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71-480: Buses operate out of four operating divisions: Emeryville, East Oakland (Seminary), Hayward, and Richmond. The Operations Control Center is in Emeryville. The Richmond operating division closed in 2011, but opened again in early 2017 due to a revived economy. The District is the public successor to the privately owned Key System . In 2023, the system had a ridership of 37,702,700, or about 160,300 per weekday as of

142-517: A "wing" logo featuring the same colors. After its inception, the first new AC Transit orders were for GM New Look buses , which the agency advertised as "Transit Liners". AC Transit began New Look operation in late 1960. AC Transit would continue to operate a mixed fleet of buses throughout the 1960s. AC Transit also pioneered the use of articulated buses in the United States; in March 1966 it

213-482: A $ 16.5 million bond issue in 1959 enabling the District to buy out the failing privately owned Key System Transit Lines. In October 1960, AC Transit's service began. The new District built up the bus fleet with 250 new “transit liner” buses, extended service into new neighborhoods, created an intercity express bus network, and increased Bay Bridge bus service. Numerous AC Transit routes were modified in 1972–73 to serve

284-651: A Transbay Replacement for BART service when BART is not running, connecting Albany, Berkeley, El Cerrito, Oakland, and Richmond with San Francisco's Central Business District along Market Street, as well as the Inner Mission and SoMa neighborhoods. Several "Early Bird" Transbay Lines run only on early weekday mornings to substitute for early morning BART rail service while BART is undergoing construction, connecting commuters in Contra Costa Centre, Dublin, Fremont, Oakland, Pittsburg, and San Leandro with

355-652: A company called the "Realty Syndicate" which acquired large tracts of undeveloped land throughout the East Bay. The Realty Syndicate also built two large hotels, each served by a San Francisco-bound train, the Claremont and the Key Route Inn , and a popular amusement park in Oakland called Idora Park . Streetcar lines were also routed to serve all these properties, thereby enhancing their value. In its early years,

426-521: A ferry terminal near Yerba Buena Island . Filling for the causeway had been started by a short-lived narrow-gauge railroad company in the late 19th century, the California and Nevada Railroad . "Borax" Smith acquired the causeway from the California and Nevada upon its bankruptcy. On December 4, 1924, six people were killed in a train collision on the mole. On May 6, 1933, a major fire erupted on

497-491: A higher-capacity bus; once the specification had been written, two prototypes would be built and tested to select a winner for a large group procurement of 100 buses to keep per-unit costs low. Two European-built articulated buses were tested in the summer of 1974: a Volvo B58 , and a MAN SG 192  [ de ] . Riders received the M.A.N. bus favorably, and the specification was released for bid in 1975; AC Transit placed an order for 30 buses in 1976 and deliveries began from

568-498: A pair of pantographs , invented and manufactured by the Key System's own shops, were installed to collect current from overhead wires to power a pair of electric motors on each car, one on each truck (bogie). The design of rolling stock changed over the years. Wood gave way to steel, and, instead of doors at each end, center doors were adopted. The later rolling stock consisted of specially designed "bridge units" for use on

639-625: A petition with the PUC "against the Key System, seeking restoration of the bus service on the #70 Chabot Bus line". The city councils of Oakland, Berkeley and San Leandro opposed the removal of street cars. The traffic planners supported removal of the streetcar lines to facilitate movement of automobiles. Local governments in the East Bay attempted to purchase the Key System, but were unsuccessful. Streetcars were converted to buses during November/December 1948. In 1949 National City Lines, General Motors and others were convicted of conspiring to monopolize

710-645: A public transportation system serving the area between the Richmond / El Sobrante border to the west and the Al Zampa Memorial Bridge to the east. WestCAT is governed by a 7-member Board of Directors and supported by professional staff of seven. The two cities of Pinole and Hercules are each represented by two board members, while the unincorporated communities of Crockett , Rodeo , and Montalvin Manor each have one representative, appointed by

781-486: Is a 60-foot articulated bus, and 5 battery electric buses from New Flyer. AC Transit is funded with a mix of federal, state, and local government subsidies, as well as passenger fares. In March 2004, voters throughout the San Francisco Bay Area approved Regional Measure 2 , which funds regional transportation capital and operating programs through a US$ 1.00 surcharge on State-owned bridges operated by

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852-568: Is a public transportation service in western Contra Costa County (north of Oakland, CA ). It is a service of the Western Contra Costa Transit Authority . The Western Contra Costa County Transit (WestCAT) was established in August 1977 as a Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement between Contra Costa County and the cities of Hercules and Pinole. It was created with the purpose of owning, operating and administering

923-472: Is an urgent warning to each and every one of you that there is a careful, deliberately planned campaign to swindle you out of your most important and valuable public utilities–your Electric Railway System". The new owners made a number of rapid changes. In 1946 they cut back the A-1 train route and then the express trains in 1947. The company increased fares in 1946 and then in both January and November 1947. During

994-610: Is not party to the lawsuit, and the court sided with MTC in 2009. In November 2008, voters approved Measure VV, which increased the parcel tax by US$ 48 annually for 10 years beginning 1 July 2009, to help fund AC Transit services. Measure VV also extended the US$ 48 parcel tax approved under Measure BB so a total US$ 96 annual tax is effective through 30 June 2019. AC Transit also offers wireless internet on many buses that serve Transbay lines. These buses can be distinguished by their all-green livery, padded "commuter" seats, and Wi-Fi logos near

1065-456: Is today served by BART and AC Transit bus service. The system began as a consolidation of several streetcar lines assembled in the late 1890s and early 1900s by Francis Marion "Borax" Smith and his business interests. After having made a fortune in Borax and gained his nickname, "Borax", the entrepreneur turned to real estate and electric traction for streetcars. The Key System was founded as

1136-798: The BATA . (The Golden Gate Bridge is owned and operated by the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District .) In November 2004, voters approved Measure BB, which increased the parcel tax from US$ 24 to US$ 48 annually for 10 years beginning 1 July 2005, to help fund AC Transit services. In April 2005, a federal class-action lawsuit was filed against the Metropolitan Transportation Commission alleging that it discriminates against AC Transit's primarily minority riders by giving AC Transit disproportionately less money than BART and Caltrain . AC Transit

1207-602: The San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose Railway (SFOSJR) , incorporated in 1902. After consolidating local lines under one company, Smith sought to compete with the Southern Pacific commuter ferry market as well as develop new streetcar suburbs in the East Bay . The troubled California & Nevada Railroad had begun construction of a ferry pier in Oakland, but its plans were never realized. Smith purchased

1278-644: The San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge , bringing Key System trains to the then-new Transbay Terminal in San Francisco's downtown. The bridge railway and Transbay Terminal were shared with the Southern Pacific 's Interurban Electric and the Western Pacific 's Sacramento Northern railroads. The Key System's first trains were composed of standard wooden railroad passenger cars , complete with clerestory roofs. Atop each of these,

1349-478: The Temescal District of Oakland. The Elmhurst Carhouse was in the east Oakland district of Elmhurst , on East 14th (International Blvd.) between 94th and 96th Avenues. The Northern Carhouse was in Richmond where today's AC Transit has a bus yard. In the early years of operation, these were supplemented by a number of smaller carbarns scattered throughout the East Bay area, many of them inherited from

1420-658: The VTA Orange Line light rail service at the Milpitas Transit Center . Some routes also connect with commuter rail and regional rail services, including the ACE commuter rail service at the Fremont–Centerville station and Amtrak 's California Zephyr , Capitol Corridor , Coast Starlight , and San Joaquins services. AC Transit routes also connect with several other bus systems in

1491-717: The "J" by most riders, the "L" designates via Lakeside Drive, and the "R" designates via Richmond Parkway), JPX (serves Pinole Valley residents wanting to go to the Hercules Transit Center or BART). Also, WestCAT operates transbay service between the Hercules Transit Center and the Salesforce Transit Center in San Francisco called the LYNX with stops in the Rodeo Park and Ride located on Willow Avenue, North Shore Business Park near Bio-Rad ,

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1562-449: The 1200 volts used by the SP commuter trains. The cars had an enclosed operator's cab in the right front, with passenger seats extending to the very front of the vehicle, a favorite seat for many children, with dramatic views of the tracks ahead. The exterior color of the cars was orange and silver. Interior upholstery was woven reed seat covers in one of the articulated sections, and leather in

1633-461: The AM General/M.A.N. joint venture in 1978. For its rigid buses, AC Transit continued purchasing GM New Look buses through the early 1970s, then switched to purchasing Flxible New Look buses starting in 1974. Since the early 1980s, AC Transit began acquiring buses from Flyer , Neoplan , and Gillig . Around this time, AC Transit began ordering new buses in a "stripe" color scheme, featuring

1704-676: The Ballard/ XCELLSiS ZEbus (a New Flyer F40LF with a Ballard fuel cell) in November 1999. Three hydrogen-powered buses, based on the Van Hool A330, operated in revenue service from 2006 to 2010. AC Transit took delivery of 12 additional third-generation fuel cell buses, based on the Van Hool A300L in 2011. In 2019, AC Transit began operating 11 additional hydrogen fuel cell buses from New Flyer, one of which

1775-746: The Bay Area, such as Contra Costa Centre , Dublin , Milpitas , Palo Alto , Pinole , Pittsburg , San Francisco , Stanford , and Union City . AC Transit provides service to many colleges and universities, including Berkeley City College , California State University, East Bay , Chabot College , College of Alameda , Contra Costa College , Holy Names University , Laney College , Merritt College , Mills College at Northeastern University , Northwestern Polytechnic University , Ohlone College , Stanford University , and University of California, Berkeley . Most AC Transit routes connect with rapid transit services, such as BART , with one route connecting to

1846-947: The Bay Area, such as the Dumbarton Express , Emery Go-Round , FAST , Golden Gate Transit , MUNI , SamTrans , SolTrans , Union City Transit , VTA, and WestCAT bus systems. AC Transit also connects with the San Francisco Bay Ferry system at several ferry slips , including the Alameda Harbor Bay Ferry Slip, the Alameda Seaplane Lagoon Ferry Slip, the Oakland Ferry Slip, and the Richmond Ferry Slip. While most AC Transit service consists of local lines that operate within

1917-481: The Contra Costa Board of Supervisors. WestCAT's fleet started out with shuttle vans, and then using buses made by El Dorado National and Thomas Built Buses . Now, WestCAT runs an almost all Gillig fleet, ranging from 19 Gillig Phantoms, to 18 Gillig Low Floors. WestCAT also has five Motor Coach Industries (MCI) over-the-road coaches and three Alexander Dennis Enviro500 double-decker buses for use on

1988-715: The Dumbarton Bridge. On June 30, 2003, a new "rapid bus" line operating on San Pablo Avenue was introduced. Designated as Line 72R (or San Pablo Rapid ), the service connected Oakland with Richmond and operated at faster speeds than regular local service due to wide stop spacing and signal priority treatments. Beginning December 10, 2005, AC Transit began participating in the regional All Nighter network, providing 24-hour bus service throughout its service area to supplement BART service, which does not operate during owl hours. AC Transit had provided 24-hour service on many of its trunk lines prior to this date, except in

2059-734: The East Bay District, the District also provides Transbay lines. Most of these run across the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge during rush hours only, connecting commuters with San Francisco's Salesforce Transit Center . Three routes run across the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge on a daily basis, connecting passengers in Alameda, Berkeley, Emeryville, and Oakland with the Salesforce Transit Center. A late night-only bus operates overnight as

2130-463: The East Bay, and commuter rail and bus lines connecting the East Bay to San Francisco by a ferry pier on San Francisco Bay , later via the lower deck of the Bay Bridge . At its height during the 1940s, the Key System had over 66 miles (106 km) of track. The local streetcars were discontinued in 1948 and the commuter trains to San Francisco were discontinued in 1958. The Key System's territory

2201-539: The East Bay. Most routes serve and/or terminate at BART stations. The hubs include: Much of AC transit's ridership is skewed heavily towards a few heavily trafficked local (as opposed to trans-bay) routes. As of 2013, the top five routes account for a third of all riders, and the top twelve routes account for more than half. Voters created the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) in 1956 and subsequently approved

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2272-745: The Eastern Contra Costa Transit Authority) on June 5, 1977. The lines in central Contra Costa County ( County Connection ) were transferred to the new Central Contra Costa Transit Authority in June 1982. Tri-Delta Transit switched to a different operator in 1984. In 2003, the District introduced a San Mateo-Hayward Bridge route. Designated as Line M, the service connected the BART stations of Castro Valley and Hayward with Foster City and San Mateo 's Hillsdale Caltrain station. A second San Mateo-Hayward Bridge route, Line MA,

2343-789: The Great Crash of 1929 , a holding company called the Railway Equipment & Realty Co. was created, with the subsidiary Key System Ltd running the commuter trains. In 1938, the name became the Key System . During World War II , the Key System built and operated the Shipyard Railway between a transfer station in Emeryville and the Kaiser Shipyards in Richmond. National City Lines acquired 64% of

2414-475: The Key System was actually a subsidiary of the Realty Syndicate. Berkeley's numerous paths, lanes, walks and steps, were put in place in many of the newly developed neighborhoods, often in the middle of a city block, so that commuters could walk more directly to the new train system. Berkeley's pathways are still maintained by local groups. Signs of the system still remain: WestCAT WestCAT

2485-542: The LYNX. In addition, WestCAT has 10 Ford E-450 Paratransit vans, and 2 Toyota Camry hybrid electric sedans used for Dial-A-Ride. As of September 2013, WestCAT provides a network of local and express bus routes throughout western Contra Costa County . In addition, WestCAT operates regional service between Martinez (Route 30Z) and the Hercules Transit Center and between the Hercules Transit Center and Contra Costa College (Route C3). The (Local) routes are 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19. Also (Express) JX, JL/JR (referred to as

2556-644: The Salesforce Transit Center. Lastly, one Transbay Bus service is provided during rush hours only across the Dumbarton Bridge between the Fremont BART station and the Stanford Oval at Stanford University, connecting commuters in Fremont with Palo Alto and Stanford. AC Transit's primary hubs include BART stations, major shopping centers, and points of interest, which are spread throughout

2627-673: The United States. Of the large bridge units, three are at the Western Railway Museum near Rio Vista, California while another is at the Orange Empire Railway Museum in southern California. The initial connection across the Bay to San Francisco was by ferryboat via a causeway and pier (" mole "), extending from the end of Yerba Buena Avenue in Oakland, California , westward 16,000 feet (4,900 m) to

2698-603: The Victoria by the Bay neighborhood in Hercules and the Hercules Transit Center. From the Hercules Transit Center the line then goes nonstop to San Francisco via the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes on I-80. WestCAT currently offers free Wi-Fi service on the LYNX line. Major transfer points for the majority of WestCAT and other agencies' routes include: (San Francisco) WestCAT provides service to

2769-400: The board of directors. In 1969, AC Transit received a grant and converted bus #666 to steam power, which ran in revenue service between 1971 and 1972. The propulsion system was designed by William Brobeck and used a triple-expansion reciprocating steam engine; power was improved compared to the original six-cylinder Detroit Diesel 6V71 engine and emissions were reduced, but fuel consumption

2840-515: The first of its new Gillig buses. In August of the same year, AC Transit placed the first of its new New Flyer Xcelsior articulated buses into service. Later that year, in November 2013, new Gillig buses with a suburban seating configuration and Transbay branding were introduced into service. All AC Transit buses are wheelchair accessible and have front-mounted bicycle racks. The MCI buses also feature luggage bay bicycle racks. AC Transit buses purchased after 2007 have air conditioning , as approved by

2911-487: The front entrance door and inside the bus. Key System The Key System (or Key Route ) was a privately owned company that provided mass transit in the cities of Oakland , Berkeley , Alameda , Emeryville , Piedmont , San Leandro , Richmond , Albany , and El Cerrito in the eastern San Francisco Bay Area from 1903 until 1960, when it was sold to a newly formed public agency, AC Transit . The Key System consisted of local streetcar and bus lines in

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2982-507: The idea of using a stylized map on which the system's routes resembled an old-fashioned key, with three "handle loops" that covered the cities of Berkeley, Piedmont (initially, "Claremont" shared the Piedmont loop) and Oakland, and a "shaft" in the form of the Key pier, the "teeth" representing the ferry berths at the end of the pier. The company touted its 'key route', which led to the adoption of

3053-399: The increasing use of buses. Initially a separate company, it was formed by the merger of six local street railroads. The numbering of the streetcar lines changed several times over the years. The Key System's streetcars operated out of several carbarns. The Central Carhouse was on the east side of Lake Merritt on Third Avenue. The Western Carhouse was located at 51st and Telegraph Avenue in

3124-569: The key to bus rapid transit service between Berkeley and San Leandro along Shattuck , Telegraph , International Blvd , and East 14th Street. At the same time, AC Transit rolled out a revised "ribbon" livery featuring new colors (green and black), and a new logo. The logo was simplified in 2014. After criticism over the use of federal funds to purchase foreign-made Van Hool buses and the tailoring of specification requirements to exclude domestic manufacturers, AC Transit ordered locally-built Gillig buses in 2012. In March 2013, AC Transit began operating

3195-462: The late 1990s due to budget limitations. On December 13, 2013, AC Transit adopted a new fare policy that brought changes to the transit system July 2014, including a new day pass that is in line with other transit agencies including VTA and SamTrans . The policy is also designed to speed boarding and help keep buses on schedule, provide greater convenience and value for customers, and encourage more customers to switch to Clipper A rapid bus line

3266-688: The line does have scheduled timepoints en route, most buses typically travel along the route as fast (or as slow) as traffic allows. On June 24, 2007, the success of line 72R made it a model for another rapid bus line that was introduced. Line 1R (or International Rapid ) operated on weekdays between Berkeley Way and Oxford Street in Berkeley and Bay Fair BART station in San Leandro, mainly along Telegraph Avenue , International Boulevard , and East 14th Street. Weekend and holiday service operated between Downtown Oakland and San Leandro only. Line 1R

3337-682: The name "Key System". In 1908, the SFOSJR changed its name to the San Francisco, Oakland & San Jose Consolidated Railway ; it changed to the San Francisco-Oakland Terminal Railway in 1912. Smith was ousted from the company in 1913. After it went bankrupt in December 1923, it was re-organized as the Key System Transit Co. , adopting a marketing concept as the name of the company. Following

3408-815: The new BART system. AC Transit began operating express service connecting BART terminals with outer suburban points under contract to BART on December 2, 1974. With BART operating, suburban municipalities began contracting with AC Transit to operate local bus service. Service began in Fremont on November 12, 1974; in Newark on December 16, 1974; in Concord on September 8, 1975; in Pleasant Hill on December 8, 1975; in Moraga and Orinda on September 13, 1976; and in Antioch and Pittsburg (as Tri Delta Transit under contract to

3479-483: The new bridge, articulated cars sharing a common central truck and including central passenger entries in each car, a forerunner of the design of most light rail vehicles today. Several of these pairs were connected to make up a train. Power pickup was via pantograph from overhead catenary wires, except on the Bay Bridge where a third rail pickup was used. The Key's trains ran on 600 volt direct current , compared to

3550-405: The order (some units of which had already been painted for the Key and delivered to Oakland) to its own Los Angeles Transit Lines , where they ran until 1963. The last Key streetcars ran on November 28, 1948, replaced by buses. From the beginning, the Key System had been conceived as a dual real estate and transportation system. "Borax" Smith and his partner Frank C. Havens first established

3621-411: The other, the smoking section. The flooring was linoleum . During WWII, the roofs were painted gray for aerial camouflage. After acquisition by National City Lines, all Key vehicles including the bridge units were re-painted in that company's standard colors, yellow and green. Until the Bay Bridge railway began operation, Key commuter trains had no letter designation. They were generally referred to by

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3692-414: The ownership of these companies. In 1948 National City Lines proposed a plan to convert all the streetcars to buses. They placed an advertisement in the local papers explaining their plan to 'modernize' and 'motorize' Line 14. The Oakland City Council opposed the plan by 5–3. The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) supported the plan which included large fare increases. In October 1948, 700 people signed

3763-693: The period there were many complaints of overcrowding. On April   9, 1947, nine corporations and seven individuals (constituting officers and directors of certain of the corporate defendants) were indicted in the Federal District Court of Southern California on two counts: ' conspiring to acquire control of a number of transit companies, forming a transportation monopoly ' and 'Conspiring to monopolize sales of buses and supplies to companies owned by National City Lines'. They were convicted of conspiring to monopolize sales of buses and supplies. They were acquitted of conspiring to monopolize

3834-551: The pier end of the mole, consuming the ferry terminal building as well as gutting the ferryboat Peralta . The pier was subsequently reconstructed further south and a new terminal building erected. The Key System operated a fleet of ferries between the Key Route Pier and the San Francisco Ferry Building until January 15, 1939, when a new dual track opened on the south side of the lower deck of

3905-469: The pre-Key companies acquired by "Borax" Smith. The Key streetcars were originally painted dark green and cream white, then orange. They were re-painted in the green and yellow scheme of National City Lines after NCL acquired the Key System. The Key System had ordered 40 trolley coaches from ACF-Brill in 1945 to convert the East Bay trolley lines. The new NCL management canceled the Key's trackless program in 1946 before wire changes were made, and diverted

3976-489: The principal street or district they served, though the Key System did not have any formal naming scheme outside of letter designations. D was reserved for a proposed line into Montclair alongside the Sacramento Northern interurban railway. Shortly after opening of the Bay Bridge to train traffic, the Key System continued to use its pier for special service trains for ferry service to the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition on Treasure Island   — these were given

4047-413: The railroad in order to gain access to its right of way and waterfront operations, as well as use the abandoned pier as a starting point for his own passenger mole . Transbay service began on October 26, 1903, with a four-car train carrying 250 passengers, departing downtown Berkeley for the ferry to San Francisco . Before the end of 1903, Frank C. Havens , the general manager of the SFOSJR, devised

4118-473: The route. The Telegraph Avenue alignment of the 1R between the Uptown Transit Center and U.C. Berkeley is currently being served by local route 6. At its inception, AC Transit purchased the mixed White, Mack, and GM "old-look" bus fleet from its predecessor, the Key System. The ex-Key System buses were repainted in "clownface" livery, featuring a predominantly white (upper half) and orange (lower front) color scheme with teal side stripes, and AC Transit adopted

4189-522: The sale of buses and related products to their subsidiary transit companies throughout the U.S. Between 1946 and 1954 transbay fares increased from 20¢ to 50¢ ($ 3 to $ 6 adjusted for inflation). Fares in this period were used to operate and for 'motorisation' which included streetcar track removal, repaving, purchase of new buses and the construction of bus maintenance facilities. Transbay ridership fell from 22.2   million in 1946 to 9.8   million in 1952. The Key System's famed commuter train system

4260-458: The same letter designations. AC Transit preserved the letter-designated routes when it took over the Key System two years later, and are still in use; AC Transit's B, C, E, F, G and H lines follow roughly the corresponding Key routes and neighborhoods. The Key System's streetcars operated as a separate division under the name "Oakland Traction Company", later changed to "East Bay Street Railways. Ltd", and finally to "East Bay Transit Co.", reflecting

4331-502: The same orange, teal, and white colors as the previous "clownface" livery. In the late 1990s, AC Transit added buses from NABI . AC Transit supplemented these buses with a fleet of 45-foot over-the-road coaches purchased from Motor Coach Industries beginning in the early 2000s. In 2003, AC Transit began purchasing low-floor buses from Van Hool . The Van Hool buses were assembled in Belgium and featured low floors and three doors (four doors on articulated models), which AC Transit touted as

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4402-478: The special designation "X". The service was discontinued at the end of the first year of the Exposition and not revived for the 1940 season. On September 13, 1942, a stop was opened at Yerba Buena Island to serve expanded wartime needs on adjacent Treasure Island. It remained after the war until the end of all rail service on the Key System. The A, B, C, E and F lines were the last Key System rail lines. Train service ended on April 20, 1958, replaced by buses using

4473-425: The stock in the system in 1946. The same year E. Jay Quinby hand published a document exposing the ownership of National City Lines ( General Motors , Firestone Tire , and Phillips Petroleum ). He addressed the publication to The Mayors; The City Manager; The City Transit Engineer; The members of The Committee on Mass-Transportation and The Tax-Payers and The Riding Citizens of Your Community . In it he wrote "This

4544-564: The third quarter of 2024. The AC Transit District is the third-largest public bus system in California, serving a number of cities and unincorporated areas in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. These include Alameda , Albany , Ashland , Berkeley , Castro Valley , Cherryland , East Richmond Heights , El Cerrito , El Sobrante , Emeryville , Fairview , Fremont , Hayward , Kensington , Newark , North Richmond , Oakland , Piedmont , Richmond , San Leandro , San Lorenzo , and San Pablo . Some AC Transit bus routes also serve other areas in

4615-443: The trial ended in September 1972, and the diesel engine was subsequently reinstalled in the bus. AC Transit is the lead agency of Zero Emission Bay Area (ZEBA), a consortium of five Bay Area transit agencies (AC Transit, Golden Gate Transit , SFMTA , SamTrans , and VTA ) demonstrating fuel cell buses. The District began the HyRoad program in 1999 and tested several fuel cell buses with new hydrogen fuelling infrastructure, including

4686-450: Was added in 2006 and discontinued in 2007. (The M replaced the SamTrans 90E, which had been canceled in 1999.) In 2004, the District began service on Line U across the Dumbarton Bridge , connecting Stanford University with ACE and BART trains in Fremont. As part of a consortium of transit agencies (including AC Transit, BART, SamTrans, Union City Transit , and VTA ), the District already operated Dumbarton Express bus service across

4757-402: Was discontinued on June 26, 2016. On August 9, 2020, the 1R was largely replaced by Tempo , AC Transit's new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route. Tempo operates between the Uptown Transit Center and the San Leandro BART station via International Boulevard and East 14th Street. It features 46 brand new platform stations (curbside and center-median) with dedicated bus lanes along the majority of

4828-434: Was dismantled in 1958 after many years of declining ridership as well by the corrupt monopolistic efforts of National City Lines. The last run was on April   20, 1958. In 1960, the newly formed publicly owned AC Transit took over the Key System's facilities. Most of the rolling stock was scrapped, with some sold to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Several streetcars, interurbans and bridge units were salvaged for collections in

4899-399: Was higher than the conventional diesel bus. The steam system is a closed loop. Exhaust steam is condensed and returned to the steam generator, which is an externally-fired boiler that uses 1,400 feet (430 m) of coiled steel tubing. Prior to entering service, the steam bus was exhibited in Washington DC and to the public. Bus #666 completed 3,403 miles (5,477 km) in revenue service when

4970-472: Was introduced on San Pablo Avenue on June 30, 2003. Designated as Line 72R (or San Pablo Rapid ), it operates from 6 am to 7 pm at 12-minute intervals on weekdays, and 7 am to 7 pm at 15-minute intervals on weekends and holidays. Bus stops are spaced 2/3-mile apart on average, running between Jack London Square (via 20th Street and Broadway) in Oakland and Contra Costa College in San Pablo, and buses receive signal priority at several intersections. Although

5041-415: Was the first transit agency to use the Super Golden Eagle long-distance coach (originally designed and built for Continental Trailways ; AC Transit designated it XMC-77 and called it the "Freeway Train"), primarily on Transbay service. By 1970, AC Transit was one of six agencies to participate in a "super bus project" coordinated by the National Transportation Center (Pittsburgh) to write a specification for

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