transit times volume 9, number 4

8/8/2019 Transit Times Volume 9, Number 4

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For the Good of Your Community

Vol. 9, No. 4 OAKLAND, AUGUST, 1966State cuts bridge bus tolls, studiesWays to generate greater transit useA State study to determine ways of

holding the line on transbay bus faresto encourage greater use of masstransit was underway this month .Governor Edmund G . Brown or-dered the study, and a report in sixmonths, during a recent meeting ofthe California State Toll Bridge Authority, of which he is chairman."The property taxpayers should notbe expected to carry the financialburden for mass transit," the Governor declared.

" I t should be shared by automobiledrivers. Any reduction in traffic bypeople riding a bus will make for fasterservice. People should be willing topay for this benefit."The State Department of PublicWorks was directed to look for waysof further assisting local mass transitfollowing a decision of the Toll BridgeAuthority to reduce toll charges forbuses using the Bay Bridge .

Tolls will drop from 75 cents to50 cents on Sept. 1, saving AC Transitsome $115,000 per year. Buses usingthe Golden Gate Bridge currently arecharged 13 cents per vehicle - thesame rate as charged for private autos.

Transbay buses carry nearly halfthe commuters crossing the BayBridge.The Governor observed that the daymay come when free transportationshould be offered to encourage people

SEEING DOUBLE - Buses carry nearlyhalf of the Bay Bridge commuters. I f every-body drove, two bridges would be needed.to use mass transit instead of cars .

" I t might be cheaper than buildingthese new freeways," he said, notingthat the number of automobiles inCalifornia has doubled in the lastdecade ." I f we think we can build freewaysfast enough to keep that up, we haveanother think coming."Another member of the Toll BridgeAuthority, Lt. Gov. Glenn M. Ander-son, said he hoped the Public WorksDepartment will be, able to recom-mend a further reduction in BayBridge tolls for transit vehicles."I would like to see us reduce therates if we are going to get more peo-ple in buses," Anderson declared.


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AC / transit PASSENGER REVENUE ... COMPARISON WITH PREVIOUS YEAR1,220 ,0001,200 ,0001,180 ,0001,160 ,0001,140 ,0001,120 ,0001,100,0001,080,0001,060,0001,040,0001,020,0001,000 ,000980,000960 ,000940,000 Z o: ci ci..: UJ ..: "---, u.. :;;: ..:

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-196619651964

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Revenues an d passengers increased in volume during the month of June,continuing the District's steady gain in ne w customers.Passenger revenue totaled $1,156,800, an increase of $90,300 or 8.5 percentover th e same month last year.John F. Larson, treasurer-controller, attributed 5.4 percent of the increaseto a recent fare raise, an d the remaining 3.1 percent to a boost in patronage.Number of passengers carried on East Bay and transbay lines reached 4,279,-996, a gain of 75,191 or 1.8 percent.Commute book sales remained fairly constant, with a total of $184,577 for this

June, compared with $183,742 a year ago, a gain of 0.5 percent.Th e District operated 1,898,002 miles of service-up 10,467 or 0.6 percentover June last year. Operational costs totaled $1,260,858, an increase of $84,-992 or 7,2 percent over year-ago expenses.

Total income of $1,426,896 was sufficient to cover the month's operation expenses, bond debt requirements, an d most equipment replacements costs leav-ing a deficit of $21,200 for the month. 'Sunday fun pass hits new sales record

Bus-riding customers, taking advantage of a double bargain, made it adouble record for AC Transit over theJuly 4weekend.

Sales of Sunday an d holiday funpasses reached 1,744 on Sunday, July3, highest record yet, an d 1100 on2

Monday, Th e total of 2844 was a ne whigh for two-in-a-row pass days.The previous double record wa smade on July 4 arid 5 last year, when2684 passes were sold.A ne w single day record wa s madeAug. 7, when 1750 passes were sold.

A piece of woodLooking for a hobby?Because he loves wood, Lex Patton,33, receiving clerk in the Purchasesand Stores departmen t at EmeryvilleDivision, has a hobby of compensations.He builds, refinishes an d reupholsters, if need be . And when he's fin

ished, he can step back like any artistan d take satisfaction in a piece of furniture or other article that has emerged,grain smooth, under th e magic of workand care.Patton's interest in refinishing furniture had its beginning, he thinks, in afascination with wood ."A piece of wood never dies. Tome, it is a living thing an d 1 alwaysenjoyed working with it."Starting with woodworking inschool, Pa t proceeded into refinishing- picking up reupholstering alongthe way. Now, he is studying woodcarving at night school - knowledgehe's putting to work on the grandfather clock he is building from Philippine mahogany.Patton enjoys looking for "bargains"- like old phonographs, a love seat,or a chair with three legs - purchasedfor 25 cents an d now one of the mostcomfortable chairs in his home at2323 Doidge Ave ., Pinole .

He has found, though, that there isno substitute for "muscle power" andwork.Pat "takes it easy" an d works at the

ELBOW GREASE - There's nosubstitute for hard work, bu tLex Patton finds reward in re-finishing old furniture.

refinishing "when 1 feel like it. When1 ge t tired, 1 stop and don't go backto it for awhile."He finds a glass scraper the best wayto strip a piece of wood down to its

natural state. He has a piece of windowglass cut in almond shape an d thenuses it to scrap varnish, paint or stainfrom the article . Sometimes he usesvarnish remover."I keep trying new products, bu t thescraper works the best."After he's down to the wood, he doesa good job of sanding, with sandpaperan d steel wool. Then he stains, mixingstains, sometimes, for the shade hewants.He uses a rag for the stain - nevera brush - an d a buffing with fine steelwool between coats. Patton's wife,Bertha Ann, who shares his love forwood, gets to take over the rewardingfinal touch - the coats of dull varnish.Patton can list among his accomplishments in the past eight years therefinishing of a table, a 1909 phonograph, buffet, china cabinet, an d en dtables. And he's built, "from scratch,"another table, cabinets, window sills"and things like that."

He can't (sigh!) take on any outsideprojects for others with bi g ideas an dtired anTIS . He has all the refinishinghe wants to do with hi s own projects .But if there's a bargain, someplace . . .le t him know.


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BUSY BAY - Southern Pacific and Key Route ferries churn the Bay past a tree denudedYerba Buena Island and a coal-burning, four-stacker cruiser at anchor on "BattleshipRow ." The "Oakland," with its "walking beam," was perhaps best known S.P. ferry .Rebuilt in 1875 from the side-wheel river steamer "Chrysopolis," it later - in 1939 -saw very brief service under the Key System orange at Golden Gate InternationalExposition.

PIER AHEAD - The ferry boat "YerbaBuena," which carried Key Route's firstrevenue passengers, heads for home atOakland pier, tossing a smoke plume atladen schooner.

COMING AND GOING - Only the Fairmont Hotel dominates the San Franciscohill-line as Ke y Route steamer headstoward Ferry Building slip, passing aSouthern Pacific competitor.4

Th e ferry boats were one-stackers.Everything flew flags. Potted palms

and banana trees hopefully were addin g a tropical touch to th e breezygaslit impersonality of the FerryBuilding in San Francisco and thewaiting room at the Oakland KeyRoute Pier.

And at th e wheel of one of th eorange ferries was Capt. Adolph Nilsson, graduate of a Swedish navigationschool, another of the seagoing menwho had settled for the criss-crossingof San Francisco Bay .

Captain Nilsson wa s among thefirst. He worked as a watchman whilethe Key Route pier was under con"truction in 1903, boarding the firstferries as a second mate in the sameyear, and working up to captain in1915 in time to carry visitors to thePanama-Pacific International Exposition.

This may have been the occasionfor having a photograph of his crew,

I

PLEASANT LANDING - Potted palms and banana treesstruggled under the gas lightsat Key Route pier waiting room,adding elegant touch for firstcommuters.taken aboard the steamer Sa n Jose .

Watch chains were much in evidence. Hats were set squarely . Th etailored polish of later uniforms wasmissing, bu t transportation policy wasfirmly established, in orders issued bythe first superintendent, James P. Potter, and repeated by general managersto come:

"Better an hour late in making a slipthan risking collision in fog or storm .. ."Other boats may crowd you andcross your course . Give them sea room .

Don't frighten your passengers andrisk their lives by holding your courseand crossing their bows a boat-lengthahead .. .

"The good will of the public andtheir patronage are essential to oursuccess .. ."

Th e general orders ' o officers of theferry boat service. Uniform buttons.An employee pass in Captain Nilsson's!lame to the exposition. A souvenir

ALL ABOARD - Aproud day for AdolphNilsson, seated at theright, captain of the"San Jose," one of KeyRoute's f irst ferryboats . Watch chainsindicate all knew "thetime ."

from the first day of operations overthe ne w solid fill on May 18, 1 916 . ..

These, along with postcard photographs and a rare Key System folder,describing a Key trolley trip to theOstrich Farm in the East Oakland oftoday, have been presented to ACTransit for historical keeping by Captain Nilsson's daughter, Mrs . LillianChappell of 176 West MacArthurBlvd., Oakland.

Although Captain Nilsson died in1921, Mrs. Chappell grew up in transportation, working for the AmericanPresident Lines, riding to work withthe trainman who now is he r husband,Marion H . Chappell, veteran of streetcar, train and bus service before heretired from AC Transit in 1963.

Th e collection has been added toother material, to aid the district infurther recording the appearance, aswell as the memory, of the transitsystem it can call "Grandpa."

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SPECIAL OUTING - Youngsters from Oakland poverty neighborhoods disembark fromAC Transit buses in Tilden Regional Park during bus tour sponsored by Oakland Councilof Churches and municipal recreation department.Into the sunlight

Hundreds of youngsters living inOakland poverty neighborhoods weretreated to bu s tours of Bay area pointsof interest this month.Th e youths, many of whom rarelyleave their neighborhoods, visitedsuch places as regional parks of theEast Bay, beaches and made tripsacross the Bay Bridge to attractions inSan Francisco .Th e program considered highly suc-

cessful for the initial year, was sponsored by the Oakland Council ofChurches and the Oakland Recreation Department. Th e church groupalso received financial support fromthe general public.

Tours were restricted to childrenliving in the city's poverty areas andto those in the fourth through theeighth grades . Each youngster paid alO-cent fee to help cover insurance.New employe es join district

Ne w District workers include:General Office

Treasury : David Cushman, EI Cerrito, junior typist clerk; Charles DeLos Santos, Oakland, cashier clerk.

Emeryville DivisionAuto Maintenance: Sam Leister, Sa n

Leandro; Raychelle Redmon and William Striegal of Oakland.

Building Maintenance: Robert Orr,Alameda, electrician.

Bus Operators: R. J. Raby, Alameda;D. J. Hrbacek, Concord; Ernest Hamilton, Walnut Creek; C . W. Annis, Sr.,Millbrae; M. B. Brown, Berkeley;Elijah Howard, B. L. McFarland, J. I.Jackson, M . R. Miles, all of Oakland.6

Richmond DivisionAuto Maintenance: Roy Cobern,

Richmond.Bus Operators: J. E. Jefferies, D. L.Morris, of Richmond; B. A. DeSoto,B. J . Lewin, of San Pablo .

Seminary DivisionAuto Maintenance : James Maddox,J r., EI Cerrito.Bu s Operators : Ronald Mosley,

Daniel Akai, V. F . Daggao, Jr., O. L.Owens, R . W. Johnsen, RaymondLynch, C. E. Meydam, all of Oakland;W. M. Haynes, San Francisco; W . M.Hyland, Milpitas; K. L. Lincicome,Sunol; D. M. McAlpin and E. L. Deets,Hayward.

1 wish to commend . .. (Fred Washington) ... 1 boarded an AC Transitbus in Berkeley . . . noticed a mansitting in front . . . Mr. Washingtonapparently suspected that somethingwas wrong and the man might be ill.He flagged down a police car . . . thema n was a diabetic and apparently ina coma ... an ambulance was called... the man was taken away for treatment. Ha d Mr. Washington not takenthe trouble to investigate, very seriousconsequences could have resulted . ..

Philip SmithSan Francisco

Recently an elderly man with a caneboarded one of your "A" buses drivenby N. E. Torrevillas. Th e driver turnedto watch . . . th e man spoke rudelyand sharply, "I'll pay, don't worry,I'll pay" . . . Mr. Torrevillas gently andpolitely replied, "I know you'll pay,sir. I'm concerned about your standing; 1 want to be sure you're seatedbefore 1 start." . . . 1 also noticed thiscourtesy carried over into Mr. Torrevilla's attitude toward other driverson the road . . .

R. E. DunstanSafety OfficerOakland Post Office

*: *: *:. . . what a wonderful trip ou r groupha d to Yosemite National Park . . . du emuch to our excellent driver (JohnSelf) . . . Mr. Self was most kind an d

courteous to each and everyone ofus .. . not once did he appear impatient. . . and there were many times hemight well have .. . He was a wonderful driver handling the bus with greatskill around those curves and mountain roads . . . it was ou r good fortunehe was selected to be our driver .. .Mrs. Lois Cepanich

Oakland*: *: *:

It is with pleasure that 1 write thisletter to express my appreciation ofon e of your drivers (John Rose) . . .so courteous, accommodating, cheerful and kind and actually he starts eachof his passengers ofl" with a smile anda song in their hearts each morning .. .Mrs. Paul J . Hallman

Oakland*: *: *:

. . . we know not only AC Transit,bu t also th e employees of AC Transit,and the one in particular, who throughhi s conduct and courtesy, has causedus to write this letter . . . Mr. EdwinMunson . . . has been most kind inassisting ou r two school girls in finding their way about Oakland .. . theyhave more than once remarked aboutMr. Munson's courtesy on the road,friendly attitude toward patrons of thebus and general interest in thesepeople and their security and pleasurewhile traveling on AC Transit withhim . . .

Mrs. Walter HakeOakland

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At an adjourned regular meetingJuly 27, the Board of Directors : Authorized a request for bids tosupply diesel fuel and other petroleumproducts, on motion of DirectorWarren. Approved installation of king-sizeadvertising frames on 138 buses, onmotion of Director Copeland. Established new position andsalary of Charter Services Manager,on motion of Director Copeland. Confirmed intent to make increases in wages and benefits if authorized to non-union personnel, effective July 1, on motion of DirectorWarren.

At the regular Aug. 10 meeting, theBoard of Directors: Established ward boundaries forDistrict director elections, on motionof Director McDonnell. Adopted a resolution calling forelection of four directors on Nov. 8,and consolidating election with general State election the same date, oninotion of Director Berk. Authorized service improvements

VC1GOD0DVo VDOUD@0Published monthly by the

ALAMEDA-CONTRA COSTA TRANSIT DISTRICTLatham Square Building 508 Sixteenth StreetOakland, California 94612 Telephone 6547878

BOARD OF DIRECTORSWILLIAM H. COBURN, JR. . . . . PresidentWard IJOHN McDONNEll . . ...... .ROBERT M. COPElAND.RAY H. RINEHART.WILLIAM E. BERK .WM. J. BETTENCOURT.E. GUY WARREN

Ward III Vice PresidentDirector at LargeDirector at large

Ward II. . Ward IV. . . Ward V

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERSKENNETH F. HENSEL . General ManagerROBERT E. NISBET . . . AttorneyJOHN F. LARSON . . . . TreasurerControlierGEORGE M. TAYLOR. . SecretaryALAN l. BINGHAM . Public Information Manager___________ ____________

to Lines 65 (Dwight Way) and 74(Ashby Ave.), and inauguration of special school service in Sherwood Forestarea of Contra Costa County, on motion of Director Berk. Increased salaries and healthbenefits of non-union personnel, onmotion of Director McDonnell . (Seestory, this page) . Authorized Director Copeland torepresent District at meeting on UrbanMass Transit Planning, on motion ofDirector Rinehart.

Matching wage boost granted non-union workersAC Transit's non-union employees

were granted this month a 4.87 percent pay raise, effective last July 1, tomatch the wage boost recently grantedunion workers.Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District

Latham Square BuildingOakland, California 94612

Management personnel, includingforeman and supervisors, also will receive an additional $3 a month in welfare benefits. The increase will costthe district $42,412 a year.

BULK RATEU. S. PostagePAID

Oakland, Calif.Permit #2105

Return Requested GOODWIN SAMMEL U-52018 CHANN I NG WAYBERKELEY 4, CALlF.

transit times volume 9, number 4

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