County Connection

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County Connection
County Connection logo.svg
County Connection bus at Orinda station, March 2018.JPG
County Connection bus at Orinda station in 2018
ParentCentral Contra Costa Transit Authority
Founded1980
Headquarters2477 Arnold Industrial Way,
Concord, California
Locale East Bay
Service area Central Contra Costa County
Service type bus service
ADA paratransit
Routes29 local
7 express
25 select service
1 local shuttle
Stops1,000+
Fleet125 heavy-duty transit buses
48 paratransit vans
Daily ridership9,900 (weekdays, Q4 2023) [1]
Annual ridership2,661,400 (2023) [2]
Fuel type ULSD
Chief executiveWilliam Churchill
Website cccta.org

The County Connection (officially, the Central Contra Costa Transit Authority, CCCTA) is a Concord-based public transit agency operating fixed-route bus and ADA paratransit (County Connection LINK) service in and around central Contra Costa County in the San Francisco Bay Area. Established in 1980 as a joint powers authority, CCCTA assumed control of public bus service within central Contra Costa first begun by Oakland-based AC Transit as it expanded into suburban Contra Costa County in the mid-1970s (especially after the opening of BART). In 2023, the system had a ridership of 2,661,400, or about 9,900 per weekday as of the fourth quarter of 2023.

Contents

History

An AC Transit bus at Orinda station prior to the County Connection takeover AC Transit 1918, GM Old Look ACT034 (11178008573).jpg
An AC Transit bus at Orinda station prior to the County Connection takeover

AC Transit began operating local bus service under contract in central Contra Costa County in the 1970s after the coming of BART. Service began in Concord on September 8, 1975; in Pleasant Hill on December 8, 1975; and in Moraga and Orinda on September 13, 1976. [3] Walnut Creek began operating a downtown shuttle route connecting to BART in December 1974. [4]

On March 27, 1980, the Central Contra Costa Transit Authority (CCCTA) was created by a joint powers agreement between the cities of Clayton, Concord, Lafayette, Martinez, Moraga, Pleasant Hill, and Walnut Creek, plus the County of Contra Costa. [5] [6] [7] The agency took over operations of the Walnut Creek system on July 1, 1980; by 1982, it had seven routes and twelve minibuses. [7] [5] The CCCTA originally planned to take over the other services in its district from AC Transit in August 1981. However, slow delivery of the buses and heavy rains that slowed construction of a maintenance facility delayed this until 1982. [7]

A Walnut Creek writer, Elizabeth Tenney, won a contest in early 1982 to create a slogan for the CCRTA system. Her slogan, "The County Connection", was adopted as the system branding. [8] [9] The CCCTA took over local bus service in its district from AC Transit on June 7, 1982, with a fleet of 24 new Gillig buses. (AC Transit continued to operate express bus service that functioned as feeder service for BART.) At that time, the Walnut Creek routes had 2,500 daily riders, while the routes taken over from AC Transit had 8,000 daily riders. [7] Several routes were consolidated with the takeover, while a new Martinez–Concord–Clayton route was added. [10] [9]

County Connection took over the operations of three private paratransit providers in 1990 to form its paratransit service, branded as LINK. In 1994, the agency took over the BART express bus feeder service. [5]

Service

As of May 2020, the County Connection operates 25 weekday routes (three of which also operate on weekends), seven weekend-only routes, and 19 school tripper routes within central Contra Costa County. [11] All routes, with the exception of some of the 600-numbered series select service trips, connect with regional train service, primarily BART, in addition to ACE in Pleasanton and Amtrak, including Amtrak California's Capitol Corridor and San Joaquin services in Martinez. Among its 30 weekday routes, the County Connection operates seven express routes (Routes 91X—98X). With support from the city of Walnut Creek, the County Connection also operates a free downtown circulator with trolley livery (Route 4) with service between Walnut Creek and Broadway Plaza.

The fleet consists of 121 accessible buses and 63 paratransit vans. [12]

Route overview

Weekdays

Weekday service is provided on all routes except 300-numbered series routes, which operate only on weekends. 600-numbered series routes are select service trips convenient to area schools and operate on school days, with service timed to school bell times. [11]

RouteDirectionTerminalsACE, Amtrak, or BART Connection atNotes/Weekend Route
North/East TerminalSouth/West Terminal
1North-SouthMitchell Dr Park & RideRossmoor Walnut Creek Ride 301 on Weekends
4
The Free Ride
North-South BART Walnut Creek Broadway PlazaWalnut CreekFree, daily service between BART Walnut Creek and Broadway Plaza via downtown
5North-SouthBART Walnut CreekCreekside DrWalnut Creek
6East-West BART Lafayette BART Orinda Lafayette, OrindaAlso operates on weekends
Operates 3 trips per day to Orinda Village and Community Center
7East-West BART Pleasant Hill Pleasant Hill, Walnut CreekOperates from 6am – 7pm
9North-South Diablo Valley College BART Walnut CreekPleasant Hill, Walnut CreekAlso serves JFK University
10East-WestClayton – Clayton Library
6 AM—8PM
Clayton Rd & Kirker Pass Rd
Before 6 AM and after 8 PM
BART Concord ConcordService via Clayton Rd; Ride 310 on Weekends
11East-WestBART ConcordBART Pleasant HillConcord, Pleasant Hill Service via Meadow Ln and Oak Grove Rd (north of Treat Blvd); Ride 311 on Weekends
14North-SouthBART ConcordBART Walnut CreekConcord, Pleasant Hill, Walnut CreekService via Monument Blvd; Ride 311 and 314 on Weekends
15East-WestBART ConcordBART Pleasant HillConcord, Pleasant HillService via Treat Blvd; Ride 315 on Weekends
16North-South Amtrak Martinez
5:40 AM—8:40 PM
Crescent Plaza & Crescent Dr
After 8:40 PM
BART ConcordMartinez (Amtrak), ConcordService via Alhambra Ave, Crescent Plaza – Downtown Pleasant Hill, and Monument Blvd; Ride 314 and 316 on Weekends
17North-South BART North Concord BART ConcordNorth Concord, Concord
18North-SouthAmtrak MartinezBART Pleasant HillMartinez (Amtrak), Pleasant HillAlso serves Diablo Valley College; Ride 316 on Weekends
19North-SouthAmtrak MartinezBART ConcordMartinez (Amtrak), ConcordRide 316 on Weekends
20East-WestBART ConcordDiablo Valley CollegeConcordAlso serves Sunvalley Mall; Ride 314 and 320 on Weekends
21North-SouthBART Walnut CreekSan Ramon Transit CenterWalnut CreekService via Danville Blvd; Ride 321 on Weekends
27East-WestBART North ConcordMason CircleMartinez (Amtrak), North ConcordAlso serves Diablo Valley College
28East-WestAmtrak MartinezBART ConcordMartinez (Amtrak), ConcordAlso serves Diablo Valley College
35North-SouthSan Ramon Transit Center BART Dublin/Pleasanton Dublin/PleasantonService via Windemere Pkwy and East Branch Pkwy only during midday from 10:30 AM to 3:45 PM; Ride 335 on weekends
91X
Concord Commuter Express
LoopBART Concord – Airport PlazaConcordOperates during AM and PM peak periods only
92X
ACE Express
North-SouthMitchell Dr Park & Ride ACE Pleasanton Pleasanton (ACE)Operates during AM and PM peak periods only. Also serves Danville Park & Ride and San Ramon Transit Center
93X
Kirker Pass Express
East-WestBART Walnut Creek
AM terminal
Hillcrest (Antioch) Park & Ride
PM terminal
Walnut CreekOperates westbound AM only, eastbound PM only (mornings to Walnut Creek, afternoons to Hillcrest Park & Ride)
95X
San Ramon Express
North-SouthBART Walnut CreekSan Ramon Transit CenterWalnut CreekOperates during AM and PM peak periods only. Also serves Danville Park & Ride
96X
Bishop Ranch Express, North
LoopBART Walnut Creek – Bishop RanchWalnut CreekOperates mainly during AM and PM peak periods only with three midday trips. Also serves San Ramon Transit Center
97X
Bishop Ranch Express, South
LoopBART Dublin/Pleasanton – Bishop RanchDublin/PleasantonOperates during AM and PM peak periods only. Also serves San Ramon Transit Center
98X
Martinez/Walnut Creek Express
North-SouthAmtrak MartinezBART Walnut CreekMartinez (Amtrak), Walnut CreekRoute also serves Contra Costa Blvd & Viking Dr – Sunvalley Mall
99X
Martinez/North Concord Express
East-WestAmtrak MartinezBART North ConcordMartinez (Amtrak), North ConcordRoute serves Arnold Industrial Wy & Pacheco Transit Hub
250
Gael Rail Shuttle
North-SouthBART Lafayette Saint Mary's College LafayetteOperates late night trips only Thursday—Sunday
260
Cal State East Bay Shuttle
LoopBART Concord – Cal State East Bay ConcordOperates PM trips only Monday—Thursday
Alamo Creek ShuttleNorth-SouthBART Walnut CreekAlamo CreekWalnut CreekOperates northbound AM only, southbound PM only (mornings to Walnut Creek, afternoons to Alamo Creek)
712East-WestBART Pittsburg/Bay PointBART 19th Street OaklandPleasant Hill Early Bird Express route with limited early-morning trips [13]
715East-WestBART North Concord/MartinezBART LafayetteConcord, Pleasant Hill, Walnut CreekEarly Bird Express route with limited early-morning trips [13]

Weekends

Service is provided on the following 11 routes:

RouteDirectionTerminalsACE, Amtrak, or BART Connection atNotes
North/East TerminalSouth/West Terminal
4
The Free Ride
North-South BART Walnut Creek Broadway PlazaWalnut CreekFree, daily service between BART Walnut Creek and Broadway Plaza via downtown
6East-West BART Lafayette BART Orinda Lafayette, OrindaAlso operates on weekdays
250
Gael Rail Shuttle
North-SouthBART Lafayette Saint Mary's College LafayetteOperates PM trips only Thursday—Sunday
301North-South John Muir Medical Center, Walnut Creek Campus Rossmoor Walnut Creek
310East-WestClayton Rd & Kirker Pass RoadConcord BartConcord
311East-West BART Concord BART Walnut CreekConcord, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek
314East-WestConcord BART Diablo Valley College ConcordService via Contra Costa Blvd, Monument Blvd, and Clayton Rd
315East-WestClayton Rd & Bel Air DrBART ConcordConcord
316North-SouthAlhambra Ave & Walnut AveBART Pleasant HillMartinez (Amtrak), Pleasant HillAlso serves Diablo Valley College
320East-WestBART ConcordDiablo Valley CollegeConcordService via Diamond Blvd
321North-SouthBART Walnut CreekSunset Dr & Bishop DrWalnut CreekAlso serves San Ramon Transit Center
335North-SouthSan Ramon Transit Center BART Dublin/Pleasanton Dublin


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References

  1. "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  2. "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  3. History of Lines by Line: Major Changes Since 1960 (PDF). Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District). July 17, 1978. pp. 5, 12.
  4. "Shuttle Bus Ceremony Tomorrow". Oakland Tribune. December 11, 1974. p. 15 via Newspapers.com.
  5. 1 2 3 2023–2028 Short Range Transit Plan (PDF). Central Contra Costa Transit Authority. December 15, 2022. p. 3.
  6. "Council Will Decide On Improved Transit". Martinez News-Gazette. March 19, 1980. p. 8 via Newspapers.com.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Will extra miles dim the smiles of genial county service?". The San Francisco Examiner. June 1, 1982. p. 3 via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Her Slogan A Winner". Martinez News-Gazette. February 24, 1982. p. 13 via Newspapers.com.
  9. 1 2 Radin, Patricia (June 6, 1982). "New bus service begins Monday". Oakland Tribune. p. 23 via Newspapers.com.
  10. Hirsch, Allan (June 3, 1982). "New Service Begins Monday". Martinez News-Gazette. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  11. 1 2 CCCTA – Maps & Schedules Archived April 15, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  12. "Fact Sheet". County Connection. December 14, 2018. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  13. 1 2 "Early Bird Express" (PDF). San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District. 2019.