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Tax rate kept at same levelAC Transit will keep the same con

solidated tax rate during the comingfiscal year, even though expenses areexpected to increase almost $2,000,000.The final operating estimate for thecurrent fiscal year, approved by theBoard of Directors, totaled a recordhigh of $22,123,770, up $1,946,127 or 9.56percent over expenditures for the yearending June 30.Tax rate setThe board voted to set the rate at aconsolidated tax of 19.2 cents per $100of assessed valuation for the third yearin a row, but also accelerated efforts tofind additional sources of revenue tohelp support public transportation.

The directors unanimously moved tosupport Director William J. Bettencourtof San Leandro, who said property taxpayers of the area already are committed to pay the maximum for transitand additional riders were not going tobe enticed to public transit if fares arefurther increased.

We have to seek other sources- federal help and state help-of a permanentnature, Bettencourt stated.

One way the state could help, hesuggested, would be by sharing gasolinetax revenues.Letters sent

The directors adopted Bettencourt'smotion to send letters to federal andstate officials and other authorities, citing the plight of transit and urging helpof a permanent nature.

The letters pointed out fares alonecannot finance full cost of transit operations, because higher fares to meet higher labor costs result in fewer transitriders on one hand and a consequenceincrease in usage of automobiles on theother.

The remaining alternative, the lettersaid, is the development of new resources for funding capital improvementsand some operational costs, technical research and development of those inno-2

vative concepts which hold a promise ofincreasing operational efficiency and generating increased patronage.

The estimated budget allocates $19,-754,770 for operating expenses and$2,369,000 for bond debt requirementsand equipment renewal.

The District expects to offset some ofits increased expenses with a projected$1,017,311 in additional operating revenue, including income from a new farestructure. All adult transbay travel wasincreased five cents a ride and East Baytokens were raised to four for $1 on July1 to help meet escalating costs.Assessments upAlso reRected will be an additional$859,624 in tax income for increased assessments in Alameda and Contra CostaCounties. Although the tax rate remainsthe same, individual bills in the twocounties are adjusted under an assessment equalization formula required bystate law. As result, the tax rate in Alameda County is 19.1 cents, a decreasebelow last year's 19.7 cents. The ContraCosta County rate is 19.9 cents, up overlast year's levy of 17.3.

Tax receipts were estimated at $5,200,-000, while operating revenue from thefare box and other sources was estimatedat $16,854,578. A projected net deficit of$69,192 will be met from the District'ssurplus account.

are boxes keep busyRevenue records set

Revenue records went up on the scoreboard Monday, Aug. 25, boosted by thefare increase now in effect and by theevening's exhibition game between theNew York Jets and Oakland Raiders.System-wise, revenue of $55,l02 wascollected, topping the high of $54,888tallied May 2 Transbay lines showedrevenue of $25,501, surpassing the $24,-834 collected April 10.

r nt sought for new hinged usesA $3,000,000 experimental program has

been initiated by AC Transit to acquire41 newly-designed articulated buses foruse in urban service.

The federal government, which hasexpressed keen interest, will be asked togive the project a financial lift withgrants totaling $2,000,000 .

The double buses offer promise of increased efficiency, with lower operatingcosts per passenger carried- an accomplishment government officials supportas necessary to offset increasing deficitcosts of operating transit service, according to Alan L. Bingham, general manager.

The buses, which are hinged in themiddle, can carry more than 70 passengers. The modern units also will offermore luxurious and comfortable riding,hopefully attractive enough to lure additional riders to public transit, thegeneral manager added.Program startedAuthorization to file a funding application to get the program started was approved by the Board of Directors, following the general manager's report on conferences with government officials inWashington.

Bingham said the new program willbe started with construction of a prototype articulated bus which would be

tested thoroughly at the manufacturingplant. t also would be extensively testedunder operating conditions in differentcities in the East Bay, under street trafficconditions, as well as on busy freewaycorridors.New design

The prototype could incorporate modern design features such as improvedlighting, seating installation, larger windows and front and rear door exits, andair conditioning, the transit official said.The prototype might be powered bya gas turbine engine-another new development recently under study by busmanufacturers.Three years of testing with AC Transit's experimental du o-bus, the FreewayTrain, has given assurance double busescan carry more riders in greater comfortand at less cost per passenger than con ventional coaches, Bingham said.The long coaches will make up theonly eet of modern double buses in thenation. They will be used on inter-cityexpress lines, local lines, and feeder linesto future Bay Area Rapid Transit Districtstations.Approval of the initial federal grantoffers possibility passengers may be riding sophisticated duo-buses at about thesame time BART rail service begins latein 1971.

To avoid th fuss, th y toolc th 'usTaking a bus to the exhibition footballgame between the Oakland Raiders andthe New York Jets-on the same night thecircus was playing in the d ~ e n t arenaat the Coliseum complex-proved the bestand easiest way of getting there in timefor kick-oil.Twenty percent of the crowd let publictransit run interference, riding buses to theColiseum.Nearly 11,000 of the 52,927 who sawthe Raiders-Jets exhibition came by bus,6,699 on the District's special football ex-

presses and about 4,300 in charters.Newspapers gave the District's specialbus service front page and sports pagecoverage before the game, telling fans ifthey wanted to avoid a mammoth trafficjam, to take the bus right to entrance gates.The extensive publicity resulted in recordpatronage for AC Transit-brightened bythe knowledge that many Srst-time ridersmay well tum out to be repeats duringthe rest of the season.Without the buses, as one columnistasked: Think where you'd've parkedl

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What Newspapers re Saying bout ransit

C Transit boosts its ridershiput costs outrun revenue

By H RRE DEMOROTribune staff writerSuccess has always been a problem for $5,200,000 in taxes and add to it $69,192AC Transit-because it's expensive. in surplus cash.Considered by the industry to be one Deficit operation is not unusual in theof the most modern and well-managed transit industry and this is the one reasystems in the country, AC Transit con- son AC Transit directors have the powertinues to boost ridership, and the size of to levy taxes.its fleet of modern coaches. Under present circumstances, the defi-Transit ridership declined nationally cits will continue, said Alan L. Bingham,2.14 percent in the 12 months ending general manager. He has definite ideas

June 20. AC Transit patronage increased about ways the deficit may be coveredby .01 percent overall. without boosting taxes in future yearsRidership on the bus routes on the Bay and how the bus system operation mightBridge has increased by 62 percent since be changed to solve at least some of thethe publicly owned district took over Key problem.System Transit Lines and its affiliates Assuming inflation will continue,nearly nine years ago. Bingham said at least part of the prob-Revenues continue to increase. But the lem might be met by increasing theproblem is they are not increasing fast productivity of employes. In otherenough, and the district is seeking new words, getting more from a bus driversources of money. without making him work harder.

t will take $2,900,192 more to run the The AC Transit board has agreed with700-bus system in the 1969 fiscal year Bingham that one way to do this is tothan riders deposit in fareboxes and bus build larger buses, vehicles that can carryadvertisers contribute, according to esti- more persons per driver. The district hasmates prepared by Robert Tough, dis- experimented with one coach that istrict treasurer-controller. hinged in the middle, so it can be longer

In addition to the costs of operation, and have more seats.AC Transit must pay $1,254,200 for new The experiment, watched carefully bybuses and into an equipment renewal the industry as a whole, was successful,fund, $318,900 in interest on bonds sold in Bingham's view, and the district lastto purchase the bus system and m od ern - we ek asked the Federal government toize it, and $795,900 principal on the help it finance the development and probonds. When these costs are added to duct ion of 41 of the coaches. Binghamthe operating deficit, AC Transit expects ' is hopeful they can be acquired for 3to lose $5,269,192. million, with the federal Department of

To cover the deficit, taxes are levied. Transportation supplying 2 million.This year, AC Transit expects to collect (Continued on Page .5)4

{f

CRUSADERS Stephen L. Nelson, left, executive vice president of the United Crusade,tells AC Transit campaign leaders benefits of helping each other and all in need. At din-ner which inaugurated annual drive were, from left, bottom row: L H. Minear, C. ]. Hip-sley, James McCracken, L. L McDonald, Avonne Bradshaw, A. L. Bingham, generalmanager. Second row: W. E Antwiler and above him, R. H. Bertz, A. R. Lucchesi, C. LModjeski, C. M. Walker, D. ]. Potter. Top: Carl Knutson, D. J. O Connor, John Kraicar, W.G. Skilling, ]. D. Goodman.Continued from Page 4)

But in the long run, Bingham said outside funds, perhaps from the Federalgovernment or the state, will be neededto cover operational deficits.Perhaps a sales tax is the answer, hesaid. The property taxpayer is carrying

the load today.Bingham met recently with J. D . Braman, assistant secretary of the U. S. Department of Transportation. Binghamsaid Braman told him the Federal Government, already assisting transit systemsin purchasing rolling stock and in fi-nancing experiments, is worried aboutthe operating deficit problem.

The AC Transit board is sending letters to federal and state officials to outline the problem.Why AC Transit buses need a tax subsidy when the privately owned Key System and its parent corporations mademoney in the Oakland transit business?Bingham said tax revenues have pre-

served night and Sunday bus service,bought 461 new buses and the experimental hinged bus. AC Transit's 11 BayBridge bus lines are turned into 36 routesthat duck into neighborhoods duringcommuter hours to pick up and dischargepassengers. Bus service is offered insome areas that never had it before, andbecause buses carry more persons perlane than automobiles, freeways andbridges are being better utilized.

AC Transit has 700 buses as againstthe 570 Key System was running in 1960.

Each AC Transit bus travels about1,000 miles further a year than the onesin the smaller Key System fleet.f private enterprise was running the

bus system the local fare probably wouldbe 40 cents, instead of 25 cents, andnight, Sunday and midday operationswould be severely curtailed, Binghamsaid.

If transit is ever profitable, privat e enterprise might try to buy it out, he said.5

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East ay ProvesExciting to scenicTour passengers INTRODUCTIO N New arrivals from China get alook at the East Bay on C Transits sightseeingtour. t right are Barbara nderson OaklandChamber of Commerce hostesses; interpreter Fran-cis Yao and driver David Bell.

Biggest tourist attraction in the EastBay is the Sather Gate area at Universityof California and folks from' out of townused a lot of RIm trying to capture thescene for people back home who "justwon't believe it."

That was one conviction emergingfrom the sightseeing tour sponsored bythe District and the Oakland Chamberof Commerce. t ended on Labor Dayafter a busy and successful summer.A total of 1299 adults and children tookthe tour during the June 15-Sept. 1 season, averaging over 19 passengers a day.August was the busiest month, with adaily average of 25.8 riders.

The bearded, barefoot shaggy look atthe Telegraph Ave. entrance to University of California provided a startlinghighlight for visitors and gave them"something to talk about," according toBarbara Anderson, one of the Chamberof Commerce hostesses who narrated thetour.

Piedmont mansions, the beach alongthe South Shore in Alameda and the viewfrom the Mormon Temple were other

Drivers top safety goalEmeryville Division drivers were in

the winner's circle again this month with14,401 miles per accident, joined bySeminary Division, which tallied 13,206miles per accident. Both divisions toppedthe safety goal of 13,100 miles and wontreats of coffee and doughnuts.6

favorites with passengers, according toMrs. Anderson, a former "Miss Oakland."Among the most enthused visitorswere a group of new arrivals from HongKong, who took their Rrst look at the"vastness" of the East Bay on the bus.

The Chinese newcomers, in Oaklandfor job training at the Opportunities Industrialization Center, 2510 Grove St.,laughed when they heard Alameda County was the largest in northern California,with 1,500,000 inhabitants, according totheir instructor and int erpreter, FrancisYao.

They come from a small place, with8,000,000 people. They can't understandall the room here."The immigrants couldn't believe the

new Oakland Museum - "Such dimensions and so much money," Yao said."They couldn't imagine such a thing.

They were just as amazed at the oldmuseum on the shore of Lake Merritt.Nothing wooden would last that long inthe East," Yao explained.

The Chinese were impressed by thenew Ordway building rising behindKaiser Center-because it was beingnamed after Kaiser's Rrst employee. Anunheard of honor

To help the newcomers attain mobility,the District sent training instructorGeorge Silva to the center for an introduction on how to ride a bus, transfersand make use of the service, befo re theytook the tour.

$1,220,0001,200,0001 1BO,ooo1 160,0001,140,0001,120,0001,100,000I ,OBO,Ooo1,060,0001,040,0001 020 ,0001,000,0009BO,ooO

3 y e r p s s e n g e r revenue o , p a r i s o n

... . . . . . . . ~........ ,, .,..,...' -.. J \.J I11III ,-.. J \

~ ~ I \ I\ J ~... , ",1969_ 19681967

DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR . APR. MAY JUNE JULY AUG . SEPT. OCT . NOV . DEC.JAN. FEB . MAR . APR. MAY ' JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT . NOV. DEC . JAN .

Passenger revenue swings up in ulyPassenger revenue took a decided jump in july as the new fare increase

went into effect, boosting income on both East Bay and transbay lines. Farebox revenue for the month totaled ] ,259,625, up 76,275 or 6.45 percentover the july 1968 total of 1,183,350. Income on East Bay lines was678,742, an increase of 2.14 perce nt compared to year-ago revenue of664,521. Transbay lines had revenue of 580,883, up 11.96 percent overlast year's figure of 518,829.The number of passengers carried during the month was 4,113,649,down1.27 percent below the 4,166,476 who rode District buses in july a yearago. On East Bay lines, the passenger count showed a decrease of 2.26 percent. On transbay lines, riding was up 1.21 percent.Commute book sales for july totaled 242,802, a gain of 5.3 percent oversales of 230,664 in the same month, a year ago.Operation costs during the month were 1,602,408, up 86,617 or 5.71percent over year-ago expenses of 1,515,791. The District operated 2 000 -302 miles of service, an increase of 27,381 miles or 1.39 percent over mileage0/1 972 921 in July, 1968.Total income 0 1,802,566 was sufficient to cover operational costs, depreciation and bond debt requirements.The transit industry nationally indicated a riding decrease for the month0 3.74 percent.

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ctions 1 the oardAt an adjourned regular meeting Aug.

27, the Board of Directors: Awarded contract for furnishing mechanical bus washer to Ross White, onlow bid of 18,854, provided District attorney determines proposal is valid andlegal, on motion of Director Coburn . Awarded contract for interior buscleaner to Aladdin Heating Corp. on lowbid of 23,396, subject to managementreview, on motion of Director Coburn.

Authorized attendance at annualmeeting of American Transit AssociationATA), on motion of Director Coburn . Authorized Assistant General Man

ager for Administration to accept nomination to ATA Public Relations Administrative Committee, on motion of Director Coburn. Authorized General Manager to execute agreement with Bank of America,relative to purchase of new bus, on motion 6f Director Coburn . Approved Operating Estimate for1969/70 fiscal year, on motion of VicePresident Warren. See story, Pg . 2) Established consolidated tax rate at19.2 cents, on motion of Director Rinehart. See story, Pg. 2) Approved sending letters to government officials, urging operating subsidyfor public transit, on motion of DirectorBettencourt. See story, Pg . 2) Authorized General Manager to proceed with program to acquire articulatedbuses, including filing for federal grant,TRANSIT TIMES - To be sure you receive your free copy of Transit Times,send name and address to executive offices, 508 16th Street, Oakland 94612 .

Iransi imesPublished monthly by theALAMEDACONTRA COSTA TRANSIT DISTRICT

508 16th St., Oakland, California 94612Telephone (415) 654-7878Virginia B Dennison t EditorBOARD f DIRECTORSW ILLIAM E BERK President

Ward IIE GUY WARREN . .

Ward V. Vice President

ROBERT M. COPELAND . . Diredor at LargeRAY H. RINEHART . . . . . Diredor at LargeWILLIAM H. COBURN, l t . . . . . Ward IJOHN McDONNELL . . . . . . . Ward IIIWM. J. BETTENCOURT. . . . . . . Ward IV

ADMINJSTRATIVE OffiCERSALAN L BINGHAM . . . . G ene ral ManagerROBERT E NISBET . . . . . . . . AttorneyROBERT D. TOUGH . . . . TreasurerControllerGEORGE M. TAYLOR . . . SecretaryDENNIS J. O CONNOR . Public Information Mgr ., _ _ 9 -.,. . .on motion of Director McDonnell. Seestory, P. 3) Authorized directors and management to attend meeting of American Society of Civil Engineers, on motion of Director Coburn .

At a regular meeting Sept. 10, theBoard of Directors: Authorized installation of special inside advertising frames on approximately330 coaches, on motion of Director McDonnell. Authorized Assistant General Manager for Personnel to attend meeting ofTransit Data Summaries Group , on motion of Director Bettencourt. Approved letter to government officials , on motion of Director Bettencourt. Declared intent to introduce ordinance for annexation of Sherwood Forestarea, on motion of Director Coburn.

.AC TransitLatham Square BuildingOakland, California 94612 GOOD WI N S MM EL U- 5

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