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Vol. 5 No . 7 OAKLAND, NOVEMBER 1962

free Round Trip Bus Rides Given toBerkeley Shoppers Under New PlanFree round-trip bus rides to downtownBerkeley were inaugurated this monthunder a new "Ride & Shop" validatingplan that boosts the university city intothe front ranks of transit innovation.

The plan, worked out by the districtand a group of major Berkeley merchants, is one of the first of its kind inCalifornia.

Inaugurated Nov. 15, it will be givena two-month trial period, which willcover the Christmas trade - a specialboom to harassed shoppers.The "Ride & Shop" program was

worked out with the Berkeley Downtown Center, representing the majorstores, during several months of discussion.

The proposal has also been presentedto chambers of commerce and majordowntown business groups throughoutthe district and meetings have been heldin Hayward, San Leandro, Albany, EICerrito and Oakland.Convenience for Riders

In taking the lead, Berkeley stores feelbus riders should be provided the sameconvenience already offered motoristswhose parking lot fees are validated, according to Marshall K. Horner, presidentof Berkeley Downtown Center.

The program is expected to ease traffic congestion through encouraging

greater use of public transit and also isexpected to attract more people to shopin Berkeley, he added.The plan is operating Monday throughSaturday, including evening hours whenmost stores will be open for Christmasshopping.Here is how it works: riders obtain

a twin-section ticket from their busdriver when they board a coach.Ticket per Validation

When one of the sections is validatedby a participating store, the holder isentitled to a free ride home. By gettingthe other ticket validated at anotherstore, the rider has a second free ride,for a trip back to Berkeley on anotherday.

The 31 downtown stores participatingset $2 as the minimum purchase beforevalidation.The free round trips to Berkeley's business center are available to residents ofAlbany, Kensington, Piedmont, Emeryville, Alameda and a major portion ofOakland, as well as Berkeley. Riders

from other areas elm participate by paying their usual extra zone charge.To launch the plan, the district and

the stores cooperated in a wide publicity and advertising campaign, involving newspapers, advertising media andradio coverage.

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Incumbent: Transit: Direcl:orsReturned 10 OEEice By Large Majority

W. J. Bettencourt R. M. Copeland

William J. Bettencourt, president ofthe board of directors, and three otherincumbent members of the board werereturned to office this month by a substantial majority of voters.

Retained as directors with Bettencourt, San Leandro business executive,were Col. Robert M. Copeland of Kensington, vice president of the board; JohnL. McDonnell of Oakland and E. GuyWarren of Hayward.

In expressing appreciation to the voters, Bettencourt said the large majorityattained by incumbents indicated endorsement of the district's efforts to develop an outstanding transportation system.

He forecast continued expansion andgrowth of the district in which bus service would be inaugurated in new areasas need arises and it is desired by thepeople. He noted there are regions outside the district where discussions havealready been held concerning possibleannexation and new service.

He also said the district would moveahead in developing "park and ride" facilities, "ride and shop" plans, exclusivelanes for buses on freeways and exclusive use of downtown curb lanes duringpeak hours.

New innovations in equipment will beexplored, he said, in an effort to movemore people at less cost to the district,2

J. L. McDonnell E. Guy Warren

and at faster speeds than the presentexpress service-although, for example,it now only takes 14 minutes to travelby express from downtown Oakland todowntown San Leandro.

Such an intensive program to providefaster and more convenient service willmost certainly attract increasing passengers to AC Transit, Bettencourt said.Running in the November election for

director of Ward IV, Bettencourt tallied47,389 votes against the 12,433 given tohis opponent, John Muldowney.Colonel Copeland, who was opposedby four candidates as director-at-large,received 151,545 votes, cast in Alamedaand Contra Costa County, as comparedto 45,610 votes for J. Howard Arnold;5,727 votes for Hector Reyna; 40,741votes for Y. Charles Soda and 25,338votes for Mrs. Kathe S. Zahn.McDonnell, another veteran director,polled 51,481 votes as representative ofWard III, against 7,363 for his opponent,R. P. Mitchell.E. Guy Warren was unopposed as director of Ward V.More InEormal:ion

A note or phone call to the transit district-OLympic 3-3535-will place yourname on the mailing list for TransitTimes if you are not already regularly receiving a copy of the monthly newsletter.

Bus Service Extended to Three AreasBus service was provided for three

new areas this month as the district continued its program of improving transit,particularly in outlying areas.

A new Line 70 will serve residents ofLeroy Heights in San Pablo and at thesame time provide better transportationfor students attending Contra Costa Junior College.Castro Valley residents are receiving

their first direct transbay commute service to San Francisco with extension ofa commuter branch of the transbayLine R.

Extension of Line 55 to serve MarinaFaire also brought the first bus transportation to that residential section ofSan Leandro.

With inauguration of Line 70, residents of Leroy Heights will have accessto downtown Richmond, the EI Portalshopping center and to other districtservice, both transbay and local.

The service, operating Mondaythrough Friday on a basic hourly frequency, is bringing bus transit to thecollege students by following a routearound the Armory facilities, south ofthe center of the College. Th e sameroute also connects the college area withMacdonald and San Pablo Aves. in Richmond, allowing students to transfer direct to Line 72M for travel to other EastBay points.

Commute service for Castro Valley,requested by the Castro Valley Chamberof Commerce, is operating to San Francisco via Castro Valley Blvd., MattoxRd., Mission Blvd., East 14th St., DavisSt. and Nimitz Freeway. Running timefrom Castro Valley has been scheduledat 54 minutes.

Line 55, which previously connectedSheffield Village, Dutton Ave., the central district of San Leandro and MulfordGardens, has been extended to BermudaAve. to serve Marina Faire.

Employees Near Quota in United CrusadeAC Transit employees steamed into

the final stages of the 1962 United BayArea Crusade this month with a recordof 99.1 percent of their quota.With 10 days to go before the cam

paign was due to close, some 1,251 employees ha d pledged $13,381 toward aquota of $13,495. The contribution todate already was 3.8 percent over thetotal collected last year.

Efforts were being made during thelast days to raise the participation to afull 100 percent, with all 1,385 workerstaking part.The district - wide drive has been

headed by John F. Larson, treasurercontroller, with William G. Skilling, assistant treasurer, as vice chairman. Departmental chairmen include:

J. G. Goodman, Ellen Enos, T. P. Mc-

Lean, E. A. Towers, A. R. Lucchesi,Robert Dunn, C. M. Walker, Vern Stambaugh and Skilling.

District Wins SportingFans During Race Meet

At Golden Gate FieldsTh e district came ou t a winner under its

own colors at the 1962 racing season atGolden Gate Fields in Albany, carrying37,696 round trip passengers during themeet.

The total attendance was set at 339,831,with the district carrying over 11 per centof round-trip patrons, the highest percentage of park attendance carried by bus sinceAC Transit went into operation.

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Directors Pass Tax Savings on to RidersSavings from repeal of a 10 percent

Federal transportation tax was passedalong to district bus riders this month.Opposed to retaining the amount of

the tax, the district directors voted unanimdusly to give passengers the benefit of

Macartney to RetireChester N. Macartney, mechanic atJjhe Seminary division, and George S.l\'hodes, motor coach operator, are due

to retire Dec. 1.Macartney, who lives at 1543 106thAve., Ashland, went to work in Nov.1931, as a car shifter and cleaner, movingtb repairman and mechanic.Rhodes, of 9933 Olive St., Oakland,

started as a trainman in 1942 and workedas a towerman before becoming a driverin 1958.

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Bettencourt ReaffirmsCooperation Policy on

Rapid Transit NetworkAC Transit's long-standing policy of in

tent to coordinate its services with futurerail rapid transit was reiterated by WilliamJ. Bettencourt, president of the board ofdirectors, following passage this month ofthe rapid transit bond issue.

In a letter to Adrien J. Falk, president ofth e Bay Area ;Rapid Transit District, Bettencourt repeated AC Transit's pledge of cooperation an d predicted th e two districtscould achieve a "practical coordination ofserviCe."

Close liaison between the two districtsand a full spirit of cooperation should produce for this area the "best transit systemin the nation," Bettencourt said.

He also expressed his congratulations onthe passage of the bond issue, noting thatth e response by the voters was th e "rewardof many years of planning and hard work."

the savings of the Federal tax repeal.The result: a five-cent reduction infares between San Francisco and south

ern Alameda County.The tax, imposed during World War

II to curtail civilian travel, was lifted bythe government at midnight, Nov. 15.

The lower fares affect service to Hayward, Castro Valley, San Lorenzo, PalmaCeia and parts of San Leandro. Becausethe district's fare structure does not involve penny amounts, the reduction ononeoway fares was rounded out to thenearest five-cent figure.

At the same time, the directors approved placing into effect a round-tripfare of $1.40 for the fourth zone, southof Tennyson Rd. Previously, fares wereon a one-way basis only.

Preparedness ProgramSet Up For Emergency

Because of the important role of transportation facilities in the event of localor national emergencies, the district issetting up a program of preparedness tomeet such contingencies.Procedures are being developed by D .J. Potter, transportation manager, whoalso is representing the district on theCity of Oakland Civil Defense and Disaster Council.

In the event of an emergency, the district will coordinate its activities- including buses and personnel-with the lawenforcement service, as a part of thetransportation section. It will also makeits vehicles and personnel available fortransportation of disaster victims andother personnel, according to a chart setup by Civil Defense.

Named to assist Potter were J. D.Goodman, transportation superintendentof the Emeryville division, and T. P. McLea n, transportation superintendent,Seminary division.

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AC/transit PASSENGER REVENUE ... COMPARISON WITH PREVIOUS YEAR$1,060,000

.$1,040,000

$1,020,000

1,000,0000 t

980,000 J

960,000

940,000

920,000

900,000

880,000......___A_N___E_,__A_R___P_R____Y__U=E _" UG. .,! PT. _ OCT. ~ V 2 : ' s

More East Bay residents rode AC Transit in September than they did a year ago, bu t it was the smallest monthly increase in business since early in 1961.

Some 4,184,000 riders were carried du!;!pg themonth, an increase of 52,500 passengers or 1'.03 percent. Transbay commute book sales were up 4 percentover September, 1961, showing an increase of $5,700to $147,200 for total book sales.For the nation's entire transit industry, riding ex

perienced a decrease of 2.04 percent.Passenger revenue for the month of $1,014,900 plus

other income of $70,100 was adequate to meet alloperating costs, which were up 6.6 percent over September, 1961. This income provided for amortizationand depreciation, bu t was not sufficient for all bondeddebt. requirements. Surplus carry-over funds and anticipated savings from the district's new self-insuranceprogram are expected to offset the defict for the monthof $49,601.Miles operated in September totaled 1,823,800, anincrease of 40,251 or 2.3 percent over September , 1961.

SEPTEMBERPASSENGERS

Percentage Changefrom Previous Year8 % ~ ____________

+ 6%1-- - - ----- 1 .+ 4% I--______+ 2% I--___ ___

.0

- 4% I - -" - -_ _ _ _ _

_ ACTRANSIT_ U. S. TRANSIT INDUSTRY5

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Welcome Extended to New WorkersWelcomed into service with AC Transit during October were the following

new employees:General Offices

Tabulating: Arthur M. Gregg, 146Central Ave., San Francisco, tabulatingmachine operator-data processing.Accounting: Arthur R. Towers, 4156Bayo St., Oakland, vault clerk.

Emeryville DivisionMaintenance: Arthur L; Hoffman,2332 Harrison St., Oakland; Herbert M.

Neimeyer, 680 Harris Rd., Hayward;Carl L. Dewitt, 437 Kentucky Ave.,Berkeley, service employees. Bart D.

Expansion Planned at'Park and Ride' Center

Expansion of the Berkeley "Park andRide" site at Henry and Berryman Sts.has been assured AC Transit through extension of a use permit granted by theBerkeley City Council.As result of the favorable action, thedistrict will proceed with plans to per

manently pave the area and rearrangeparking to accommodate more than thepresent 51 cars. The district also is seeking city approval to construct a passenger shelter at the parking facility.

Engineer HonoredG. G. Wadsworth, district safety engineer, has been elected to the executive

board of the transit section of the National Safety Council.Wadsworth's appointment to the ex

ecutive group was commended by ACTransit directors as recognition of hisachievements in the safety and accidentprevent i on field.6

Loughlin, 809 Blossom Way, Hayward,senior clerk.

Purchasing & Stores: Robert L. Goforth, 1551 Marin Ave., Albany, partsclerk.

Bus Operators: Revert Thornton Jr.,1314 Haskell St., Berkeley; R. P. Pracht,426 Taylor Ave., Alameda; NicholasGross, 246 Wayne Ave., Oakland; L. E.Gilmore, 35 Harmony Lane, WalnutCreek; W. W. Isaacs, Ritz Hotel, Oakland; V. J. Frieze, 2262 Ashby Ave.,Berkeley; J. E. Kinney, 1921 7th Ave.,Oakland.Richmond Division

Bus Operators: G. A. Milton, 4514Linden St., Oakland; O. B. Whipple, 809Talbot Ave., Albany; Glen Witty, 210Tunnel Ave., Richmond; L. E. Cummings, 700 20th St., Richmond; R. B.Nix, Bldg. D-12, Apt. 310, Rodeo.

Seminary DivisionBus Operator: C. H. Townsend, 211047th Ave., Oakland.

IN MEMORIAMA Key System veteran from ferry boat

days, Robert Anderson, first officer onthe boats, died Oct. 14. Mr. Anderson,79, entered service in 1912 and was pensioned on Jan. 1, 1940. He lived with hiswife, Hulda, at 124 Foster St., Vallejo.Warren L. Carlton, 77, who died Oct.31, went to work as a street car operator

in 1911 and retired in 1954, after 19years as a supervisor. He lived at 935Key Route Blvd., Albany.Leonard C. Courtright, who died Oct.31, entered service in 1918 and was re

tired in 1944 as a motor coach operator.He was 76 and lived at 1591 BoulevardWay, Walnut Creek, with his wife, Pearl.

Residents Take Last Look at HistoricOrange Color Before it Fades Away

The last orange-colored bus made anostalgic trip on East Bay streets thismonth before it was sent to the shopsfor repainting and renovation.It s appearance marked the last of theKey System orange, a color that meanttransportation to Bay Area residents forwell over half a century. Rehabilitationof the last orange colored bus also marksthe end of the district's two-year program of restoring the usable equipmentacquired from Key System Transit Lines.So that residents could say their owngood-byes to the long-familiar pumpkincolor, the bus was operated through Albany, Berkeley, Oakland and San Leandro on the Shattuck Ave., Telegraph Ave.and Foothill Blvd. lines in a daylongfarewell.

For the occasion, the bus was turnedinto a rolling historical display, withphotographs covering the 59-year era of"traction orange" posted in the interiorarea usually given over to commercialadvertising.

The pictures ranged in era from theinitial "Key Route" train and ferry serv-

ERA ENDS-Last bus stillpainted in historicorange color gets finalcheck by SupervisorJames Viguier, right,whose own service datesback to 1906. Addingtheir good byes wereVernon Sappers, left, ofCalifornia Railway Historical Society, and D. J.Potter, transportationmanager. Operator is J.W. Pryor.

ice, started in 1903, through the yearsof street cars and first buses to today's"Transit Liners."

Just as the "key" became th e symbolof commute service, the orange wasidentified with everything that rolled orfloated under the banner of the "KeyRoute" until 1930. Trains remainedorange, bu t street cars were painted bluewith cream trim. Two years later, coachesemerged briefly in colors of chocolateand tan.

In 1936, street cars and buses againchanged dress, to yellow, with blackstriping and silver trim. In 1942, theywent back to "traction orange." Theshade and the trim varied, but theorange hue remained until the districtstarted repainting equipment in its owncolor scheme.

In all, the district has renovated 276diesel powered coaches, dieselized andrepainted 20 gasoline powered buses,and repainted and rehabilitated another59 coaches. With 280 new buses, thedistrict now has a fleet of 635 coachesin active service, 16 in storage.

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ACTIONS OF THE BOARDAt an adjourned regular meeting Oc

tober 24, 1961, the Board of Directors : Deferred action on disposal of aban

doned terminal property at Mission Blvd.and Pinedale Ct. , Hayward .

Authorized Safety Engineer to accept nomination to executive committeeof transit section of National SafetyCouncil and to attend committee meeting in Chicago.

Established policy requiring use oftourist accommodations on air travel bydistrict personnel. Approved extension of Line 55 to

Marina Faire, Line R to Castro Valley,and inauguration of Line 70 to LeroyHeights.

Approved transit validation plan incooperation with downtown Berkeleybusiness firms for two-month trial period.

Revised one-way and round-triptariffs between third and fourth farezones and San Francisco to reflect discontinuance of Federal transportationtax. Authorized General Manager to se

cure bids for purchase of radio communications equipment. Commended district employees

upon achievement of Fleet Owner Maintenance Efficiency Award for 1962.

TRANSIT TIMESAlameda-Contra Costa Transit DistrictlIOB BroadwayOakland 7, California

Return Requested. 'n-lOMAS R BOLD5681 M1LS AWE.UAKLAND 18. CALIF.;1 _ ,

TRANSIT TIMESPublished monthly by theALAMEDACONTRA ' :r, TRANSIT DISTRICT110

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BOARD OF DIRECTORSWM. J. BETTENCOURT " PresidentROBERT M. C O P E L A N ~ a r ~ IV. . PresidentDirector at LargeROBERT K. BARBER . . Director at LargeWILLIAM H. COBURN, JR . Ward I

. WILLIAM E. BERK Ward IIJOHN McDONNELL Ward II IE. GUY WARREN . Ward V

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERSKENNETH F. HENSELROBERT E. NISBETJOHN F. LARSON .GEORGE M. TAYLOR .

"

General Manager. . . AttorneyTreosurer--ControllerSecretory

At the regular meeting November 14,1962, the Board of Directors: Approved free - ride promotional

program in cooperation with El PortalMerchants Assn. for inauguration ofLine 70.

Authorized attorney to representdistrict interests regarding petition filedwith California State Supreme Court andinvolving jurisdiction of California StatePublic Utilities Commission.

Approved allocation of percentof transit advertising revenue to promoteincreased use of transit advertising.

BULK RATEU.S. POSTAGEPAIDOakland, Calif.

Perm it No. 2105