Future of AC Transit

Coming Soon: A New Transit Option for the East Bay

The future of public transportation is coming to the East Bay. AC Transit is exploring the development of a state-of-the-art new transit system that will connect Berkeley, Oakland and San Leandro via Bus Rapid Transit (BRT).

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Conceptual animation of proposed Bus Rapid Transit system

What is BRT?

Bus Rapid Transit is essentially light rail without the tracks. It combines the speed and capacity of light rail with the convenience and affordability of riding the bus. With dedicated lanes and signal priority, BRT moves faster than regular traffic, offering a more efficient ride for passengers. In addition, BRT can be deployed more quickly than light rail and at a fraction of the cost.

AC Transit’s proposed BRT project is a high-capacity rapid transit system that will operate between Berkeley, Oakland and San Leandro, from Telegraph Avenue to East 14th Street to International Boulevard.

AC Transit’s Bus Rapid Transit Project has the following corridor-wide projections:

  • Increased corridor ridership–From 24,000 to 49,000 patrons per day in 2025
  • Faster travel speeds
    • 39 percent faster than existing conditions
    • 18 percent faster than Rapid Bus

Environmentally Friendly

While all forms of mass transit are good for the environment, BRT is especially effective as a way to get more cars off the road and decrease carbon emissions, greenhouse gases and fuel consumption. It is faster, easier and less expensive to develop than traditional light rail, while offering comparable performance and ridership capacity.

The environmental advantages of BRT have been widely documented and recognized. BRT is the first and only mass transit technology certified under the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement to reduce greenhouse gases that cause climate change. A recent analysis published in the Journal of Public Transportation called BRT the best transit strategy for most U.S. cities to reduce transportation-related CO² emissions.

BRT reduces:

  • Auto travel by 9,300 single trips per day and 21,000 miles per day
  • Fuel consumption by 690 gallons per day

These reductions cut regional emissions and greenhouse gases by the following amounts:

  • NOx (Nitrogen Oxide) by 5 to 10 pounds per day
  • CO (Carbon Monoxide) by 33 pounds per day
  • CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) by 12,500 pounds per day

Transit-Oriented Development and Smart Growth

BRT supports Transit-Oriented Development and Smart Growth. Here's how:

  • According to ABAG (Projections 2007) the population of Alameda County is projected to increase more than 27 percent!
  • All portions of the BRT route are considered "Priority Development Areas" within each city
  • Focusing more density around planned infrastructure investment is good sound transportation planning policy

Pedestrian and Bike Friendly

BRT makes conditions much more favorable for pedestrians and bicyclists. Pedestrians will be positively impacted in the following ways:

  • Single through lane calms traffic and reduces crossing distances and "multiple threat" conditions
  • BRT station platforms act as crossing refuges
  • Concentration of bus passengers at BRT stations adds to pedestrian-supportive atmosphere

Bicyclists will be positively impacted in the following ways:

  • Bus/bicycle conflicts eliminated or substantially reduced
  • BRT stations allow easy level boarding of bicycles
  • Single through lane calms traffic

For more information on BRT click here.


Mary Wells, AC Transit Rider Since 1999, Oakland Resident

“I use AC Transit because it is easy and convenient. It is also so much better for the environment than driving myself to work. The way I see it, every time I ride the bus, that is one less car on the road.”