Survey suggests variety of options which Could meet needs of elderly, handicapped

It would take a combination of services, sociates, consultants who conducted the priced from $4 mi Ilion to $18 mi Ilion a study, include: year, to take care of the unmet transit .Zonal Dial-A-Ride, feeding to BART, needs of elderly and handicapped people at an estimated annual cost qf $18 million, in East Bay cities, according to a six-month or $14 a passenger trip. study. • Taxi ride discounts, providing the I concluded my business in Los Angeles Jerry Lee Purvis, driver of a Route 15 A detai led survey has turned up 660 same type of door step service, estimated rather late and flew to San Francisco .. . bus, is to be commended for his special at­ people out of a popUlation of 1,133,000 to cost up to $14 million annually, or $11 after several inquiries and delays, I made tention to the needs of his passengers. East Bay residents who could get to a bus per one-way ride. my way to the East Bay (Trans bay Transit) Monday mOl ning . .. he parked his stop but need a wheelchair lift on regular • Lower front steps and more handrails Terminal. west-bound bus at the East 31 st St.- High­ AC Transit bus service. on existing service, with zonal contract I t was then that I met (Supervisor land Hospital stop to personally escort a Initial costs to equip the 9OO-bus fleet Dial-A-Ride for severely handicapped, Trainee) lavery Morrison . This gentleman blind passenger across the street and into with lifts is estimated at more than $8 priced up to $10 million, or $5.40 per trip. tried every conceivable way to route me the hospital building. million. Annual cost to maintain and • Wheelchair lifts and lower steps on close to Walnut Creek. Failing that, he at­ This action is typical of the high stan­ replace the lifts is estimated at $990,000 or regular buses, coordinated with transporta­ tempted to help me find inexpensive local dart\s of concern for passenger welfare and $27.50 per one-way trip for wheelchair tion provided by social service agencies, lodging. safety that we have come to expect from users. estimated at $4 million, or $3 .57 per one­ At this point, (Driver) Marjorie Ezell en­ the staff of A.c. Transit. The projections are based on 100 trips a way trip. tered his office. He explained my situation R. G . Jcnevein day by persons in wheelchairs using fixed­ All four alternatives include a relatively to this lady and she most graciously offered Oakland route service. low cost package involving driver training, to drive me to Walnut Creek after she Actually, a six-month study ordered by priority seating for the elderly and han­ returned her bus to the yard. * * * AC Transit found a variety of unmet dicapped, teletype equipment for a deaf These two people are more than dedi­ I'm deeply grateful to you for mailing transit needs among elderly and handicap­ transit information service and an "Out­ cated employees. AC Transit is indeed for­ my wallet to me. Fortunately, when I'm a ped people in 13 cities - San Pablo south reach" program to inform the elderly and tunate to employ Mr. Morrison and Ms. patient in a hospital, as I was when the to Hayward plus Fremont and Newark. handicapped in use of existing public Ezell. wallet was stolen, I carry just a few dollars. transportation. Gary E. Barnabo I had also removed all of my credit cards, Costly alternatives Stamford, Conn. driver's license and other items that could The study proposed transit alternatives be used by someone else. ranging from a full Dial-A-Ride system to THE COVER - Working Foreman * * * This would be a much better world in wheelchair lifts and lower bus steps, coor­ Wayne West of Seminary Division which to live if everyone had your kind­ dinated with social service agency feeder checks the hydraulic system actuat­ ing experimental lift, retracts lift I ride the L Line at 8: 15 a.m. from the EI ness and courtesy in helping someone else. services. The price tags range from $4 Thank you with all my heart. into coach door and inspects Cerrito Plaza. I haven't gotten a scat for at million to $18 million a year. wheelchair securement devices inside least two weeks, and have been left several Mrs. Elmer G. Taggart Each alternative represents a tremen­ vehicle. Maintenance and Safety times because the bus was too full. Please Berkeley dous increase over AC Transit's present departments are working to perfect consider additional bus service at this (Ed. Note: Letter was addressed to Lorrie cost of 83 cents per passenger trip in the the prototype prior to testing in ac­ hour. I do think that us folks that get on at Trevino, Customer Services Center) East Bay urban area. tual service. Once the departments the end of the line (just before it goes on * * * The study, first major assessment of are satisfied with the lift's perfor­ the freeway) have it pretty bad. transportation problems of the elderly and mance, the coach is slated for service Nancy Taylor Before I leave Oakland I want to thank handicapped in the AC Transit service tramporting elderly and handicap­ Berkeley area, found approximately 66,000 transit ped riders in Concord. Environmen­ you for your wonderfully efficient AC tal Equipment Corp. of San Leandro (Ed. Note: We regret any inconvenience Transit system. You deserve everyone's handicapped, or about six percent of the provided the lift for testing of the that you have experienced. Contilluing praise for the super service that your com­ total population. Most, however, can use newly-developed design. Cost of the evaLuation q!'trl/nsbay traffic reveaLs Line L pany gives the pUblic. the existing bus system, but with some test will be covered by revenues patronage has increased. To baLance pas­ I wish I could say "thank you" to every difficulty. available to the City of Concord, senger loading and minimize allY need fOr driver I've had. They're the greatest! Un met transit needs amount to about which currently has a contract with riders to stand, we added two lIIornillg bus Dorothy Gordon 7,700 one-way trips per average weekday. the District for transit service. trips to Lille L service this lIIonth.) Oakland Total systems suggested by Crain & As- 2 3 He has no current plans to move from his Point Richmond apartment for a leisure-oriented life elsewhere, preferring to stay put and to enjoy the bachelor life.

Oregon bound A move from Oakland to Oregon, where Leroy Boardman A.M. Daniels, Jr. Benton Tomlin he expects to make good use of the golf course across the street from his home in District retirees Creswell, near Eugene, is the first order of retirement business for Leroy Boardman. Tell leisure plans When he retired Oct. 1 at age 60, Board­ man had completed nearly 31 years of tran­ After long careers sit service, beginning with two years on When Benton Tomlin, 55, retired Aug. 1 streetcars. These "fascinated" him so much oIid camp-alp!!.. after 15 years as a driver, it was his second that he changed occupations - he was pre­ career farewell. He had retired after 22 viously an auto mechanic - for the oppor­ Media message is delivered by riders years of Navy service before joining AC tunity of operating them. When they were Positive public reaction to TV commer­ advantages of taking the bus. Transit in 1962. phased out in 1948, his subsequent 29 years cials featuring Oakland Raider Phil Villa­ Some of these comments: Tomlin and wife Ruth, who had lived in were spent operating buses out of piano has spawned anothcr season "on the "(The bus is) quicker and faster and Alameda, chose to spend their retirement Emeryville Division. tubc" for Villapiano as AC Transit's media cheaper - it's pure economics." (Piedmont years in Summit City, Calif., a hunting and Besides golf, leisure time activities plan­ "star" . But in the new spots now being rider) fishing paradise where the Tomlin's ned by Boardman include fishing (using shown on Bay Area stations, Villapiano "It's just easier than driving. I can climb mobile home is located just six blocks his own boat) and travel. He and wife has two "co-stars" - Waverly Jenkins and on and forget about driving." (Albany from Shasta Dam. His most recent fishing Martha, who'll retire from her 14-year Ann Vanderslice, both AC Transit patrons. rider) outing at the dam, using his own boat, gar­ position as an Oakland librarian this year, In the commcrcials, filmed locally, "The reason I started riding was to con­ nered a catch of 10 trout, he reported, plan a trip next year to the Virgin Islands Villapiano is shown strolling casually with serve gas." (Fremont rider) adding that he also expected to take advan­ and the Caribbean. Jenkins and Vanderslice as they explain New radio commercials, also featuring tage of the fine deer hunting opportunities why they find riding the bus a convenient remarks from riders, begin in January. this season. Redding is home and efficient alternative to driving. The year's media plan also includes out­ Tomlin was with Emeryville Division, Fifteen years of Air Force duty - dur­ The 30-second spots conclude with one door posters and posters on buses. mostly on Line 51, during his entire period ing both the Korean and Viet Nam con­ of nine different messages, spoken by with AC Transit. His only regret at retire­ flicts - were sandwiched between Villapiano, about various aspects of ser­ ment, he says, is that he "misses the dri­ Elsworth Wales' first period as a driver vIce. vers". with Key System (starting Jan., 1950) and Next month a new series of newspaper Leisure living his second period with AC Transit (start­ ads in East Bay dailies, weeklies, and Retirement means taking life easy and ing Jan., 1967). selected "shoppers" will feature com­ having mo~e time to spend "with Piloting a bus probably came naturally ments, gleaned from interviews with riders girlfriends", according to A. M. Daniels, to Wales, since his Air Force background representing different service areas, on the Jr., 66, whose leisure years began Mar. I. was in piloting planes. In addition, he Daniels joined the Maintenance Depart­ spent six years as a radar controller. ment in 1961. Starting as a cleaner, he ad­ Before retiring Mar. 1, Wales was with vanced to leadman, his position at retire­ Seminary Division, where he worked ment. His entire period of service was nearly all the time prior to leaving. He and spent at Richmond Division. wife Jerry, who previously lived in Fre­ With his years at AC Transit added to mont, have moved to Redding. His only his previous period of time as a mechanic regret, he says, is that his retirement and ettlng passengers them­ with a bus system in Sacramento, Daniels moving-away year also is a drought year, sett'es to "se/l" the sen'ice is the specialty of completed nearly 30 years in the transit diminishing the joy of fishing at much­ Phil Villapianu (top. iilmil/g a TV sput with Waverly Jenkills, a loyal rider; heloll', left, dur­ field. Earlier, he completed a long tour of lowered Lake Shasta. il/g a make-up session; al/d, ahove, sharillg (111 Army Air Corps duty in the Pacific during Among the activities which keep Wales on-camera mOll/ellt with a COl/ch .) World War II. busy these days are gardening and golf. 4 5 FASTEST BRUSH Passenger Trips Aug. 1977 Aug. 1976 Change IN WEST - Sue % August Dodge cheerfully East Bay .•..•...... ••. 3,443,630 3,292,712 4.6 Transbay ... . .•... • .... 1,128,423 996,177 13.3 faces a big back­ Fremont/Newark ...... 104,687 76,111 37.5 Financial log of ceramic Contract Services: creations which BART .... • ....•.•.... 98,923 83,313 18.7 Report await finishing Concord ...... 44,746 39,687 12.7 touches . The Pleasant Hill ..•• • •..• 9,882 8,704 13.5 System expenditures, barefoot fisher ­ Moraga/Orinda- •...• 14,005 mall, right. shows Pittsburg/ Antioch/ including allocation for details her skilled Brentwood--.••..•. 8,583 depreciation and in­ painting provides. Total . .. .•...•••..• 4,852,879 4,496,704 7.9 terest and principal on Fare Revenue bonded debt, totaled East Bay ...... $ 704,064 $ 666,897 5.6 Transbay .••.•••.•• • . . . 626,743 543,053 15.4 $4,874,828. Operating Fremont/Newark .•.•... 19,688 14,056 40.1 income amounted to Contract Services: $1,654,064. Total in­ BART ••...•...... • . 31,988 27,219 17.5 come, including pro­ Sue Dodge is ceramics enthusiast Concord ...... 7,275 6,126 18.8 Pleasant Hill .. • ••...• 1,338 1,129 18.5 ceeds from property and Moraga/Orinda- •.• • . 2,149 sales taxes and Federal With an estimated $10,000 investment in then pouring out the excess. When har­ Pittsburg/Antioch/ equipment - including more than 500 dened and unmolded, a piece is ready to be Brentwood--• .•.. • • 2,146 ope rating assis tance different molds and two kilns - Sue fired. Painting may precede firing, but in Total •...• •. .•• . ... $1,395,391 $1,258,480 10.9 amounted to $4,808, - Dodge, a driver at Seminary Division, is most cases, paint is applied (with ex­ Service Miles 514, leaving $66,314 to obviously more than casually involved in pensive sable brushes) after firing. Glaz­ East Bay .. • . • • . ..••..•. 1,429,584 1,406,471 1.6 be offset by accumul­ the craft of ceramics. ing is the last step. Transbay ••.•...•••.•.. 757,433 744,460 1.7 ated cash reserves. Fremont/Newark ..•.. . • 128,573 70,429 82.6 Contract services are And no one is more surprised than Sue Sue says she especially enjoys the Contract Services: herself that she has become such a creative painting - a crucial step in creating a pro­ BART ...... 133,279 136,422 -2.3 being fully paid for by and prolific craftsman. Prior to taking up fessional-looking item. She sometimes cre­ Concord •. •• • . • • • ... . 49,667 39,841 24.7 the communities in­ Pleasant Hill .... • .... 10,849 10,384 4.5 volved. the hobby just five years ago "as a therapy" ates whole "scenes" (resembling three­ Moraga/Orinda- •. ..• 18,214 during a period of family health problems, dimensional collages) by arranging Pittsburg/Antioch/ Nationally, the tran­ Sue nevGr had had either experience or different figures on a base. Brentwood- -.. • • •. • 34,247 sit industry showed an Total...... 2,561,846 2,408,007 6.4 increase of 1.98 percent training in art or crafts. The long-time driver, whose family in­ -Contract service in Moraga/Orinda inaugurated Sept. 13, She feels; however, that the crafting cludes three children, 13 grandchildren, 1976. in total passengers car­ skills and color sense, which are evident in and two great-grandchildren, was widowed - -Contract service in Pittsburg/Antioch/Brentwood inaugur­ ried. ated June 6, 1977. the wide range of pieces which she now in February. Though she set aside her creates for family, friends, and AC Transit ceramics during her husband's last illness, 3 year passenger trip comparison co-workers, probably lay "dormant" she feels that the' craft now serves as an 5.800 000 through the years, awaiting suitable ex­ outlet which is helpful in her adjustment to 5100 000 \ pression. his death. 5.600.000 1977 11 1 - 1976-. '500000 \ Her career in transit has been a long and 1 1975 1 Much variety 5.400.000 \ varied one. She was a civilian driver for , \ 1\ Sue's ceramic items are highly varied the Navy at Treasure Island during World 5300.000 J , ~ 5200000 I \ both in form and function. She creates War II (piloting not only buses, but also , "- 5100000 \ I ~ lamp bases, steins, clock faces, flower pots, trucks, jeeps, and semis) before donning , 5.000 000 \ I \. J figurines, serving dishes, and even com­ the uniform of a "conductorette" on , 1...,. ~ l memorative plates customized for the wed­ transbay trains until they were phased out , .4 • 800 000 I"- \ J dings of co-workers. by Key System in 1958. Switching to buses, '" 4700 000 \ \ I She expects to be especially productivc she was with Emeryville Division initially, I 4.600000 \ if I as Christmas approaches, and is anxious to then transferred to Seminary. She has com­ , tryout some of the 100 new molds (costing pleted more than 25 years of service. 4500 .000 \ as much as $150 each) which she At one time, Sue had two brothers and 4400,000 ~ purchased this year. one sister as fellow operators. Now she and • 300000 The process of creating ceramics begins Daniel Padilla, a nephew who is a driver at 4 ZOO,OOO with the pouring of "slip" into a mold, Newark Division, are the two members of .: 100 000 the family still at AC Transit. checking to insure the correct thickness, JAN FER MAR APR MA Y JUNE JUlY AUG SEPT 0C1 NOV Of( 6 7 Actions of th@ Board At an adjourned regular meeting Sep­ tember 28, the Board of Directors: • Awarded contract for furnishing bus Transit-Times passenger shelters to Handi-Hut, Inc., sub­ Published monthly by the ALAMEDA·CONTRA COSTA TRANSIT DISTRICT ject to compliance with specifications, on 508 16th St.. Oakland. California 94612 motion of Director Rinehart. Telephone (415 ) 654-7878 BOARD OF DiRECTORS JOHN McDONNELL...... President • Authorized General Manager to Ward III negotiate on open market, with no ROY NAKADEGAWA ...... Vice· Pres ~ dent Ward I minimum, for sale of three older GMC PAUL B. GODKIN...... Director at Large RAY RINEHART ...... Director at Large buses, on motion of Director Rinehart. WILLIAM E. BERK...... Ward II WILLIAM J. BETTENCOU ...... Ward IV • Rejected sole bid received for furnish­ JEAN A. HOLK-fES -. - ...... Ward V ing one electro-mechanical counter/sorter ALAN L. BINGHAM , \lneral Manager and authorized General Manager to VIRGINIA B\..OEj\/NtS0N.. •. . . .• ' y Mafketing Manager J. DALE GOUOJ;1'A ...... , . . . ransportatlon Manager negotiate on open market for this item, on OZRO D. GOULb...... ,. Ii: lifms Manager motion of Director Rinehart. JOHN A. KRAJCAR. . . . . , . .• P rCh' no Stores Mgr. LAWRENCE S. KURZ ...... Treasurer-Controller DONALD S. LARSON .. . Manager of Research and Planning • Authorized sending one participant to ANTHONY R. LUCCHESI. . . Maintenance Manager ROBERT E. NISBET...... Attorney Urban Mass Transportation Management STANLEY O. PEARCE ...... Superintendent of Safety Seminar at Northeastern University, on and Training LAWRENCE A ROSENBERG. . District Secretary motion of Director Godkin. and Administrative Projects Manager WARREN E. ROBINSON.. Transportation Engineer • Authorized General Manager to ex­ ROBERT J. SHAMOON ..... '. ' ...... Personnel Manager ecute contract with Haskins & Sells, con­ ~------~9------~ sultants, for assistance in implementing financial reporting, subject to UMT A ap­ uniform system of accounts, records, and proval, on motion of Director Rinehart.

RARE RECORD - Leo and Montry Sasges (with daughter Judy observing) shared cake­ cutting and honors at Richmond Division as he celebrated receiving the 25-year Safe-Driving Award. In 26 years, Sasges never had a miss-out; called in sick just once; and transported two­ and-a-half million passengers over 1,846,000 accident -free miles.

Sa/etll JC(Jee- caed Newark Division exceeded the monthly safe driving goal by a wide margin in September, averaging 83,043 miles betwccn accidents. Thc monthly goal is 13,250 miles per chargeablc accidcnt. Richmond Divi­ sion averagcd 19,102 miles between mishaps; Emcryville Division llveragcd 15,957.

AC Transit Latham Square Building Oakland, California 94612

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