This week, the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) introduced an exciting new transit option—AC Transit’s first bus rapid transit system, Tempo.
The project was conceived to enhance bus reliability and reduce travel time in heavily-traveled transit corridors, creating an estimated 1,000 jobs during construction. The project delivers unparalleled bus frequency through its nearly 10-mile network of dedicated and bus-only lanes along the project corridor spanning from the Uptown BART Station at 19th Street in Oakland along International Boulevard and E. 14th Street to the San Leandro BART Station. The Alameda County Transportation Commission, in partnership with AC Transit and other local, regional, state and federal agencies, funded this $232 million project that includes both Measure B (capital and grant program funding) and Measure BB funding.
The project was a major capital construction project delivered in three phases, including utility infrastructure relocation, parking lot improvements, intersection improvements, and construction of infrastructure and 46 new platforms stations. After three years of construction, the East Bay and the greater Bay Area have the opportunity to witness exciting and innovative technology in action:
- Signal priority technology to manage traffic signals.
- Embedded coach technology to enable the 27 new 60-foot coaches to kneel at variable heights.
- Hybrid technology to reduce multiple types of emissions.
Due to COVID-19, AC Transit has postponed the ribbon cutting ceremony for safety reasons, alternative plans are being explored to celebrate this history-making BRT system.
For more information on the East Bay BRT, visit AC Transit’s Tempo website.
