstead of coal.

The supervisor jokingly proclaimed hewatched English movies to regain his"lost accent" before meeting Maurice A.Holmes, board chairman of LondonTransport, and Kenneth Shave, boardmember.

He found they ha d no trouble in un derstanding each other or in sharingtransportation interests an d appreciationof East Bay weather.Botell, 49, of 21270 Sweet Lane, CastroValley, left his homeland because of thefog and rain.It always rainedAs operator of a corn chandler" -what we would term a feed store-Botellmanaged one week's vacation each yearfor seven years. On all of his vacationsit rained.He's found the weather far superior inCalifornia, bu t admits he's bound to hishome now-and a backyard swimmingpool-because of a "second family," children age 3 and 18 months. He and hiswife also have a son, 21, who is a sergeantin the Marines, and a daughter, 16.

The supervisor was in the first conscription in England in 1939 when all6

A BIT OF HOME- Supervisor Reginald C.Botell put his English accent to good usewhile chatting with visitors from LondonTransport board.20-year-olds were called up. He serveduntil the end of World War II in 1946an d was discharged as a sergeant.

Although he and his parents survivedthe wa r without injury, he went homeon leave one day and found the familyhome gone-destroyed by a bomb.A pilot brother was killed, as were hisbrother-in-law and several cousins.

"The family was scattered by the waran d we never got back together again,"Botell explained.

He followed his parents to Californiaand applied for a job with Key Systemtwo days after arrival in Oakland becausehe desperately "needed the wage."

He was hired as a bus driver an d although he thought of the work as a "stopgap" at the time, has spent three yearsbehind the wheel; five years as a dispatcher and five years as a supervisor.

AC / transit PASSENGER REVENUE ... COMPARISON WITH PREVIOUS YEAR1,240 ,00 01,220 ,00 01,200 ,0001,180 ,00 0

1.. AI 1L /I " ..... ,,160 ,00 01,140,000 \ ,I \ ."",..- , /1,120 ,000 r-- l \. I J .\ / "' "1- if , (,100,0001 ,080,0001,06 0,00 01,040 ,0001,020 ,0001,00 0,000

\ "" L980 ,000960 ,00 0940,000

I \"-cr:0..ex:

wZ;:)--,>-...J;:)--.

II- 1967- 1966- 1965b:w(/)

I-()o >oz ()wt:l

Total passenger revenue and the total number of riders carried showed a slightdecrease during September, but trans bay riding cont inued to show a growth pattern.Fare box revenue amounted to $1,159,646, a decrease of $2,621 or 0.23 percentbelow revenue of $1,162,267 tallied a year ago. Revenue on East Bay lines was down1.35 percent, while on transbay lines, riding showed am, increase of 1.4 percent. Thenumber of passengers carried. during the month totaled 4,312,141, down 0.76 percent compared to the 4,345,008 who rode District buses in September, 1966. Ridingwas down 1.39 percent on East Bay lines, but up 1.05 percent on transbay buses.Commute book sales continued to grow, reaching $178,499, an increase of 1.8 percent compared to year-ago sales of $175,361.Operation costs during the month totaled $1,369,638, an increase of $99,639 or7.85 percent over costs of $1,269,999 for the same month a year ago. The Districtoperated 1,901,482 miles of service, an increase of 3,335 miles.Total 'income of $1,560,821 was sufficient to cover operational costs, depreciationand bond debt requirements.

Death comes to veteran transportation menLenus H. Satler, 74, former building

maintenance superintendent under KeySystem, died on Oct. 14. Mr. Satler entered the way and structure departmentin April, 1919, and retired in May, 1957.

He made his home at 1750 B St., Hayward. Death also came during the monthto Louis J. Martin, 83, of 282 Begier Ave.,San Leandro, mechanic. He entered service in 1918, was pensioned in 1950.

7


5/5

At an adjourned regular meeting Oct.18, the Board of Directors: Approved revisions of advertisingand promotional campaign, on motionof Director Copeland. Approved various service improvements, on motion of Director Bettencourt. (See story, Pg. 1.)

At a regular meeting Nov. 8, the Boardof Directors: Authorized General Manager andExecutive Assistant to General Managerto attend conference of U.S. Departmentof Housing and Urban Development, onmotion of Director Copeland.

I ' ransil ' . l ' i f t l .sPublished monthly by the

ALAMEDA.CONTRA COSTA TRANSIT DISTRICTLatham Square Building 508 Sixteenth StreetOakland. California 94612 Telephone 6547878

BOARD OF DIRECTORSJOHN McDONNELL . . .

Ward II IWILLIAM E. BERK . . . .Ward II

. . Presidenf. Vice President

ROBERT M. COPELAND . . Diredor at LargeRAY H . RINEHART . . . . . Diredor at LargeWILLIAM H. COBURN, JR. . . . . . Ward IWM . J. BETTENCOURT. . . . . . . Ward IVE. GUY WARREN. . . . . . . . . Ward V

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERSALAN L. BINGHAM . . . . General ManagerROBERT E. NISBET . . . . . . . . AttorneyJOHN F. LARSON . . . . Treasurer-ControllerGEORGE M. TAYLOR. . . . . . . Secretary____________ ____________

Shul:l:le !,us, ol:her service improvemenl:sScheduled for trial in Easl: Oakland(Continued from Page 1)doughnuts served from a curbside busstop at San Jose Ave. in Alameda willgive the express a traditional send-off.Improvements to boost the transportation for residential developments in thearea west of East 14th St. in East Oakland also had a green light.

Experimental innovations included apeak-hour shuttle to connect with thecrosstown 90th Ave. Line 56 at East14th St . The shuttle will operate via 85thAve. and Hegenberger Rd . to the Industrial Park terminal at the A.G.E. store.Also effective Dec. 4, Line 57C willbe rerouted via 73rd Ave., between East

Alameda-Contra Costa Transit DistrictLatham Square Building

14th St. and San Leandro Blvd.Night service will be augmented on

the 98th Ave.-Sobrante Park Line 83A.Other service adjustments include: Inauguration of Sunday service on

Line 64 to provide full day and nightservice in South Shore area, Alameda. Extension of Lines 63 and 79 on BayFarm Island, Alameda, one third mileinto residential development at southend of County Rd. Detour of morning and afternoontrips on Line 46A-Sequoyah Rd. to serveCharles Howard School. Extension of loop on Line 91-Tennyson Rd. to Portsmouth and Bahama Aves.

Oakland, California 9461;?, V V IJ 1 N .3 AM ij Co I.. U _ ,

Return Requested

; 0 1 8 CHANNING WAYIlERKELEr t CA 947Q4,

Documents

Transit Times Volume 10, Number 7