Preparing for an Uncertain Financial Future
Like many public transit agencies across the Bay Area, County Connection is facing a budget challenge. To prepare for what may lie ahead, the County Connection Board of Directors has adopted an Alternative Service Plan which focuses on reducing costs through targeted changes to bus service, including eliminating some routes and reducing the frequency of service on others.
This year we have a $6.5 million operating deficit because our funding is heavily dependent on sales tax revenue that has not kept pace with inflation. This has forced us to rely on our reserves to protect the existing level of service. In simple terms, we are spending more on operating our system than we are bringing in. This proposed plan is not a guarantee that service reductions will occur. Rather, it provides a roadmap for how we can reduce operating costs if additional funding does not become available.
We have broken out our service plan into three subregions; Lamorinda (Orinda, Moraga, Lafayette), San Ramon Valley (San Ramon, Danville), and Central County (Concord, Clayton, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek). Please see the proposed plan below.
Lamorinda (Orinda, Moraga, Lafayette) Impacts:
| ROUTE(S) | TYPE | CURRENT | ALT PLAN |
| 6 | Local | Runs every 30-60 mins | Will run every 60 mins |
San Ramon Valley (San Ramon, Danville) Impacts
| ROUTE(S) | TYPE | CURRENT | ALT PLAN |
| 21 | Local | Runs every 30-60 mins | Will run every 60 mins |
| 35 | Local | Runs every 30-60 mins | Will run every 60 mins |
| 92X | Express | Peak hours only | Discontinue Service |
| 95X | Express | Peak hours only | Discontinue Service |
| 97X | Express | Peak hours only | Discontinue Service |
| 335 | Weekend | Runs every 40 mins | Will run every 60 mins |
Central County (Concord, Clayton, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek) Impacts
| ROUTE(S) | TYPE | CURRENT | ALT PLAN |
| 5 | Local-Free | Runs every 45 mins | Will run every 60 mins |
| 7 | Local-Free | Runs every 20 mins | Will run every 30 mins |
| 16 | Local-Free | Runs every 40 mins | Will run every 60 mins |
| 17 | Local | Runs every 50 mins | Will run every 60 mins |
| 18 | Local | Runs every 85 mins | Discontinue Service |
| 20 | Local | Runs every 15 mins | Will run every 15-30 mins |
| 21 | Local | Runs every 30-60 mins | Will run every 60 mins |
| 28 | Local | Runs every 50 mins | Discontinue Service |
| 92X | Express | Peak hours only | Discontinue Service |
| 93X | Express | Peak hours only | Discontinue Service |
| 95X | Express | Peak hours only | Discontinue Service |
| 301 | Weekend | Runs every 60 mins | Discontinue Service |
| 310 | Weekend | Runs every 40 mins | Will run every 60 mins |
| 315 | Weekend | Runs every 60 mins | Discontinue Service |
| 320 | Weekend | Runs every 40 mins | Will run every 60 mins |
What do these changes do to help with the budget deficit?
The changes proposed in the Alternative Service Plan would allow County Connection to maintain a core level of transit service while reducing operating expenses by approximately $6.5 million by July 2029.
We do not want to reduce bus service.
Public transit is essential to the communities we serve, connecting people to work, school, healthcare, shopping, and other destinations throughout Central Contra Costa County. While reducing service is not a choice we’d like to make, it may be necessary given the current financial uncertainties.
What the Alternative Service Plan gives us are options; options that will allow us the flexibility to consider if difficult financial decisions do become necessary–helping ensure we can continue providing transit service to Central Contra Costa County, as we have since 1980.
We will provide more information here as it becomes available in the coming months. Thank you for your support.
Questions? Please contact us at help@cccta.org or call Customer Service at 925-676-7500.