County Connection

County Connection

Bus 404 on then-Route 126 at BART Orinda
Founded	1980
Headquarters	2477 Arnold Industrial Way, Concord, CA
Locale	East Bay
Service area	Central Contra Costa County
Service type	bus service ADA paratransit
Routes	29 local 7 express 25 select service 1 local shuttle
Stops	1,000+
Fleet	131 heavy-duty transit buses 48 paratransit vans
Daily ridership	11,627 weekday boardings [1]
Fuel type	ULSD
Operator	Central Contra Costa Transit Authority
Chief executive	Rick Ramacier
Web site	cccta.org

The County Connection (officially, the Central Contra Costa Transit Authority, CCCTA) is a Concord-based public transit agency operating fixed-route bus and ADA paratransit (County Connection LINK) service in and around central Contra Costa County in the San Francisco Bay Area. Established in 1980 as a joint powers authority, CCCTA assumed control of public bus service within central Contra Costa first begun by Oakland-based AC Transit as it expanded into suburban Contra Costa County in the mid-1970s (especially after the opening of BART).

History

In March 1980, the Central Contra Costa Transit Authority was created by a joint powers agreement between the cities of Clayton, Concord, Lafayette, Martinez, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek, the town of Moraga, and the County of Contra Costa. Upon their incorporation, the town of Danville and the city of San Ramon also joined CCCTA. CCCTA is governed by a board of directors, with a representative appointed from each of its member cities and the county. Day-to-day operations are overseen by the General Manager.

On 1 July 1980, CCCTA began operating service with its first route serving Walnut Creek.^[2] The changeover from AC Transit to County Connection was somewhat gradual, with County Connection assuming the remainder of the service by 1982.^[3]

Service area

Within its service area of over 200 square miles (520 km²), the County Connection provides service to the communities of:

Alamo Antioch Concord Clayton Clyde

Diablo Danville Dublin Lafayette Martinez

Moraga Orinda Pacheco Pittsburg Pleasanton

Pleasant Hill Rossmoor San Ramon Walnut Creek

Fixed-route service

As of June 2010, the County Connection operates 30 weekday routes (three of which also operate on weekends), seven weekend-only routes, and 25 select service routes within central Contra Costa County.^[4] All routes, with the exception of some of the 600-numbered series select service trips, connect with regional train service, primarily BART, in addition to ACE in Pleasanton and Amtrak, including Amtrak California's Capitol Corridor and San Joaquin services in Martinez. Among its 30 weekday routes, the County Connection operates seven express routes (Routes 91X—98X). With support from the city of Walnut Creek, the County Connection also operates a free downtown circulator with trolley livery (Route 4) with service between Walnut Creek and Broadway Plaza.

Major points of interest in the area served by the County Connection include:

• Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill
• Diablo Valley College, San Ramon Valley Campus, in San Ramon
• Cal State East Bay in Concord
• Sunvalley Mall in Concord
• Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek
• Saint Mary's College of California in Moraga
• Bishop Ranch Business Park in San Ramon

Route overview

Weekdays

Weekday service is provided on all routes except 300-numbered series routes, which operate only on weekends. 600-numbered series routes are select service trips convenient to area schools and operate on school days with service timed to school bell times.^[4]

Route	Direction	Terminals		ACE, Amtrak, or BART Connection at	Schedule Information	Notes
		North/East Terminal	South/West Terminal
1	North-South	Mitchell Dr Park & Ride	Rossmoor	Walnut Creek	Route 1 Schedule
2	North-South	BART Walnut Creek	Trotter Way & Bridle Ln	Walnut Creek	Route 2 Schedule
4 The Free Ride	North-South	BART Walnut Creek	Broadway Plaza	Walnut Creek	Route 4 Schedule	Free, daily service between BART Walnut Creek and Broadway Plaza via downtown
5	North-South	BART Walnut Creek	Creekside Dr	Walnut Creek	Route 5 Schedule
6	East-West	BART Lafayette	BART Orinda	Lafayette, Orinda	Route 6 Schedule	Also operates on weekends Operates 3 trips per day to Orinda Village and Community Center
7	Loop	BART Walnut Creek - BART Pleasant Hill		Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek	Route 7 Schedule	Operates during AM and PM peak periods only, with clockwise and counter-clockwise loops
9	North-South	Diablo Valley College	BART Walnut Creek	Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek	Route 9 Schedule	Also serves JFK University
10	East-West	Clayton - Clayton Library 6 AM—8PM Clayton Rd & Kirker Pass Rd Before 6 AM and after 8 PM	BART Concord	Concord	Route 10 Schedule	Service via Clayton Rd
11	East-West	BART Concord	BART Pleasant Hill	Concord, Pleasant Hill	Route 11 Schedule	Service via Meadow Ln and Oak Grove Rd (north of Treat Blvd)
14	North-South	BART Concord	BART Pleasant Hill	Concord, Pleasant Hill	Route 14 Schedule	Service via Monument Blvd
15	East-West	BART Concord	BART Walnut Creek	Concord, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek	Route 15 Schedule	Service via Treat Blvd
16	North-South	Amtrak Martinez 5:40 AM—8:40 PM Crescent Plaza & Crescent Dr Before 5:40 AM and after 8:40 PM	BART Concord	Martinez (Amtrak), Concord	Route 16 Schedule	Service via Alhambra Ave, Crescent Plaza - Downtown Pleasant Hill, and Monument Blvd
17	North-South	BART North Concord	BART Concord	North Concord, Concord	Route 17 Schedule
18	North-South	Amtrak Martinez	BART Pleasant Hill	Martinez (Amtrak), Pleasant Hill	Route 18 Schedule	Also serves Diablo Valley College
19	North-South	Amtrak Martinez	BART Concord	Martinez (Amtrak), Concord	Route 19 Schedule
20	East-West	BART Concord	Diablo Valley College	Concord	Route 20 Schedule	Also serves Sunvalley Mall
20W Splash	East-West	BART Concord	Waterworld California	Concord	Route 20W Schedule	Operates only during summer
21	North-South	BART Walnut Creek	San Ramon Transit Center	Walnut Creek	Route 21 Schedule	Service via Danville Blvd
25	East-West	BART Walnut Creek	BART Lafayette	Walnut Creek, Lafayette	Route 25 Schedule
28	East-West	BART North Concord	Amtrak Martinez	Martinez (Amtrak), North Concord	Route 28 Schedule	Also serves Diablo Valley College
35	North-South	San Ramon Transit Center	BART Dublin/Pleasanton	Dublin/Pleasanton	Route 35 Schedule	Service via Windemere Pkwy and East Branch Pkwy only during midday from 10:30 AM to 3:45 PM
36	North-South	San Ramon Transit Center	BART Dublin/Pleasanton	Dublin/Pleasanton	Route 36 Schedule
91X Concord Commuter Express	Loop	BART Concord - Airport Plaza		Concord	Route 91X Schedule	Operates during AM and PM peak periods only
92X ACE Express	North-South	Mitchell Dr Park & Ride	ACE Pleasanton	Pleasanton (ACE)	Route 92X Schedule	Operates during AM and PM peak periods only. Also serves Danville Park & Ride and San Ramon Transit Center
93X Kirker Pass Express	East-West	BART Walnut Creek AM terminal	Hillcrest (Antioch) Park & Ride PM terminal	Walnut Creek	Route 93X Schedule	Operates westbound AM only, eastbound PM only (mornings to Walnut Creek, afternoons to Hillcrest Park & Ride)
95X San Ramon Express	North-South	BART Walnut Creek	San Ramon Transit Center	Walnut Creek	Route 95X Schedule	Operates during AM and PM peak periods only. Also serves Danville Park & Ride
96X Bishop Ranch Express, North	Loop	BART Walnut Creek - Bishop Ranch		Walnut Creek	Route 96X Schedule	Operates during AM and PM peak periods only. Also serves San Ramon Transit Center
97X Bishop Ranch Express, South	Loop	BART Dublin/Pleasanton - Bishop Ranch		Dublin/Pleasanton	Route 97X Schedule	Operates during AM and PM peak periods only. Also serves San Ramon Transit Center
98X Martinez/Walnut Creek Express	North-South	Amtrak Martinez	BART Walnut Creek	Martinez (Amtrak), Walnut Creek	Route 98X Schedule	Route also serves Contra Costa Blvd & Viking Dr - Sunvalley Mall
250 Gael Rail Shuttle	North-South	BART Lafayette	Saint Mary's College	Lafayette	Route 250 Schedule	Operates late night trips only Thursday—Sunday
260 Cal State East Bay Shuttle	Loop	BART Concord - Cal State East Bay		Concord	Route 260 Schedule	Operates PM trips only Monday—Thursday

Weekends

Service is provided on the following 11 routes:

Route	Direction	Terminals		ACE, Amtrak, or BART Connection at	Schedule Information	Notes
		North/East Terminal	South/West Terminal
4 The Free Ride	North-South	BART Walnut Creek	Broadway Plaza	Walnut Creek	Route 4 Schedule	Free, daily service between BART Walnut Creek and Broadway Plaza via downtown
6	East-West	BART Lafayette	BART Orinda	Lafayette, Orinda	Route 6 Schedule	Also operates on weekdays
20W Splash	East-West	BART Concord	Waterworld California	Concord	Route 20W Schedule	Operates only during summer
250 Gael Rail Shuttle	North-South	BART Lafayette	Saint Mary's College	Lafayette	Route 250 Schedule	Operates PM trips only Thursday—Sunday
301	North-South	John Muir Medical Center, Walnut Creek Campus	Rossmoor	Walnut Creek	Route 301 Schedule
311	East-West	BART Concord	BART Walnut Creek	Concord, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek	Route 311 Schedule
314	East-West	Clayton Rd & Kirker Pass Rd	Diablo Valley College	Concord	Route 314 Schedule	Service via Contra Costa Blvd, Monument Blvd, and Clayton Rd
315	East-West	Clayton Rd & Bel Air Dr	BART Concord	Concord	Route 315 Schedule
316	North-South	Alhambra Ave & Walnut Ave	BART Pleasant Hill	Martinez (Amtrak), Pleasant Hill	Route 316 Schedule	Also serves Diablo Valley College
320	East-West	BART Concord	Diablo Valley College	Concord	Route 320 Schedule	Service via Diamond Blvd
321	North-South	BART Walnut Creek	Sunset Dr & Bishop Dr	Walnut Creek	Route 321 Schedule	Also serves San Ramon Transit Center

Holidays

Regular service is provided on: Martin Luther King Jr. Day President's Day Easter Columbus Day Veterans Day the day after Thanksgiving Christmas Eve New Year's Eve

The County Connection does not operate on the following days: New Year's Day Memorial Day Independence Day Labor Day Thanksgiving Day Christmas Day

Fixed-route fares

Fares are effective 22 March 2009 ^[5]

Cash

Route	Adult (18-64)/Youth (6-17)†	Senior (65+)/Disabled ‡
Local	US$2.00	US$1.00
Express	US$2.25	US$1.00
Route 4 The Free Ride	Free	Free

Transfer

Type	Adult (18-64)/Youth (6-17)†	Senior (65+)/Disabled ‡
Bus-to-Bus₮	Free	Free
BART-to-Bus₮	US$1.00	US$0.50

• † Children five years of age and under may ride free, but may ride only when accompanied by an adult.
• ‡ Proper identification must be presented to obtain the reduced Senior/Disabled fare.
• ₮ In order to facilitate passenger connections between County Connection buses, transfer slips are issued upon request at the time the proper fare is paid. Transfers are good for up to two uses (only one use if boarding with a BART-to-Bus transfer) and are valid for two hours on weekdays and three hours on weekends (until the time shown at the top of the transfer).

Passes and Punch Cards

County Connection offers for sale a monthly pass or several types of punch card which provide a discount over cash fare:

• Monthly Pass (East Bay Value Pass) for US$60.00, valid on all County Connection, Wheels, Tri Delta Transit and WestCAT fixed-route buses
• 12-Ride Punch Card for US$20.00 (valid on Local and Express routes)
• Commuter Punch Card for US$40.00, with 20 Local or Express fares and 20 BART-to-Bus transfer fares
• Senior/Disabled 20-Ride Punch Card for US$15.00 (valid on Local and Express routes)

Connecting transportation

• AC Transit Line 74 at BART Orinda
• ACE at the Pleasanton station in Alameda County
• Amtrak at the Martinez station in Contra Costa County
• BART at the Orinda, Lafayette, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Concord and North Concord/Martinez stations in Contra Costa County, and at the Dublin/Pleasanton station in Alameda County
• Benicia Breeze Route 76 and the DVC/Sunvalley Mall Shuttle at Diablo Valley College and Sunvalley Mall
• Fairfield and Suisun Transit (FAST) Route 40 at BART Pleasant Hill and BART Walnut Creek
• Tri-Delta Transit Delta Express at BART Dublin/Pleasanton and in Martinez at Amtrak Martinez and at shared stops along Alhambra Ave and Route 200 in Martinez at Amtrak Martinez, at shared stops along Alhambra Ave, and at the VA Martinez Outpatient Clinic
• Vallejo Transit Route 78 at BART Pleasant Hill and BART Walnut Creek
• WestCAT Route 30Z in Martinez at Amtrak Martinez, at shared stops along Alhambra Ave, and at the VA Martinez Outpatient Clinic
• WHEELS routes at BART Dublin/Pleasanton, BART Pleasant Hill, and BART Walnut Creek; at shared stops in San Ramon along Alcosta Blvd; in Dublin along Village Pkwy, Dublin Blvd, and Dougherty Rd; and at ACE Pleasanton Station

The local transportation demand management organization 511 Contra Costa also provides information for intermodal transfers throughout the county, and works closely with County Connection to improve regional transit.

Fixed-route fleet

Bus 316 (with special "Free Ride" trolley livery) in service on then-Route 104 at Broadway Plaza

The current fixed-route fleet consists of 131 wheelchair-accessible buses manufactured by Gillig. Each bus is accessible by either lift or ramp, and has space for two wheelchairs. Buses feature Clever Devices GPS-based automatic voice annunciation (AVA) and visual next-stop announcements. Each bus has the capacity for two bicycles on a front bumper-mounted rack, with an additional two bicycles permitted aboard at the bus operator's discretion.

Series	Length (feet)	Floor height	Wheelchair-accessible via	Make	Model	Year	Fuel
100-106	30	Low-floor	Fold-out ramp	Gillig	Low Floor	2001	ULSD
200-213	40	Low-floor	Fold-out ramp	Gillig	Low Floor	2002	ULSD
300-314	30	Low-floor	Fold-out ramp	Gillig	Low Floor	2002	ULSD
315-317	30	Low-floor	Fold-out ramp	Gillig	Trolley (retrofit)	N/A	ULSD
400-412	35	Low-floor	Fold-out ramp	Gillig	Low Floor	2002	Hybrid
500-518	40	Standard-floor	Lift	Gillig	Phantom	2002	ULSD
900-908	40	Low-floor	Fold-out ramp	Gillig	Low Floor	2010	Diesel-electric hybrid
909-949	40	Low-floor	Fold-out ramp	Gillig	Low Floor	2009, 2010	ULSD
2000–2009	40	Low-floor	Pocket ramp	Gillig	Low Floor	2000	ULSD
9800-9809	40	Low-floor	Pocket ramp	Gillig	Low Floor	1998	ULSD

Amigos de Viajar

In 2006, the County Connection partnered with Moore & Associates, Inc., a public transit marketing firm, to develop and produce a targeted Spanish language outreach program. This resulted in the transit agency's Amigos de Viajar program.^[6] The program was created to provide one-on-one instructional outreach to Spanish-speaking persons within Concord's Monument Corridor community. As a result, 12 volunteers were trained in how to provide fellow community members with trip planning assistance. The volunteers, identified by their high-visibility yellow vests, can be seen at area bus stops, transit centers, and aboard the County Connection's buses. Developed in support of the program, Moore & Associates scripted and produced a nine-minute film outlining the public transportation options in Contra Costa County, benefits of utilizing public transportation, detailed illustrations on how to ride transit, and options with connecting transit systems - including BART and AC Transit, among others. The film was printed to DVD and distributed to organizations throughout the Monument community and greater Concord.

References

1. ^ CCCTA - Operating & Scheduling Committee: Fixed-Route Operating Report for May 2010
2. ^ CalAct - "The County Connection Central: Contra Costa County's Ride 1980-2001"
3. ^ Darlene Bonanno v. Central Contra Costa Transit Authority
4. ^ ^{a b} CCCTA - Maps & Schedules
5. ^ CCCTA - Fares
6. ^ "County Connection Graduates Class of 12 'Amigos de Viajar'"

External links

• Official website
• Routes and descriptions