Business & Tech

AC Transit Talking About Eliminating Paper Transfers

by Bay City News

AC Transit's board of directors held two public hearings Wednesday about a proposal that management says will improve service and have some riders paying less to ride buses. Bus agency spokesman Clarence Johnson said management's plan calls for offering a day pass for local service, eliminating paper transfers and giving discounts on local Clipper Card fares. Cash fares, which currently are $2.10 for adults and $1.05 for youths, seniors and the disabled, would remain the same, Johnson said.

The idea behind the plan is to reduce delays caused by cash-paying riders, thereby speeding up passenger boardings and reducing commute times, Johnson said. Management's new fare plan comes in the wake of the AC Transit board's decision earlier this year to defer a fare increase that had been slated to take effect on July 1 that would have bumped up adult fares by 15 cents, to $2.25, and increased fares for youths, seniors and the disabled to $1.15. The board deferred the increase after AC Transit's management said a fare hike could be counterproductive because it would likely result in a drop in ridership and revenues.

AC Transit General Manager David Armijo said in a statement Tuesday, "It's not often that a transit agency enacts a different fare structure that does not include a fare increase." He said AC Transit is proposing the new fare structure "in an effort to attract more riders by making fares less expensive and service more efficient." AC Transit said the proposed day pass would cost $5 for adults and $2.50 for youths, seniors, and the disabled. It would allow unlimited local rides all day long. The pass could be purchased either in cash or by using a Clipper Card. Johnson said AC Transit is encouraging more people to use Clipper Cards by offering a 5 percent discount to card users. That would result in a 10-cent discount for adults and a 5-cent discount for youths, seniors and the disabled.

Passengers who don't buy a day pass would be required to pay the full fare each time they board a bus. Paper transfers would be unnecessary and be eliminated, Johnson said. AC Transit's board will hold public hearings on the proposed plan at the bus agency's headquarters at 1600 Franklin St. in Oakland at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. today. The hearings come on the heels of a series of community meetings held throughout AC Transit's service area earlier this month. Johnson said the board probably won't vote on the plan today but might act on it in the near future. The plan will take effect next July 1 if it is approved. AC Transit provides service to 13 cities and surrounding areas in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.


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