On Monday, April 17, 2017 BART will host a media event to kick off the beginning of the Concord BART station modernization project. The event will take place at 10:00 AM and last approximately one hour. Speakers will be staged near the construction sign across from the bus island.
While no significant impact to bus service is expected, buses may be re-directed, depending on the number of people in attendance. County Connection staff will be on hand to assist bus operators and passengers.
Transit systems across the state are breathing a collective sigh of relief. The transportation funding package which passed the state legislature on April 6th will provide much needed operating funds, and in many cases, prevent service cuts facing many transit providers.
County Connection anticipates receiving approximately $2 million, which will fill the gap from lower than budgeted state and local sales tax funds.
For transit systems across California, SB 1:
For a detailed outline of transportation improvements please see the SB1 Funding Outline as presented by the California Transit Association.
You’ve probably seen his face before!
Monroe Woodard will once again represent County Connection in the 2017 International Bus Rodeo sponsored by the American Public Transit Association (APTA). The annual competition features the best of the best from transit properties across the United States and Canada – all vying for the coveted bragging rights. This year’s event takes place in Reno, Nevada in May.
Competitors must maneuver a 40-foot bus through an obstacle …course consisting of ten “problems” ranging from precise passenger stops, tight right and left turns, serpentine turns, and a judgment stop – just to name a few. Drivers are also judged on their appearance, safety skills and the smoothness of operation. And finally, they have just 7 minutes to complete the course.
Monroe has represented County Connection at the National event several times, and recently earned the top score in County Connection’s local “roadeo” event. Competition is fierce among County Connection operators and the scores get closer each year.
Monroe has been driving for County Connection for over 20 years and began competing 12 years ago.
We’re all rooting for you Monroe!
Effective March 31, 2017
Routes 11, 260, 311, and 91X stops will be relocated due to construction.
Routes 11, 260, and 311 will be relocated to the current 91X stop.
Route 91X will be relocated behind the routes 11 and 311 stop.
The roadway at 2600 Bishop Ranch will be closed on Thursday, March 30ths. Buses will detour as follows:
For all 92X Northbound
From Bishop 1
Right Executive Parkway
Right Into Transit Center
Drop off 2600 BR passengers @ SRTC
Continue regular Route
For all 96X/ 97X Northbound
From Bishop 8
Left Executive Parkway
Drop off 2600 BR Passengers @ last 35/36 Stop on Executive Pkwy
Right Camino Ramon
Right Bishop Dr
Left Sunset Dr
Continue regular Route
As part of the planned road repairs Moraga Rd. will be closed in both directions between Saint Mary’s Rd. and Corliss Drive on Saturday, April 1, Saturday April 8, and possibly Saturday, April 15, 2017. Local traffic will be redirected to Rheem Blvd., Draeger Dr., and Corliss Dr.
Route 6 buses will detour along Draeger/Fernwood Dr. to access Saint Mary’s College in both east and west bound directions. The bus stops on Moraga Rd. at Corliss will not be served in either direction during the detour. The stops on Saint Mary’s Rd. at Saint Mary’s/Carter, and at the Library will only be served in one direction. In the Lafayette to Orinda direction the stops on the library side will be missed. In the Orinda to Lafayette direction, the stops on the opposite side will be missed.
Buses will follow the regular route during the week.
Late winter and early spring are always busy times around the County Connection bus yard. Our spring schedule for the fixed route system is implemented usually sometime in March. In February and March legislative proposals that will impact public transit are often in full play at both the state and federal levels. We are also in the thick of budget season as staff puts together the budget for the next fiscal year, which begins in July.
This year, we have the added tasks of setting up and conducting temporary detours largely due to road damage caused by the heavy rains this winter. This often involves working with a local jurisdiction as they make emergency pothole repairs. These will come up unexpectedly and require a quick coordinated response, as well as regular follow through. There are also the more significant, but less frequent, issues that pop up such as large sinkholes. These are longer term events and require a longer term commitment to an appropriate detour.
In addition, we also continue to experience a very strong job market in Contra Costa County. While this is great news, it means we are constantly in recruitment mode to ensure full staffing. This comes at a time when we are in the middle of a mini retirement wave. County Connection has been blessed with a well-experienced and veteran workforce. Lots of these folks were hired in the late 1980s, so now many of them have begun to retire after years of excellent service. So, in the midst of a hot job market, we find ourselves working hard to find suitable replacements.
It has also been a very active period in terms of various potential initiatives on transportation. A number of unrelated interests are nearly simultaneously pursuing or examining ways of making improvements to the transportation system. As such, we are expected to (or have an interest to) participate in these various efforts. County Connection continues to view itself as an important piece of the transportation network in Contra Costa County. Thus, to maintain that place, we are fully engaged in these assorted efforts.
As you can see, springtime is indeed a busy time at the bus yard. However, we thrive on being busy and active. This is where we want to be as an organization. Public agency inertia inherently leads to poor public service. Good public service needs to be supported by active, engaged, and energized people dedicated to performing such service.
On March 17, join us in celebrating our hard-working bus drivers.That could be as simple as a smile and a wave as you’re boarding and a “thank you” when you leave. You can also submit an official commendation for a job well done, so your drivers can be formally recognized for their efforts. (You can do that any time of year!)
For hours on end, your driver manages to keep a schedule, check fares, give directions, announce stops, remember requests and more. All while safely maneuvering an extra-large vehicle through unpredictable traffic, tough weather conditions and some really tight spaces. Needless to say, they deserve our thanks!
On behalf of all the staff at County Connection – here’s a great big THANK YOU!!!
BART is testing the new train schedule that will be in place March 25th with the opening of the Warm Springs station. They’re alternating the current schedule with the projected new schedule every other day. See the web post.
There is a new schedule, but no link to their website for us to attach in this post – you’ll need to call BART to get the new schedule times. If you connect to a bus from BART, you may need to adjust which train you need to catch on alternating days to best connect with bus service. Make sure to follow BART at bart.gov for the most current updates.
Thank you for your patience!!!!
The annual baseball parade will be held Saturday, March 4th at 10:00 beginning at City Hall (Henrietta/Alhambra). Alhambra Ave. will be closed to traffic between Jones and Main from 10:00-10:30 AM. The road will open behind the parade as it makes it’s way to Main St.
May possibly affect the 9:42 and 10:57 AM trips leaving Walnut.