8/9/2019 Transit Times Volume 6, Number 9

1/5

Vol. 6 No . 9

R. M. Copeland W. H. Coburn, Jr.AC Transit BoardRetains OfficersRe-elected unanimously to serve another term as president of the board of.directors, Col. Robert M. Copeland began his second year in office this monthon a businesslike note of augmenting dish-ict operations.Before hearing Rnancial and insurancematters facing the board, Copeland expressed his gratitude to fellow directorsand staff members for their help andsaid he was particularly honored to bechosen to serve again as president.

He was re-elected on the motion ofVice President William H. Coburn, Jr.,of Berkeley, who also will continue inhis position for another term. Motion tore-elect Coburn vice president was madeby Director E. Guy Warren of Hayward.Copeland, member of the board sincethe district was formed in 1956, lives at80 N orwood Ave., Kensington. A retiredArmy engineer, he has been a constantadvocate of improved public transit, asnecessary to riders, motorists, homeowners and business in general.

(Continued on Page 2)

For the Good of Your CommunityOAKLAND, JANUARY 1964

Seventh Express LineBrings Fast CommuteService to New Area

Another new commuter express linewent into operation this month, trimmingtraveling time between San Leandro,East Oakland and Oakland to a matterof a few minutes.

Seventh of the district's new intercityexpress routes, Line 38 brought the firstfast, limited-stop transit to a heavilypopulated area of East Oakland and SanLeandro previously without express service

Operating via Bancroft Ave. and East14th St., the bus takes 35 minutes fromits terminal at Estudillo Ave. and Bancroft in San Leandro and downtown Oakland. Other time checks to thf? downtown area included 23 minutes from 73rdAve., 20 minutes from Seminary Ave. ,'and 16 minutes from High St.

Inauguration of the commuter expresswas encouraged by district experiencewith its other limited-stop service. In theRrst week of operation, revenue from thenew Oakland-Richmond express Line 31climbed from 12.5 cents per mile to 27.5cents per mile, according to GeneralManager K. F. Hensel.Extension of Line 33-Berkeley expressbuses to provide commute service todowntown Richmond via Macdonald andSan Pablo Aves., also was attracting additional passengers in each directiondaily, Hensel reported.

(Continued on Page 2)

8/9/2019 Transit Times Volume 6, Number 9

2/5

Highway Improvements Give AlamedaFastest Transbay Crossing in History

Transbay bus schedules, speeded upby better traveling conditions, gave Alameda its fastest commute service in history this month.

Four minutes were shaved from previous running times-vanquishing thelong cherished speed records of SouthernPaciBc's combination "Red Train" andferry service.At the same time, local service betweenAlameda and Oakland was trimmed, with

Lines 42 and 51 operating approximatelytwo minutes faster.For commuters using Line 0 buses,traveling time was 24 minutes on nonstop express cars from Park St. and SantaClara Ave. to San Francisco. Runningtime from Lincoln Ave. and Webster St.was 23 minutes. Line W buses were carrying Southshore commuters to SanFrancisco in 35 minutes.In comparison, "Red Train" schedulesof 1938 showed service took from 11 to

18 minutes longer than today's bus schedules, operating from same approximatelocations and with fewer stops.In earlier days of electriBcation, witha smaller passenger load and limitedstops, the train-ferry service still wasminutes slower than today's motor coach

commute.The improvement is credited to oneway traffic on the Bay Bridge and in the

Copeland, Coburn toHead Board for 1964

(Continued from Page 1)Coburn, an attorney, has been directorsince 1958 and has taken an active partin planning the district's operations, bothbefore the district commenced service

and during the three years since thattime. He lives at 1123 Hillview Road,Berkeley.2

Alameda tubes. Running time will bereduced even further if buses, whichleave the Nimitz freeway via the Market St. ramp, can eliminate the presentroute to the Webster St. tube via 7th St.and make use of the direct 5th St. approach to the new tube.

New schedules have been issued forLines 0, W, 42 and 51 as result of thetravel time reduction.

Oakland-San leandroCommute line Started(Continued from Page 1)

Inauguration of the latest express followed delivery of the remainder of 30new coaches. The line is operating initially on weekdays from San Leandro toOakland between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. onheadways varying from 12 to 20 minutes.Service from Oakland to San Leandrois provided between 7 and 8:30 a.m.

In the evening, commuters are able touse the express between Oakland andSan Leandro from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.San Leandro to Oakland buses operatefrom 4 to 6:30 p.m.The line, which adds 570 miles pe r

day to transit operations, provides directservice to main transfer points and suchfacilities as Montgomery Ward, Fruitvale Medical Center, Oakland Hospital,Kaiser Center and downtown businessareas.

The service replaces part of the neighborhood operations provided by Line 46.Drivers Win Again

For the ninth time in 1963, drivers atthe Emeryville division beat their safetygoal in December with a recor d of 13,550miles pe r accident. Their average forthe year was 12,911 miles, also above thegoal of 12,450 miles.

'Miracle' Comes to Washington StreetTrees have appeared, fountains tinkle

and buses have their own special turnouts free from traffic problems, in thedramatic transformation which hasturned one of Oakland's downtownstreets into an attractive shopping concourse with the charm of a Europeanboulevard.

The Washington Street Mall, dedicated on the theme, "Use it and enjoyit," is giving the entire downtown areaa new look-while providing the practicability of transit accessibility.

Buses, unhampered by traffic congestion which had added to the dejectedlook of Washington St. , now whizthrough the concourse.Motor coaches and automobiles movedso smoothly on Washington St. duringthe holiday season-despite the presenceof work trucks-that it was the Brst timein the memory of Jimm y Vi guier, the 50-year downtown supervisor, that he hadno need to detour buses from the street.

The project of turning Bve main business blocks into an attractive mall wasconceived in 1956 bu t failed to gain support because it called for closing of thestreet to vehicular traffic. The new design, only one of its speciBc kind in thecountry, provided for two wide lanes ofone-way traffic, featuring turnouts wherebuses unload without interference.

The transformation includes widenedsidewalks, full grown trees and shrubbery, fountains, benches, kiosks andother attractive landscaping and building "effects." Necessary sidewalk installations, such as mailboxes and newsstands, are partially screened by concrete barriers. Planted areas are wateredautomatically from underground pipes.Wooden pergolas, with trees in the centers add to the attractiveness, highlightedby sunken floodlights .

The improvement is expected to serveas a catalyst for the revival of a majorretail area.

IT'S MAGIC - Washington Sfreet Mall now presents this attractive look,as buses and cars movesmoothly past landscaping, including fountainsand widened sidewalks.Buses have turnouts.

3

8/9/2019 Transit Times Volume 6, Number 9

3/5

TRANSIT HUB - SanPablo Station, right, as itlooked in 1910 with passengers waiting for Piedmont train. Below, photoshows same location butwith streamlining - including shelter, bus andpotted trees.

Modern Look Given San Pablo StationAn upswept, modernistic shelter, pot

ted trees and new paint have brought abrighter look to one of the East Bay'soldest and best known transfer points,San Pablo Station.A waiting room, inside and outsidebenches, and posted transit informationsigns have added convenience.

But the atmosphere of one of the remaining "Key Route Monuments" remains, a blend of the past and present.Commuters of 60 years ago wouldn'trecognize today's structure, which pro-4

vides "doorstop" shelter, bu t the stationas such would have a familiar look-eventhough a row of trees mark the middleof a right-of-way once striped by traintracks.Re-establishing an attractive and serviceable shelter at San Pablo Station wasfirst among district projects of erectingprotective structures at main transferpoints throughout the network.

But even the streamlining is not expected to change custom.Although the station actually is at

Yerba Buena and San Pablo Aves ., commuters always have considered it at"40th and San Pablo" and it's expected toremain at that mythical corner despitemaps or street names.Main hub of Key Route operations foryears and still an important transferpoint for transbay and local bus service,San Pablo Station has withstood thechanges that followed inauguration ofthe "Key" train-ferry commute serviceho m Berkeley in 1903.First newspaper account (one paragraphl) of the "new Emeryville ferryservice" included mention of plans for ashelter at the present location.Piedmont Train

But according to Vernon Sappers ofthe California Railway Historical Society,the first shingled depot was not builtuntil 1904, when it was located acrossYerba Buena Ave., to serve the newlyestablished Piedmont train-second ofthe Key Route's lines .

Oakland passengers, incidentally, didnot have direct service to the stationoriginally, but F . M. "Borax" Smith, mainstay of the Key Route, took care of thelocal trade by running special cars fromhis estate on Park Blvd., via 1st Ave.,12th St. Dam, Broadway, and out SanPablo to connect with Berkeley andPiedmont schedules. The cars qarried aspecial sign: "Key Route Only."

The shelter was moved across thestreet and enlarged about 1906, whenthe Key System placed its second interlocking tower at the junction. Tower No.1 had been installed the year before atthe pier terminal yard.

SYMBOLIC MEET - SanFra n cisco b ou n d "c"train, waiting at SanPablo Station for bus topass in 1955. Train nowis in service in BuenosAires. Later model busesprovide connections atsame spot - but with"new look."-Photo courtesy Harre Demoro.

In its busiest days, the shelter, withlattice-work windows, served as a depotfor Berkeley, Piedmont, Northbrae andClaremont trains-as well as for the first"Traction Car," popularly known as the"Foolish Car" because "it starts nowhere,goes nowhere and ends nowhere."First of the Key Route feeder lines, thecar-later known as the "40th St. Dinky"-ran in 1908 from Piedmont station via40th St. to San Pablo Station, then overthe Berkeley "main line" to Ward andAdeline and return.Local service later was provided to thestation from Golden Gate (now theneighborhood around Stanford and SanPablo Aves. ); from West Berkeley, Albany, EI Cerrito, Richmond and Oakland.After the Key Route expanded intoOakland proper with the 22nd St. linein 1906 and the 12th Street line in 1909,the station lost its importance for thatarea, bu t gained in usage from population booms in northern Oakland andBerkeley.

The automatic block signals began atthe junction which was the last stop enroute to the Key pier. And in the daysof train operations on the Bay Bridge,the automatic cab signal train controlzone also started there.

More InEormal:ionA note or phone call to the transit dis

trict-654-7878-will place your name onthe mailing list for Transit Times if youare not already regularly receiving acopy of the monthly newsletter.

.5

8/9/2019 Transit Times Volume 6, Number 9

4/5

Sfflatt ~ o a t 'Z)ad4'Accounting Chief Charts a Varied Course

By Virginia DennisonA favorable breeze doesn't necessarily

mean that C. V. Warfield has producedan advantageous estimate of th e district'seconomic future-although, as accounting supervisor at the general offices, hehas much to do with figuring where ACTransit is going.

But away from his desk, Warfieldcharts a different course-as a "papa" ofth e small boat sailing sport which haspu t an active keel under Bay area youngsters and adults.

One of the "fathers" of the first ElToro sailing classes on Lake Merritt,Warfield also is the father of Jim Warfield,noted Pacific Coast champion of theSmall Boat Racing Association of N o r t h ~ ern California.Although Jim and his sister, Karen,have stacks of trophies attesting theirability, Vern gave up racing after onedisastrous attempt.

He built his first eight foot pram froma kit shortly after moving to 1018 UnionSt ., Alameda in 1946, the same year hewent to work for the Key System. Aftersailing from the Encinal Yacht Club,Warfield entered a race at Palo Alto.

He was pushing as he started downchannel, hiking out to hold the little boatupright and "unprepared" when the windhit. He-and the pram-flipped. For anhour, Warfield clung to the boat in thewater. Nobody, it seemed, missed him.Wet, cold, and as he puts it mildly"unhappy," Vern finally was rescued bya youngster out fishing. The EI Torowas retired to the Warfield garage.

Three years later, when his son, then12, wanted to learn sailing, it came out ."Jim apparently inherited some of hismother's Viking blood . . . he took off likea bomb and in his first season of racing,took third place. The next year he wassecond and in '52 and '53 was champion."

In the meantime, Warfield built an-6

other EI Toro for his daughter, whobrought home her share of trophies. Sheincludes among th em her husband, AlCushman, another sailing enthusiast.Jim, after wartime service, progressedto the snipe class and continued championships, which he still holds.After long service as recorder of thesmall boat association, Vern "retired"from th e post in 1960, bu t was awardedan honorary recordership for his yearsof service to small boat racing.

With his wife, "Eddy," who shared hisenthusiasm and work, he has turned nowto photography, building his own darkroom and dividing his picture taking between racing and a granddaughter,Robin, 14 months, who appropriatelytook her first steps recently for grandfather's camera.PRAMS TO PHOTOS-One of the "papas"of the small boat sailing sport, C. V.Warfield concentrates now on photographing boats and a granddaughter.

AC / transit PASSENGER REVENUE .. .COMPARISON WITH PREVIOUS YEAR1.1 60.0001.1 40 .0001.1200001.100.0001.080 .0001,060.0001,040 .0001.020.0001.000 .00 0

980 ,00 0960,000940.000920.000900,000880.000860 .00 0

.....,...

\:st- \ f\"-

z..:-,

\\\\",,CDWu..

/t ' f ! l ! l ! t t t a , ,.... "!IJ!I""':

jI , "

\ /

'",

'\:v

wz:::>-,

' " 0

......

/,

The business standstill resulting from the assassination of President Kennedy, together with inclementweather and the Thanksgiving holiday, caused anunusual financial slump during November-in business generally and in transit operations.Figures hit record lows during the last week of the

month, when the days of national mourning andThanksgiving resulted in an approximate 17 per centdecrease in AC Transit passenger revenue . Department store sales in Oakland dropped 33 per cent inthe same week and took an 11 per cent decrease forthe entire month.Passenger revenue for November totaled $1,005,350,a drop of 5 per cent below November, 1962. Numberof passengers carried was 4,207,400, down 6.8 per centcompared to the same month a year ago. Commutebook sales decreased 5.5 per cent, totaling $156,485,as compared to $165,555 for November, 1962.Total income was $1,206,l60, sufficient to coveroperating expenses of $1,025,650, plus equipment renewal and bond debt service. Miles of scheduled service were 1,889,845, an increase of 6,240 miles over N0-vember, 1962.

AI \\I \,fI \ ,r , "ill!:=:-1963- 1962

fa..w(J)

" 1961fUo >oz uwCl

NOVEMBERPASSENGERSPercentage Changefrom Previous Year

'+ 10%, .....=-- ........= ----,

I

+ 8 % ~ - - - - - - - - -+ 6 % ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 +4%1- - - - - - - - - - - --- 1+2%1------ - - - - - - - - -1

t 2%1---------1;---+----1- - - - - _ _ _ 1 r - - - - 1

6 % 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I

_ ACTRANSITc US. TRANSIT INDUSTRY 7

8/9/2019 Transit Times Volume 6, Number 9

5/5

ACTIONS OF THE BOARDAt the regular meeting January 8,

1964, the Board of Directors: Re-elected Robert M. Copelandpresident of the Board, on motion ofVice President Coburn. Re-elected Vice President Coburnto office, on motion of Director Warren. Increased excess public liability andproperty damage coverage to $5,000,000,

and extended existing policy at currentrate to December, 1966, on motion ofDirector McDonnell.

New Group JoinsAC Transit: RanksNew employees, welcomed to transitrolls in December, included:

Executive OfficesAdministration: Maureen Ann Layne,273 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland, secretary.Emeryville Division

Bus operators: A. E. Enevoldsen, 444MacArthur Blvd., Oakland; Francis Rigley, 299 Oak Vue Lane, Pleasant Hill;E. D. Hemmingsen, 1687 MacArthurBlvd., San Leandro; C. R. Donnelly,2059 Mt. Diablo St., Concord; R. L. Anderson, 211 Singleton Ave., Alameda; D.L. Moulin, 2500 Wallace St., Apt. 3, Oakland; G. E. Anthony, 1926 6th Ave., Oakland; Robert Martin, 1266 62nd St., Em-eryville; D. C. McCormack, 120 TalbertSt., San Francisco; R. C. Neathery, 651

TRANS I T T IMESAlameda-Contra Costa Transit DistrictLatham Square BuildingOakland 12, California

Return Requested

TRANSIT TIMESPublished monthly by theALAMEDACONTRA COSTA TRANSIT DISTRICTLatham Square Building 508 Sixteenth StreetOakland 12, California' Telephone 6547878

BOARD OF DIRECTORSROBERT M. COPELAND . PresidentDirector at largeWILLIAM H. COBURN, JR . . Vice PresidentWard IRAY H. RINEHARTWI LLiAM E. BERK .JOHN McDONNELL .WM . J. BETTENCOURT .E. GUY WARREN .

Director at largeWard IIWard II IWard IVWard VADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS

KENNETH F. HENSEL General ManagerROBERT E. NISBET. . . AttorneyJOHN F. LARSON . Treasurer-ControllerGEORGE M. TAYLOR. . . . . SecretaryALAN L. BINGHAM . Public Information Manager

~ - - - - - - - - - - - ~ 9 - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ Candlestick Rd., Bldg. 44, San Francisco;J ames Davis, 41 Edgar St., San Francisco.

Richmond DivisionBus operators: R. P. Bolton, 4745 14thSt., San Pablo; A. R. Vasconcellos, 1324Gaynor Ave., Richmond; J. L. Campbell,418 Bissell Ave., Richmond; F. X. Vassalo, 2844 12th St., San Pablo.

Seminary DivisionMaintenance: Henry Joseph Smith, 383

Grand Ave., Oakland, service employee.Bus operators: D. W. Wiltfong, 273678th Ave., Oakland; N. L. Chen, 9939Burr St., Oakland; S. E. Stephens, 9840MacArthur Blvd., Oakland; R. F. Valerga, 656 Dowling Blvd. , San Leandro.

BULK RATEU.S. POSTAGEPAID

Permit No . 2105Oakland, Calif.