Comments on: AC Transit’s extensive service reduction planning process yields great results http://www.abetteroakland.com/ac-transits-extensive-service-reduction-planning-process-yields-great-results/2009-11-25 The Continuing Story of a City Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:38:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: david vartanoff http://www.abetteroakland.com/ac-transits-extensive-service-reduction-planning-process-yields-great-results/2009-11-25#comment-242879 david vartanoff Sat, 28 Nov 2009 18:20:37 +0000 http://www.abetteroakland.com/?p=3841#comment-242879 Tuesday 5-7 PM AC HQ for the next round of rider (or transit hater) input Be there to see the squares! Tuesday 5-7 PM AC HQ for the next round of rider (or transit hater) input
Be there to see the squares!

]]> By: East Lake Biker http://www.abetteroakland.com/ac-transits-extensive-service-reduction-planning-process-yields-great-results/2009-11-25#comment-242843 East Lake Biker Fri, 27 Nov 2009 06:10:16 +0000 http://www.abetteroakland.com/?p=3841#comment-242843 @david Oh man, I couldn't believe the demands the Cedar Street Neighbors made on AC Transit. I don't know of any other neighborhood with this kind of arrangement. The silliest rule is the one restricting frequencies of buses. Isn't more frequent service a <em>good</em> thing? I feel like getting an old school bus (bio-diesel powered of course) and shuttling up and down the street just to see what they would do. <em>Cedar Street Agreement On June 19, 1991 the District entered into a settlement agreement with the Cedar Street Neighborhood Association (CSNA) regarding service along Cedar Street. The agreement stipulates the types of vehicles, number of trips, as well as hours per day that District buses may traverse Cedar Street. Specifically: • Vehicles – The agreement allows for the operation of “standard diesel” buses in the peak periods, and “vans” during midday. This terminology has come to mean that peak service could be operated by use of 40 foot buses, and midday service by 30 foot buses. Since the initiation of the Line 19, AC Transit only programs 30 foot buses for service along Cedar Street. • Service (weekday) – Service from 6am to 10am may range in trips from 22 to 30. Service from 10am to 4pm carries no trip number specification, but it must be operated in “vans”. Service from 4pm to 7pm may range in trips from 20 to 26, and under no circumstance shall the total number of daily trips exceed 48 • Service (weekend) – No hours delineations, just vehicle type requirements. </em> @david

Oh man, I couldn’t believe the demands the Cedar Street Neighbors made on AC Transit. I don’t know of any other neighborhood with this kind of arrangement. The silliest rule is the one restricting frequencies of buses. Isn’t more frequent service a good thing? I feel like getting an old school bus (bio-diesel powered of course) and shuttling up and down the street just to see what they would do.

Cedar Street Agreement
On June 19, 1991 the District entered into a settlement agreement with the Cedar Street
Neighborhood Association (CSNA) regarding service along Cedar Street. The
agreement stipulates the types of vehicles, number of trips, as well as hours per day
that District buses may traverse Cedar Street. Specifically:
• Vehicles – The agreement allows for the operation of “standard diesel” buses in
the peak periods, and “vans” during midday. This terminology has come to mean
that peak service could be operated by use of 40 foot buses, and midday service
by 30 foot buses. Since the initiation of the Line 19, AC Transit only programs 30
foot buses for service along Cedar Street.
• Service (weekday) – Service from 6am to 10am may range in trips from 22 to 30.
Service from 10am to 4pm carries no trip number specification, but it must be
operated in “vans”. Service from 4pm to 7pm may range in trips from 20 to 26,
and under no circumstance shall the total number of daily trips exceed 48
• Service (weekend) – No hours delineations, just vehicle type requirements.

]]> By: len raphael http://www.abetteroakland.com/ac-transits-extensive-service-reduction-planning-process-yields-great-results/2009-11-25#comment-242835 len raphael Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:11:36 +0000 http://www.abetteroakland.com/?p=3841#comment-242835 not sure how well the ac transit process would translate to something like budget or the rezoning process that is going on. were there any organized groups with strong economic or electoral power behind any particular alternative, or were there enough offsetting interests or just weak forces to make it possible for staff to listen and decide? hey, any process would be better than the current state of denial where our officials seem to be waiting for a miracle. a starting place would be for city to fund a web accessible simulation after consultation with a broad cross section of the city's residents, and not the typical "blue ribbon" panel. There is already citizens city budget committee that could serve that function. -len not sure how well the ac transit process would translate to something like budget or the rezoning process that is going on. were there any organized groups with strong economic or electoral power behind any particular alternative, or were there enough offsetting interests or just weak forces to make it possible for staff to listen and decide?

hey, any process would be better than the current state of denial where our officials seem to be waiting for a miracle.

a starting place would be for city to fund a web accessible simulation after consultation with a broad cross section of the city’s residents, and not the typical “blue ribbon” panel. There is already citizens city budget committee that could serve that function.

-len

]]> By: david vartanoff http://www.abetteroakland.com/ac-transits-extensive-service-reduction-planning-process-yields-great-results/2009-11-25#comment-242834 david vartanoff Thu, 26 Nov 2009 19:30:08 +0000 http://www.abetteroakland.com/?p=3841#comment-242834 Indeed, AC's planners made a serious effort at a very difficult task. I was pleased by a number of the route realignments. Berkeley made an effort to get revisions to keep services whereas Oakland was MIA. Many better routings/or at least retained service areas resulted from the funding swap which roughly halved the cuts. I remain appalled that the North Berkeley BART station which AC's own ## show as a major trip generator, is being abandoned. Although frequencies are supposed to be retained on the 51 College Ave/Broadway route, the rider hostile split remains. If a current bus is delayed north of Rockridge, it runs late. In the Revised Plan, riders on a late bus will be dumped at Rockridge to await a connection. The plan does mention revisiting the transfer surcharge and future efforts to clean up a few of the delay generating traffic issues. (YAY!) And, for entertainment at the AC Board mtg (where the plan was presented), the Cedar Street anti transit people made a series of complaints about being subjected to buses on their street. Indeed, AC’s planners made a serious effort at a very difficult task. I was pleased by a number of the route realignments. Berkeley made an effort to get revisions to keep services whereas Oakland was MIA. Many better routings/or at least retained service areas resulted from the funding swap which roughly halved the cuts. I remain appalled that the North Berkeley BART station which AC’s own ## show as a major trip generator, is being abandoned. Although frequencies are supposed to be retained on the 51 College Ave/Broadway route, the rider hostile split remains. If a current bus is delayed north of Rockridge, it runs late. In the Revised Plan, riders on a late bus will be dumped at Rockridge to await a connection. The plan does mention revisiting the transfer surcharge and future efforts to clean up a few of the delay generating traffic issues. (YAY!) And, for entertainment at the AC Board mtg (where the plan was presented), the Cedar Street anti transit people made a series of complaints about being subjected to buses on their street.

]]> By: len raphael http://www.abetteroakland.com/ac-transits-extensive-service-reduction-planning-process-yields-great-results/2009-11-25#comment-242816 len raphael Thu, 26 Nov 2009 06:28:35 +0000 http://www.abetteroakland.com/?p=3841#comment-242816 as if the cc members are deer caught in the approaching headlights of the disaster semi. RK had a couple of ideas that sounded interesting (no i don't include expanding oaksterdam). other than get rid of meter maids for alt street parking all she did was allude to cuts. nope, no cc wants to be the first one to cut popular programs. the mayor is paralysed, even thought lindheim knows whats up. as if the cc members are deer caught in the approaching headlights of the disaster semi.

RK had a couple of ideas that sounded interesting (no i don’t include expanding oaksterdam). other than get rid of meter maids for alt street parking all she did was allude to cuts.

nope, no cc wants to be the first one to cut popular programs.

the mayor is paralysed, even thought lindheim knows whats up.

]]> By: East Lake Biker http://www.abetteroakland.com/ac-transits-extensive-service-reduction-planning-process-yields-great-results/2009-11-25#comment-242812 East Lake Biker Thu, 26 Nov 2009 03:28:18 +0000 http://www.abetteroakland.com/?p=3841#comment-242812 I was so amazed to see my actual comment on Line 11 cuts incorporated in the survey. I couldn't believe it, a public agency actually listening to to their constituents, mind blowing. Service on the 11 will be maintained at the same level it is now so what I suggested won't really be used for anything, but still, to be listened to ... awesome! Getting service to Chabot and Joaquin Miller will be so much fun. My last time there I took the old 53A bus. Service to the zoo will only be on weekdays, but better than nothing. Props to the zoo for putting the word out to their patrons. I was so amazed to see my actual comment on Line 11 cuts incorporated in the survey. I couldn’t believe it, a public agency actually listening to to their constituents, mind blowing. Service on the 11 will be maintained at the same level it is now so what I suggested won’t really be used for anything, but still, to be listened to … awesome!

Getting service to Chabot and Joaquin Miller will be so much fun. My last time there I took the old 53A bus. Service to the zoo will only be on weekdays, but better than nothing. Props to the zoo for putting the word out to their patrons.

]]> By: Naomi Schiff http://www.abetteroakland.com/ac-transits-extensive-service-reduction-planning-process-yields-great-results/2009-11-25#comment-242808 Naomi Schiff Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:49:43 +0000 http://www.abetteroakland.com/?p=3841#comment-242808 I also very much appreciated that after I commented, they actually followed up by sending me emails about the resultant information and meetings. I also very much appreciated that after I commented, they actually followed up by sending me emails about the resultant information and meetings.

]]> By: Ralph http://www.abetteroakland.com/ac-transits-extensive-service-reduction-planning-process-yields-great-results/2009-11-25#comment-242807 Ralph Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:47:40 +0000 http://www.abetteroakland.com/?p=3841#comment-242807 OMG, the gall of an agency that serves the public to solicit and to LISTEN to public input. this is unprecedented. there is really no way of knowing how the public may react to such news. i mean white is black, black is white, wrong is right and right is wrong. where are the pigs? has anyone seen chicken little. OMG, the gall of an agency that serves the public to solicit and to LISTEN to public input. this is unprecedented. there is really no way of knowing how the public may react to such news. i mean white is black, black is white, wrong is right and right is wrong. where are the pigs? has anyone seen chicken little.

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