List of AC Transit routes explained

AC Transit is a public transit agency that operates 131 bus lines throughout the East Bay region of California. The agency also administers the Dumbarton Express lines, but operation of those lines was transferred to MV Transportation on December 19, 2011. AC Transit provides extensive local bus service to 17 cities in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties and the city of Milpitas in Santa Clara County. Transbay bus service is also provided to San Francisco and Palo Alto in Santa Clara County.

Route summary

AC Transit bus routes are arranged in seven categories (six numbered, one lettered). Since its inception in 1960, AC Transit has used both numbers and letters to distinguish routes. Many Transbay rail lines were inherited from the Key System and converted to bus routes, and AC Transit continued to use letters to identify the routes. Many Transbay routes continue to follow the original Key System alignments to some degree. The number and letter ranges listed below do not mean that all numbers or letters within a range are in use.

Numbered routes operate within the East Bay:

One- and two-digit route numbers are sometimes used as a "base" number for three-digit route numbers. For example, Route 339 is "based" on Route 39.

Lettered routes (A-Z) provide Transbay service (i.e., service across a bridge) between the East Bay and San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara Counties.

Suffixes (also lettered) are used to distinguish variations in route alignments. Currently, A, B, C, L, M, R, S, and X are used. Some suffixes have specific meanings:

Supplemental numerical suffixes are used to differentiate route variations for lines that already use a lettered suffix. This is the case with the NX lines listed above.

Note: Routes listed below are current as of 19 January 2019. (must be updated for 2020 changes)

Local service

These routes serve various cities, towns, and attractions in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. One route also serves Milpitas in Santa Clara County. Several routes provide deviations on select trips, where a bus serves a particular business or school that is not on the regular route.

Historically, Route 51 has been considered the busiest bus route in the East Bay, connecting the cities of Berkeley, Oakland, and Alameda.[1] However, this route was split into Routes 51A and 51B in March 2010.

In early 2015, following several rounds of community meetings, AC Transit announced a proposal for a radical rerouting and redesignation of many lines throughout their service area due to extra funds made available by the passage of Measure BB in November 2014. Called AC Go, the program looks at redesigning bus lines throughout the system to reflect the changing traveling habits of its residents by providing more frequent service on its busiest lines while rerouting others to better serve adjoining communities.[2] [3]

RouteDirectionTerminalsDays of OperationCities and Communities ServedConnecting rail station(s)
North/East TerminalSouth/West Terminal

6

North-southDowntown Berkeley BART
(Shattuck & Center)
Downtown Oakland
(10th & Washington)
DailyBerkeley, OaklandDowntown Berkeley, 19th Street/Oakland, 12th Street/Oakland

7

North-southEl Cerrito del Norte BARTEmeryville Amtrak
(Horton & 59th)
DailyEl Cerrito, Kensington, BerkeleyEl Cerrito del Norte, Downtown Berkeley

10

North-southSan Leandro BARTHayward BARTDailySan Leandro, HaywardSan Leandro, Bay Fair, Hayward

12

North-southBerkeley
(Harrison & 4th)
Oakland Amtrak
(Jack London Square)
DailyBerkeley, OaklandAshby, 19th Street/Oakland, 12th Street/Oakland

14

East-westFruitvale BARTWest Oakland BARTDailyOaklandWest Oakland, 12th Street/Oakland, Fruitvale

18

North-southAlbany
(10th & Monroe)
Lake Merritt BART
(8th & Oak)
DailyAlbany, Berkeley, OaklandDowntown Berkeley, Ashby, 19th Street/Oakland, 12th Street/Oakland, Lake Merritt

19

North-southDowntown Oakland
(11th & Jefferson)
Fruitvale BARTDailyOakland, Alameda (Buena Vista)12th Street/Oakland, Fruitvale

20

East-westDimond District
(Fruitvale & MacArthur)
Daily until 10 PM:
Downtown Oakland
(11th & M.L. King, Jr.)
DailyOakland, AlamedaFruitvale, 12th Street/Oakland
Daily after 10 PM:
Alameda
(South Shore Center)

21

East-westDimond District
(Fruitvale & MacArthur)
Oakland International AirportDailyOakland, Alameda, Harbor Bay Ferry Terminal (select trips)Fruitvale

28

North-southSan Leandro BARTHayward BARTDailySan Leandro, Hayward, Castro ValleySan Leandro, Hayward, Castro Valley

29

North-southOakland
(Mandana & Park)
Emeryville
(Christie & 64th)
DailyOakland, Emeryville12th Street/Oakland, West Oakland

33

North-southAll trips:
Piedmont
(Highland Ave & Highland Way)
Montclair
(Mountain & Moraga)
DailyOakland, Glenview, Piedmont, Montclair19th Street/Oakland, 12th Street/Oakland
Weekday Peaks:
Piedmont
(Inverleith & Estates)

34

North-SouthFoothill SquareHayward BARTDailyOakland, San Leandro, San Lorenzo, Cherryland, HaywardSan Leandro, Hayward BART, Hayward Amtrak

35

North-SouthFoothill SquareBay Fair BARTDailyOakland, San LeandroOakland, Bay Fair

36

North-southUC Berkeley
(Bancroft & Piedmont)
West Oakland BARTDailyBerkeley, Emeryville, OaklandDowntown Berkeley (walking distance), West Oakland

39

East-westSkyline High School
(Skyline & Balmoral)
Fruitvale BARTWeekdaysOaklandFruitvale

40

North-southDowntown Oakland
(11th & Jefferson)
All trips:
Eastmont Transit Center
DailyOakland, San Leandro12th Street/Oakland, Bay Fair
Select trips:
Bay Fair BART

41

North-SouthHayward BARTUnion Landing Transit CenterDailyHayward, Union CityHayward BART, South Hayward

45

East-westFoothill Square
(MacArthur & 107th)
Eastmont Transit CenterDailyOaklandColiseum

46L

East-westGrass Valley
(Golf Links & Shetland)
Oakland Coliseum stationWeekdays (daytime only)OaklandColiseum

51A

North-southRockridge BARTFruitvale BARTDailyOakland, AlamedaRockridge, 19th Street/Oakland, 12th Street/Oakland, Fruitvale

51B

North-southMost trips: Berkeley AmtrakRockridge BARTDailyBerkeley, OaklandBerkeley Amtrak, Downtown Berkeley, Rockridge
Select trips: Berkeley Marina

52

North-southUC Village
(10th & Monroe)
UC Berkeley
(Bancroft & Telegraph)
DailyAlbany, BerkeleyNorth Berkeley, Downtown Berkeley

54

East-westMerritt CollegeFruitvale BARTDailyOaklandFruitvale

56

North-SouthHayward BARTUnion Landing Transit CenterDailyHayward, Union CityHayward BART, Hayward Amtrak

57

East-westFoothill Square
(MacArthur & 107th)
Emeryville Public MarketDailyEmeryville, OaklandMacArthur

60

East-westHayward
(Cal State East Bay)
Hayward BARTDailyHaywardSouth Hayward BART

62

East-westFruitvale BARTWest Oakland BARTDailyOaklandWest Oakland, Lake Merritt, Fruitvale

65

East-westSelect trips: UC Berkeley
(Lawrence Hall of Science)
Downtown Berkeley BARTWeekdaysBerkeleyDowntown Berkeley
Select trips: Berkeley
(Grizzly Peak & Senior)

67

North-southKensington
(Kenyon & Trinity)
Downtown Berkeley BARTWeekdaysKensington, BerkeleyDowntown Berkeley

70

North-southRichmond Parkway Transit CenterRichmond BARTDailyRichmond, Pinole, El Sobrante, San PabloRichmond

71

North-southRichmond Parkway Transit CenterEl Cerrito Plaza BARTDailyRichmond, El CerritoRichmond, El Cerrito Plaza

72

North-southAll trips: Contra Costa CollegeJack London SquareDailyRichmond, San Pablo, El Cerrito, Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, OaklandEl Cerrito del Norte, El Cerrito Plaza, 19th Street/Oakland, 12th Street/Oakland
Select trips: Hilltop Mall

72M

North-southPoint Richmond
(Tewksbury & Castro)
Jack London SquareDailyRichmond, El Cerrito, Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, OaklandRichmond, El Cerrito del Norte, El Cerrito Plaza, 19th Street/Oakland, 12th Street/Oakland

73

East-westEastmont Transit CenterOakland International AirportDailyOaklandColiseum

74

North-southWeekday and select weekend trips:
El Sobrante
(Castro Ranch & Sherwood Forest)
Richmond Marina
(Ford Point)
DailyEl Sobrante, San Pablo, RichmondRichmond
Select weekend trips:
Hilltop Mall

76

East-westEl Cerrito Del Norte BARTRichmond Parkway Transit CenterDailyRichmond, San Pablo, North Richmond, El CerritoRichmond, El Cerrito del Norte

79

North-southEl Cerrito Plaza BARTRockridge BARTDailyEl Cerrito, Albany, Berkeley, OaklandEl Cerrito Plaza, Downtown Berkeley, Rockridge

86

North-southHayward BARTSouth Hayward BARTDailyHaywardHayward BART, South Hayward

88

North-southDowntown Berkeley BART
(Shattuck & Center)
Lake Merritt BARTDailyBerkeley, OaklandDowntown Berkeley, 12th Street/Oakland, Lake Merritt

90

East-westOakland Coliseum stationFoothill Square
(107th & Foothill)
DailyOaklandColiseum

93

East-westBay Fair BARTCastro Valley BARTDailySan Leandro, Ashland, Cherryland, San Lorenzo, Hayward, Castro ValleyBay Fair, Hayward Amtrak, Hayward BART, Castro Valley BART

95

North-southHayward
(Kelly & Eddy)
Hayward BARTDailyHaywardHayward BART

96

East-westOakland
(Fruitvale & Montana)
Alameda Point
(W Midway & Monarch)
DailyOakland, Alameda12th Street/Oakland

97

North-southBay Fair BARTUnion City BARTDailySan Leandro, San Lorenzo, Hayward, Union CityBay Fair, Union City

98

East-westOakland Coliseum stationEastmont Transit CenterDailyOaklandColiseum

99

North-southHayward BARTFremont BARTDailyHayward, Union City, FremontHayward BART, South Hayward, Union City, Fremont BART,

200

North-SouthUnion City BARTFremont BARTDailyUnion City, Newark, FremontUnion City, Fremont BART

210

North-southUnion City
(Union Landing)
Fremont
(Ohlone College)
DailyUnion City, Fremont

212

North-southFremont BARTFremont
(Pacific Commons)
DailyFremontFremont BART

215

North-southFremont BARTFremont
(Kato & Benicia)
WeekdaysFremontFremont, Warm Springs

216

North-southUnion City BARTNewark
(Silliman Recreation Center)
DailyUnion City, Fremont, NewarkUnion City, Fremont BART

217

North-southFremont BARTMilpitas BARTDailyFremont, MilpitasFremont BART, Milpitas BART

232

North-southFremont BARTNewark
(NewPark Mall)
DailyUnion City, Fremont, NewarkFremont BART, Union City

239

North-southFremont BARTMilpitas
(Milpitas & Dixon Landing)
WeekdaysFremont, MilpitasFremont BART, Warm Springs

251

East-westFremont BARTWeekdays:
Newark
(Ohlone College)
DailyFremont, NewarkFremont BART,
Weekends & Holidays:
Newark
(Silliman Recreation Center)

Notes:

Rapid service

For an explanation of bus rapid transit, click here.

Tempo is the branded bus rapid transit service operated by AC Transit. There is one additional Rapid route.

RouteRoute NameDirectionTerminalsDays of OperationCities and Communities ServedConnecting BART Station(s)
North/East TerminalSouth/West Terminal

1T

TempoNorth-southUptown Transit CenterSan Leandro BARTDailyOakland, San Leandro19th Street/Oakland, 12th Street/Oakland, Fruitvale, San Leandro

72R

San Pablo RapidNorth-southContra Costa CollegeDowntown Oakland
(Jack London Square)
DailySan Pablo, Richmond, El Cerrito, Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, OaklandEl Cerrito del Norte, 19th Street/Oakland, 12th Street/Oakland

These routes provide the following amenities and features:[4] [5]

Broadway Shuttle

The Broadway Shuttle, also known as The Free B, is a free shuttle service operating along Broadway in downtown Oakland as part of the Meet Downtown Oakland program.[6] Service is operated by AC Transit under contract with the City of Oakland. Funding is provided by the City of Oakland, Alameda County Transportation Commission, and Bay Area Air Quality Management District with additional sponsorships from Jack London Square, Jack London Improvement District, Downtown Oakland Association, and Lake Merritt-Uptown District Association.

The Broadway Shuttle began in August 2010[7] and was expanded twice, first in July 2011[8] and again in December 2014.[9] Late-night Friday and all Saturday service was discontinued in August 2017.[10] The B operates two routes:[11] [12]

RouteMap ColorTerminalsDays and Hours of OperationService Frequency
North TerminalSouth Terminal
DayOrangeGrand & WebsterWebster & EmbarcaderoWeekdays, 7 AM - 7 PMEvery 10–15 minutes
NightBlueBroadway & 27th StreetWebster & EmbarcaderoWeekdays, 7 PM - 10 PMEvery 12 minutes

Special service

Several special service routes, numbered between 300 and 399, cater to various purposes:

FLEX service

In 2016, AC Transit started operating two FLEX services that provide on-demand van service to riders in Castro Valley and Newark. These services require passengers to book their trips online, using a smartphone app, or by telephone (up to three months in advance), and vans arrive within 30 minutes after the reservation is made.[13] Customers boarding at a BART station do not need to reserve a trip and can just tell the operator their final destination. Fares are identical to the local fares, and Clipper cards are accepted. These services operate Mondays to Fridays from 6am to 8pm (except holidays).[14]

RouteBART TerminalDeparture TimesCommunities ServedService Notes
Castro ValleyCastro ValleyHourly at :30 pastCastro ValleyOperated alongside former Route 48, with expanded service to surrounding neighborhoods in northern Castro Valley
North NewarkUnion CityEvery 30 minutes, at :10 and :40 pastNewarkOperates around the general area of currently suspended Route 275, with additional service to Ardenwood Park & Ride and Newark Senior Center

Early Bird Express

On February 11, 2019, the beginning of BART service on weekdays was changed from 4:00 am to 5:00 am for a three-year period to allow for overnight seismic retrofit work in the Transbay Tube. Thirteen Early Bird Express routes, of which six are operated by AC Transit, were created to provide service between 3:50 am and 5:30 am. The AC Transit-run routes provide Transbay service to the Temporary Transbay Terminal.

RouteTerminals
Outer terminalInner terminal
701Pittsburg/Bay Point stationTemporary Transbay Terminal
702Pleasant Hill stationTemporary Transbay Terminal
703Dublin/Pleasanton stationTemporary Transbay Terminal
706Bay Fair stationTemporary Transbay Terminal
707Fremont stationTemporary Transbay Terminal

Transbay service

These routes cross San Francisco Bay and connect the East Bay with San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara Counties. All routes except Route 800 are lettered. (Route 800 is part of the All Nighter network and is listed in its respective section.) Most Transbay routes operate weekdays only during commute periods; two routes operate throughout the day on weekdays only and three routes operate daily. Most commute-only routes operate westbound from the East Bay in the morning and eastbound to the East Bay in the afternoon, but some service is provided in the reverse commute direction.

Serving San Francisco

All bus routes serving San Francisco cross the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge and terminate at the Salesforce Transit Center (at the third floor).

RouteTerminalDays of OperationCities and Communities ServedConnecting BART Station(s)Local Travel Permitted
EBerkeley Hills
(Parkwood Apartments)
Weekdays (commute only)Oakland, BerkeleyN/AYes
FUC Berkeley
(Bancroft & Telegraph)
DailyEmeryville, Oakland, BerkeleyDowntown Berkeley, AshbyYes
FSBerkeley
(Solano & Colusa)
Weekdays (commute only)BerkeleyDowntown BerkeleyNo
GEl Cerrito
(El Cerrito Plaza BART)
Weekdays (commute only)Berkeley, Albany, El CerritoEl Cerrito PlazaNo
JBerkeley
(Sacramento & University)
Weekdays (commute only)Emeryville, BerkeleyN/ANo
LSan Pablo
(Princeton Plaza)
Weekdays (commute only)Albany, El Cerrito, Richmond, San PabloEl Cerrito del NorteNo
LAAll trips:
Richmond
(Hilltop Park & Ride)
Weekdays (commute only)RichmondN/ANo
Select trips:
Hilltop Green
(Park Central & Fairway)
NLEast Oakland
(Eastmont Transit Center)
DailyOakland19th Street/OaklandYes
NXEast Oakland
(Seminary & MacArthur)
Weekdays (AM commute only)OaklandN/ANo
NX3San Leandro
(Marlow & Foothill)
Weekdays (commute only)Oakland, San LeandroN/ANo
OOakland
(Fruitvale BART)
DailyOakland, AlamedaFruitvaleYes
OXAM terminal:
Bay Farm Island
(Robert Davey Jr & Packet Landing)
Weekdays (commute only)Oakland, AlamedaN/ANo
PM terminal:
Bay Farm Island
(Island Drive Park & Ride)
PPiedmont
(Highland Avenue & Highland Way)
Weekdays (commute only)Oakland, PiedmontN/ANo
VOakland
(Broadway & College)
Weekdays (commute only)OaklandN/ANo
WAlameda
(Broadway & Blanding)
Weekdays (commute only)Oakland, AlamedaN/ANo

Service via the San Mateo Bridge

One route operates between the East Bay and San Mateo County via the San Mateo Bridge.

Service via the Dumbarton Bridge

AC Transit operates one route between the East Bay and Santa Clara County via the Dumbarton Bridge. Additional bus service across the Dumbarton Bridge is provided by Dumbarton Express, which is a Transbay bus service provided under a consortium of five transit operators (AC Transit, BART, SamTrans, Union City Transit, and VTA). Dumbarton Express was operated by AC Transit through December 16, 2011 before being transferred to a contractor.

School service

A series of routes serve a variety of public and private middle, junior high, and high schools in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. These routes generally operate only when school is in session. While these lines are open to all riders at regular fares, they do not operate during most school breaks and holidays. Some regular local bus routes also provide supplemental school service to nearby schools. These routes are usually timed to match the morning and afternoon bell schedules of all schools served.

There are 46 school routes numbered between 600 and 699: 604, 605, 606, 607, 611, 617, 620, 621, 623, 624, 625, 626, 628, 629, 631, 638, 642, 646, 648, 649, 650, 652, 653, 654, 655, 657, 658, 660, 662, 663, 667, 668, 669, 671, 672, 675, 676, 677, 679, 680, 681, 682, 684, 687, 688, and 696.

All Nighter service

Several transit agencies in the Bay Area, including AC Transit, participate in the All Nighter program. All Nighter buses provide overnight bus service when BART and Caltrain are not operating. AC Transit Route 800 is the backbone of this network, serving eleven or thirteen BART and four Muni Metro stations en route.

All AC Transit All Nighter routes provide timed transfers at Broadway and 14th Street in downtown Oakland. Most routes operate daily including holidays, generally from midnight to 5:00 AM. Weekend morning service on Routes 800 and 801 extends until 6 AM on Saturdays and 8 AM on Sundays, corresponding to the start of BART service for the day.[15]

RouteDirectionTerminalsCities and Communities ServedConnecting BART/Muni Station(s)
North/East TerminalSouth/West Terminal
800East-westRichmond BARTWeeknights:
San Francisco
(Van Ness Muni Metro)
San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Albany, El Cerrito, Richmond24th St./Mission‡, 16th St./Mission‡, Van Ness Muni†, Civic Center†, Powell†, Montgomery†, West Oakland†, 12th Street/Oakland, 19th Street/Oakland, MacArthur, Ashby, Downtown Berkeley, El Cerrito del Norte, Richmond
† Stops are only serviced in the eastbound direction.
‡ 24th and 16th St. stops are only serviced Friday and Saturday evenings, and only in the eastbound direction.
Weekends:
San Francisco
(24th St./Mission)
801North-southOakland
(14th & Broadway)
Fremont BARTOakland, San Leandro, Hayward, Union City, Fremont12th Street/Oakland, Lake Merritt (on 11th & 12th streets), Fruitvale (on International Blvd.), San Leandro, Bay Fair, Hayward, South Hayward, Union City, Fremont
802North-southOakland
(14th & Broadway)
Berkeley Amtrak
(University & Third)
Oakland, Emeryville, Berkeley12th Street/Oakland, 19th Street/Oakland
805East-westOakland
(14th & Broadway)
Oakland International AirportOakland12th Street/Oakland, 19th Street/Oakland, Coliseum
840North-southOakland
(14th & Broadway)
East Oakland
(Eastmont Transit Center)
Oakland12th Street/Oakland, Lake Merritt (on 11th & 12th streets)
851North-southDowntown Berkeley BART
(Shattuck & Center)
Fruitvale BARTBerkeley, Oakland, AlamedaDowntown Berkeley, Rockridge, 19th Street/Oakland, 12th Street/Oakland, Fruitvale

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: planning_focus_228.pdf . AC Transit . AC Transit . 2009-03-04.
  2. http://www.actransit.org/coa/proposed-changes-2/ Proposed Changes (early 2015)
  3. http://www.actransit.org/ac-go-main/ AC Go
  4. News: AC Transit – Planning Focus – BRT . AC Transit . AC Transit . 2009-03-10 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081121205411/http://www2.actransit.org/planning_focus/brt/what_is_brt.wu . 2008-11-21 .
  5. News: AC Transit – Planning Focus – BRT . AC Transit . AC Transit . 2009-03-10 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090801003839/http://www.actransit.org/planning_focus/brt/brt_faqs.wu . 2009-08-01 .
  6. http://www.meetdowntownoak.com Meet Downtown Oakland
  7. https://www.eastbayexpress.com/SevenDays/archives/2010/08/05/oakland-launches-new-broadway-shuttle Oakland Launches New Broadway Shuttle
  8. http://www.eastbayexpress.com/92510/archives/2011/06/22/broadway-shuttle-to-extend-service-to-1-am-on-weekends Broadway Shuttle to Extend Service to 1 a.m. on Weekends
  9. http://www2.oaklandnet.com/w/oak050562 City of Oakland Extends Service Hours for the Broadway Shuttle
  10. http://www2.oaklandnet.com/oakca1/groups/ceda/documents/pressrelease/oak065948.pdf Broadway Shuttle Service Hours Adjusted
  11. Web site: Meet Downtown Oakland . 2010-09-18 . 2010-09-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100911051804/http://www.meetdowntownoak.com/shuttle.php . dead .
  12. http://www.meetdowntownoak.com/images/Broadway%20Shuttle%20Route%20Map.pdf Broadway Shuttle Route Map
  13. https://flex.actransit.org/cnr-mobile/ AC Transit FLEX Reservation
  14. http://www.actransit.org/flex/ AC Transit FLEX
  15. http://www.actransit.org/allnighter/ AC Transit All-Nighter routes