Melody – Page 6 – County Connection

Public Hearing: Clipper Fare Changes

Notice of Public Hearing – Thursday, September 28, 2023, 9:00 am

County Connection is seeking public comment on a fare change proposal, which includes an increased discount for Clipper START and Youth Clipper from 20% to 50%, as well as the elimination of Express route surcharges on Clipper.

Clipper START & Youth Clipper Discounts

The Clipper START and Youth Clipper fare discounts on County Connection began as a pilot in January 2021. The Clipper START program provides a 20% discount off the Clipper single-ride fare for eligible low-income adults. Because the Clipper START program is limited to adults over the age of 18, County Connection implemented a similar 20% discount for riders using a Youth Clipper card. In order to increase participation, incentivize ridership, and create more consistency throughout the region, County Connection is proposing to increase the discount to 50% for both Clipper START and Youth Clipper.

Express Route Fares

Currently, riders using Clipper are charged an extra $0.25 on Express routes, and a 31-day pass that is valid on Express routes costs an extra $10. In an effort to simplify its fare structure, County Connection is proposing to eliminate these surcharges so that the fare for Express routes is the same as for Local routes and there is a single 31-day pass that is valid on all routes. 

Summary of Proposed Changes

The table below shows a combined summary of the proposed fare changes.

Clipper Card TypeFare ProductCurrentProposed
LocalExpressAll Routes
AdultSingle Ride$2.00$2.25$2.00
Clipper START & Youth (6-18)Single Ride$1.60$1.80$1.00
BART-to-Bus Transfer$0.80$0.50
All31-day Pass$60.00$70.00$60.00

No changes are being proposed for cash fares, Senior Clipper, RTC, or LINK paratransit fares.

How to Comment

Comments can be submitted in writing via mail, email, or online, or at the scheduled public hearing. Written comments must be received by September 20, 2023.

  • Add a comment on this post (see bottom of page)
  • Mail your comment in writing to:
    Director of Planning & Marketing
    2477 Arnold Industrial Way
    Concord, CA 94520
  • Email planning@countyconnection.com
  • Speak at the public hearing on Thursday, September 28, 2023 at 9:00 am (in person or via teleconference):

NOTE: It is anticipated that the Board of Directors will take action on the proposed changes at their regular meeting scheduled for September 28, 2023, following the public hearing. If approved, the proposed fare changes would take effect on January 1, 2024. The Clipper START and Youth fare discounts would remain a pilot program through June 30, 2025. However, the proposed Express route fare changes would be permanent.

Public Hearing: Weekend Monument Free Expansion

Notice of Public Hearing

The Central Contra Costa Transit Authority (County Connection) will hold a public hearing to gather comment on the proposed continuation of a pilot program offering free rides on weekend Routes 311, 314, and 316, as long as funding remains available for the program through the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP) or another similar funding source. This is an expansion of the existing Monument Free Program providing free fares on corresponding weekday Routes 11, 14, and 16. These routes serve low-income communities along the Monument Corridor and connect from Concord BART to various destinations in Martinez, Pleasant Hill, and Walnut Creek, including BART stations, Martinez Amtrak and Contra Costa Regional Medical Center.

Comments can be submitted in writing via mail, email, or online, or at the scheduled public hearing. Written comments must be received by December 7, 2022.

How to Comment

It is anticipated that the Board of Directors will take action on the proposed fare program at their regular meeting scheduled for December 15, 2022, following the public hearing.

Public Hearing: 2023-2028 Short Range Transit Plan

Notice of Public Hearing

The Central Contra Costa Transit Authority (County Connection) will hold a public hearing to gather comments on the draft Short Range Transit Plan (SRTP) covering fiscal years 2023-2028.

About the SRTP

The SRTP is County Connection’s operations and financial planning document. In order to effectively execute planning and programming responsibilities, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) requires each transit operator receiving federal funding through the Regional Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) to prepare, adopt, and submit an SRTP to MTC every four years in order to remain eligible to receive federal funding.

County Connection’s last Full SRTP was completed in 2016 and the current effort will result in an updated SRTP covering FY2023 through FY2028. Revised guidelines were established as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and narrow the scope to a five-year planning horizon with a focus on financial and service planning.

The plan focuses on evaluating existing service and developing future service plans based on three scenarios of varying revenue recovery over the next 5 years. The operating budget assumed for each scenario is based on the level of federal stimulus available, recovery of revenue from other sources, and ridership recovery. The service plans are aimed to align resources available in each of the scenarios with ridership demand as well as feedback received from the passenger survey conducted during September 2022.

Review the draft plan here:

How to Comment

Comments can be submitted in writing via mail, email, or online, or at the scheduled Public Hearing. Written comments must be received by December 7, 2022.

It is anticipated that the Board of Directors will take action on the draft SRTP at their regular meeting scheduled for December 15, 2022, following the public hearing.

Passenger Survey

County Connection is conducting a survey through the month of September to find out more about your transit needs and rider experience.

Over the next few weeks, passengers on our routes may be asked to complete a quick survey to help us understand how our services are being used and where we can improve.

You can also fill out the survey online at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/cccta2022. Even if you’re not currently riding transit, we encourage you to complete the survey to help us plan for the future.

All responses are confidential. We appreciate your participation and input!

Administrative Offices to Reopen to Public Starting Tuesday, 9/6

County Connection’s administrative offices, including the LINK Paratransit office, will reopen to the public starting Tuesday, September 6, 2022. Our offices will be open Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Masks are currently required while inside our offices.

Our Customer Service call center continues to be 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.

We will also be continuing our mobile lobby and outreach events. Click here for a schedule of dates and locations.

Free Rides on Monument Corridor Routes

Starting July 1, 2022, free rides will be expanded to include weekend Route 311, 314, & 316!

In July 2019, County Connection began offering free rides on three of its weekday bus routes – Routes 11, 14, and 16. Starting July 1, 2022, free rides will be expanded to weekend Routes 311, 314, and 316. All six routes serve the Monument Corridor in Concord and connect from Concord BART to various destinations in Martinez, Pleasant Hill, and Walnut Creek, including BART stations, Martinez Amtrak and Contra Costa Regional Medical Center.

This project is being funded by a grant through California’s Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP), which distributes cap-and-trade proceeds to support a wide range of programs and projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and deliver other economic, environmental, and public health benefits for Californians.

Maps & Schedules

Route 11

Concord BART – Oak Grove Rd – Treat Blvd – Pleasant Hill BART
Span of Service: 6:00 am – 8:00 pm
Frequency: 40-90 min

Route 14

Concord BART – Monument Blvd – Pleasant Hill BART – Walnut Creek BART
Span of Service: 5:30 am – 9:30 pm
Frequency: 30 min

Route 16

Concord BART – Monument Blvd – Gregory Ln – Alhambra Ave – Contra Costa Regional Medical Center – Martinez Amtrak
Span of Service: 5:30 am – 10:00 pm
Frequency: 40 min

Route 311

Concord BART – Oak Grove Rd – Treat Blvd – Pleasant Hill BART – Walnut Creek BART
Span of Service: 8:30 am – 8:30 pm
Frequency: 60 min

Route 314

DVC – Contra Costa Blvd – Monument Blvd – Concord BART
Span of Service: 7:00 am – 8:00 pm
Frequency: 30 min

Route 316

Martinez Amtrak – Morello – Arnold – Muir – DVC – Buskirk – Pleasant Hill BART
Span of Service: 7:00 am – 7:30 pm
Frequency: 75 min

Fall Fare Promotions – 2021

County Connection looks forward to welcoming back more passengers this Fall. Additional service restoration will be effective on August 8th, with all school service available for the new school year. Our buses are operating at full capacity and masks continue to be required.

We encourage all of our passengers to learn about our various discounted Clipper programs, including our day pass, youth fare, and Clipper START for low income adults. We are also offering fare promotions this Fall, including free rides for ALL in September 2021 and free passes for students. Learn more about these programs below.

We want your feedback! Take our survey here!

Free Rides in September

Ride FREE on any route

Everyone rides free on all County Connection routes and LINK paratransit during the entire month of September!

Just hop on any County Connection bus and get where you need to go. Plus, you can also ride free on our fellow East Bay operators (Tri Delta Transit, WestCAT, & Wheels), and get 50% off BART fares when using Clipper in September. We look forward to welcoming you back on transit!

Tip: If you typically use a 31-day pass on Clipper, consider disabling Autoload and avoid activating any new passes during the month of August. We are not be able to issue refunds for partially used passes.

Pass2Class

Take County Connection to school FREE

Skip the traffic and save gas while getting your students to school. With 511 Contra Costa’s Pass2Class program, it’s easy to make the switch. To help students return to in-person learning, we’re giving free rides for two months.

Students who are registered in a public or private school (grades 1-12) located in Central or Southwest Contra Costa can receive a County Connection pass that is valid through October (up to 2 per household and while supplies last).

Youth Clipper Discount

Youth (ages 6-18) get 20% off when using a Youth Clipper card

Youth ages 6-18 automatically get 20% off the adult Clipper fare when using a Youth Clipper card on County Connection.

Riders can apply for a Youth Clipper card by submitting an application via mail, email, or fax along with proof-of-age documentation. Once approved, a card will be sent by mail. To obtain a card immediately, call us at (925) 676-7500 to arrange an in-person visit.

Tip: Now you can transfer your existing plastic Youth Clipper card to your phone and pay fares with your mobile wallet! Click here to learn more about paying your fares with a smartphone. Please note that you must apply for and obtain a plastic Youth Clipper card first before transferring it to your phone.

Clipper START Discount

Eligible riders can get discounts on County Connection, BART, & more

Clipper START is a pilot program to provide fare discounts to eligible riders. Participants can receive a 20% discount off County Connection single-ride Clipper fares, plus discounts on BART, Tri Delta Transit, WestCAT, Wheels, and more!

To qualify, you must:

  • Be a resident of the San Francisco Bay Area  
  • Be 19-64 years old  
  • Not have an RTC Clipper Card for people with disabilities   
  • Have a household income of 200% of the federal poverty level or less

2021/2022 School Schedules

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

Please note that face masks are required while on the bus.

Fall Fare Promotions: Students can take advantage of several fare promotions and discounts! Click here to learn more.

Last updated: 7/26/2021

Find schedules for our 600 series school routes for the 2021/2022 school year below. Note that schedule times on routes may have been adjusted due to bell time changes or to improve on-time performance.

Lamorinda School Districts

Acalanes Union High School District

Route 603: Lafayette BART – Saint Mary’s College – Campolindo High

Route 606: Orinda BART – Miramonte High  –  Orinda Intermediate  –  Lafayette BART

Route 625: Lafayette BART – Happy Valley Rd – Acalanes High

Lafayette School District

Route 626: Lafayette BART – Stanley Middle School – Saint Mary’s College

Orinda Union School District

Route 606: Orinda BART – Miramonte High  –  Orinda Intermediate  –  Lafayette BART

Mt. Diablo School District

By route:

Route 608: VA Clinic – College Park High – Valley View Middle – DVC

Route 611: Concord BART – Oak Grove Rd – Oak Grove Middle

Route 612: Concord BART – Clayton Rd – Pine Hollow Middle

Route 613: Oak Grove Middle – Oak Grove Rd – Detroit Ave – Concord BART

Route 615: Concord High – Olympic High – El Dorado Middle – Concord BART

Route 616: Concord BART – Monument Blvd – Oak Grove Rd – Oak Grove Middle

Route 619: Oak Grove Middle – Pleasant Hill BART

By school:

San Ramon Valley Unified School District

By route:

Route 622: Pine Valley Middle – California High – Crow Canyon Rd

Route 623: Alamo Plaza – Monte Vista High – Camino Tassajara – Crow Canyon Rd

Route 635: Windemere Ranch – Gale Ranch Middle – Dougherty Valley High  –  Tassajara Ranch

Route 636: Iron Horse Middle – Bollinger Canyon Rd – California High – Pine Valley Middle – Dublin/Pleasanton BART

By school:

Walnut Creek School District

By route:

Route 601: Walnut Creek BART – Rossmoor – Walnut Creek Intermediate

Route 602: Walnut Blvd – Trotter Way – Walnut Creek BART – Walnut Creek Intermediate

Route 605: Creekside Dr – Walnut Creek Intermediate

By school: