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Vol. 10, No.8 OAKLAND, DECEMBER, 1967

Engineering report launches study toCoordinate bay area transit systemsRepresentatives from AC Transit, theS.F. Municipal Railway and the BayArea Rapid Transit District got down to"hard work" this month to develop aplan of coordination that is expected toset a transportation pattern for the restof the nation.

Armed with engineering recommendations heralded "as a historic beginning,"the three agencies moved into the workstage of determining how to effectivelycoordinate the three systems.

Recommendations - including facts,figures and ideas - were contained inthe final engineering report of the Northern California Transit DemonstrationProject, climaxing a 30-month study.Historic studyThe report was labeled as the first"really coordinated transit study" in thehistory of the United States," a collection of information that can be takenand used by the agencies to put togethera network of bus and rail service.A joint committee, established by thethree transit agencies, will evaluate theengineering recommendations and worktoward ultimate implementation of acoordinated service."AC Transit feels the report is alaunching pad for what will be requiredto ultimately achieve coordinated service," Alan L. Bingham, general mana-ger of the District, said.

"We consider the report a startingpoint, an excellent tool for us to use in

District to purchaseFifteen new buses toMeet riding increase

Another 15 new buses will be purchasedby the District early next year to keep upwith an increasing number of passengers.Directors authorized management to seekbids of 15 to 60 new coaches, but with intent of buying only 15 currently, with anoption for the additional purchases laterin the year.Decision to proceed with the purchasewas made after General Manager Alan L.Bingham reported operations were at apeak, as to equipment needs. Out of thecurrent Heet of 683 buses, 606 now arebeing used in peak service, putting a drainon the approved number scheduled for reg-ular maintenance and special services.The new buses, to cost an estimated$470,100, will bring to 417 the number of"modern look" coaches in the Heet.Specifications call for the wider, 102-inchbuses, with 36-inch seats and mechanicallyassisted operation of rear exit doors .All would have additional safety devicesrequired by the Federal government, including windshield washers, additional rooflights and side turn signals.

getting to work on coordinating ACTransit buses and future BART trains."

The engineering recommendations,presented by John J. Curtin of the Philadelphia transportation engineering firmof Simpson & Curtin, include changingof existing bus routes in the East Bayand San Francisco to provide feederservice to BART stations.A minimum adult fare of 25 cents was

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AIRBORNE SANTA - The District's St. Nick - Nicholas P. Alevizos,finds varied reactions to his bus-top appearance - all pleased. CarlKnutson makes a needle to fasten packages to sleigh. Ernie Passarellachecks paint fob; Molena Barnes touches up deer.Candy Cane Express carries greetings

A glittering "Candy Cane Express"carried a holiday message to residents intwo counties this month as the Districtcontinued a five-year tradition of turn-ing a bus into a rolling greeting card.

The bus made a spectacular debutwith Santa riding on top, snug in a redan d gold sleigh, pulled by six reindeer.

It was the first time St. Nick - Nicholas P. Alevizos, superintendent of theRichmond Division - took to the topsideof a coach to enact the Santa Claus rolehe has been playing since 1939.

While Christmas music beamed frommicrophones hidden beneath the sleigh,Nick waved a cheery greeting from thebus top during a trip through eightcities.(A buzzer, placed in the sleigh so he

could warn operator Tommy Powers ofany emergency, sounded only one alarm.His wig and whiskers blew off in Rich-2

mond, bu t were caught mid-air andquickly replaced.)The appearance of the airborne Santa

brought surprised and enthused reactions from sidewalk crowds and homeowners alike, resulting in the bigger response yet to the good will gesture.Two women operators from SeminaryDivision, Adele Bosco and Priscilla

Crap, dressed in red and white costumes, rode on the inside of the bus todistribute free candy canes at pre-announced stops. .The bus itself was given an all-overcoat of white paint and then striped in

red to carry out the Candy Cane theme.Lighted Santa Claus heads were fastened to th e front and to rear, where ared sign featured the "Happy Holidays"message.

As a Candy Cane Express, it operatedin regular service through Christmas.

New pattern of transit, with boostIn total revenue, seen by engineers(continued from page 1)suggested by the engineers for all threesystems. This would require Muni toraise its fare of 15 cents and AC Transitto eliminate 20-cent token fare.

Total passenger revenue for th e threesystems is expected to rise 120 percent.The engineering plan is projected to produce an overall gain of 67 percent in thenumber of revenue passengers by 1975.Operating costs are expected to rise 75percent, to $74 million."Nearly one out of three transit tripsin 1975 will use BART for at least partof the journey," the engineers found.A decrease is projected for AC Tran-sit's transbay patronage - f rom 33,540bus rides daily in 1965 to only 3,640rides in 1975. The engineers expect theloss in transbay and arterial travel to beoffset by "picking up a high proportionof feeder trips to BART stations."Approximately 57 percent of AC Transit passengers will be using the buses toconnect with BART trains.Gain for AC TransitThe net result will be an overall gainof 14 percent in passengers handled byAC Transit, bu t for trips of considerablyshorter length, the engineers said.

The report concludes that 18 newfeeder routes should be planned, including 11 in eastern Contra Costa Countyand seven in southern Alameda County,areas which presently are outside ACTransit service area.

The impact of BART on the Munisystem is not expected to be as great asthat on AC Transit, the engineering report declared. Adult transit trips in SanFrancisco are forecast to show a 22 percent gain by 1975. BART is expected toshare this market with Muni, but Muniis expected to keep three-fourths of it.Deficit operations are expected to continue at AC Transit and Muni despite an

increase in volume of patronage. However, the engineers estimate the threesystems will be closer to a break-evenpoint in 1975 than the two existing operations are at the present.

The NCTDP study devised methodsof providing reduced combination faresto transfer patrons that would make useof BART's -automatic collection system,but not require installation of special,costly equipment on AC Transit buses.

Recommended was a system wherebya patron from either AC Transit or Muniwould pay the regular surface fare andreceive a BART exchange ticket, goodfor the return surface ride withoutadded charge.

The AC Transit system was projectedto need 500 coaches in 1975, as compared to the present fleet of 683 buses.Change in networkThe engineering report proposed forthe AC Transit system a network of 48basic routes, including six transbay andtwo East Bay express lines, one specialroute to Treasure Island, 13 arterials and26 crosstown and feeder routes.

The engineers estimate only a minimalreduction in AC Transit manpower. Thework force is projected at 1371 in 1975.AC Transit currently has 1456 employees, an annual turn-over of approximately 160 workers.

The board of control for th e studyagency includes the general managers ofthe three transit properties, Bingham ofAC Transit, James K. Carr of the SanFrancisco Public Utilities Commission,operator of the Muni Railway, and B. R.Stokes, of the three-county Bay AreaRapid Transit District.

NCTDP project director E. Sam Davisserved on the study during a recentleave of absence f r ~ m his position asdirector of research and planning for ACTransit.3

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'lie 1ItemMiaHeDeath comes to transit veterans

Mrs. Elda L. Stegmiller, senior clerkin the maintenance department at Seminary Division, died on Nov. 15. Mrs.Stegmiller, of 3950 Sequoyah Rd., Oakland, joined the Key System in 1944 asa clerk at the Second Ave. carbarn, moving to the Seminary Division in 1950.A senior clerk since 1954, she workedin the maintenance department office.Survivors include her husband, Laurence, and two sons.Death came on Nov. 18 to one of the"old-timers" among pensioners, James B.Rutland, 89, who worked as a brakeman, switchman and conductor for railroads across the country before goingto work for Key System in 1908. He re

mained for 40 years, retiring in 1948.Mr. Rutland, who had lived in Berkeley for 54 years, served as acting business agent' and vice president of theCarmeri's Local during the 1930's.New workers addedTo District rolls

New District workers are:Executive OfficesCarol S. Wolf, Oakland, public relations, secretary, and Helen F. Pueppke,

Union City, senior secretary.Emeryville DivisionSchedules : Neil Bjornsen, Concord,traffic checker.Bus Operator: C. G. Mazuca, Alameda.Richmond DivisionBus Operators: W. A. Anderson,Berkeley; W. C. Wilson, and HollisNelson, Jr., Richmond; W. E. Cranshaw,Oakland.Seminary DivisionBus Operators: A. W. Holmes, A. R.

Tean, C. B. Hawkins, Vernon Harrell,C. L. Parker, A. C. Johnson, all of Oakland; J. L. King, of Berkeley.4

Arthur R. Schroeder, 79, of 9430 Wal nut St., Oakland, pensioned in 1952, diedNov. 19. He entered service in 1920and worked at Eastern and Central Divisions before becoming a flagman.Lonnie L. Barker, 70, who workedfrom 1935 until he was pensioned in1962, died on Nov. 28 . Mr . Parker, of3802 Shafter St. , Oakland, started atWestern Division and transferred toEmeryville Division in 1947.John Radich, 74, of 5215 CongressAve., Oakland, pensioned in 1958 fromthe Way and Structures Department,died on Nov. 30. He entered service asa temporary laborer in 1935 and wasmade permanent in 1938. He was acrane operator with the train maintenance gang with Key System.

Tohn D. MacDonald, 83, a supervisorwhen he was pensioned in 1947 fromthe transportation department, died onNov. 25. He lived at 1263 Trestle GlenRd., Oakland. Mr. MacDonald enteredservice in 1913.

Employees turn out inUnited Crusadegiving

District workers "dug deep" again thisyear to pledge $16,929 for the UnitedCrusade, representing participation onthe part of 1,168 employees.

With the drive completed, 97 of theworkers had pledged an hour's pay eachmonth as their "Fair Share" of giving.Bus operators again led the field in giving, indicating their recognition of helping the public they meet day to day.The total failed to reach last year'srecord high. however, when $17,494 wascontributed. It was the first recent decrease in United Crusade giving.Emeryville Division transportationagain was tops in fair share givers and

per capita contributions.

BUS STOP LAUNCHING - It was coffee and doughnuts on the corner for Alameda civicand business representatives at preview of Line 35-Alameda-Oakland commuter express.Communities help boost new service

Enthused participation on a community level rolled experimental serviceimprovements off in high gear thismonth.In Alameda, inauguration of the firstcommuter express was toasted with coffee and doughnuts, served to civic andbusiness leaders. The bus stop previewincluded a ride on the new Line 35Alameda-Oakland express to the centerof downtown Oakland and return .In East Oakland, a dozen neighborhood groups cooperated in door-to-doordistribution of information on transitimprovements affecting three neighborhoods west of East 14th St.Working under coordination of the

East Oakland Neighborhood Organization, Inc., the groups distributed datato homes and business establishments.HELPERS - Packaging transit informationare Cicero Finley arid Mrs. Juanita Wilson.

DRIVER'S SEAT - John McDonnell, president of District's Board of Directors, re-ceives congratulations on new bus servicefrom Ralph M. Smith, general manager,Alameda Chamber of Commerce and Wil liam M. McCall, right, Alameda mayor.

SIGNS OF TIME - Maintenance workerJack Rutherford works on new express signs.5

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AC / transit PASSENGER REVENUE ... COMPARISON WITH PREVIOUS YEAR1,260 ,0001,240 ,0001.220,0001,200 ,0001,180 ,0001,160 ,0001,140 ,0001,120 ,0001,100,0001.080,0001,060 ,0001,040 ,0001,02 0 ,0001,000 ,000

980, 00 0960 ,000

l J1 j\UI, "" 1

;i

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At an adjourned regular meeting Nov.22, the Board of Directors : Adopted resolution amending rulesand regulations on travel, on motion ofDirector Rinehart. Authorized General Manager to secure insurance coverage for riot, civildisturbance, vandalism and maliciousmischief, on motion of Director Rinehart.

Accepted recommendations concerning District's over-all insurance program,on motion of Director Rinehart. Authorized renewal of excess liability insurance at end of initial two-yearperiod, to take advantage of favorablerates, on motion of Director Rinehart.At a regular meeting Dec . 13, theBoard of Directors :

Authorized replacement of 12 fleetautomobiles and a truck, at an expendi-Express hits new recordIn fare box revenue

Intercity East Bay express lines tallied a new revenue record of $3353.01on Dec. 4, date for start of Line 35-Alameda-Oakland Express. The previoushigh dropped in fare boxes was $3349.-56, made on Dec. 12, 1966.

The new peak-hour express also wasshowing healthy growth. The number ofpassengers using the freeway service todowntown Oakland increased 40 percentin one week, growing from 119 on firstday to 167 on the following Monday.

Alameda-Contra Costa Transit DistrictLatham Square BuildingOakland, California 94612

Published monthly by theALAMEDA-CONTRA COSTA TRANSIT DISTRICTLatham Square Building 508 Sixteenth StreetOakland. California 94 612 Telephone 654-7878

BOARD OF DIRECTORSJOHN McDONNELL . . .

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

. . President. Vice President

ROBERT M. COPELAND . . Director at LargeRAY H. RINEHART. . . . . Director at LargeWILLIAM H. COBURN, JR. . . . . . Ward IWM . J. BETTENCOURT . . . . . . . Ward IVE. GUY WARREN. . . . . . . . . Ward VADMINISTRATIVE O FF IC ERS

ALAN L. BINGHAM . . . . General ManagerROBERT E. NISBET . . . . . . . . AttorneyJOHN F. LARSON . . . . Treasurer-ControllerGEORGE M. TAYLOR. . . . . . . Secretary

1_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _______ 9 - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ ture of approximately $26,000, on motion of Director Rinehart.

Authorized bids for 15 to 60 newbuses, on motion of Director Coburn.New vehicles to replaceOld District equipmentA regular program for District automobile replacement was activated thismonth as directors approved retirementof 12 older model cars and a truck.

The board took action after it waspointed out the old vehicles had an aver.age mileage of 162,000 miles and hadbeen fully depreciated.

They will be replaced with new vehicles, costing approximately $26,000.The equipment will be used in supervisory operations.

!J00 DWIN SAMMea. u -Return Requested

2018 CHANNING WAYaE:RKELEl. CA 94704