WHY ARE THERE CHANGES IN SERVICE? County Connection is making time adjustments to some of our routes to better align with neighboring transit agency schedules. The updated schedules are intended to provide a more seamless transit experience across agencies. If you have questions, contact Customer Service 925-676-7500.
¿POR QUÉ HAY CAMBIOS EN EL SERVICIO? County Connection está haciendo ajustes de tiempo en algunas de nuestras rutas para alinearse mejor con los horarios de las agencias de tránsito a nuestros alrededores. Los horarios actualizados están destinados a proporcionar una experiencia de tránsito más fluida entre las agencias. Si tiene preguntas, comuníquese con Servicio al Cliente al 925-676-7500.
Save money when you use Youth Clipper, Clipper START, and ride County Connection Express Routes
[En Español]Beginning January 1, 2024, it will be more affordable to ride County Connection with a Youth Clipper or Clipper START card, with fares going from 20% to 50% off for eligible riders. And, Clipper fares on all County Connection express routes are going down in price, matching our local route Clipper fares. In other words, that’s $1.00 to ride County Connection when you use your Youth Clipper or Clipper START card, and only $2.00 for express routes (same cost as local routes).
Youth Clipper is available for ages 6-18 and is great for youth who want to save money and ride public transit at half the cost (50% discount) of an Adult Clipper card. To apply:
SUBMIT AN APPLICATION: Riders ages 6-18 can apply for a Youth Clipper card by mail, email or fax. By submitting an application, we are able to determine your eligibility.
APPLY IN PERSON: Youth riders can get a card in person at County Connection, 2477 Arnold Industrial Way in Concord, M-F, 8am-3pm.
Beginning January 1, 2024, County Connection express route fares on Clipper will be reduced from $2.25 to $2.00 for adults, and from $1.80 to $1.00 for Youth Clipper and Clipper START card holders.
In addition, the East Bay Regional 31-Day Local Pass ($60) will be valid on all County Connection routes, including Express routes, and the 31-Day Express Pass ($70) will be eliminated. The 31-Day Local Pass will continue to be accepted on Tri Delta Transit, Wheels, and WestCAT (except LYNX) buses.
WHY THE CHANGE IN FARES? In the years following the pandemic, public transit agencies continue to look for ways to simplify the fare rate structure across the region. This is in part to incentivize ridership but is also a move toward increased consistency with broader regional policies. (Translation: We want public transit to be an easy and affordable option for everyone.)
Ahorre dinero cuando utilice Clipper de Jovenes, Clipper START y viaje en las rutas exprés de County Connection
[English version] A partir del 1 de enero del 2024, viajar en County Connection será más accesible con una tarjeta Clipper de Jovenes (Youth Clipper) o Clipper START, con descuento que ode 50% para pasajeros elegibles. Y las tarifas de Clipper en todas las rutas exprésde County Connection serán reducidas, igualando las tarifas de Clipper de nuestras rutas locales. En otras palabras, eso es $1.00 para viajar en County Connection cuando usa su tarjeta Clipper de Jovenes o Clipper START, y solo $2.00 para rutas exprés (el mismo costo que las rutas locales).
TARIFAS: Clipper de Jovenes (6-18) y Clipper START *
Clipper de Jovenes está disponible para edades de 6 a 18 años y es ideal para jóvenes que desean ahorrar dinero y viajar en transporte público por la mitad del costo (50% de descuento) de una tarjeta Adulto Clipper. Aplicar:
ENVIAR UNA SOLICITUD: Los pasajeros de 6 a 18 años pueden solicitar una tarjeta Clipper de Jovenes por correo, correo electrónico o fax. Al enviar una solicitud, podemos determinar su elegibilidad.
SOLICITE EN PERSONA: Los pasajeros jóvenes pueden obtener una tarjeta en persona en County Connection, 2477 Arnold Industrial Way en Concord, de lunes a viernes, de 8 am a 3 pm.
A partir del 1 de enero de 2024, las tarifas de la rutaS exprés de County Connection se reducirán de $2.25 a $2.00 para adultos que paguen con una tarjeta Clipper, y de $1.80 a $1.00 para pasajeros que paguen su tarifa con tarjetas Clipper Juvenil y Clipper START.
Además, el Pase Local Regional de 31 Días de East Bay ($60) será válido en todas las rutas de County Connection, incluyendo las rutas exprés, y se eliminará el Pase Express de 31 días ($70). El pase local de 31 días se seguirá aceptando en los autobuses Tri Delta Transit, Wheels y WestCAT (excepto LYNX).
¿Por qué el cambio de tarifas? En los años posteriores a la pandemia, las agencias de transporte público continúan buscando formas de simplificar la estructura de tarifas en toda la región. Esto es en parte para incentivar el número de pasajeros, pero también es un paso hacia una mayor coherencia con pólizas regionales. (Traducción: Queremos que el transporte público sea una opción fácil y accesible para todos).
WHY ARE THERE CHANGES IN SERVICE? County Connection is making time adjustments to some of our routes to better align with neighboring transit agency schedules. The updated schedules are intended to provide a more seamless transit experience across agencies. If you have questions, contact Customer Service 925-676-7500.
¿POR QUÉ HAY CAMBIOS EN EL SERVICIO? County Connection está haciendo ajustes de tiempo en algunas de nuestras rutas para alinearse mejor con los horarios de las agencias de tránsito a nuestros alrededores. Los horarios actualizados están destinados a proporcionar una experiencia de tránsito más fluida entre las agencias. Si tiene preguntas, comuníquese con Servicio al Cliente al 925-676-7500.
The Alamo Creek Shuttle is a free service to anyone traveling to and from the Alamo Creek, Monterosso, and Ponderosa Colony housing developments. The Alamo Creek Shuttle serves the Danville Park ‘n Ride and Walnut Creek BART, and may stop at other locations with the 1.5 mile corridor along Camino Tassajara and I-680. The shuttle will pick up at your door.
Call for reservations: 925-943-1829. Advance reservations can be made 7 days a week.
Through December 2024, any passenger who rides the Alamo Creek Shuttle is eligible to receive a gift card each month. Make sure you log your trip each time you ride.
The more rides you take, the greater your chance of winning! Prizes: Winners may choose between a Clipper Card ($20) or a Starbucks gift card ($20).
Click to learn more on how to participate in the Frequent Rider Rewards program:
Ride the Alamo Creek Shuttle: You can log your trip online by clicking here. We count ridership from the 1st of the month to the end of the month.
Continue to Ride: Each time you ride, you can log your trip.
Final Drawing: At the end of each month, we’ll select 5 passengers at random. If you’ve provided your contact information, we’ll send you gift card in the mail.
FEATURES OF ALAMO CREEK SHUTTLE
• Free to anyone traveling to and from the Danville Park ‘n Ride and Walnut Creek BART. • Shuttle may stop at other locations within the 1.5 mile corridor along Camino Tassajara and 1-680 • Scheduled pickup at your door. • Call 925-943-1829 for reservations 7 days a week.
WHY ARE THERE CHANGES IN SERVICE? County Connection is making time adjustments to some of our routes to better align with neighboring transit agency schedules. The updated schedules are intended to provide a more seamless transit experience across agencies. If you have questions, contact Customer Service 925-676-7500.
¿POR QUÉ HAY CAMBIOS EN EL SERVICIO? County Connection está haciendo ajustes de tiempo en algunas de nuestras rutas para alinearse mejor con los horarios de las agencias de tránsito a nuestros alrededores. Los horarios actualizados están destinados a proporcionar una experiencia de tránsito más fluida entre las agencias. Si tiene preguntas, comuníquese con Servicio al Cliente al 925-676-7500.
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 Type
Fare Product
Current
Proposed
Local
Express
All Routes
Adult
Single 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
All
31-day Pass
$60.00
$70.00
$60.00
No changes are being proposed for cash fares, Senior Clipper, RTC, or LINK paratransit fares.
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
By phone: 408-638-0968 (Meeting ID: 853 9913 3311)
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.
Effective August, 6, 2023, Routes 27 and 99X will be consolidated to form a single, more direct 99X providing express service between Martinez Amtrak and North Concord BART, better serving the surrounding community and those traveling in this area. Additional features of the new alignment and schedule include:
FARE-FREE RIDES: The new 99X will be fare-free, no payment required for passengers
SERVICE TO HIGH USAGE STOPS: The new route will continue to serve high usage stops (North Concord BART, Concord Adult Homeless Shelter, Morello/Arnold, Martinez Amtrak, and Mason Circle)
STREAMLINED SERVICE: We’ve cut segments of Routes 27 and (former) 99X that have little to no ridership. The new Route 99X will not stop at Pike Ln, Pacheco Transit Center, Muir Rd, and Arnold Dr.
IMPROVED AMTRAK TRANSFERS: We’ve better aligned our run times to line up with the train schedule running out of Martinez Amtrak.
MAINTAIN SERVICE LEVELS: Though two routes are becoming one (new) route, we’re still preserving existing service levels overall, including hours and frequency
(See map below for updated route as well as eliminated segments)
RING!RING! School’s back in session and getting to class is easy on County Connection! Below, you can find schedules (600 series school routes) for the 2023/24 school year. Note: We’ve adjusted some bus schedule times on routes to align better with bell time changes, which helps to improve on-time performance.
Free & discounted youth transit passes!
PASS2CLASS – Free County Connection Bus Passes
Pass2Class offers free bus passes to Contra Costa students at the beginning of the school year to ride County Connection until October 31, 2023. >> Learn more about Pass2Class
YOUTH CLIPPER CARD – Discounted Youth Passes
Youth can save 20% on County Connection fixed route service including school routes (600 select series) with a Youth Clipper Card. >> Learn more about Youth Clipper Cards
FALL SERVICE CHANGES (Effective August 6, 2023) Routes 4, 6, 16, 21, 27, 28, 35, 95X, 96X, 97X, 98X, 99X, 250, 301, 310, 311, 314, 315, 316, 320, 321, and 335
SCHOOL SCHEDULE CHANGES(Districts: Lamorinda, Mt. Diablo, San Ramon, Walnut Creek) Click here for school route (600s) schedules for the 2023/24 school year.
WHY ARE THERE CHANGES IN SERVICE? County Connection is making time adjustments to some of our routes to better align with neighboring transit agency schedules. The updated schedules are intended to provide a more seamless transit experience across agencies. If you have questions, contact Customer Service 925-676-7500.
¿POR QUÉ HAY CAMBIOS EN EL SERVICIO? County Connection está haciendo ajustes de tiempo en algunas de nuestras rutas para alinearse mejor con los horarios de las agencias de tránsito a nuestros alrededores. Los horarios actualizados están destinados a proporcionar una experiencia de tránsito más fluida entre las agencias. Si tiene preguntas, comuníquese con Servicio al Cliente al 925-676-7500.
