AC Transit Board Reviews Contingency Plan for 16 Percent Service Cuts if Regional Tax Measure Fails

The AC Transit Board of Directors convened a public hearing to examine a contingency plan that would cut bus service by 16 percent starting in June 2027 if a regional transit funding measure fails on November 3. Serving 1.5 million residents across 364 square miles of western Alameda and Contra Costa counties, the transit district faces a $200 million budget deficit. Board directors received more than 400 comments from riders across Oakland, Berkeley, Richmond, Fremont, and Hayward before the hearing, and the board will vote on the plan in December.

To prevent severe cuts, regional officials placed the Connect Bay Area measure before voters, seeking a 14-year half-cent sales tax in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties and a one-cent tax in San Francisco. The measure would generate about $980 million annually across the region, including $52 million per year for AC Transit. Principal Transportation Planner David Berman emphasized at the hearing that the proposal is only a backup, with no service cut or staff layoff proposed before June 2027.

Under the contingency plan, AC Transit would eliminate lines 19 and 46L, along with all-night routes 802, 805, and 840 used by late-shift workers. Transbay bus lines F, NL, and O between the East Bay and San Francisco would also be eliminated on weekends, while other routes would face reduced frequency. Public commenter Marc Aguilar told the board that the weekend bus line across the San Francisco Bay is critical, reminding directors that BART will be the only way for people to travel across the bay if weekend Transbay service gets eliminated.

Transit equity advocates, youth commissioners, and senior citizens urged the board to protect lifeline bus corridors connecting East Bay neighborhoods to hospitals, colleges, and job centers. Riders noted that cutting overnight routes would strand essential workers when BART trains are closed. District officials reiterated that the December board vote establishes an administrative roadmap only if the November measure falls short.

East Bay commuters can review route impact sheets, financial projections, and December board meeting schedules online at actransit.org or at district headquarters on Franklin Street in Oakland. Customer service representatives are available at (510) 891-4777 to assist riders with route planning and comment submissions ahead of the December vote.