transit times volume 3, number 7

8/14/2019 Transit Times Volume 3, Number 7

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Vol. 3 No . 7 OAKLAND, NOVEMBER 1960

Robert K. Barber William E. Berk William H. Coburn, Jr.

Berk Will Represent Richmond AreaOn Transit Board; Arnold Defeated

William E. Berk, Richmond businessman and civic leader, was elected to thetransit district board of directors thismonth as ward representative of WesternContra Costa County.Voters also returned to office Robert K.Barber of Kensington and William H. Coburn, Jr. of Berkeley by sizeable majorities.Berk, who was unopposed in his bidfor election, will represent Albany, ElCerrito, Kensington, Richmond, SanPablo and adjacent unincorporated areaincluding El Sobrante.His election as director of Ward II wasassured when the incumbent, J. HowardArnold of Albany, switched at the lastmoment and sought election as director-

at-large. Arnold, however, was defeatedby Barber, the incumbent director-atlarge who currently is president of theboard of directors.

Coburn, a Berkeley attorney, represents Berkeley, Emeryville and WestOakland on the board of directors.Complete unofficial returns from theNov. 8 election were as follows:At LargeRobert K. Barber .Leo BaumGeorge H. Adams .J. Howard Arnold.Ward IWilliam H. Coburn, Jr.Leo W. BrownJack Gibbons .

122,15580,18761,14437,31636,23012,6947,997


2/7

FACE LIFTING-First of the motor coaches formerly belonging to Key System TransitLines, No. 1710, is treated with new district colors by Painters Robert A. Epperhart,left, and Leslie Phillips. Inspecting initial work on long range modernization programare J. B. Rice, left, maintenance manager, and E. A. Towers, general superintendent,)f maintenance.

Former Key Buses Modernized, PaintedThe East Bay got its first look this

month at the first steps toward new andimproved service promised by AC Transit as modernized and repainted busesstarted moving into service.Most of the diesel equipment formerlybelonging to Key System Transit Lines isundergoing the transformation, which includes a new paint job of the inside andchange-over to the colors of the districton the outside.

The color scheme, which sends thelong familiar yellow and green of KeySystem into oblivion, will closely matchthe new streamlined "Transit Liners"which will start arriving in December.

Working with spray guns, maintenance2

crews at the three division yards of thedistrict are turning out three to five brightlooking buses each week.Roofs and sides of the buses are beingrepainted white to below the windowline. At that point, a lO-inch stripe ofTahoe turquoise separates the white andthe metallic silver color of the body. Below th e silver is another stripe, 12 incheswide, of turquoise.

The front an d rear of the buses arepainted in white and turquoise with astripe of persimmon orange.

In the. interior, ceilings are beingpainted white and either sunshine yellowor light green, while the rest of the busis finished in shades of green or beige.

What the Editors Are Saying AboutTransitSan Leandro Allorning News:

Vastly Improved Public Transit ExpectedO N SATURDAY morning a $16,500,-000 East Bay transit improvementprogram will begin to roll when the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District begins operation of a publicly-owned transportation system.

The Key System Transit Lines ceasesto exist as the company operating transitservice in the East Bay and across theBridge to San Francisco.

Th e people, through the two countydistrict, will take over th e operation oftheir own transit system. Th e people willhave every right to expect to get a farsuperior transit system.

The directors of the transit districtincluding San Leandro's Bill Bettencourt-deserve the thanks of the public for theexpeditious manner in which they havetackled this bothersome problem. Noneof the directors is a transit man, bu t theyhave-in four years-taken on the problem of better public transportation forthis area, an d with determination, haveguided it to this historic hour.

With the passing of the Key System,the transportation future of th e East Baycities takes on a new look. Brand newbuses of a modern design-$7,700,000worth-have been ordered, and many willsoon be rolling into service. The twocounty district promises new routes, someinto areas heretofore neglected.

I t can be expected that the public willdemand improvements in service, shorterintervals between buses, faster runningtimes, and more courteous drivers.

At the same time, the new transit system will no doubt expect the public to begood patrons. For new equipment and

improved services will be for naught, unless near-empty buses are filled to nearcapacity.John R. Worthington, general manager

of the two county system, said that inother cities where new equipment hasbeen used, ridership has increased asmuch as 300 pe r cent, while other linesin the same city, using the same oldequipment, continued to show decliningpatronage.

One thing seems to be certain. Th epeople who created, by vote, the twocounty transit system want the districtto be operated on a business-like basiswhile mindful of th e vital communityfunction it performs. With reasonablepublic support the system can be selfsustaining.

The future of East Bay public transportation appears to be bright. Indeed,it can be hoped that the East Bay transit district can become the world's finestmetropolitan transit system.Express Lines to

Race Track VotedSpecial express service direct to Golden

Gate Fields in Albany was establishedthis month with the opening of fall racing season.

The "Race Track Express" carries fansfrom the Transbay Transit Terminal inSan Francisco to the track grandstand in20 minutes. Buses leave th e terminal atfrequent intervals.

Another special, Line 94, operates tothe track from University and ShattuckAves. in Berkeley.

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Worthington Names Managers of Maior District DepartmentsDepartmental appointments, covering

principal phases of AC Transit operations, were announced this month byJ 0 h n R. Worthington,general manager.The schedule in -cludes:AttorneyRobert E. Nisbet, attorney, will handle alldistrict legal matters,except those dealingwith accident claimsand related incidents. Robert E. NisbetSecretary-Administrative AssistantGeorge M. Taylor,

board secretary and administrative assistant.His duties, such as normally discharged by thesecretary of a corporatebody, include keepingof records, minutes andother detail, assistingthe general manager in

George M. Taylor administration.Operations an d TrafficKennth F. Hensel, operations manager,as head of the department, has full responsibility for all operating functions.

Donald J. Potter willcontinue present responsibilities as general superintendent of the department, under direction of the operationsmanager.E. Sam Davis willcontinue as traffic engi- Kenneth F. Henselneer in charge of trafficand schedule department, will also assume charge of PBX informatio n servicesand lost property.4

H. D. White, transportation analyst,will conduct special studies and supervisorial assignments, as determined bythe operations manager.Public Inform ation

Alan L. Bingham,public information man-ager, will be in chargeof the district's information and public relationsprogram. He also willexecute other duties assigned by the generalmanager. Alan L. BinghamEngineering and Safety

G. G. Wadsworth

G. G. Wadsworth, safety engineer and engineering assistant to thegeneral manager, willbe responsible for thedistrict's safety programand activities. He alsowill supervise such engineering programs asmay be directed by thegeneral manager.

Treasurer-ControllerJohn F. Larson, treasurer-controller,has full responsibility for the treasury andand accounting depart-ments.

W. G. Skilling, assistan t treasurer, will haveimmediate supervIsIOnof the treasurer's office,under the treasurer-controller.

A. deSpiganovicz, assistant to the controller,will assist the treasurer- Jchn F. Larsoncontroller in such duties as assigned tohim.

C. V. Warfield, head accountant, is to

have charge of the accounting depart-ment, reporting to the treasurer-controller.

J. T. Stockman, head of data processing, will be in charge of the IBM installations and other data processing equip-ment, its functions and personnel, underdirection of the treasurer-controller.Personnel

Harold M. Davis, personnel manager,will have charge of all personnel functions, exclusive of direction and discipline. He will supervise employee recruitment, employee training program, han-dling of industrial and employee relations, maintenance ofemployee personnel records. His duties also include supervision of

building maintenancedepartment and otherduties, as may be assigned by the generalmanager.

Martin Reite, employHarold M. Davis ment supervisor, will be

in charge of employment, at direction ofpersonnel manager.Maintenance and Equipment

J. B. Rice, maintenance manager, willhave responsibility forall aspects of equipmentmaintenance.E. A. Towers, generalsuperintendent of maintenance, will assist ingeneral supervision,with specific responsibility for direction ofDivision 2. J. B. Rice

Purchasing an d Stores

Howard D. Beebe

Howard D. Beebe, director of purchasing andstores, will be responsible for procurement ofmaterials and supplies,and for storage and distribution.

Model Display in Bank Lohhies GivesPassengers Preview oE New Equipment:

A miniature display of the streamlined"Transit Liners" soon to be operated byAC Transit is making the rounds of EastBay bank lobbies, giving passengers apreview of what the new buses will looklike.

The display includes two scale modelsof the 250 luxurious buses ordered bythe district and slated to start rolling inservice in December.

Adding to the authentic look are thetiny figures of passengers, about to climb

aboard. The display is set against apainted suburban background.The models, complete to the AC Tran-sit emblem, are in district colors of whitemetallic silver, Tahoe turquoise and p e r ~ simmon orange.The display was shown first at the Bankof Commerce and the First Western Bankin Oakland, then was scheduled to movefor. weekly visits to Richmond, Alameda,Berkeley, Hayward, San Leandro and

back to Oakland.5


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Pul,lic Welcomes Neighl,orhood TransitService in Western Contra Costa County

AC Transit found smooth rolling anda warm welcome in Western ContraCosta County this month following inauguration of its first network of newand improved services, according to a report by John R. Worthington, districtgeneral manager.

New routes and line extensions, pu tinto operation October 23 and 24, gavesome areas their first bus transportation.

NEW TIMETABLES - AC Transit hostessAnn Castle, left, hands timetable androute map of new Western Contra Costatransit service to Mrs. Maude Russell ofFairmount Ave., EI Cerrito. Miss Castlecalled on housewives in vicinity of newtransit lines to acquaint them with detailsof expanded service.

For other sections, such as EI Sobrante,it meant more frequent and faster service.

Passenger revenues, after a slow beginning, have started to pick up, Worthington said. But it has been the public'sreaction that surprised drivers and company personnel, he said.

"Residents came out on the street the6

first few days to wave at the buses as theywent by. Passengers have gone ou t oftheir way to tell drivers how glad theyare to see them-and the new service."We've had letters and calls by the dozens. Everybody seems to feel a personalinterest, and appreciation for the service."Generally, the new service ties outlyinghill residential areas to downtown Richmond and to the EI Cerrito shopping center, giving housewives easy access toshopping facilities.

Virtually all public and private schoolsin the area have been brought withinwalking distance of public transit, including Contra Costa Junior College. Recreation areas and other points of interest,also have been made accessible to theentire area by public transit.Service Outline d

New service and extensions includeLine 78, now giving Parchester Villageits first transit connection with downtownRichmond and San Pablo.

Line 6'9-A is serving residential areasof Fairmede College Highlands, Hilltop,Moyers and Manor Roads and the juniorcollege on a 40 minute schedule.EI Sobrante and De Anza Whitecliffresidents received improved service

through the similar 40 minute headwayof Line 69-B.East Richmond Heights in the vicinityof Arlington Blvd. as far south as OliveSt. is now served by an extension ofLine 68.

The Barrett Ave. branch of the 68 line,operating through the EI Cerrito hill areaeast of San Pablo Ave., terminates at thenorth entrance to Capwell's in the EICerritO' Plaza.Service is provided every 30 minutesduring daytime haurs on both branchesof the 68 line.

'

:,

ALAMEDA -CONTRA COSTATRANSIT DISTRICT

LEGEND NEW LINES AND EXTENSIONS____ LINES PLANNED FOR INCREASEDFREOUENCY_ EXISTING LOCALANOTRANSBAY

LINES

\RICHMOHD INNER HARBOR

Hostess Tells Residents About ServiceAlong with getting new and betterservice, Western Contra Costa County

got a special touch from AC Transit-ahostess who personally acquainted residents with the improvements.

lana Castlebary, former bus driver,paid calls at nearly 3,000 hames beforethe new service started.

She presented residents with a timetable of the line serving their area, a rautemap and a letter af greeting from JohnR. Worthington, district general manager, and a civic official of the communityinvalved.

As a welcoming committee of one, Mrs.Castlebary found residents enthusiastic

and friendly and glad to hear about thetransit improvements in their area.The home call was programmed as an

extra gesture to' help new customers learnabout the district's plans to imp rove transit comfort and convenience.Mrs. Castlebary previously worked asa street car operator for Key System Transit Lines between 1944 and 1948, then became a bus operator, working with the

crew of other women bus operators untilMarch, 1959.As hostess, she used the district-chosen

name of "Ann Castle"-a name the district plans to use widely in its future promotional programs.7


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TRANSIT STUDY-Discussing possible changes in proposed neighborhood transitroutes in Hayward area are, left to right, Roger Anderson, Hayward Chamber ofCommerce general manager; Robert Keyes, Hayward assistant planner; RobertCrommelin, Hayward traffic engineer, and J. R. Worthington, AC Transit manager.

New Hayward Transit Routes PlannedA joint study is underway to detennine

if a proposed network of transit lines inHayward is properly located or should bechanged to better serve the rapidly expanding area.

The study was agreed upon at a recentmeeting of representatives from the Cityof Hayward, Hayward Chamber of Commerce and AC Transit.

In support of the study, John R. Worthington, district general manager, pointedou t that new bus routes would be inaugurated as soon as equipment is availablenext April or May.

Four neighborhood lines extendingfrom downtown Hayward into the southwest portion of the city and into SanLorenzo Village were recommended a8

year ago by engineering consultants engaged by the district.The discussion brought one suggestionfrom Robert W. Crommelin, Haywardcity traffic engineer, that greater use bemade of the city's major street system,such as Winton Ave., Harder Rd., andTennyson Rd.

The possibility of improving connections between local neighborhood linesand the proposed new direct express service between Decoto and Oakland alsowas considered.

Worthington said a $200,000 equipment storage tenninal in Hayward isplanned, though the terminal will not beneeded until after the new service is inoperation.

Peofde LtJd ZJalueede4t '7M"'j4-Lost Property Clerk Gets Everything

From Turtle Heads to Sleeping BagsBy Virginia Dennison

People lose some amazing things onbuses-like false teeth, petrified sea turtleheads and a burlesque queen costume.Mrs. Martha Nielsen, lost propertyclerk for AC Transit at Emeryville Division headquarters, 45th and San PabloAves., is hardly ever surprised any more.But she has learned to be cautious aboutputting her hand in paper sacks.

Ever since the time she pulled out ashrunken head by its long stringy hair.The head turned out to be manufactured,rather than the real thing, bu t the effectwas the same. Now she peeks first.Walking Almanac

After serving four years in lost andfound for Key System Transit Lines, Mrs.Nielsen is like an almanac. She can tellthe past weather at a glance, by the numbe r of umbrellas left on buses on certaindays.

But it's the odd things she remembersbest, like the large turtle head, reclaimedby Dispatcher Ed Blake when he was abus driver. He took it home for the kidsto play with, but plans to check one ofthese days to see if the petrified monsteris a museum piece.

Mrs. Nielsen's "collection" includes asleeping bag and Coleman stove, lost separately (she's waiting for the tent), atrombone, and a fancy pair of topaz cufflinks, big as headlights.She's also ha d custody of an anchorchain, a roll of barbed wire and a pair ofglasses with a built-in hearing aid.I f he items are unclaimed after 30 days

(longer if they are valuable) and Mrs.

Martha Nielsenand another lost purse

Nielsen cannot locate the owner, the busoperator can pu t in a claim.Unusual Request

The interest of drivers sometimes puzzles Mrs. Nielsen as much as how peoplecan lose the things they do. She still wonders, for example, why a driver askedfor-and eventually received-the costume, complete with upper rosettes, loston a bus by an unknown burlesquequeen.Though she has never found out theanswer, Mrs. Nielsen is little concernedjust as long as the incoming lost propertydoesn't get too far ahead of the outgoingreclaimed property.

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CONTRACT SETTLED-Happy smiles on faces of labor contract negotiating committeeindicate satisfaction with new two-year contract as document is signed by Vern F.Stambaugh, left, president of Carmen's Union Local 192, and John R. Worthington,AC Transit general manager. Looking on, standing, left to right, ar e William M. Castlebary, H. W. Grimes an d Emil Scala, members of union negotiating committee;Robert K. Barber, president of AC Transit board of directors, an d K. F. Hensel an dH. D. White, members of district negotiating committee.

Two-Year Transit Labor Contract SignedA new contract assuring labor peace

in the East Bay public transit industryfor at least tw o years has been signed byrepresentatives of the transit district an dth e Carmen's Union.

Th e contract allows bu s drivers a 29-cent hourly wage increase over the next24 months and provides for liberalizedvacations, increased health an d welfarecontributions and other benefits.Agreement Terms

Terms of th e agreement gave bus drivers a 6.25 per cent pay boost th e first ofthis month, raising their salaries from$2.40 to $2.55 an hour. They will receiveanother 5.5 per cent raise December 1,10

1961, increasing wages 14 cents to $2.69.Other employees, with the exception

of to p mechanics, get the same percentage raise in th e two-step wage hike. ClassA mechanics will receive 32 cents an hourincrease over th e first year of th e contract and another 14 cents an hour Dec.1, 1961.

The labor settlement was concludedfollowing six weeks of informal talks be tween officials of Carmen's Union an dtransit district.

John R. Worthington, district generalmanager, said he hoped the settlementwould help bring to an end the long history of labor unrest among East Baytransit workers.

East Bay Transportation Relics DonatedTo Transit District for Future Museum

An early bronze plaque, cast to commemorate arrival of th e first overlandtrain to Oakland in 1869, was donatedthis month to th e transit district as a valuable addition to its historical archives.

The tarnished marker, which once wasmounted on th e Seventh Street depot ofth e Southern Pacific, was presented to th edistrict by Mrs. Perry MacDonald ofPiedmont.

Decorating the plaque is a bas relief ofth e "Liberty," first locomotive to operateon a railroad in Oakland.

The plaque originally was donated toth e Oakland chapter, Daughters of theAmerican Revolution, by the late husband of Mrs. MacDonald who was coowner an d published of th e Inter-CityExpress. I t was dedicated by the Oaklandchapter on March 10, 1931, as a featureof the 23rd annual state conference ofth e DAR of which Mrs. MacDonald is apast state regent.

Taking part in th e ceremonies was the

Speakers Available toReport on Progress ofTransit ImprovementsEducational programs have been developed by the transit district to keepEast Bay residents informed on the progress of transit improvement and futureplans.Speakers from th e district are availablefree of charge for luncheon meetings aswell as for groups holding their meetingsduring the morning, afternoon or eveninghours.Th e district also publishes a monthlyinformation bulletin, "Transit Times,"which is available free of charge throughth e mail.For further details, please contact th edistrict public information office at 1106Broadway, Oakland, telephone OLympic3-3535.

HISTORICAL MARKER-Bas relief of firstlocomotive to operate on an Oaklandrailroad is shown above as plaque appeared when installed on former Southern Pacific depot at Seventh St. 29 yearsago.late Superior Judge John J. Allen, whosaw the first overland train pull to a halton November 8,1869; C. J. Struble, president of the Oakland Chamber of Commerce; C. J. McPherson, representing th eSouthern Pacific, an d DA R officials.

Th e plaque was returned to the MacDonald family when train service wasabandoned on the Seventh Street line in1941.

John R. Worthington, AC Transit general manager, said in receiving the plaqueon behalf of th e district, th:1t it is plannedeventually to establish a TransportationHistory Room where valuable record:;and relics dealing with East Bay transportation history will be preserved an ddisplayed for public view.

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' ) ~ ~ ~ ~ \ J ' '. -, ' ? ,- - , ,. , , , ~ . ' ' : ' t..,;i " (

: " ,\ , r ",- - - -At an adjourned regular meeting Octo

ber 27, 1960, the Board of Directors: Authorized General Manager to execute labor contract with Division 192,Carmen's Union, on motion of DirectorCopeland. Approved wage rates for employeesrepresented by Local 1245, InternationalBrotherhood of Electrical Workers, pending negotiation of new contract, on motion of Director McDonnell. Established fares for special transbay express line during current racingseason at Golden Gate Fields, on motionof Director McDonnell. Directed the attorney to prepare asuitable resolution as to the problem ofsmoking on buses, on motion of DirectorCopeland. Approved agreement with Bank ofAmerica for registration agent services inconnection with sale of district bonds, onmotion of Director McDonnell.

* * *At the regular meeting November 2,1960, the Board of Directors: Referred engineering report dealing

TRANSIT TIMESPublished monthly by theALAMEDA-CONTRA6.i' \TRANSIT DISTRICT

11114 Jay5

BOARD OF DIRECTORSROBERT K. BARBER . . Director at LargeWM. J. BETTENCOURT . .

Ward IVROBERT M. COPELANDWILLIAM H. COBURN, JR. .J. HOWARD ARNOLD JOHN McDONNELLPAUL E. DEADRICH

PresidentVice President

Director at LargeWard I

Ward IIWard II IWard V

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERSJOHN R. WORTHINGTON General ManagerROBERT E. NISBET . . AttorneyJOHN F. LARSON . Treasurer--Contro llerGEORGE M. TAYlOR . Secretary.....,IC

with purchase of Beninger Transportation Company to Committee on Financeby direction of President Barber Referred proposed study on experimental equipment to Committee on Program Planning, on motion of DirectorCopeland.

New Equipment: Boost:s Transit: Riding in New YorkNew equipment, similar to the 250"Transit Liners" ordered by AC Transit,was attributed as the main factor in a pa

tronage increase recorded by the NewYork Transit Authority during the lastfiscal ye:u.New and more comfortable buses ac-

TRANSIT TIMESAlameda-Contra Costa Transit District

1106 BroadwayOakland 7, California

counted "in a large part" for a surfacetransportation boost of 3.5 per cent or14,414,000 more riders.Cited as a dramatic example was onesection of Brooklyn, where eight lines,

equipped with the latest type buses,gained eight per cent.

BULK RATEU.S. POSTAGEPAIDOckland, Calif.

THOMAS R BOLD Permi!. No . 2105

Form 3547 Requested

5687 MILES AVE.OAKLAND 18. CALIF.U-l

transit times volume 3, number 7

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