AC Transit

The Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) is the third-largest public bus system in California, serving 13 cities and adjacent unincorporated areas in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. AC Transit has been serving the East Bay since 1960 and now has through 78 local lines within the East Bay and 27 Transbay lines to San Francisco and the peninsula. AC Transit’s mission is to provide safe, convenient, courteous, and reliable transit service. AC Transit’s website is www.actransit.org.

 

All AC Transit buses are equipped with the following accessibility features:

• passenger lifts or ramps; “kneeling", which lowers the first step several inches to make the first step easier.
• priority seating near the front of buses, for persons with disabilities and seniors.
• two wheelchair securement locations per bus and drivers who can provide securement assistance as needed.
• lap/shoulder belts which wheelchair users can request.
• stop announcements.
• a special wheelchair marking/tether strap program for identifying/providing proper securement points on wheelchairs.

BART

The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) rail system operates throughout the counties of Contra Costa, Alameda, San Francisco, and San Mateo. It has stations in all the major cities in these counties. BART’s website is www.bart.gov.

 

BART has many features to make it possible for people with disabilities to use it, including:

• textured rubber tiles along the length of train platforms to warn passengers that they are close to the platform edge.
• train operators announce the name of the next station as well as instructions for transfers.
• changeable message signs and audible PA announcements on the platform announce arrival times and then identify each train as it comes into the station.
• telecommunications devices for the deaf (TDD) can be found in each BART station.
• accessible elevators serve all the stations and platforms.
• level boarding from the platform to all trains-no steps, no ramps.
• several wheelchair locations in every car.
• public and white courtesy telephones at stations.
• priority seating near the doors for seniors and persons with disabilities.

Phone contacts for AC Transit and BART:

AC Transit General Information (510) 891-4777
AC Transit Accessible Services Department (510) 891-7261

BART General Information (510) 236-2278
BART Accessible Services Division (510) 464-6184

AC Transit and BART have private sector partners with whom they contract to provide East Bay Paratransit service. At this time the contractors are:

• Transdev Services, Inc: eligibility, reservations, scheduling, customer service, management of service providers. Transdev is referred to as the “paratransit broker” for East Bay Paratransit.
• A-Paratransit: service provider.
• First Transit: service provider.
• MV Paratransit: service provider.
• Paratransit, Inc: Administrative

 

But all the rider needs to remember is EAST BAY PARATRANSIT!