2020 – Page 4 – County Connection

2021 Service Plan

Last updated: 12/11/2020

Due to COVID-19, many transit agencies throughout the Bay Area face varying degrees of financial uncertainty and must evaluate cost-cutting measures in order to remain financially viable. These are tough decisions and we want your input.

County Connection will conduct virtual meetings in the coming months to inform the public of potential service cuts. The first meeting will provide a general overview of the impact COVID-19 has had on funding levels, the current service profile and three scenarios for potential service reductions. This meeting is scheduled via Zoom on December 1st at 5pm. Subsequent public hearings are scheduled in January.

Please check this webpage on a regular basis to stay informed.

Service Proposals

Three service reduction scenarios have been developed with incremental service cuts that would result in cost reductions of $3, $5, and $7 million annually. The selection of the scenario will depend on future financial projections.

ScenarioFrequency ReductionsElimination of RoutesAlignment ChangesReduction in HoursReduction in Annual Costs
Scenario 1
(changes from pre-COVID service)
4, 5, 6, 7, 27, 35, 92X, 95X, 96X6, 28, 92X13%$3M
Scenario 2
(changes in addition to Scenario 1)
15, 17, 93X, 98X, 99X91X, 97X, 31515, 3520%$5M
Scenario 3
(changes in addition to Scenarios 1 & 2)
10, 2092X, 93X, 95X, 96X28%$7M

Scenario Details

Continue current service levels (as of October 4, 2020)
13% reduction in service hours
$3 million reduction in annual operating costs
Compared to pre-COVID service
Frequency Reductions
Route Pre-COVID
(peak/off-peak)
Scenario 1
(peak/off-peak)
412 min20 min
520/45 min40 min
620/60 min30/60 min
715/- min20/- min
2740/60 min3 trips
3515-20/30-60 min30/60 min
92X8 trips4 trips
95X20/- min30/- min
96X20/60 min30/- min
Alignment Changes
  • Route 6 – eliminate Orinda Community Center loop
  • Route 28 – extend to Concord BART, reroute from Arnold/Center to Muir Rd
  • Route 92X – simplify routing through Bishop Ranch to remove stops at BR15 and Bishop/Sunset

Additional frequency reductions and elimination of low-ridership routes and route segments
20% reduction in service hours
$5 million reduction in annual operating costs
Compared to pre-COVID service
Frequency Reductions
(In addition to Scenario 1 changes)
Route Pre-COVID
(peak/off-peak)
Scenario 2
(peak/off-peak)
412 min20 min
520/45 min40 min
620/60 min30/90 min
715/- min20/- min
1560 min90 min
1730/60 min60 min
2740/60 min3 trips
3515-20/30-60 min30/60 min
92X8 trips4 trips
93X13 trips11 trips
95X20/- min30/- min
96X20/60 min30/- min
98X30/60 min45/90 min
99X15-45/- min40/- min
Eliminate Routes
  • Route 91X
  • Route 97X
  • Route 315
Alignment Changes
(In addition to Scenario 1 changes)
  • Route 6 – eliminate Orinda Community Center loop
  • Route 15 – eliminate John Muir Hospital loop
  • Route 28 – extend to Concord BART, reroute from Arnold/Center to Muir Rd
  • Route 35 – eliminate Crow Canyon loop
    (New change since December webinar)
  • Route 92X – simplify routing through Bishop Ranch to remove stops at BR15 and Bishop/Sunset

Additional frequency reductions and elimination of express service to Bishop Ranch
28% reduction in service hours
$7 million reduction in annual operating costs
Compared to pre-COVID service
Frequency Reductions
(In addition to Scenario 1 & 2 changes)
Route Pre-COVID
(peak/off-peak)
Scenario 3
(peak/off-peak)
412 min20 min
520/45 min40 min
620/60 min30/90 min
715/- min20/- min
1015-30 min15 (PM peak only)/30 min
1560 min90 min
1730/60 min60 min
2015-30 min15 (PM peak only)/30 min
2740/60 min3 trips
3515-20/30-60 min30/60 min
98X30/60 min45/90 min
99X15-45/- min40/- min
Eliminate Routes
(In addition to Scenario 2 changes)
  • Route 91X
  • Route 92X
  • Route 93X
  • Route 95X
  • Route 96X
  • Route 97X
  • Route 315
Alignment Changes
(None in addition to Scenario 1 & 2 changes)
  • Route 6 – eliminate Orinda Community Center loop
  • Route 15 – eliminate John Muir Hospital loop
  • Route 28 – extend to Concord BART, reroute from Arnold/Center to Muir Rd
  • Route 35 – eliminate Crow Canyon loop
    (New change since December webinar)
  • Route 92X – simplify routing through Bishop Ranch to remove stops at BR15 and Bishop/Sunset

Timeline

December 1, 2020Webinar
December 2020 – January 2021Refine plan details
January 2021Hold public hearings and gather public comment
February 18, 2021Summary of comments and draft recommendation to Board for feedback
March 18, 2021Final recommendation and Title VI Equity Analysis to Board for potential approval
Summer 2021 (or later)Implementation

Webinar

Tuesday, December 1, 2020 at 5:00 pm

Members of the public are encouraged to participate remotely via Zoom at the following link or phone number. Members of the public participating by Zoom wishing to speak should use the “raise hand” feature or dial *9. In order to get the full Zoom experience, please make sure your application is up to date.

Attendee Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82214425092
Join by Telephone: 888 788 0099 (Toll Free) or 877 853 5247 (Toll Free)
Webinar ID: 822 1442 5092
International numbers available: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kelgsrbyXJ

Public Hearings

County Connection will hold four (4) public hearings to gather comments on potential service cuts. The public hearings will review three (3) proposed service reduction scenarios, and each public hearing will focus on a different region of County Connection’s service area.

Comments can be submitted in writing via mail, email, or online, or at one of the scheduled public hearings. Written comments must be received by January 22, 2021. It is anticipated that the Board of Directors will take action on the proposed service changes no later than March 18, 2021.

  • In writing to:
    Director of Planning & Marketing
    2477 Arnold Industrial Way
    Concord, CA 94520
  • At one of the public hearings (ALL via teleconference):

North Service Area – Martinez, North Concord
Tuesday, January 5, 2021, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Web link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88020890928
By phone: 408-638-0968 (Meeting ID: 880 2089 0928)

Core Service Area – Clayton, Concord, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek
Tuesday, January 5, 2021, 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Web link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82806333877
By phone: 408-638-0968 (Meeting ID: 828 0633 3877)

Lamorinda Service Area – Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda
Friday, January 8, 2021, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Web link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86148441553
By phone: 408-638-0968 (Meeting ID: 861 4844 1553)

South Service Area – Danville, San Ramon, Dublin
Friday, January 8, 2021, 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Web link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83388778518
By phone: 408-638-0968 (Meeting ID: 833 8877 8518)

County Connection collaborates with neighboring transit providers to Pilot a Paratransit One-Seat Regional Ride Program

Attention Riders: In an effort to make traveling across multiple public transit service areas easier and safer for paratransit riders, County Connection is piloting a collaborative One-Seat Regional Ride Program. Participating in the service is Eastern Contra Costa Transit Authority, operators of Tri Delta Transit, Western Contra Costa Transit Authority, operators of WestCAT, and Livermore-Amador Valley Transit Authority, operators of Wheels Bus. The pilot program aims to streamline current regional ride practices by eliminating required transfers for trips that cross multiple transit service areas. With the new program, passengers can have one-seat for the entire duration of their trip. The program has been in development for quite some time, but amid coronavirus spread concerns, the implementation date has been accelerated to help minimize interactions between passengers, drivers, and vehicles.

How to book a One Seat Regional Ride?

To use this service, call (925) 680-2134 to book a trip.

How much does it cost?

The cost depends on the participating agency’s paratransit fares. When you book your one-seat ride, the reservationist will tell you your final fare.

Which Transit Agencies are currently participating in the One Seat pilot?
  • County Connection LINK
  • Tri Delta Transit
  • WestCAT
  • LAVTA
What does a One-Seat ride mean?

Once your reservation has been booked, you will be provided a one-seat ride with no need to transfer. A driver will pick you up from your location and take you directly to your final destination.

What if my Paratransit agency does not participate in the One-Seat program?

If either the origin or destination of your trip is outside the areas served by the four participating agencies, your Paratransit agency will assist you in booking a regular transfer trip, and coordinating all arrangements between your paratransit agency and any connecting agencies participating in your trip.

Clipper START & Youth Fare Pilot Programs

Notice of Public Hearing

The Central Contra Costa Transit Authority (County Connection) will hold two public meetings and one public hearing to gather comments on the proposed implementation of two one-year pilot programs offering a 20% discount on single-ride Clipper fares for eligible low-income adults as part of the regional Clipper START program, and for youth ages 6-18.

Proposed Program

In May 2018, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) approved implementation of a pilot Regional Means-Based Fare Program (later named Clipper START) to provide discounted fares for low-income adults. The initial 18-month pilot, which launched in July 2020, was limited to four of the larger transit systems in the Bay Area: BART, Caltrain, Golden Gate, and Muni. Adults (ages 19-64) with incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty level are eligible for the discount, which is provided using a specially encoded Clipper card. MTC is providing funding to partially offset the cost of the program.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, MTC has elected to use funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to expand the Clipper START program to other transit operators in the region, including County Connection.

County Connection is proposing to join the regional Clipper START program and offer a discount of 20% off the regular, single-ride Clipper fare for qualifying individuals. Since the program is limited to adults and County Connection does not offer a discounted fare for youth, staff is also proposing the implementation of a 20% discount off the regular, single-ride Clipper fare for youth riders (ages 6-18) when using a Youth Clipper card. The table below summarizes the proposed discounts.

Fare TypeCurrent Clipper FareProposed Clipper START & Youth Fare
Local route$2.00$1.60
Express route$2.25$1.80
BART transfer$1.00$0.80

All cash fares, as well as passes on Clipper, will remain the same. Fares would also remain unchanged for low-income riders who elect not to apply for the Clipper START discount, as well as youth who choose not to use a Youth Clipper card. Seniors (ages 65+) and people with disabilities would continue to receive a 50% discount, and children under 6 will continue to ride free.

If approved, County Connection would begin offering the Clipper START and youth fare discounts as a one-year pilot starting in January 2021. The program will be evaluated in partnership with MTC and the other participating operators to determine the feasibility and potential funding sources for continuing the program beyond December 2021. Due to current uncertainty around schools reopening and ridership demand among youth, the pilot period for the youth fare discount may need to be adjusted in order to ensure adequate usage data is available for evaluation.

How to Comment

Comments can be submitted in writing via mail, email, or online, or at the scheduled public meetings. Written comments must be received by November 10, 2020.

  • In writing to:
    Director of Planning & Marketing
    2477 Arnold Industrial Way
    Concord, CA 94520

It is anticipated that the Board of Directors will take action on the proposed fare discounts at their regular meeting scheduled for November 19, 2020, following the public hearing.

COVID-19 Information Center

Overview | Ridership | Protecting Our Passengers | Paratransit Reimagined | Protecting Our Employees | Related Documents

Paratransit Reimagined

In May 2020, the County Connection Board of Directors authorized an amendment to Transdev paratransit LINK services contract to include COVID-19 mitigation efforts.  Following the statewide Shelter in Place Order in March, regular paratransit trip volume dropped by about 80%. During this time, as ridership dropped and paratransit staff remained at work, County Connection partnered with the Meals on Wheels program to continue to provide essential food delivery service to seniors who were affected by the order.  The paratransit program has delivered meals for the entire County, not just within the County Connection service area.

The success of the meal delivery service has been widely recognized by other organizations who reached out to the paratransit program for similar aid. The program expanded to deliver groceries and meals for Mount Diablo School District, the City of San Ramon Senior Meal Program, and the Contra Costa County Food Bank Program.

To date, the paratransit program has delivered the following:

  • Meals on Wheels: 19,729
  • Contra Costa County Food Bank: 199 boxes (4,378 lbs. of food)
  • Lunches: 6,722
  • Brown Bag Groceries: 92
  • City of San Ramon Senior Meal Delivery: 2,227

In addition to this, the paratransit division received a request from the County Emergency Operations Center (EOC), to begin the transportation of COVID-19 positive individuals. To date, the paratransit program has transported 440 COVID-19 positive individuals. Transportation included medical facilities or homeless relocation efforts to hotels. Specialized training and PPE were provided by the County Health Department. A subset of paratransit vehicles were also set aside and redesigned in a way to isolate the Operator for the infected passengers. Operators participating in this distinct program volunteered for it and are governed under a unique set of regulations. This program is an ongoing partnership with the County, alongside Tri Delta Transit.

Updated 12/31/2020

Service Changes Effective October 4, 2020

Winter service changes will take effect starting Sunday, October 4, 2020, and will include schedule adjustments to Routes 4, 6, 7, 35, 92X, 93X, 95X, 96X, 310, 311, 314, 316, 320, 321, & 335.

RouteChangeNew Schedule
4Revised schedule Download PDF
6Revised schedule Download PDF
7Revised schedule Download PDF
35Revised schedule Download PDF
92XRevised schedule Download PDF
93XRevised schedule Download PDF
95XRevised schedule Download PDF
96XRevised schedule Download PDF
310Revised schedule Download PDF
311Revised schedule Download PDF
314Revised schedule Download PDF
316Revised schedule Download PDF
320Revised schedule Download PDF
321Revised schedule Download PDF
335Revised schedule Download PDF

2020/2021 School Schedules

Due to COVID-19, 600-series school route schedules are subject to change. Check this page regularly for updates.

Last updated: 8/3/2020

600-series routes will not operate while schools are closed

600-series school routes will not operate until schools reopen for in-person instruction. Please visit the school district websites below for updates.

Summary of Changes

Schedule times on most routes have been adjusted due to bell time changes or to improve on-time performance. In addition, the following routes have been modified:

  • Route 612: Rerouted from Ayers/Kirker Pass to Clayton Rd
  • Route 614: Eliminated (alternate service on Route 612)
  • Route 635: Removed route segment along Camino Tassajara

2020/2021 Schedules

Service Changes Effective August 9, 2020

UPDATE (8/4/2020): Additional schedule adjustments have been made due to COVID-19. Affected routes are noted as UPDATED in the table below.

Fall service changes will take effect starting Sunday, August 9, 2020, and will include schedule adjustments to ALL routes, plus routing changes on Routes 6, 28, 92X, 97X, 311, & 321.

Click here for changes to 600-series school routes for the 2020/2021 school year.

Summary of Changes

Route
Schedule Adjustment
Routing Change
Change Details
New Brochure
1 Schedule Adjustment Schedule adjustments Download PDF
4 Schedule Adjustment Schedule adjustments UPDATED Download PDF
5 Schedule Adjustment Schedule adjustments UPDATED Download PDF
6 Schedule Adjustment Routing Change Schedule adjustments, eliminate Orinda Community Center loop UPDATED Download PDF
7 Schedule Adjustment Schedule adjustments UPDATED Download PDF
9 Schedule Adjustment Schedule adjustments Download PDF
10 Schedule Adjustment Schedule adjustments UPDATED Download PDF
11 Schedule Adjustment Schedule adjustments Download PDF
14 Schedule Adjustment Schedule adjustments Download PDF
15 Schedule Adjustment Schedule adjustments Download PDF
16 Schedule Adjustment Schedule adjustments Download PDF
17 Schedule Adjustment Schedule adjustments Download PDF
18 Schedule Adjustment Schedule adjustments Download PDF
19 Schedule Adjustment Schedule adjustments Download PDF
20 Schedule Adjustment Schedule adjustments Download PDF
21 Schedule Adjustment Schedule adjustments UPDATED Download PDF
27 Schedule Adjustment Schedule adjustments Download PDF
28 Schedule Adjustment Routing Change Schedule adjustments, reroute from Arnold/Center to Muir Rd and extend to Concord BART Download PDF
35 Schedule Adjustment Schedule adjustments UPDATED Download PDF
91X Schedule Adjustment Schedule adjustments Download PDF
92X Schedule Adjustment Routing Change Schedule adjustments, modify routing through Bishop Ranch to remove stops at BR 15 and Bishop/Sunset UPDATED Download PDF
93X Schedule Adjustment Schedule adjustments UPDATED Download PDF
95X Schedule Adjustment Schedule adjustments UPDATED Download PDF
96X Schedule Adjustment Schedule adjustments UPDATED Download PDF
97X Schedule Adjustment Routing Change Schedule adjustments, new stop ordering within Bishop Ranch (BR 1, SRTC, BR 2600, Bishop/Sunset) Download PDF
98X Schedule Adjustment Schedule adjustments Download PDF
99X Schedule Adjustment Schedule adjustments Download PDF
310 Schedule Adjustment Schedule adjustments, all trips extended to serve Clayton Download PDF
311 Schedule Adjustment Routing Change Schedule adjustments, remove John Muir Hospital loop (replaced by Route 321) Download PDF
314 Schedule Adjustment Schedule adjustments Download PDF
315 Schedule Adjustment Schedule adjustments Download PDF
316 Schedule Adjustment Schedule adjustments Download PDF
320 Schedule Adjustment Schedule adjustments Download PDF
321 Schedule Adjustment Routing Change Schedule adjustments, add John Muir Hospital loop Download PDF
335 Schedule Adjustment Schedule adjustments Download PDF

Contra Costa Accessible Transportation Strategic Plan

Let’s make transportation convenient for older adults and people with disabilities!

If you’re an older adult, have a disability, or are a veteran, transportation in Contra Costa County can be challenging. We want to identify ways to make it easier for you to get around the county—whether you’re going to an appointment, getting groceries, visiting family, or anything else.

You can participate from home!

Due to the shelter-in-place we are asking individuals to complete the survey online or participate in a short phone interview. Participants will be entered in a drawing for a $25 gift card! 

Administrative Offices Closed to Public Starting Wednesday, 3/18

County Connection’s administrative offices, including the LINK Paratransit office, will be closed to the public starting Wednesday, March 18, 2020 until further notice.

County Connection will continue to operate regular service aside from 600-series routes. Due to school closures, the 600-series routes are currently not in service. Service on those routes is expected to resume once schools are back in session.

Customer Service call center will also remain staffed during regular hours (Monday – Friday, 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM) and can be reached by phone at (925) 676-7500 or email at help@countyconnection.com.

Please check our website regularly, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay informed.

For lost and found inquiries, please call (925) 676-7500.

Additional Info for LINK Passengers

If you need to purchase LINK tickets or pay for ADVANCE PAYMENT, please mail your check to County Connection LINK at:

County Connection LINK
LINK tickets
2477 Arnold Industrial Way
Concord, CA 94520
Do not come to the office, it will be closed to the public.

If your LINK Advance payment account is depleted of funds because of the delay in submitting your payment, LINK will continue to provide trips but will send you an invoice at the end of the month with 15 days to remit payment. Our main concern is the safety of our riders, staff and drivers.

COVID-19 Service Updates

Below are older service alerts that may not contain the latest information.

Updated on 03/14/2022:

All riders are still required to wear a face mask covering their nose and mouth while on the bus and at stations.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has extended the security directive requiring masks on public transportation conveyances and in public transportation hubs through April 18, 2022. Visit https://www.transit.dot.gov/TransitMaskUp for more information.


Updated on 12/18/2020:

Due to reduced operator availability, trips will be cancelled on Routes 1, 5, 10, 14, 16, 20, 35, 95X, 96X, & 98X on Friday, December 18th. Click here for the list of trips. We encourage you to check real-time info on our website or through the Transit app prior to making your trip, or call Customer Service. We apologize for the inconvenience.


Updated on 10/12/2020:

Fare Collection Will Resume November 1st

Fare collection and front-door boarding will resume on County Connection starting Sunday, November 1st. We encourage you to use Clipper for discounts and faster payment. If you do not have a Clipper card, you can request one by calling customer service at 925-676-7500 or by emailing help@countyconnection.com.

Please remember to maintain physical distance and wear a face covering while on the bus and at bus stops.

Fare collection will also resume on LINK paratransit starting November 1st.

County Connection reanudará el cobro de tarifa empezando el domingo 1ro de noviembre. Le recomendamos que utilice la tarjeta de Clipper para obtener descuentos y acelerar el trámite de pago. Si aún no tiene la tarjeta Clipper, por favor de llamar a servicio al cliente para obtener una, al 925-676-7500 or mandar un correo electrónico a help@countyconnection.com

Por favor recuerde de matener distancia física y SIEMPRE utilizar un cubrebocas en autobuses y paradas de autobús.

También se reanudará el cobro de tarifa en el servicio de paratránsito LINK empezando el domingo 1ro de noviembre.


Updated on 08/4/2020:

Fall Bid Schedule Update

County Connection’s Fall schedule will take effect Sunday, August 9, 2020. The list of services changes can be found here. In addition to the changes summarized on July 8, 2020, additional schedule adjustments have been made, in response to the pandemic.

The following routes will have additional schedule adjustments starting Monday, August 10, 2020: 4, 5, 6, 7, 35, 92X, 93X, 95X and 96X.

Additionally, the last evening trips on Routes 10 and 21 will be eliminated.

The updated schedules for the impacted routes can be found below:

Nuevos horarios de otoño

El horario de otoño de County Connection será implementado el domingo 9 de agosto del 2020. La lista de cambios de servicios se puede encontrar aquí. Además de los cambios ya publicados el 8 de julio del 2020, se han realizado ajustes adicionales, en respuesta a la pandemia.

Las siguientes rutas tendrán ajustes de horario adicionales comenzando el lunes 10 de agosto del 2020: 4, 5, 6, 7, 35, 92X, 93X, 95X y 96X.

Además, se eliminarán los últimos viajes de noche en las Rutas 10 y 21.

Los nuevos horarios para las rutas afectadas se pueden encontrar a continuación:


Updated on 06/18/2020:

Guidance for the Use of Face Coverings

On June 18, 2020, the California Health and Human Services Agency updated existing guidance related to COVID-19. The new Guidance for the Use of Face Coverings indicates people in California MUST wear face coverings when they are in certain situations, including those related to public transit:

  • Waiting for or riding on public transportation or paratransit or while in a taxi, private car service, or ride-sharing vehicle;
  • Driving or operating any public transportation or paratransit vehicle, taxi, or private car service or ride-sharing vehicle when passengers are present. When no passengers are present, face coverings are strongly recommended.

Please follow the State’s guidance when traveling on County Connection and all other public transit for the health and safety of our communities. If you do not have access to a face covering, please let us know. You can contact customer service at 925-676-7500 or via email at help@countyconnection.com. You can find more information about masks on the State’s website.

La agencia de Salud y Servicios Humanos de California ha actualizó la guía relacionada con COVID-19 el 18 de junio del 2020. La nueva Guía para el Uso de Mascarillas indica que la gente en California DEBE de usar marcarillas cuando se encuentren en ciertas situaciones, incluyendo situaciones en el transporte público como:

  • Esperando o viajando en transporte público o paratránsito o mientras está en un taxi, servicio de automóvil privado o vehículo para compartir viaje;
  • Conduciendo u operando cualquier transporte público o vehículo de paratránsito, taxi o servicio de automóvil privado o vehículo de uso compartido cuando haya pasajeros presentes.  Cuando no hay pasajeros presentes, se recomienda encarecidamente usar mascarilla.

Por favor de seguir las instrucciones del estado cuando viaje en County Connection y en cualquier otro transporte público, por la salud y seguridad de nuestras comunidades. Si no tiene acceso a una mascarilla, háganoslo saber. Puede contactar al servicio al cliente al 925-676-7500 o por correo electrónico a help@countyconnection.com. Para más información sobre mascarillas visite el sitio web del Estado.


Updated on 05/27/2020:

Limited Service on Routes 92X, 93X, 95X, 96X, 97X Starting Mon, 6/1

Effective Monday, June 1, 2020, County Connection will resume some limited service on express Routes 92X, 93X, 95X, 96X, and 97X. New temporary schedules can be downloaded below:


Updated on 05/07/2020:

Partial Service Restoration Starting Mon, 5/11

Starting Monday, May 11th, County Connection will resume regular weekday service on all local routes except for Routes 5 and 6, which will continue to operate modified schedules. Regular service will also resume on express Routes 91X, 98X, and 99X.

Some trips may experience delays due to limited in-route operator reliefs. In an effort to increase vehicle disinfection and enhance passenger and operator safety, operators are returning to the yard for vehicle exchanges. This added step requires additional time, which can impact on-time performance. We appreciate your understanding and patience as we continue to provide this essential service to the best of our ability.

Please remember to stay home if you don’t feel well. For those on public transit, we recommend maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet apart and wearing a face covering.

For questions, please contact customer service at 925-676-7500 or help@countyconnection.com.

Empezando el lunes 11 de mayo, County Connection reanudará el servicio normal, de lunes a viernes en todas los rutas locales, con la excepcion de rutas 5 y 6. Las rutas 5 y 6 continuarán operando bajo el horario reducido que fue implementado el 8 de abril. Adicionalmente, las rutas 91X, 98X y 99X regresarán a su horario regular.

Algunos viajes tendrán retrasos dado a que los conductores tienen que regresar a el patio de matenimiento después de cada turno. El objetivo es poder desinfectar los autobuses con más frecuencia y mejorar la seguridad de toda persona en nuestros autobuses. Este proceso requiere tiempo adicional, lo cual puede causar retrasos. Agradecemos su comprensión y paciencia mientras continuamos brindando este servicio esencial de la mejor manera posible.

Por favor, recuerde de quedarse en casa si no se siente bien. Aquellos que necesiten nuestro servicio, se les recomienda mantener 6 pies de distancia y cubrirse la cara, siempre que sea posible.

Si tiene alguna pregunta, comuníquese con el servicio al cliente al 925-676-7500 o help@countyconnection.com


Updated on 04/17/2020:

New “Cover Your Face” Order Effective April 22nd

Attention all transit users, Contra Costa County released a new health order on Friday, April 17, 2020. Starting Wednesday, April 22nd, this new “Cover Your Face” order requires public transit and government workers to wear masks when they come close to others, or where the public is likely to be present. Specific to public transit, members of the public must wear a mask when they wait in line or ride public transportation. Additionally, the new order indicates businesses may not serve customers who do not observe the order. The order does not require children 12 and younger to wear masks. Children 2 years old and younger MUST NOT wear them because of risk of suffocation.

Face coverings can be anything made of cloth, fabric or other permeable material that covers the nose and mouth and the lower part of the face. Medical-grade masks are not required – a T-shirt or bandana works fine.

We remind passengers that the Shelter-in-Place order remains in effect until May 3rd. Please continue to use public transit for essential travel ONLY and stay at least 6 feet (2 meters) from other people, as much as possible.


Updated on 04/15/2020:

Weekend Service Adjustments Starting Sat, 4/18

Effective Saturday, April 18, 2020, County Connection will be temporarily cancelling select evening trips on the routes listed below. Click the link to download a PDF of the new schedule.


Updated on 04/14/2020:

Routes 712 & 715 cancelled starting 4/20

Starting Monday, April 20, 2020, Early Bird Express Routes 712 and 715 will be cancelled until further notice.

AC Transit will continue to operate Routes 701 and 702 to the Salesforce Transit Center:

  • Route 701 will leave Pittsburg/Bay Point BART at 3:52 am and 4:05 am
  • Route 702 will leave Pleasant Hill BART at 4:04 am

Updated on 04/07/2020:

Temporary Service Adjustments Starting Wed, 4/8

Over this past weekend we experienced a significant operator shortage and service delivery has been rather disjointed ever since. For this, we apologize. We are doing our best to adjust our service with minimal service disruptions given the limited resources available.

Starting tomorrow, April 8th, most weekday local service will be reduced, and express service will be eliminated, with the exception of Routes 98X and 99X. New schedules have been posted to our website. Please check the new temporary schedules before making your trip. At this time, we expect that weekend service will continue operating as regularly scheduled.

There may be some continued disruptions over the next few days as we work on transitioning to these new schedules as quickly as possible. We encourage you to check the Transit App on a daily basis to ensure your trip is operating or call customer service at 925-676-7500. You can also email us at help@countyconnection.com.

Thank you for your patience and continued patronage. Stay healthy!


Updated on 04/06/2020:

At County Connection, we are doing our best to protect our employees. Social distancing is mandated throughout the facilities, administrative staff has alternating work-from-home schedules and all employees have access to personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves and N95 masks. Sanitizing wipes and individualized hand sanitizer have been distributed to each driver and made available throughout the facilities. Fares are no longer collected in an effort to minimize interactions with the public. Maintenance staff was able to rewire the mechanical system to allow for rear door boarding. Additionally, a plastic barrier designed to protect the driver is in the process of being installed on all buses. The safety of our drivers has been, and will continue to be, our number one priority, as they continue to rise to the challenge demanded of us during these unprecedented times.

Per the Governor’s and Contra Costa County’s shelter-in-place orders, County Connection is considered an essential service and must continue to provide service to the best of our ability. In these trying times, our drivers, like drivers across the Bay Area, first responders, nurses, and doctors, provide the various types of essential services the public needs to fulfill basic needs. Despite everyone’s best efforts to protect all of these employees, the nature of essential workers no doubt carries a risk. After numerous discussions with Contra Costa County officials, County Connection has been directed to remain open based on a low-level risk assessment due to all of the precautionary measures mentioned above. County Connection recognizes the severity of this worldwide pandemic and we respect an individual employee’s decision to stay home. Nonetheless, we are grateful for the drivers and administrative staff that continue to provide this essential service and we hope everyone is safe and healthy.


Updated on 03/30/2020:

LINK Paratransit Update

During the COVID-19 shelter-in-place order, County Connection is providing essential ride and delivery services to the community.

  • Shuttle transportation for “essential employees” who need transportation to their workplace (i.e. hospitals, doctor’s offices, medical centers, etc.)
  • Rides for essential services as approved by CCCTA staff (grocery store, pharmacy and medical appointments)
  • Delivery of food in partnership with the Meals on Wheels organization
  • Delivery of essential supplies to any location in Contra Costa County and to approved destinations in adjacent counties as needed.

RESERVATIONS
Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm
Call one day in advance to schedule a ride or delivery.
Phone: (925) 938-7433
Email: johanna.duran@transdev.com

Service Hours
Monday – Friday, 4 am – 10 pm
Saturdays – Sundays, 6 am – 6 pm


Updated on 03/27/2020:

We recognize weekday service has experienced a number of interruptions due to COVID-19. Although weekday interruptions will continue in the near future, ALL WEEKEND service will continue to operate as regularly scheduled. As things change, we will be continue to keep you updated. We appreciate your understanding as we do our best to provide you with as much service as we possibly can.

Reconocemos que el servicio de lunes a viernes a sufrido de un número de interrupciones dado al COVID-19. Estas interrupciones de lunes a viernes continuarán por algún tiempo, sin embargo, TODO el servicio los FINES DE SEMANA operará sin interrupciones. A medida que las cosas cambien, le mantendremos informado. Sinceramente apreciamos su entendimiento mientras continuamos haciendo lo mejor para proveerle este servicio.


Updated on 03/26/2020:

Due to the current state of operator availability, select trips on Routes 4, 14, 18, 19, 21, 92X, 93X, 95X, 96X, and 97X will be cancelled starting Friday, March 27, 2020 until further notice. Check our service alerts for any additional trip cancellations.


Updated on 03/24/2020:

Service Update

Attention passengers, given the current state of operator availability some County Connection service may be interrupted. We are making every effort to continue to provide service based on passenger demand. Due to declining ridership, many of our express routes will be experiencing lower levels of service. Local service, including service to BART, has been prioritized in an effort to provide access to essential services such as food, pharmacies, banks and health providers.

Please check our service alerts regularly for the latest updates. As always, we encourage you to contact customer service with any questions or concerns. They can be reached at: 925-676-7500 or via email help@countyconnection.com.

Atención pasajeros, dada la disponibilidad de nuestros conductores, ciertas rutas de County Connection serán interrumpidas. Estamos tratrando de proveer servicio según la necesidad de nuestros pasajeros. Ya que la cantidad de pasajeros continua disminuyendo, muchas de las rutas express tendrán menos servicio. El servicio local, incluyendo servicio a BART, ha sido priorizado para dar acceso a servicios esenciales como la comida, farmacias, bancos, y proveedores de salud.

Por favor revise las alertas de servicio regularmente para los recibir información al corriente. Como siempre, llame al servicio al cliente si tiene alguna pregunta. Por teléfono al 925-676-7500 o por correo electrónico help@countyconnection.com.


Updated on 03/23/2020:

In an effort to minimize contact on County Connection buses, County Connection is temporarily suspending fare collection on all routes including paratransit starting Tuesday, March 24, 2020. While on the bus, we ask that you follow the 6 feet social distancing recommendation. If you have any questions, please contact customer service at 925-676-7500.

Como parte del esfuerzo de reducir el contacto en los autobuses the County Connection, empezando el martes, 24 de marzo del 2020, County Connection no cobrará tarifa en ninguna ruta o el servicio de paratránsito. Una vez en el autobus, por favor de seguir la recomendación de mantener 6 pies de distancia con otros pasajeros. Si tiene alguna pregunta, por favor de contactar al servicio al cliente al 925-676-7500.


Updated on 03/17/2020:

During the shelter in place order, County Connection will continue to operate regular service aside from 600-series routes. Due to school closures, the 600-series routes are currently not in service. Service on those routes is expected to resume once schools are back in session.

Per the order, people must use public transit only for purposes of performing Essential Activities or to travel to and from work to operate Essential Businesses or maintain Essential Governmental Functions and Essential Infrastructure operations and maintenance. People riding on public transit must comply with Social Distancing Requirements, to the greatest extent feasible.

Our Customer Service call center will also remain staffed during regular hours (Monday – Friday, 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM) and can be reached by phone at (925) 676-7500 or email at help@countyconnection.com. For lost and found inquiries, please call (925) 676-7500.

Our administrative offices, including the LINK Paratransit office, will be closed to the public starting Wednesday, March 18, 2020 until further notice. Click here for more info.

Please check our website regularly, or follow us on FacebookInstagram and Twitter to stay informed.


Transit agencies around the country are closely monitoring the Coronavirus (COVID-19) development. At County Connection, all buses and maintenance and administrative facilities are disinfected on a daily basis. All staff have access to gloves and masks. We encourage everyone to adhere to the following recommendations, as the best way to prevent the spread of any respiratory virus, including COVID-19, is through good hygiene:

  • Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
  • Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water is not available
  • People who are sick should always cover their coughs and sneezes using a tissue or the crook of their elbow; wash your hands after using a tissue to wipe your nose or mouth
  • People who are sick should stay home from work or school until they are well
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with your unwashed hands
  • Contact your healthcare provider if you have symptoms and/or had close contact with someone with symptoms who traveled in the last 14 days from China.

Please review the information from Contra Costa Health Services and the Center for Disease Control.