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Workshop to Provide Input on the AC Transit Realign Draft Bus Service Plan Scenarios. (Planning, Building and Transportation 20962743)
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To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jennifer Ott, City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
AC Transit Realign is a comprehensive review of Alameda County (AC) Transit ‘s regional bus network to respond to major shifts in riders' travel patterns and prepare for future revenue shortages. To understand transit needs and priorities, AC Transit conducted an in-depth analysis and two rounds of public outreach, including a presentation to the Transportation Commission in August 2023. Based on this, AC Transit established equity, reliability, and frequency as guiding principles to shape the transit network future.
AC Transit seeks input from the Alameda City Council on three preliminary service scenarios, all of which involve changes to routes serving Alameda. This input will be shared with the AC Transit Board of Directors for its meeting on December 13, 2023. AC Transit intends to adopt a final service plan by spring 2024.
City of Alameda (City) staff prepared a draft City of Alameda response letter to the AC Transit Realign scenarios, and requests that Council review and comment on the letter. The letter incorporates feedback from Transportation Commissioners at the November 15 meeting.
BACKGROUND
Public transit is a critical transportation choice in Alameda, providing a low-cost travel option that reduces congestion and greenhouse gas emissions. AC Transit provides bus service throughout Alameda County, including the City.
The AC Transit website states, “We are updating our service to meet the travel patterns of the new normal. The pandemic led to a historic decline in riders, which resulted in unprecedented fare loss. AC Transit sought and received federal relief funds to keep bus lines moving. After three years, however, ridership has not returned to pre-pandemic levels and relief funds will soon be exhausted. As of March 2023, AC Transit’s overall ridership is 69% of pre-pandemic levels. As Bay Area employers continue to operate remote and hybrid work schedules, we forecast that our ridership and fare recovery will continue to be adversely affected. To save East Bay transit, we must now assess the needs of current riders and travel patterns with new focus on where, when, and how we deliver bus service.”
The AC Transit website continues, “AC Transit is facing what’s being called a “fiscal cliff” or budget shortfall. The onboard fareboxes capture a small percentage of the dollars needed to operate our transit district. We rely on a variety of public funding subsidies to support operations. As a result, without a substantial increase in fare revenues and subsidies (regional, state, and federal), AC Transit may be forced to consider service cuts.” More information is at <https://www.actransit.org/realign>.
DISCUSSION
The AC Transit Realign is divided into three preliminary bus service scenarios intended to support equity, reliability, and frequency across the region as a whole. The first two are held within budget constraints, and a third, unconstrained scenario represents a vision without budget limitations.
Short summaries of the budget-constrained scenarios are outlined below, with further details available in Exhibits 1 and 2 provided by AC Transit. See Exhibit 3 for Transportation Commission and staff feedback on the scenarios.
Balanced Coverage Scenario. AC Transit developed this scenario to maintain today’s balance between ridership growth and network coverage throughout the system, and to simplify routes to improve reliability and shorten travel times. For Alameda, it:
• Combines Transbay Lines OX and W into a single line and reduces weekend frequency of Line O.
• Runs Line 96 to Brooklyn Basin, on the Oakland waterfront near Coast Guard Island.
• Otherwise largely maintains existing service to Alameda.
Frequent Service Scenario. AC Transit created this scenario to maximize ridership growth by focusing service in the highest-demand areas, reducing service on lesser-used bus lines to provide weekday service that operates at least every 30 minutes service in the highest-demand areas. In Alameda, it shows:
• Transbay and Line 96 changes as above.
• More frequent service on Line 51, with service every 10 minutes during peak hours.
• Eliminates Line 19.
• Replaces service along Fruitvale Ave and Park St previously served by Lines 20 and 21 with a new Line 39 with 15-minute service terminating at South Shore Center.
• Consolidates Bay Farm Island service from Line 21 into a modified Line 20 with crosstown service to Bay Farm, Shore Line Drive, Main Street, and Stargell Ave to Downtown Oakland. Service to the Oakland Airport along Maitland Dr. and Ron Cowan Parkway is discontinued.
After AC Transit has developed its primary service routes, the agency will develop its 600-series supplementary school routes.
ALTERNATIVES
City Council can elect to:
• Provide input to the AC Transit Board of Directors; or
• Not provide input to the AC Transit Board of Directors.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no financial impact from providing input to the AC Transit Board of Directors.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
The General Plan (2021), Climate Action & Resiliency Plan (2019), and Transportation Choices Plan (2018) prioritize public transit as an important transportation choice in Alameda.
The Transportation Choices Plan (Project 22) calls for a crosstown route serving Alameda Point through the northern section of the island and to Bay Farm.
The Alameda City Council Strategic Plan has this action: “Advocate for AC Transit service enhancements for Alameda Point and Northern Waterfront (currently partially served by Line 96 and 190).”
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This discussion does not constitute a “project” as defined in California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378 and therefore no further CEQA analysis is required.
CLIMATE IMPACT
Convenient, reliable bus lines serving Alameda is important to reducing vehicle miles traveled and transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions.
RECOMMENDATION
Discuss and provide input on the AC Transit Realign Draft Bus Service Plan Scenarios.
Respectfully submitted,
Allen Tai, Planning, Building, and Transportation Director
By,
Lisa Foster, Acting Transportation Planning Manager
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Margaret O’Brien, Finance Director
Exhibits:
1. AC Transit Realign Presentation
2. Draft City of Alameda Response Letter to Provide Feedback on Draft AC Transit Realign Scenarios