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Vol. 5 No.2 OAKLAND, JUNE 1962

$14,360,000 Transit BudgetAdoptedDistrict Holds Line on Taxes, Fares for Third Year;Revenues Expected to Cover Operating ExpenseA $14,360,000 budget under which thedistrict will gO' intO' its third full year

af aperatians withaut revisians in thelevel af taxes and fares, was adaptedthis manth by the baard af directors.Under the 1962-63 budget, the district expects to' break even with sufficient incame to' take care af all aper-

ating expenses, including band services.It anticipates a 3.7 per cent increase inpassenger revenue during the camingyear."In adapting this budget we are demanstrating fiscal respansibility and keeping faith with the peaple by halding theline an taxes and fares," William J. Bettencaurt, baard president, said."Yet we will cantinue to' mave farwardin aur effarts to' further improve EastBay transit."Director Rabert K. Barber, whO' ap-

pased the budget, expressed cancernthat the financial estimate "does not pra-vide sufficient funds to adequately improve and expand service cammensuratewith the district's rale in averall cam-munity develapment."

Discussing plans for the next year,General Manager Kenneth F. Henselsaid the time has came to' "study eachaf aur lines, to' bring aperations up to'date with past grawth and to' get inshape far future pragress and papulatianchanges.

Effect of Rapid TransitProgram on Finances ofAC Transit Under StudyThe affect of rapid transit plans on ACTransit operations and finances was understudy this month, as result of action taken

by AC directors.The board authorized $5,000 to employengineering consultants to make the studyinto the economic relationship between pro-

jected operations of the San Francisco BayArea Rapid Transit District and AC Transit.The study was prompted by a request

of the Alameda County Highway AdvisoryCommittee, wh:ch is examining the latestplans of the three-county rapid transit district.

Alameda County Supervisor Francis Dunn,chairman of the highway group, explainedthe committee was making a brief summaryof the relationship between the two transitdistricts, the freeway pattern and the prob-lems of taxation and assessed valuation inAlameda County.

He asked for the information for a publichearing scheduled by the board of supervisors in July on the rapid transit plan.

"I believe we can do a better job ofservice and bring canvenient bus transitto' a greater number af residents if wenow take a laak at all af our routes andevaluate where the buses shauld run,

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Joint Engineering Survey RecommendedTo Determine Tri-City Transit NeedsA study which would explore thefeasibility of extending AC Transit service into Washington Township and develop where and how such service shouldoperate, was ready to get underway thismonth, pending final approval from theCity Councils of Fremont, Union City

and Newark.The scope of the study was detailedfor the city officials in a letter from thetransit district, outlining scope of thestudy and engineering costs.The district proposed that costs of thestudy, estimated at $6000, be shared,

with the cities paying half and the transit district half.I f the proposal is ratified by the cities,

the study, to be made by the DeLeuw,Cather & Co., engineering consultants,would get underway immediately. Thefirm estimated it would take 45 to 60days, though actual bus service in thearea probably would require 10 to 12months to obtain voter approval andplace into operation.

The suggested study would includea detailed estimate of the transit needsof the tri-city area and a plan of busoperations, including service frequency.

It would also entail estimates on theequipment needed, capital outlay involved and estimates of operating revenues and expenses.

During a meeting this month betweendistrict and city representatives, WilliamJ. Bettencourt, AC Transit board president, said that establishment of districtservice in the Fremont area might beexpected to develop demand for serviceacross the San Mateo Bridge and southto at least the Santa Clara line, possiblyto San Jose.

I f findings of the study ar e favorable,.the tri-city area could determine whetherto annex to the existing operating zoneof the transit district or set up a secondspecial service zone for the Washingtontownship area, within the overall ACdistrict. Present tax levy in the existingAC Transit operating zone is 2.9 centsper $100 of assessed valuation.

Robert E. Nisbet, attorney for the district, noted at the meeting that TransitDistrict law is very flexible as to methods and financial arrangements in annexation.

Budget to Keep Same Fares, Taxes(Continued from Page 1)instead of just blindly following the oldtime pattern," he said.The district expects, during the coming year, to carry 49,000,000 riders and

to operate 22,250,000 miles.Operations alone will leave the districtwith a surplus of $445,600. The districtalso will receive $478,000 from a tax levyof 2.9 cents per $100 .of assessed valuation, plus $101,000 from other sources.

The operations surplus and $579,000in other revenues, with a portion ofcarry-over from the current year, willprovide for $1,214,220 in bond principaland interest.2

To balance the budget, general manager Kenneth F. Hensel applied the remainder of a $412,500 surplus carry-overalso will receive $478,000 from a tax levyand anticipated savings from the district's new self-insurance program tocover depreciation and amortization ofassets. The district also has accumulatedexcess funds of $2,700,000.Hensel said the district will enter itsthird full year of operation in a "solidfinancial position with sufficient fundsavailable to guarantee payment of allbond interest and redemptions required,as well as commitments of new equip-ment."

ONE FOR THE ROAD-Commuters found free parking, plus coffee and doughnuts,at opening of AC Transit's "park and ride" center in Berkeley. Passenger GeorgeliHle of Berkeley receives welcome from district superintendent N. P. Alevi:zos, whoacted as chef, and transit director William H. Coburn, Jr., who proposed facility.

First AC 'Park and Ride' Center OpensFree coffee and doughnuts were servedto inaugurate another AC Transit courtesy this month-the opening of a "parkand-ride" center in Berkeley.Commuters who arrived to take advantage of the free all-day parking facili

ties at Henry and Berryman Sts., weresurprised to find refreshments, as wellas a parking space.Some timed their arrival so close theydidn't have time for the coffee, but gladlyaccepted the doughnuts to munch on

the way. Passengers already aboard andbus drivers also got in on the treat.The coffee and doughnuts were servedfrom a table by the bus stop, with N. P.Alevizos, superintendent at the Rich

mond division, clad in a chef's hat andapron to handle the honors.District director William H. Coburn,Jr., of Berkeley, who proposed establishment of the center, also was there, withother district officials, to extend the wel-

come.A sign greeted the passengers usingthe center and asked them to "help yourself to coffee and donuts-courtesy ofAC Transit."

The center, which has parking spacefor 51 cars, was running about 60 pe rcent full on the first days after it wasopened.

It was opened on a five-month trialbasis on property which reverted to theCity of Berkeley after it was abandonedby a former rail operation.

I f the center is successful, the district plans to develop similar facilitiesthroughout the East Bay to encouragedrivers to leave their automobiles at aconvenient neighborhood point whilethey make use of bus transportation.Coaches on the transbay F line andintercity express Line 33 make specialstops at the Berkeley park-and-ride center.

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What the Editors are Saying About TransitSan Leandro Morning News:

One More Case Where Word Means ActionFOR OVER FOUR years, weeds havebeen the sole. occupants of a strip ofland that once supported the rails andtrolley wire of electric trains runningbetween Berkeley and San Francisco.This strip of lap.d, known as "BerrymanStation" in Berkeley, was built in 1911for the "Red Electric Trains" right-ofway between downtown Berkeley andThousand Oaks. When the "Red Trains"were abandoned in 1941, th e orangestreamlined units of th e Key Systemused th e rails.

Yesterday morning AC Transit Districtofficials dedicated "park-ride" facilitiesbuilt on the old train right-of-way.

Passengers can park their autos on th e51-stall lot and ride convenient buses todowntown Oakland an d San Francisco.Th e center, opened on a five-month trial

basis, is the first "park and ride" facilityopened by the district.

The lo t is 29 minutes away from SanFrancisco by express coaches; 33 minutesby regular service and 19 minutes fromOakland on the Grove Express "Flyer."Transit-either by bus or rail-must havethe facilities an d equipment to movepeople efficiently. By moving morepeople pe r vehicle, greater use of streetspace is assured.

AC says if this project works successfully, similar "park-ride" facilities will bedeveloped in other areas.

AC has promised to do its best tocarry people efficiently and safely. Th e"park-ride" experiment is another casewhere the district has backed up itspromises with action. AC Transit deserves th e commendation of th e entireEast Bay for taking such a bold step.

New Office to Plan Transit ExpansionA research an d planning office to facilitate expansion of public transit in the

East Bay was established this month byAC Transit.

The office will be headed by E. SamDavis, AC transportation engineer withmore than 40 years' experience in thetransit industry.

The ne w office will study the possiblererouting of present transit lines to bette r serve postwar population shifts an dtravel habits. It will also develop transitplans for new areas an d make long rangestudies of ultimate service areas.

"These studies will greatly assist the4

district in further meeting the transportation needs of the East Bay an d inkeeping pace with th e area's growth an ddevelopment," according to William J.Bettencourt, board president.

"With this ne w office we will be ableto adequately explore many new approaches to improving coverage andspeed of our service."

Davis, of 17849 Carmel Dr., CastroValley, has been associated with transportation activities in this area since1953. Previously, he held managementand research posts with transportationcompanies in th e midwest.

,Il 'Bus Riding Class' St:art:ed By D i s ~ r i c t : To Aid Area Handicapped Youngst:ersWhen a boy named Ronnie conqueredhis fears enough to take his first busride and the rest of his classmates froma mentally retarded school rode happilyoff like any group of pupils, AC Transittook a proud bow of its own this monthfor a rewarding new experiment.

The free "bus riding class" was setup by the district to help mentally andphysically handicapped youngsters learnhow to ride public transit, in hope ofbecoming more self-reliant an d independent.

The first practice, held at the SequoiaSchool in Hayward, showed remarkableresults and is expected to be followedby similar "classes" at other schools inthe district when instruction resumesafter the summer vacation.

Taking a few students at a time, district instructor Lloyd Weems first gavesimple, friendly instructions about remaining seated when the bus is moving;ho w to board an d leave by the frontdoor only, how to pay a fare and howto pull the cord to signal for a stop.

He then helped each youngster throughthe routine, taking them on rides in theneighborhood to practice.

For many of them, it was their firstmotor coach ride. Fo r some, like Ronnie,who previously ha d been afraid to boarda bus, it was a major accomplishment.

Th e two-hour bus riding class gaveall of the 60 students at the school asample of public transit. Fo r older students, it also served as a "trial run" foruse of regular bus service for an endof-the-term outing.

The bus riding instruction will be repeated, perhaps several times each semester, if the results show that the students are getting some advantage from

the experience, according to generalmanager Kenneth F. Hensel.

On the first trial, the children wereno t only able to follow the instructions,bu t sat happily for short rides aroundHayward, stopping at different pointsto practice boarding and leaving. Beaming from ear to ear, they made it a happyoccasion for themselves an d for the newfriend they acquired in the process, Instructor Weems.

LIKE THIS-Instructor Lloyd Weems showsstudent how to signal for her stop duringa IIbus riding class ll inaugurated forhandicapped students in area.

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PUZZLED?-You're supposed to be, for this is the Cardman Maze, appropriate exitfrom the Mad Hatter's Tea Party at Fairyland.Looking For the Place Where DreamsCome True? -Try Children's Fairyland

If you live in the East Bay, you mustalready know that Children's Fairylandin Lakeside Park is ajewel, a place of realenchantment-for it's impossible, isn't it,

o not to be happy in Fairyland?But for visitors, and the few adults

who haven't yet realized that Fairylandis for all ages, a visit to the place wheredreams come true is a star-bangled goalfor an AC Transit bus tour.

For youngsters, of course, it's sheer fun.Childhood stories spring to life and witha flair to match any imagination. And nomatter how many times parents haveread the saga of The Three Little Pigs,it takes on new interest when you can

HAPPY?-Even the alligators smile at Fairyland. Irs alive, too, a palof Robinson Crusoe.

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see them in the flesh. Cute, too.Just like the people, the animals atChildren's Fairyland seem to take on a

happy disposition. The goa ts - Bi ll ieGoats Gruff, of course -l ike to bescratched; even a little spotted Bambiwas anxious to nuzzle spectators.Mary's Little Lamb might be not solittle, bu t it( or they) will most certainlybe willing to follow, in optimistic belief,apparently, that from those on the otherside of the fence come all good things.

But suppose this is your nrst visit andyou wonder, a bit, if you'll be interestedin that "kid stuff."You will be, for the magic of Fairyland

is not all in "dreams come true." The excellent gardeners of the Oakland ParkDepartment have worked considerablemagic of their own and you'll nnd enchanting landscaping, babbling brooklets, winding paths and bridges, an dtucked among the flowers, creative setsthat make you wonder why all the worldisn't that beautiful.You'll nnd Robinson Crusoe's island,with monkeys, parrots, alligators andmacaws enjoying pleasant freedom. Ifyou've never seen a smiling alligator,this is the place.

You'll nnd sea lions performing forbits of Ish; on Sundays, at 1 p.m., you'll

WHAT DO YOU SEE?-In this case,it's a mouse family, enchanting toyoung viewers, if not the "farmer'swife."

even hear a child organist playing on aspecially built child-size organ in Fairyland's little Chapel of Peace.To nnd Fairyland-and we can all wish

that other dreams were as easy-takebuses 12, 18, B, or Express Line 34 Monday through Friday, to Grand Ave. andPark View Terrace.

At the entrance, you will nnd it costs10 cents for children to 12 years and 25cents for adults to walk through the "oldwoman's shoe." Fairyland is open 10 a.m.to 5:30 p.m. March through December.It's open 7 days a week during summerschool vacation, otherwise Wednesdaysthrough Sundays.

GOING UP?-Young visitors climbthe Cuckoo Clock Tower (withbats in the belfry) to try the"curly" slide.

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Sight seeing Made Easy With Summer PassResidents will have a new opportunity to get out in the sun, visit friendsor tour East Bay points of interest witha Sunday and holiday Summer Fun Pass

inaugurated by AC Transit July 1.Th e Summer Fun .Pass will be soldfor 60 cents and will entitle the purchaser to ride anywhere in the East Bay,from Richmond to Hayward, on the day

it is issued.The pass was Rrst proposed by theCity Council of Alameda and Council

man William McCall, who at the timewas mayor of the city. It was approvedby the AC board of directors with the

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Free Tour Books WillPoint Way to TransitTrails of AdventureThe public will be invited to follow"Transit Trails" to East Bay points ofinterest in anew tour book, which willbe ready for distribution in July.The 32-page booklet will feature 14illustrated bus tours, with the suggestion:"Let AC Transit Take You There."It will be available, free, at the district's general offices, n0 6 Broadway;by contacting Transit Information,OLympic 3-3535, or at various chambers of commerce, municipal park andrecreation department offices and at theTransbay Transit Terminal, First andMission Sts.,. San Francisco.The booklet details "discovery trips"that can be made by bus, close to home,an d has been planned for residents aswell as out-of-town visitors.During the summer months, a longvisit of "Things to Do For Summer Fu n-With AC Transit" also will be available fo r distribution, along with thebooklet.Compiled particularly for vacationingyoungsters an d family groups, the listincludes data on "things to do" by community.It has been designed to help parentsanswer the vacationing plea of "whatshall I do now" and can be obtained atthe same places as the tour book. It,also, will be given away without charge.

provision it be tried for three monthsduring the summer on an experimentalbasis.One of the latest in a series of innovations designed to spark use of publictransit, the excursion tickets will be aspecial bargain for riders who would liketo .tour the entire East Bay. Time permitting, a pass holder could tally upenciugh bus miles to reach from here toLos Angeles-all for 60 cents.The flat-rate pass is similar to the former East Bay "trolley trips" which setoff a sightseeing era some 50 years. ago,

later enchanting visitors to the PanamaPaciRc International Exposition of 1915.Different from the "trolley trips,"

which followed a scheduled itinerary,the district's Summer Fun Pass will leavethe destination up to the rider, who willbe able to ride as many buses an d asmany times as desired.

Th e passes will be sold on the daythey are to be used by all bus driverson East Bay lines. They also can be purchased ahead of time at the general ofRces, 1106 Broadway. A different colorwill be used for each Sunday or holiday,to prevent any confusion about days thepass can be used.

IN MEMORIAMAndrew J. Sackrey, 61, assistant dis

patcher at the Emeryville division at thetime he retired June 1, 1960, died onMay 13.Sackrey worked as a conductor on thetransbay trains and as a receiver before

he was appointed assistant dispatcher in1958, when the trains bowed out to thebuses. He entered service in 1924.Surviving is his wife, Anna, of 92945th St., Oakland.

OUT OF SERVICE - AbelPeterson bids an appropriate farewell to busesas he ends nearly 40years of service. Now heplans to go "traveling."

Transit Veterans Work Their Last ShiftAbel Peterson, AC Transit supervisor,is headed for a busman's holiday, travelgalore, after tallying up nearly 40 yearsof moving trains and buses.One of eight transit veterans whosepensions recently were granted, Peterson got an extra send-off when heworked his last day at the TransbayTransit Terminal in San Francisco.Fellow workers showed up at his lastshift with a golf cart as a goodby present, sending him on his way with fare

wells-and the equipment appropriate toretirement.Peterson, 65, of 3416 Brunell Dr., Oakland, already has the golf clubs, and aRshing rod, and plans to spend his timetraveling the country by trailer with thecompany of his dog.A one-time train motorman, he wentto work for Key System in 1922, movingup to trainmaster before he became bussupervisor at the terminal.

Retirement of motor coach operatorStewart H. Lloyd, of 5160 ClaremontAve., Oakland, effective Sept. 1, is causing sad hearts among the children usedto his friendly service on Line 59.Lloyd, who is planning a trip to Can-

ada and some practice at his photography hobby, entered service in 1924.

Other pensioners include:Alfred E. Francis, a mechanic at theEmeryville division, came to work in1942, retired June 1. He lives at 956 ElginSt., San Lorenzo.George P. Briscoe, bus operator at theSeminary division, ends 37 years of service July 1. He lives at 3412 San LeandroSt., Oakland.William J. O'Brien, service employeeat Seminary division, retires July 1 after20 years in transit. His home is at 2317Coolidge Ave., Oakland.Charles M. Cavagna, 68745th St., Oakland, bus operator, will end almost 37years with retirement Aug. 1.Bryan A. Key, 465 63rd St., Oakland,motor coach operator at Emeryville, en

tered service in 1926, will be pensionedas of Aug. 1.Albert Richardson, transportation supervisor at Emeryville division, also willretire Aug. 1, after 36 years in transportation. He lives at 1114 Pomona Ave.,Albany.

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AC / transit PASSENGER REVENUE ... COMPARISON WITH PREVIOUS YEAR 1$1,060,000 ---r---,..-.....,r---.,....-..,... ......- - , - ~ . , . . . . - - r - - , - - I - '

. $1,040,000 I - + - - - J ~ - l - - : ~ ~ + = = + = ~ ~ - + - _ _ + - - + _ -$1,020,000 1 - - - + - f i - - . : " I l I ~ - + _ - + - - t - - - t - _ r _ _ _ : # i 1 l ~ ,

1000,000 1--+ ----1.. .~ - - - i - - - t - - + - _ _ _ _ t . # _ _ j - ~ W ~ 1

960,000 J- t l1--+-940,000 I -__-t -920,000 l -____-t;

900,000 l l r I - - - - 1 - - + - - - - + - - l - ' - : ~ ~ - - - - j ~ ~ + = = t = = ~

APRIL PASSENGERS

Percentage Changefrom Previous Year+ 8% _-- - - - - - - . ,+6% 1----------1+4%1--__+2% 1 - - -- -

.0- 2%-4%-6%

Patronage on AC Transit buses is continuing to showa steady growth, with a 4.5 pe r cent increase talliedin April over the same month a year ago. But incomefor the month still was short of meeting all financialobligations.

A total of 4,272,000 passengers were carried in Aprilby AC buses, an increase of 184,000 riders.

Total district income of $1,085,000 was adequate tocover all operational costs, which were up U.5 percent over April, 1961. However, income did not provide for retirement of bonded debt and a portion ofbond interest, leaving a deficit of $62,000 for themonth.

_ ACTRANSIT

The monthly deficit was anticipated at the outsetof the fiscal year pending passenger growth to matchlast year's sizeable service expansion. Miles operatedin April, for example, tptaled 1,846,000, an increaseof 96,000 miles or 5.5 per cent over the same montha year ago.U. S. TRANSIT INDUSTRY

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GOOD DEED-Girl Scouts find there's nothing like an AC Transit bus for an outing-and nothing like a handy driver when it comes to loading camp gear forthe trip back home.

AC Buses Go Everywhere, Even CampingAC Transit buses go almost every

where in California on charter, includingcamping with Girl Scouts- one of themost pleasant of recent assignments.

Two coaches took 106 girls from theBerkeley, Albany, Kensington Girl ScoutCouncil to the Mountain Mill HouseCamp of the Oakland Area Girl Scoutson Mt. St. Helena for a three-day outing.Bus operators Dale Rostomily and C.F. Sims not only loaded the girls, but avariety of camping equipment as well.In Calistoga they had an unexpectedand unofficial- greeting from the actingpolice chief, Bill Stambaugh, brother ofVern Stambaugh, union chief.

When rain dampened gear and girls,a call to the district brought prompt service. The buses picked up the camperstwo hours early, doing their own gooddeed for the day.

Another group of buses, 20 in all, hada "musical" jaunt when the district againfurnished coaches to take 936 University of California students from the campus to the opera house in San Franciscofor "Cal Night at the Opera."Real traveling, however, has been inorder for charters arranged by the Oakland YWCA to take members and theirguests to spots of interest throughoutCalifornia.

The "Y" adventure charters alreadyhave ranged the state, with trips to SantaBarbara, Hearst Castle, Monterey peninsula, Sunset House at Menlo Park, anOakland church tour and a Christmasdecorations trip on the schedule for theautumn months.Operators T. E. Powers and R. J. MacDonald are the popular drivers for thesetrips.

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"" - , i; Y--. ; b ~ ; ~ - : : " H V ~ , j , I "-,,,, ~ \ ~ ~ , , ~ ~ i ~ ~ 1 t : r t , " > 1 t - ]At an adjourned regular meeting May

28, 1962, the Board of Directors: Authorized General Manager to relocate offices of claims department ingeneral office building, vacating presentleased quarters, on motion of DirectorMcDonnell. Approved new Sunday and HolidayPass, effective July 1, for three-monthtrial period, on motion of Director Coburn.

At the regular meeting June 13, 1962,the Board of Directors: Authorized appropriation of $5,000for study of plans of San Francisco BayArea Rapid Transit District as they relate to operations and finances of Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District, onmotion of Director Coburn. Agreed to share with cities of Fremont, Newark and Union City the costof a $6,000 transit study of the area, onmotion of Director McDonnell. Established positions of administrative, operations and executive assist-

TRANSIT TIMES

BOARD OF DIRECTORSWM . J. BETTENCOURT . PresidentWard IVROBERT M. COPELAND . . . Vice PresidentDirector at LargeROBERT K. BARBER . . Director at LargeWILLIAM H. COBURN, JR. Ward IWILLIAM E. BERK Ward IIJOHN McDONNELL Ward II IE. GUY WARREN . Ward V

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERSKENNETH F. HENSEL General ManagerROBERT E. NISBET . AttorneyJOHN F. LARSON . Treasurer--ControllerGEORGE M. TAYLOR Secretary

ants to the general manager and directorof research and planning, and abolishedposition of transportation analyst, onmotion of Director Berk. Approved operating estimate for1962-63 fiscal year, on motion of Direc

tor Coburn.District Teenage Safety Instruction Cited

Two representatives of AC Transit'sClaims Department have been awarded"Certificates of Merit" from Western Insurance Information Services for theirefforts in teaching East Bay teenagersthe importance of safe driving.

The awards were given to Frank Gardin and Fred Clarrage at a San Francisco banquet in recognition of hoursspent instructing classes at San LeandroHigh School on what can be done to

TRANSIT TIMESAlameda-Contra Costa Transit District1106 BroadwayOakland 7, California

Return Requested

'ftiOiMAS R BOLD

eliminate accidents and to bring downinsurance rates, which are particularlyhigh for the teenage group.

The men explained why the rates mustbe higher for young drivers and howthe students could learn to be saferdrivers.The Western Insurance InformationServices was formed by insurance groupsto encourage safer driving among teenagers and adults.

BULK RATEU.S. POSTAGEPAIDOakland, Calif.Permit No . 2105

'5687 MILf..s AVE.;OJ.!