After extending the timeline [1] of its “Realign [2]” transit network overhaul by six months, AC Transit has released a revised Draft Plan [3] for engagement and feedback. In January, the initial version of the service plan [4] received criticism for what public commenters viewed as significant service cuts proposed for key lines across the East Bay, prompting the transit agency to regroup and reconsider tradeoffs.
[5]The new Draft Plan generally retains proposed route alignments from the January version but makes adjustments to route frequencies based on ongoing conversations with riders. Detailed information for each proposed route, as well as an interactive map [6] featuring a new trip planner [7] to simulate what your transit trip may look like after Realign is implemented in March 2025, can be found on AC Transit’s [8] Realign [3] web page.
[9]The list below highlights the changes proposed for routes serving the City of Alameda. With the exception of Line 19, the proposals do not differ significantly from the January plan. Note that AC Transit has added the placeholder prefix “DB” to each line number to denote the current draft scenario.
- Line 6 [10], which currently operates between Downtown Berkeley and Downtown Oakland via Telegraph Avenue, would be extended to Fruitvale BART via Webster Street, Santa Clara Avenue, and Broadway, replacing existing Line 51A [11] in Alameda.
- Line 19 [12] would be extended north from Downtown Oakland along Broadway to Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center and Piedmont Avenue. The change is in response to residents expressing concern over no longer having a direct connection between Alameda and Kaiser Oakland, since an extended Line 6 would serve Alameda instead of New Line 51. The proposal under the January plan to extend Line 19 to the Main Street Ferry Terminal is no longer being considered.
- Line 20 [13] would be rerouted from Webster Street into the West End via Lincoln Avenue, Pacific Avenue, Main Street, and Willie Stargell Avenue.
- Line 21 [14] would end at Harbor Bay Landing Shopping Center and no longer serve Oakland Airport (no replacement service proposed). It would be extended from Dimond District to Skyline High School in Oakland via Lincoln Avenue, Joaquin Miller Road, and Skyline Boulevard, replacing existing Line 39 [15].
- Line 51A [11] would be eliminated and replaced with an extended Line 6 [10] in Alameda and New Line 51 [16] in Oakland. New Line 51 would operate between Lake Merritt BART and the Berkeley Marina via Broadway, College Avenue, Downtown Berkeley, and University Avenue, but would not provide service to Alameda.
- Line 96 [17] would be rerouted between Lake Merritt BART and 14th Avenue in Oakland to serve Brooklyn Basin.
- Lines 314 and 356, which have been suspended since the pandemic, would be permanently eliminated.
- Line 851 [18] would see no changes.
- Line O [19] buses would come every 60 minutes on weekends instead of every 30 minutes.
- Line OX [20] would be eliminated and replaced with an extension of Transbay Line W [21] into Bay Farm Island.
- Line W [21] would be extended to Bay Farm Island from High Street to replace Transbay Line OX [20].
- No changes have been announced for supplementary school service (Lines 631, 663, and 687).
Maps of proposed changes. All maps courtesy AC Transit
As part of its outreach efforts, AC Transit will host a virtual Realign workshop on Thursday, May 23 and a hybrid Realign Workshop at its board meeting on Wednesday, June 5. For specific details and login information, visit the Realign [22] web page and scroll down to Meetings and Events. In Alameda, AC Transit staff will present at the AUSD Board of Education Meeting on Tuesday, May 14. Riders may also submit feedback through an online survey [23] or the interactive web map [6].
Ken Der is a contributing writer for the Alameda Post [24]. Contact him via [email protected] [25]. His writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Ken-Der [26].