Transit Times

Transit trends and topics Broadway: changing with time and transit In 1967, when BART's downtown Oak 1906: electric era land construction program, including the building of the 12th and 19th Street sta tions, necessitated a massive shift of AC Transit's northbound buses from Broadway to Franklin, the historic nature of the event was duly noted. It marked the first time in over 100 years that major transportation carriers - beginning with horse-drawn cars in 1869 and continuing to the contem porary era of diesel buses - had not trav eled northward along Broadway. And even before the advent of those New era, new plans horse-cars, the importance of Broadway as an urban thoroughfare was well established. According to an Alameda County history Should buses skirt core area? published in 1914, "In 1865 the first mac Pedestrians, a trolley, and a horse cart: this adamizing was done on Broadway between era's 14th and Broadway looked peaceful. Relocating some of the AC Transit routes ing to make transfer connections would not Fourth and Tenth streets. It was an experi that now serve stops at or very near 14th and be seriously inconvenienced since bus ment, but the sand had become intolerable Broadway in downtown Oakland is a pos routes would still meet in downtown - and the people were ready for any expedient required - to secure "the prestige of sibility recommended in at least two sepa though not necessarily at 14th and Broad that would improve street travel and condi Broadway as the most important thor rate studies of transportation within the city way. tions." oughfare in Oakland," which was, the turn center area, according to a report received However, the concepts generated thus far By 1871, Oakland - and Broadway's of-the-century historian noted, "fast by the Board of Directors early in July. would require some restructuring of street stock had risen to the point where more becoming a city capable of sustaining the AC Transit planners, working with city geometry and traffic patterns - two of the extensive street improvements were very best class of stores . ." officials and an ad hoc business and citizen factors which led to establishment of the That same theme - progress tied to group, are refining a slate of proposals current bus route configuration. For exam efficient movement of people and vehicles 1967: building BART which are reminiscent of mass transporta ple, transit can no longer get across down - has continued to apply over the years. In tion designs a generation ago when bus town - as once was routinely possible - the view of Harre Demoro, a Bay Area service was more dispersed around the via 12th Street, which is now closed writer whose specialty is regional transit city's downtown core. between Broadway and Clay. But support is history, "Oakland was destined to grow, Of the two dozen local and express bus growing to reopen that thoroughfare, creat BAKF's and grow it did. Public transportation was Broadway routes currently serving the historic 14th ing a cross-town couplet, with 11 th Str.eet, construction the catalyst that brought the East Bay the and Broadway transfer point, the studies of one-way arterials that could help reheve economic life it needed to prosper." saw buses indicate that several could be rerouted in traffic on 14th. and cars Horse power (of the four-legged variety) coming months to provide for better flow of Shifting faster express bus routes (and . cable power . electrical power . sharing three vehicular and pedestrian traffic, and for perhaps some local lines) to Franklin Street diesel power. In the course of more than a southbound more efficient public transit travel patterns. could ease traffic on Broadway, but this lanes, century, Oakland's historic Broadway has Research and Planning Manager Donald would require opening Franklin - now a sometimes adapted to them all . As this century nears its S. Larson told Directors that the basic idea one-way street - to two-way bus traffic. shrinking end, District planners and city officials (see is to spread transfer points to several City This idea, like the proposed reopening of toone Page 3) are taking a close look at the street's Center sites, most within two or three 12th Street, would require action by the or two. current transit and traffic patterns in relation blocks of 14th and Broadway. This would City of Oakland. to projected pressures on it and other key give downtown-bound riders direct service As an added benefit, restructuring down downtown Oakland thoroughfares by the year 2000. to City Center while reducing congestion town bus travel patterns could make user where routes presently meet. Riders seek- 2 (Continued on page 8) 3 Crowning of Roadeo Key commute routes: now and future champs caps event The heavily-congested Bay Bridge com Springs, near Milpitas. mute corridor has been identified by inde • Interstate 80, from the Bay Bridge to pendent consultants as a top-priority pros the Carquinez Straits. pect for major transit development by the The consultants suggest that AC Transit ROADEO COMPETlT\ON" tum of the century. could help meet future demand by institut The Directors were told that current ing mitigating measures, including service transportation modes in the Bay Bridge additions and improvements. However, the corridor (including buses and BART) serve District's ability to do so may be con very heavy demand - more than 200,000 strained, both by financial shortfalls and by daily passenger trips - yet congestion interagency concerns about the relationship remains severe with continued high auto between bus and rail transit. The study usage. clearly indicates that both modes will be Similar conditions prevail in corridors needed to meet future travel demand, trans paralleling the major interstate highways in bay and in the metropolitan East Bay. the East Bay. Although Interstates 80 and According to Don Larson, research and 880 have been identified for substantial planning manager, the next step in the plan improvement, observers agree that vehicu ning process is a detailed analysis determin lar traffic will still increase enough to keep ing with precision the role AC Transit both congested during commute periods. should play within the Bay Bridge corridor. Spare that cone! According to the report received by the This phase, scheduled to begin this summer, Newark Division's Rick Vierra was first Board of Directors in July, the comprehen will establish the manner and extent of the in the July 19 Bus Roadeo, taking honors, sive study began with initial appraisal of District's future involvement in the multi as he did last year, plus a $250 savings more than two dozen major metropolitan model transbay transportation mix . bond. William Gamlen, also Newark, and suburban travel corridors. After weigh At the same time, Larson notes, refine earned second-place and a $200 bond. East ing several factors, the consultants - ment of the long-range "2000 Transit Plan" Oakland Division's Michael Zipser, third, Cambridge Systematics - narrowed the will continue, yielding a draft of Develop received a $150 bond. This "official" list to three targets for further in-depth ment Guidelines in the next few months. Roadeo followed a July 12, first-ever study: Then, input from community forums will be "open" competition which earned driving • The Bay Bridge link between the met sought to assist Directors in formulating skills recognition for Louella Delaney, John ropolitan East Bay and San Francisco. long-range strategic policies to guide plan Eversole, and Ronald Walker. A festive • Interstate 880, from Oakland to Warm ning of future service development. Open House for District employees, fam ilies, and guests accompanied the tests of driving skills and knowledge. Board approves '86-87 budget with $2.2 million deficit Who's up next? A Fiscal 1986-87 operating budget of In June, after months of aggressive $113 million - which includes a deficit of moves geared to increasing revenues and some $2.2 million more than total projected minimizing costs, the System expected to revenues - gained District Directors' offi enter the current fiscal year with a deficit of cial approval during a July 9 Board less than $1 million. Then the governor meeting. axed the State Transit Assistance program Board President Linda Shepard notes AC Transit had been counting on for $1.4 ROAD CHAMPS - Rick Vierra (top left) out scored more than 20 competitors in the July 19 that the deficit budget will be subject to million. Roadeo. He'll pit his driving skills against other "considerable refinement" in the next few "We take action on a deficit budget at this regional winners August 23 in Santa Cruz, and months. Factors which could change the time out of necessity," the Board President will travel to Detroitfor the October 5-7 APTA bottom line include possible service adjust noted. "But this budget will be subjected to finals . Flanking him in the group photo are ments or curtailments and any associated careful review and revision, and the Acting runners-up Mike Zipser (left) and William changes in work force, plus the budgetary General Manager will be formulating the Gamlen. Some of the many Roadeo onlookers impact of the collective bargaining agree decisions and adjustments necessary to are shown at right. ment now being negotiated. bring it into balance." 5 4 Human Resources focus District-hosted conference aims at demystifying 'Privatization' "Privatization," a word currently in icies and procedures translate themselves Shepard, who serves as APTA Vice Presi have major impact on labor relations, per vogue in the nation's Capitol, was the focus into actual opportunities for competitively dent-Human Resources, noted: "The sonnel administration, training, and our of discussion at the American Public Tran based services".

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