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OAKLAND, FEBRUARY 1961

New Coaches Spark Rider Increase;Operating Results Exceed EstimatesAfter three months of operations, ACTransit reported this month that the dis-trict is living up to its promises to thetaxpayer,

Operating results are better than engi-neers had expected, according to the Rrstfull Rnancial statement made by the dis-trict to the board of directors since takingover from Key System Transit Lines lastOctober.

Revenue was sufficient to pay all ex-penses and provide funds for bond servic-ing and equipment replacement, JohnR Worthington, general manager, re-ported.

He said revenue for the period came to$2,917,795. Expenses were $2,609,981,leaving $307,814 available for bond serv-icing costs.Patronage Increase

The surplus, for the Rrst three months,was approximately $71,000 more than theprojections of engineering estimates thatwere determined a year ago,

Calculations of the engineering con-sultants, De Leuw, Cather & Company,provided for sufficient annual surplus re-serves to renew equipment as it becomesfully depreciated without the necessity ofresorting to a future bond issue for equip-ment replacement.

Engineers based their Rgures on a pa-tronage increase of three per cent a yearfor Rve years.

In January, passenger revenue showedan increase of six per cent over the entiresystem, during a month that ordinarilymight show a slight decline. However,Worthington pointed out the month hadone more week day and one less Satur-day than last year, accounting for part ofthe increase, Weather also was more fa-vorable,Income Adequate

Sparked by the new "Transit Liners"which went into service Christmas Day,transbay lines showed an increase for themonth of 8.8 per cent. Local revenue wasup 4.4 per cent, even before the new localequipment went into service,

"Experiences of the Rrst three monthsstrengthens our belief the district canmeet its obligations without an increasein taxes," Worthington told the board .

William J. Bettencourt, board presi-dent, also stressed the "district is livingup to its promises of providing betterservice at current fares and taxes."Considering that the district does a$12,000,000 gross revenue business a year,it is truly remarkable that the esimatesand actual income Rgures are so close."

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LOCAL passengers sample new 51-passenger buses ordered for service in 11 East Baycities by AC Transit. The extra-large buses feature new destination signs, an im.proved-safety rear door exit, wide seats and aisles and sweeping "picture windows."

Riders Impressed With Luxury Features,Comfort Riding of Big New Coaches

East Bay riders got their chance to enjoy the latest in transportation this monthas the first of 125 buses ordered for service in 11 East Bay cities rolled into operation.Long, wide and streamlined, the 51-passenger buses got a pleased receptionfrom riders, who appeared particularlyimpressed with th e spaciousness of thecoach and the wide outside view presented by the "picture windows."Twenty-five of the ultramodern coacheswere ready for service on opening day,.with all 125 slated for operation beforethe end of the month.

The new buses, which joined the fleetof interurban liners already coveringtransbay routes, provide basic service onthe district's major lines . They are beingaugmented during rush-hour periods withrefurbished equipment now on hand.

Test runs were to be made on severalother lines to determine if the wide new2

coaches are practical on hill routes andsome of the narrow streets.Remaining neighborhood lines, wheresmaller buses are more feasible, will beserved by modernized and repaintedcoaches acquired from Key System.The local liners feature an improvedsafety rear exit door which is operated by

the riders when they leave the bus. Thecoach cannot move while the door isopen, putting the passenger in controldUfing alighting.

Other improvements include 36-inchwide seats, an added strip of windowspace so standees can see out withoutstooping, fluorescent lights, low entrancestep and varying color schemes.

As the new coaches go into service, outdated gasoline driven buses are being removed. Seventy-five were slated for retirement in January while nearly 250 inall will be taken out of service within theweeks ahead.

Death Claims Two Division 2 WorkersHeart attacks claimed two veterantransit workers in January, Charles O.Mason, 55, and Joseph J. Fedor, bothof Division 2.Mr. Mason, a Class A mechanic in

the building maintenance department,died Jan. 17 at his home, 620 KeyRoute Blvd., in Albany.A veteran of train and ferry boatservice, he started with Key System27 years ago as one of the track gangin train operations.Over the years he also worked as adeck hand on th e ferry boats, as a foreman of janitors, a truck driver andpaving gang foreman, before moving

Twelve New OperatorsWelcomed to District

The "welcome aboard" sign was postedthis month for 12 new bus drivers, whocompleted their training for AC Transit.New operators, and assignments, include:Division 2R. D. Delanty, 3643 Grand Ave., Oakland; M. D. Alexander, 241 So. 17th St .,Richmond; R. L. Flowers, 16 Island View,Pittsburg; A. A. Jones, 1056 45th St., Emeryville.Division 3O. W. Perdue, Sr., 214 Ries St., Vallejo; W. W. Hankins, 2684 Kevin Rd.,Richmond; R. C. Armijo, 634 StannageAve., Albany.Division 4D. W. Matthews, 2245 So. 1st St., SanJose; L. O. Brickson, 1521 3rd Ave., Oakland; R. L. Reed, 32176 Champlain St.,Hayward; R. H. Mason, 1523 HarrisonSt., Oakland; L. B. Bain, 7868 MacArthurBlvd., Oakland .

into building maintenance 15 yearsago.He was an avid railroad fan and a

frequent passenger on special rail tripstaken with other steam devotees.

Surviving are his widow, Grace, twodaughters, Jeannie and Mrs. Judy Kangus, and a grandson, Mark.Mr. Fedor, 68, welder at Division 2,

died suddenly at his home, 3778 39thAve., on Jan. 29.He went to work for Key System in1944. Active in lay Catholic circles, he

is survived by his widow, Marie, twomarried daughters, and a son.

Unloading CoachesJot, For 'Thin Man'

It's tak en a lot of wiggling and somethin maintenance men to get the big newlocal "Transit Liners" safely unloadedfrom freight cars, according to Carl Knutson, foreman of building maintenance.

The new motor coaches are 102 incheswide and 40 feet long and if parked exactly center in the box cars, have only athree-inch clearance on each side, Knutson said. To get them out without "usinga can opener," the crew knocked out thecenter blocks, drove the coach as fa r asthey could to the front of the freight carusually about two feet-then knocked outthe rear blocks and backed the bus offcarefully!

Only one coach out of the first 53 gaveunusual trouble. It failed to start, so thecrew had to pull it back far enough somen could squeeze to the front, and pushit off the car.

Then , of course, it started.3

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Telephone Informal:ion Service ExpandedTo Give Speedier Service 1:0 T ransil: Riders

One of AC Transit's most sensitive contacts with the public-the telephone information bureau- has been overhauledand expanded to provide speedier service.Nearly twice as many informationclerks now are on duty to answer thehundreds of daily telephone calls regarding transit services, according to GeneralManager John R. Worthington.

Large route maps have been posted inbureau quarters for ready reference. Inaddition, coded files containing detailedinformation on the district's 70 transitlines have been provided each clerk, sothat questions can be answered quicklyand easily as possible. Th e office also hasPROMPT SERVICE - New and expandedquarters for Telephone Information Bu-reau aid clerks in providing speedy an-swers to hundreds of daily questions onservice. Manning telephones from frontto rear are Vivian Lueckfeld, Gladys Butler and Supervisor Genevieve Parker.

been enlarged and modernized for moreefficient operation.Improvement of the information service was given top priority when the dis

trict acquired Key System Transit Lines,Worthington said, to prevent long delayssometimes encountered by patrons seeking information.

"We also are insisting on absolutecourtesy," he added.Two operators are posted at the main

telephone switchboard, located at thedistrict's Emeryville division at 45th St.and San Pablo Ave. Three additionalclerks are stationed at special nearbydesks and telephones to handle the variedquestions received during peak hours .Questions generally concern information on how to reach a particular destination. But occasionally the answers are notreadily available, according to SupervisorGenevieve Parker.

One caller, for example, wanted toknow the correct bus to take to a MacArthur Blvd. motel. He was unable to remember the location, bu t after a moment's thought, added: "It's the one withthe blue bedspreads."Questions regarding pet dogs on busesare easily answered. They are permittedif enclosed and concealed in a box.

One recent caller, however, was notsatisfied with the answer. She owned alarge German shepherd.The clerks sometimes must ask inforrpation before they can give the correctinformation. In one such case, they askeda prospective rider, "Where do youboard?"The answer: "I don 't board. I live athome."The information service has its busiestmoments during the working day , butclerks also have numerous night callsespecially during TV commercials.

What the Editors Are Saying About TransitOakland Trzbune:

Transit's SuccessGENERAL Manager John R. Worth.J ington's report to the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District th at income isrunning above expectations is an encouraging piece of news in the formerlydreary history of traction in Oakland.

Mr. Worthington's report states thatduring the first three months of operation,the district netted $71,000 more than consllltants had estimated before th e districttook over Key System.

We wish to congratulate the new district on th e initial success of its operation,bu t we agree with Mr. Worthington thatover-optimism can be dangerous.

What the picture shows is that the public is accepting the better service offered

by th e new district and likes the neweq uipment- the big modem busesHowever, Key System paid certaintaxes from which the new district isexempt and this could well contribute toa portion of the improved current incomc.

The general manager also pointed outthat the higher net income is due partlyfrom two extra working days this January, over a year ago.We fervently hope th at Mr. Worthington's pledge to hold fares at th e presentlevel and to avoid a tax increase can be

maintained, but the district still needs avast increase in riders before it can consider itself out of th e weeds.But , we repeat, the news is encouraging.

New Signs Tell Bus Route, DestinationNew destination signs, designed to giveriders better information on where eachbus is going, have been installed on thefleet of "Transit Liners" pu t into localservice this month.Head signs, in large white lettersagainst a black background , feature themain street used by the bus or, in somecases, the city destination.Additional street information andpoints of interest is posted in smaller letters. Side signs also carry route and destination.On long routes, the signs are changed

by the bus driver at different locations tohelp waiting passengers understand thebus route through East Bay cities.

Th e signs, which complement the "newlook" of the motor coaches , are designedto revive the traditional cllstom of iden-

tifying a line by its route, such as the"Shattuck Ave. Line," instead of merelvby number.

CommiHees Appointed byNew President: of Board

Committee appointments made byWilliam J. Bettencourt, president of theBoard of Directors, at the February boardmeeting include:Projects Development-William H. Co-burn , Jr., chairman; Robert K. Barber andPaul E. Deadrich, members .

Finance-John McDonnell, chairman ;William E. Berk and William H. Coburn ,Jr., members .Personnel and Public Relations- Rob er t K. Barber, chairman; William E. Berkand Paul E. Deadrich , members .

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PLAQUE - A memorial to themany groups who made the newLatham Square bus waiting shelter possible is unveiled by MayorClifford Rishell (left) and HughTebault, president of LathamFoundation for Promotion of Humane Education.

TRANSFER, PLEASE-Participants in dedication of Latham Square shelter get their sou-venir transfers punched by Miss Oaklandcontestants. From left are Shari Lee Raines,William F. Knowland, editor and assistantpublisher of The Tribune; Margo Donze,Mayor Clifford E. Rishell, Sandra Gray andKaren Snyder. In back are William Bettencourt, president AC Transit board of directors; Andre Fontes, chairman of the Oak-land Park Commission.

Latham Square Bus Shelter DedicatedTh e imaginative ne w Latham Square

bus waiting shelter was dedicated onFeb. 14 in a program that made colorfuluse of a Valentine Day theme .

Pretty girls, flowers an d singing birdshelped to set the Valentine backgroundfor the ceremonies, which featured th eunveiling of a plaque .

Civic leaders who participated arrivedin one of the new AC Transit buses, le dby a motorcycle escort from the OaklandPolice Dept.

As they left the bus, the celebrities car-ried giant transfers, which were perfo-rated by a big punch operated by twocontestants in the current "Miss Oakland"competition .

They were then taken to th e speakersstand by Horizon Club members from6

the Oakland Council of Camp Fire Girls.Flowers , donated by neighboringRhodes, were distributed to women in

the audience by still more pretty girls.Plaque Unveiled

Andre T. Fontes, chairman of the Oakland Park Commission, as chairman ofthe drY' introduced civic leaders and representatives of sponsoring groups .

Official presentation of the structurewas made by Hugh Tebault, presidentof the Latham Foundation for the Promotion of Humane Education . Mayor Clif-ford Rishell accepted in behalf of the cityan d unveiled th e plaque .

The plaque pays tribute to the variousgroups which contributed to the achievement of the dramatic new shelter.

William J. Bettencourt, president of

SPECIAL VALENTINE-Flowers, singing birds and pretty girls carried out the Valentine theme in dedication of Latham Square shelter, built in heart of downtown Oak-land for bus riders.

AC Transit's board of directors, spoke on"More Than a Bus Shelter," while J. R.Knowland, publisher of th e OaklandTribune, and William F . Knowland, edi -to r an d assistant publisher, paid tributeto those responsible for re-developmentof th e historic spot.

Th e new structure replaces a shelterthat served generations of bus an d streetcar travelers. Landscaping by park de-partment crews accents the structure andits adjoining Latham Fountain, erectedin 1913 as a memorial to pioneer residents.Tames H. Latham and Henrietta MarshallLatham.Special Features

Sponsors of the planting include theBusiness Men's Garden Club of Oaklandand eight Horizon Club groups.

As a special feature, the shelter, de-signed by Oakland architect Walter Bearde n and landscape architect Amedee Mc-Sourdry of the park department, includesan aviary occupied by colorful birds.

Phone booths and special newspaperdispenser racks are built into pillars,while waiting riders will find pasteltinted benches placed under recessedlights and electric heating elements. Astainless steel drinking fountain also isincluded, together with system mapsshowing AC Transit lines .

The project has been financed byneighboring property owners, and busi-ness establishments, by the LathamFoundation, an d AC Transit, in cooperation with the city's park and street de-partments.

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'A Seat lor Every Rider'Buses Added to Carry Traffic IncreaseCommuter service on more th ,m half of

th e transba y lines operated by AC Transit was expanded during the month to accommodate an increase in riders.

Sixteen additional buses were routedinto service during morning an d eveningpeak commute hours, in line with the dis trict's stepped-up program of providinga seat for every rider.

In th e morning hours, th e buses havebeen worked into schedules of the B-Lakeshore, E - Claremont, F -Berkeley,G - Albany, K - Havenscourt, L - Ri ch-

mond , N-San Leandro, O-Alameda, an dR-Hayward lines.

In the evening, an additional bus hasbeen added to Line A, leaving Broadwayin Oakhnd for San Francisco .

A minimum of seven extra buses alsohave been stationed at the TransbayTransit Terminal in San Francisco, to beused as needed.

The upswing in commuter traffic wasattributed by General Manager John R.'Worthington to the new equipmentwhich went into service Christmas day.

Directors Vote Employee Salary BoostSalary increases averaging 6 pe r cent

have been granted to 130 AC Transit supervisory and clerical employees at anannual cost to the district of $45,000.

The board of directors also have agreedto a study of job classifications and theestablishment of salary ranges for all nonunion personnel, in an effort to simplifythe employee practices inherited fromKey System Transit Lines .

The individual salary boosts for nonunion workers followed similar increasesgranted 1,100 bus operators an d maintenance personnel last October.

Director John McDonnell, finance committee chairman, said the increases werenecessary to bring salaries of these employees in line with the wages now paidto bus drivers an d maintenance workers.

Salary raises for several key pp.rsonnelincluding General Manager J olm R.Worthington were held in abeyancepending further study. Th e increases ,however, affected nearly all non-unionemployees in the maintenance , transportation, purchasing, safety, accountingand treasury departments .8

Th e increases were made effective asof the first of this year.In line with the increases, the boardelevated Kenneth F . Hensel, operationsmanager, to the new post of assistant general manager.

Employment OfficeMoves Back DowntownFrom Division 2 YardThe employment office, after a 12-yearstay in Emeryville at Division 2, 45th St.and San Pablo Ave., has moved backdowntown to 1106 Broadway to make itmore convenient for job applicants.In years past, th e employment un it hasmoved from downtown, to 40th St. andYerba Buena Ave. in Emeryville, backdowntown, then out to 45th and SanPablo-all since 1948.The new office is on the fourth Hoor.in room 408, and is open weekdays from8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.Harold Davis, personnel manager, hasthe help of two new employees, FrankCurcio, assistant to the manager, andMrs. Adele Bradley, secretary, plus Martin Reite, employment supervisor, whomoved in from Division 2.

~ 4 t l e 7'UUtdtu? A4' "'?/ttJ"It's Modjeslci to the Rescue When Bus

Drivers Have Problems of Work or WivesBy Virginia Dennison

When the phone rings in th e chiefclerk's office at Division 2, th e answer is aterse "Modjeski," bu t the voice is softan d feminine.

For G. L. Modjeski-who never usesher first name - is probably th e onlywoman to fill a chief clerk's post for ametropolitan transit district.Men are her business-the bus driverswho operate out of AC Transit's biggestdivision. The women drivers come underhe r jurisdiction also, as do dispatchers .But mostly it's men .

She never has any problems with them,either (maybe just small ones! ). She m dIes their paper work and listens to theirtroubles-which range from a day off todomestic tangles. Th e bus drivers havelong since learned that a lady boss hasdefinite advantages, like a big heart anda ready ea r for troubles.

Along with respect for "Mo's" abilitiesDivision 2 workers have fond m e m o r i e ~ of another attribute, her great skill atcooking.An easy expert at everything fromchocolate cake to spaghetti sauce, it was':Mo" and he r mother who stuffed turkeysfor past Christmas parties, then added afew cakes, pies an d cookies to th e festiveboard.

I t was a yen for something differentand some husbandly opposition-that decided "Mo" to answer the Key System'sfirst advertisement for women street caroperators early in World War II.

Although she was never able to ride astreet car-or anything else-without getting motion sick, "Mo" went to work asone of th e first operators. A few monthslater she was cajoled into Central Divi-

G. L. ModjeskiAnd she can cook . ..

sion and dispatcher duties-first womanto hold that job for th e company.

From there, she went on to the other"first," chief clerk at Division 2 and righthand man to the late L. A. Trathen. Shehas continued in th e post, helping Trathen's successor, J. D. Goodman.Mrs. Modjeski is an enthusiastic housewife, and is just as enthusiastic about thechampionship bowling skill of her husband, Alfred, and activities of he radopted daughters, Pamela, 6, and Deanna, 3.

She also admits to a temper-on occasion-as attested by her reaction to a disgruntled, swearing passenger in streetca r days. She literally kicked him off thecar and is still proud that he didn't hi t astep on his wa y out.

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Veteran Employees E n ~ CareerLong careers in the field of transportation have been ended by twomen, with their retirement from AC

Transit District effective Feb. l.Henry Charles Hanson, 65, can

date his employment back 38 years,when he went to work as a streetca r conductor.

He stayed on the cars until 1948when he became a motor coachoperator. On March 15, 1950, heswitched to trains as a conductor,then returned to motor coaches in1958.A native of Victoria, B.C., Hansonserved in the Canadian Army before coming to work for Key System. He lives at 5114 Grove St.,Oakland .

John Edward Read, 65, is anotherof the veteran Key System em-

ployees from the days when transitmeant tracks.

Reed was general h'ack foremanin charge of rail removal and repaving programs until a serious illnesscaused him to take a leave of absence in October, 1959. His longtenure with transit covered the dayswhen the East Bay moved on railsby street car and by train.Read, who lives at 6 Linda Ave.,Oakland, went to work for Key System in 1934 as a "gandy dancer"track laborer to those of the dieseldynasty. He was made a track foreman in 1936 and, in 1947, becamegeneral track gang foreman. Helater was promoted from that postto general foreman in charge of railmaintenance, the post he held at thetime he becarrne ill.

Commuters Give Reaction to SuhurhanCoaches, Decide They Are Deluxe Riding

What was the reaction from commuters, after they had their first trip on oneof AC Transit's new deluxe interurbancoaches?Typical reaction, according to a survey made by the Oakland Tribune, wasvoiced by Allen K. Anderson, who has

been riding to work in San Francisco for31 years:"It's wonderful. This is deluxe. You caneven sit down and read on this one."Anderson, of 611 E. 20th St., has triedall methods of commuting, from ferryboat to his own car."This has got my car beat all to thedevil," he said. "After all, I've got nothingto do here bu t ride along like a bird."His regular driver, H. O. Sumpter, of10

581 54th .St., Oakland, thinks the newbuses ar e "one of the best things thatever happened in Oakland transportationsince I've been here."

He ha d some reservations about theexpansive windshield and the narroweraisles and one door for loading and unloading."But it's like a new pair of shoes, you

have to get used to it before you reallyknow what you think. There is no question it's the nicest piece of equipmentwe've ever had ."Other riders missed the rear door-not

needed on intercity lines , transit officialsbelieve-but they had high praise for thesmooth operation, wide seats and the newcolor scheme.

~ A F E T Y DEMONSTRATION-Donald J. Potter, general s u p e r i n ~ e n d e n t of transporta-tion, shows how 10 large windows on new buses swing open as emergency exits.

Improved Safety of Window Exits TestedThe 10 large amergency window exitson new interurban buses already have

proven safe and effective as the result ofan unexpected test.When one of AC Transit's buses was

struck nearly head-on by a pick-up truckrecently on the Bay Bridge, th e singlefront door of the bus became jammed.Th e driver, following instructionsposted beneath each window, quicklypopped open two of the big view windows and, with the help of a passenger,aided the other 10 riders to climb fromthe bus.

The incident clearly demonstrated theeffectiveness of having 10 windows asemergency exits, according to GeneralManager John R. Worthington .An accident might block both doorsbu t could hardly block all the windowson both sides of a bus , he pointed out.A metal plate below each window car-

ries the simple instructions : "For emergency escape, push out window at bottom."The window swings out with hard pressure. It is hinged at the top, so does notfall to the ground.This new type of window exit is ap

proved by the Interstate Commerce Commission and the California Public Utilities Commission and is standard on alllatest model interurban and long distancebuses, Worthington said.Because of the large number of window exits, the new interurban TransitLiners are far safer than older modelbuses with two doors, he said.

The 175 new coaches for local and ex-press service will have a front and reardoor for greater facility in loading andunloading, bu t also will contain the largeescape windows as an added safety featur e.11

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At an adjourned regular meeting January 10, 1961, the Board of Directors: Reviewed improved emergency exitfacilities on new interurban buses. Referred consideration of salary adjustments for some 130 supervisorial andclerical employees to Committee on Finance, on motion of Director Barber.* * *At an adjourned regular meeting Janu-ary 19, the Board of Directors: Approved salary increases averagingsix per cent to supervisorial and clericalemployees, effective January 1, 1961, onmotion of Director McDonnell. ". , Authorized a study of job classifications and the establishment of salaryranges for all non-union personnel, onmotion of Director Coburn .

* * *At the regular meeting February 1, theBoard of Directors: Received a report from the GeneralManager on results of operation (Details,Page 1). Authorized preparation of specifications for the purchase of new bus tokensto fill a shortage in the number requiredfor daily use, on motion of Director Barber . Approved district membership in theAmerican Transit Association, on motionof Direct