Transit Times Volume 6, Number 12

8/9/2019 Transit Times Volume 6, Number 12

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For the Good of Your CommunityVol.6 No. 12 OAKLAND, APRIL 1964

30 More fTransit:Liners' On the Way;Last of Gasoline Buses Soon to RetireAnother 30 new motor coaches wereordered by AC Transit this month for

East Bay service, taking advantage of amoney-saving option which assures delivery of the buses at the same priceoffered in a bid last year.The additional buses will bring thedistrict's total fleet of new equipment to

340-more than half of the number ofcoaches operated.Cost of the new buses will total approximately $810,000.District directors voted to exercise anoption with General Motors for purchaseof the 30 new buses before a May 1 deadline, ordering both 51-passenger and 45-passenger coaches similar to the previousdelivery. The coaches, because of theirnarrower width and maneuverability,have been especially suited for crosstown lines and for operation in congested areas, according to General Manager Kenneth F. Hensel.Fifteen of the buses will be equippedwith standard seats, and the remainderwith a modified type of "bucket seat,"which will save the district $14,400 compared to the last order.

The buses, designed for local service,are expected to enable the district to retire the last of its inefficient, gasolinepowered motor coaches. The final 28 gasdriven "Macks" now in use on neighborhood lines and in special service, aredue to be sent to pasture as soon as they

New Tour Designed toBoost Midday Riding;Regular Service Used

A new concept in "bus adventuring"was introduced to passengers this month- a specially prepared tour of the Berkeley hills using regular AC Transit service.

Making use of scheduled weekday district service, the excursion is detailed ina new illustrated booklet, to be givenfree to the public for trips in May andJune-months chosen as the best time forlooking, sniffing and discovering East Bayroses, gardens and hill-top vistas.

Th e leaflet includes detailed scheduleinformation, including times, locations,what bus to take; where to get on andoff, and what to look for along the way.

With Latham Square in downtownOakland as the starting point, th e excursion includes downtown Berkeley,Berkeley Rose Garden, a "vista ride"along Grizzly Peak Blvd., a short walkto Carbone Orchid nursery, a ridethrough Kensington to Berkeley and theSather Gate area of the University ofCalifornia with its varied shops, studentsand a chance to "go collegiate" with avisit to the Student Union.

The leaflets are available at AC Transit offices, the California Spring GardenShow, various garden and nursery centers, hotels, motels and at civic an d social centers in Oakland and Berkeley.

can be replaced, bringing to an end thetransit era of gas fumes and high maintenance costs.


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Contra Costa Proposes Transit StudyAC Transit will assist in a proposed

new engineering study on local transitservice for central Contra Costa County.Directors of the district have declined,however, to contribute any financial support for engineering fees outside of regular staff personnel.

The transit board was requested bythe Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors to initiate a joint study with th eBay Area Rapid Transit District to determine local service needed and how itwould be financed.William H. Coburn, Jr., a directorfrom Berkeley and vice president of theboard, pointed out:

"We already are working with therapid transit district on feeder bus service to its rail lines within our district,and we certainly can work with them indetermining service needs for centralContra Costa County."

Coburn noted that an extensive studyon proposed local transit service for cen-

tral Contra Costa County was conductedin 1958 when that area was still a partof the AC Transit district.The directors offered to make furthercopies of the 1958 report available toContra Costa County officials, bu t declined to spend tax money on a newformal study, particularly since the areano longer is in the district.Central Contra Costa County, including Orinda, Lafayette, Walnut Creek,Danville and Concord, originally were in

the district when it was formed by th evoters in 1956. But the area withdrew in1959 upon the action of th e city councilsof Walnut Creek and Concord and thecounty board of supervisors.

The new study was initially proposedby the Contra Costa City-County Transit Advisory Committee in a letter tothe supervisors last February. The supervisors in turn officially asked AC Transit and BARTD to make th e study, promising full assistance of county personnel.

Welcome Extended To New EmployeesThe welcome aboard to new employeeswas especially hearty this month, as thedistrict greeted th e following workers:General OfficesTabulating: Donna Mae Pidcock, 2598

Henry Ave., Pinole, key punch operator.Accounting: Rita Jane Morrissey, lO12Robin Lane, Apt. 8, ConcaI'd, junior typist clerk. Emeryville DivisionScheduling: J. J. Haubrich, 924 SanBenito Rd., Berkeley; tniffic checker.Bus Operators: D. S. Daniels, 2532

Eagle Ave., Alameda; William Golden,2542 Inyo Ave., Oakland; E. L. Green,5931 Outlook Ave., Oakland; D. J. Clauson, 1821 Lakeville Highway, Petaluma;D. R. Reynolds, 3068 Rollingwood Dr.,San Pablo; D. E. Berryhill, 1730 MarlestaRd., Pinole; L. A. Golden, 16940 Meekland Ave., Hayward; R. S. Cooke, 1344-AE 28th St., Oakland.2

Richmond DivisionMaintenance: Allen M. Nagel, 1532Chanslor Ave., Richmond, service employee.Bus Operator: J. H. Horton, 5023 DamRd., EI Sobrante; W. E. Keyes, 2523 Tulare Ave., El Cerrito; O. J. Meiers, 13613San Pablo Ave., San Pablo; G. B. Turner,1730 Gaynor Ave., Richmond; C. F.Minix, 1620 Chanslor Ave., Richmond;P. ]. Waggoner, 2426 Church Lane, Apt.38, Richmond.Seminary DivisionBus Operator: R. O. Glover, 22185Center St., Hayward; M. A. Guerra, 242935th Ave., Oakland; B. F. Williams, 1510Redwood Ave., San Leandro; J. E. Zunino, 23384 Ida Lane, Hayward; C. L.Glover, 15370 Tropic Street, San Leandro; G. J. Mondragon, 25172 Muir St.,Apt. 6, Hayward; R. J. Gardiner, 36743Ruschin Dr., Newark.

'71 '7 ~ a d 4 gMt",Third Graders Tell 'Dear People' WhereThey Want to Go--To Children's Fairyland

If you had an AC Transit bus and aroute map of the East Bay, where wouldyou want to go?

The district found some answers thismonth from third-grade students at theColumbus School in Berkeley.No matter how they spelled it, it was"Children's Fairyland" all the way, by a19 to 6 majority.

The youngsters made their decisionsknown in letters sent to "Dear Peopleat the AC Transit Company" after studying district route maps given them bytheir teacher, Mrs. Betty Selix.

They looked at the maps, made theirchoice and wrote their thanks, in 25letters, accompanied by 25 drawings.One added extra thanks (three times!)and disclosed:

"Mrs. Selix let us talk while we werelooking."

Like most of the others, she listed the"place I like to go is Children's Fairyland . And I forgot to ask. How are youfeeling today?"BIGGER AND BETTER-As faras school kids at ColumbusSchool are concerned, ACTransit buses constructed inthis fashion would hold more-and everyone would havea window seat.

The district, in an official reply fromthe directors, decided it was feeling verywell indeed, after reading the letters andlooking at the drawings, posted on thewalls of the board room.

The drawings indicated that Children'sFairyland was not the only place dreamscome true. Double-decker buses-with asmiling face at every window-were inseveral drawings. Other drawingsshowed buses with a remarkable abilityto hover over the land, submerge nearthe Berkeley fishing pier and survive anencounter with the "old woman in theshoe."

One youngster chose the fishing pierfor his "ride" with a pier-side bus of asize to match a waiting fish. Anotherpicked University of California; one boysettled for the Alameda Naval Air Station, while a girl decided on the NavalSupply Center, complete with bus ANDboat.

Unhampered by boundaries, one sportsenthusiast left no doubt that howeverhe got there, he wanted to see the Giantsplay.


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FIRST PROBLEM-Driverstesting skill will startwith this problem-driving through parallel bar riers to simulate negotiating a narrow streetwith parked cars. Instructors have checked to besure it can be done.

OVER THE BARREL-This will be one ofthe problems in the Bus-O-Rama contest,driving a bus zig-zag around barrels asa problem in overhang and clearance.This shows how much space a drivershould allow in making turns in orderfor rear of coach to clear parked carsand obstacles.

Watch for the Driver With the Button-He Plans to Put Driving Skill "on Line"AC Transit drivers were wearing a

"buttoned down" look this month, indicating-through a special lapel buttontheir intention of competing in the "BusO-Rama" driving skill contest.Within a few days after sign-up blankswere made available, nearly half of th edistrict's operators had picked up formsand a button to wear which announces:'TIl drive Bus-O-Rama."

The contest, which will determine thebest "Driver of the Year," will be heldon an obstacle course on the paved parking lot on 8th St., north of Youell Field.Elimination trials will be held on May9, 10 and 16 and the finals are scheduledfor June 7. Wheeling around the courseon that day will be the three top semifinalists from the three divisions-a fieldof nine all together.Actual participants will receive shoul-4

del' patches to wear on their uni forms,featuring the outline of a bus and "BusO-Rama-1964," showing they demonstrated their ability, wheeling throughsimulated driving problems encounteredin their regular work.First, second and third place winnerswill receive individual trophies, to beengraved with name and record of theevent.

In addition, a large gold bowl on awalnut base will be presented to thedivision represented by the "Driver ofthe Year," to serve as a perpetual memorial of victory.

The trophies will be on exhibit at thedifferent divisions b efore the trials begin.A standard "500" series coach will beused for the contest, which is for sportas well as individual testing . No district records will be kept of the scores,

FINISH LINE - After passing"parked car," bus pulls into nearside loading zone and up to finish line. Instructors Pete Dodson,left rear; Lloyd Weems and Harvey Asp, right, check accuracy ofcourse layout, with Bob Ballardat wheel.

bu t each driver will be given his ownscore sheet, so he'll know" how he stackedup ."

The drivers will take the bus throughseven problems, simulated with barriers,rubber balls, stanchions and barrels. Allwill be problems encountered in streetoperations.Smoothness of driving will b e considered in th e score and will be measured accurately by a decelerometer, instead of the tumbling cylinder test. Theinstrument, the same as that used to testtlle braking ability on district coaches,measures acceleration and deceleration.

Contestants, in returning sign-up blanksto safety instructors, are asked to indicate when they prefer to compete. Drivers who normally work Saturday or Sunday will be given first priority on thecourse on contest days.All drivers are eligible who have notha d a "5 point" or more accident fromthe time the contest was announced onMarch 1 until finals are completed.

The public will be invited to watchthe contest, particularly the finals .

Children Given LessonsIn Safe Bus Riding AsDistrict Expands 'Class'School children in Oakland and Berkeley were given instructions in how toride public transportation safely this

month as AC Transit expanded its "busriding classes."With Instructor Lloyd Weems as"teacher," the kindergarten classes, firstgraders and two special classes at LincolnElementary School in Berkeley had anall-day session to help them understandand use public facilities.

The experience for the five and sixyear-olds included safety proceduresworked out ahead of time and explainedsimply so the children could understand.

The "class" was continued in greaterdetail and in repeated sessions at theWhitman School for handicapped children, Oakland. There, because of physical difficulties, instruction was geared toabilities of each child, with special emphasis on safety.

Fo r many of the Berkeley youngsters,it was their first time aboard a bus andan exciting experience.

They learned how to board a bus, howto pay their fare, how to take a seat nearthe door-and stay seated, how to "buzz"for their stop, and how to keep their seatuntil the coach stopped.At suggestion of Lincoln School principal William B. Rhodes , the districtplans to prepare a simple booklet-illustrated by the young passengers-tohelp other students learn how to ride abus safely and correctly.

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~ 7 ~ & ~ Foreman Tries Skill With Prickley Plants

As a veteran maintenance foreman ,you expect R. L. "Lee" Brushwiller toknow all about "power plants," bu t notthe prickly kind people call cactus.Lee, day shift foreman at Richmonddivision, not only has well over 100 varieties of cactus plants, he probably holdssome kind of a record for making themost of a dot-sized plot of garden space.He has his display-spectacular inApril, May and June-in a 10 by 10 footarea in front of his studio cottage at1801 Rose St., Berkeley, proving if youcan't spread outward, you can at leastconsolidate vertically.

When a neighbor gave Lee and hiswife, Marie Evelyn, a cereus cactus fiveyears ago, there was no idea, of course,about what was getting started. The cac-HE'S STUCK - ON CACTUS - R. L. "Lee"Brushwiller, dayshift maintenance foreman at Richmond division, has over 100varieties of cactus-in a dot-sized plot.

tus flowered beautifully, to th e wonderof the Brushwillers-and a hobby wasborn. The cactus, the only one plantedoutside in the ground, has 11 blooms onit now-each five or six inches across.Intrigued by the beauty of blooms onthe thorniest of plants, Brushwillerstarted collecting varieties-and buildingshelves and racks to hold colored porcelain containers, stacked in rows on histiny, white-rock plot.

One box, four feet long, greeted Aprilwith 250 buds of varicolored flowersa small inkling of what Brushwiller seeswhen he looks out of his front window.Lee keeps most of liis plants outside,with the exception of a rare type likethe "Turkish Temple" from Africa, whichis getting accustomed to Berkeley cli

mate from an indoors location . It resembles a football, with an orchid-likeflower growing from the pointed endbu t is nothing to kick around any nearbystadium.A one-time truck driver and wa r-timecrane maintenance expert at Kaiser shipyard in Richmond, Brushwiller went towork for Key System in 1946 and hasbeen in Richmond since 1951.

With all that bloom about to burstforth, he's concentrating now on graftingcactus and trying to grow some of hisown from "pups"-that's what they callthem! His only problem-where to pu tthem?

Transit Veteran RetiresOne of the "old-timers" in East Baytransportation, Homer S. Haney, 66, of538 Glen View Ave., Oakland, will retire May 1, after 38 years "in transit."Haney went to work in 1926 as a streetcar conductor, switched a short timelater to trains and worked as a brakeman and trainman until 1958, when hebecame a motor coach operator.

Ae / transit PASSENGER REVENUE COMPARISON WITH PREVIOUS YEAR1.180.000

- - - -.160.0001.140.0001.120.0001.100.0001.080.0001.060.0001,040,0001.020.0001.000.000

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l- I-- -- -, 1 ~ , -I- I- -I-- - - - . - 7 \\ IL \\ :1 \\ I.- ] 17' 7 ""'" f - l ' ,-4 '980.000960.000940.000920.000900.000880.000 z


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ACTIONS OF THE BOARDAt an adjourned regular meeting

March 25, 1964, the Board of Directors: Authorized sale of a portion of landat Richmond division terminal to Cityof Richmond for amount of $8984, onmotion of Vice President Coburn.

Ratified travel outside the State byclaims department attorney, on motionof Director Warren. Approved purchase of 30 new buses,a spare engine assembly, auto and truckreplacements , and authorized installationof heating facilities at district mainte

nance shops, on motion of Director Rinehart. * * *At an adjourned regular meeting, April15, 1964, the Board of Directors: Authorized extension of self-insurance program to include robbery ex

posure, and approved continuation ofexisting insurance program regardingpersonal effects of bus operators, on mo tion of Vice President Coburn . Approved a general program of service adjustment to more closely coordi

nate operations of the district with serv-

TRANSIT TIMESPub li shed month ly by th eALAMEDACONTRA COSTA TRANSIT DISTRICTLatham Square Building 508 Sixteenth Street

Oakland 12, California' Telephone 6547878

BOARD OF DIRECTORSROBERT M. COPELAND ., PresidentDirector at LargeWILLIAM H. COBURN, JR. Vice PresidentWard IRAY H. RINEHARTWILLIAM E. BERK JOHN McDONNELL WM. J. BETIENCOURT E. GUY WARREN

Director at LargeWard IIWard II IWard IVWard VADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS

KENNETH F. HENSEL . General ManagerROBERT E. NISBET. AttorneyJOHN F. LARSON . TreasurerCantrolierGEORGE M. TAYLOR . . . SecretaryALAN L. BINGHAM Public Information Manager___________

ice demands , on motion of Vice President Coburn. Authorized President of Board ofDirectors to represent District at regionalconference of American Society of CivilEngineers at Salt Lake City, on motionof Director McDonnell.

Richmond Operators Top Goal for Third MonthRichmond operators could wear a In respect for their record-best forround and pleased look this month- the district in 1964- N. P. Alevizos, suafter topping their safety goal for the perintendent at Richmond, put on histhird month in a row. white chef's cap and personally handed

The operators tallied 13,872 miles per out the repast. The operators also beataccident in March, surpassing the dis- their goal in January and set a new rectrict's goal of 12,450 miles per accident ord of 14,530 miles per accident inand winning more coffee and doughnuts. February.

TRANSIT TIMESAlameda-Contra Costa Transit District

Latham Square BuildingOakland 12, CaliforniaReturn Requested

BULK RATEU.S. POSTAGEPAID

Permit No . 2105Oakland, Calif.

Documents

Transit Times Volume 6, Number 12