Transit Times - AC Transit

Summer, 1988

Veteran driver's death mournedDistrict has new General ManagerBilly 1. Givens, a popular and personalveteran driver killed while operating hisbus on July 29, was honored by more than2,000 friends, family and co-workers whoattended services in his memory.He had been a driver since 1968 andhad seven commendations within the last18 months for his outstanding work.As a mark of respect for him, all ACTransit buses on the road were halted toobserve a moment of silence at 11 a.m.Friday, August 5, the time and date offuneral service at Bethel Missionary BaptistChurch in Oakland where Givens was amember and sang in the choir.Additionally, AC Transit workers woreblack arm bands for a week.Bus drivers from as far away as SanDiego and Sacramento came to the servicesas a mark of solidarity among transitworkers everywhere.BART General Manager Keith Bernard,who attended the funeral, ordered BART'sflags to be at half mast for a week inhonor of the slain driver. Golden GateTransit dedicated their Bus Roadeo to hismemory. San Francisco Municipal Railwaysent more than 50 drivers and an articulatedbus to both the funeral and intermentservices. And a memorial fund hasbeen established for the family at GreatWestern Bank, 350 - 20th Street, Oakland.Oakland police have charged two teenagerswith the killing. They believe theshooting was carried out as a randomretaliation for the death of a woman whowas involved in an accident with an ACTransit bus the day before. In that accident,witnesses and police both state the ACTransit operator was not at fault, and thatthe woman had run a red light., In commenting on the tragic circumstancessurrounding Givens' death, ACTransit Board President Michael H. Fajanssaid, "There simply is no way of explainingthe needless murder of this fine individual,who was a well-liked fellow-worker and atrue servant of our passengers and public."In AC Transit's 28-year history, Givensis the third driver to have been killedwhile on duty.Billy J. GivensSorrow expressed in poemSent by Oakland womanMany persons expressed sorrow andconcern over the death of Billy 1. Givens.Oakland resident Aldocia Williams sent amoving letter to the Givens family. Includedin the letter was the followingpoem:The clock of life is wound but once.And no man has the powerTo tell just where the hands willstop,At late or early hour.To lose one's wealth is sad indeed,To lose one's health is more;To lose one's soul is such a lossAs no man can restore.The present only is our own,To seek to do God's will;Tomorrow holds no promise, forThe clock may then be still."Additionally, the letter urged that "busdrivers take up his habits and try to belike him," concluding with another stanza:A faithful jewel from us is gone,A voice we loved is still.A place is vacant in our midstThat never! no never! can be filled."AC Transit's Board of Directors hasappointed James L. O'Sullivan to the positionof General Manager after an extensivenation-wide search.He has served as executive director ofthe Peninsular Transportation DistrictCommission in Newport News/Hampton,Virginia, since 1982. Prior to that, he wasadministrator ofthe Lowell Region al Tra n si tAuthority inLowell, Massachusetts.A native of NewYork, O'Sullivangraduated from theState University ofNew York and hasa Master of PublicAdministration degree in ManagementScience. He's currently the top-rankedcandidate in his MBA class at Williamand Mary College."We are very pleased that Mr. O'Sullivanhas accepted the position at this criticaltime in AC Transit's history," said BoardPresident Michael Fajans. "He is an energeticyoung leader who has a proven trackrecordof success in 'turning around' situations- which makes him the best choiceto continue the progress which AC Transithas made in recent months."TIlE COVER - On hand for the "unveiling"of new 1988 Flyer buses being incorporatedinto the District's active fleet wereOeft to right) Government/Community RelationsManager Bruce Goddard, StateAssemblymember Delaine Eastin of UnionCity, and Board President Michael H.Fajans. As was required by the Boardwhen accepting the bus company's originalbid for the $8 million acquisition, thefinal assembly of the 56 coaches is beingperformed locally by a crew of Bay Areaworkers now employed in a new plant inUnion City.He assumes duties carried out since Januaryby Interim General Manager NeilPeterson.Public Hearing subjects setAn increase in selected cash fares andvarious service adjustments are amongactions proposed to balance AC Transit's$119 projected operating budget for thisfiscal year (see details, Page 4).The Board of Directors has scheduled aPublic Hearing on such proposals for 7:30p.m. August 17, before making any finaldecision to adopt the service-related actions.At the same time, Directors will hear commenton changes in transbay and localcash bus fares, as well as possible serviceimprovements in some parts of the EastBay.The hearing will be held in the BoardRoom, 1600 Franklin Street, Oakland. Directorsalso welcome comments in writing,addressed to: AC Transit Research andPlanning Department, 1600 Franklin St.,Oakland, CA., 94612.John Woodbury appointedNew Director-at-LargeJohn R Woodburyhas assumedthe At-Largeseat on AC Transit'sBoard, fillingthe vacancy createdin March bythe resignation ofveteran policymakerRay Rinehart.A city planner,he earned master's degrees in City andRegional Planning and in Asian Studies. Heis past president of East Bay League ofConservation Voters, and has been active inthe Regional Parks Association, Sierra Club,and the Oakland Heritage Alliance.23

Deficit-paring planNew budget targets internal savingsIn introducing a $119.7 million budgetto Directors July 6, Interim General ManagerNeil Peterson called for sweepinginternal changes to help pare a projected$11 million deficit.Under the plan described, more thanhalf this deficit would be offset by internaleconomies, coupled with modest cash fareincreases and service adjustments tailoredto have minimum impact on regular riders.In addition, Peterson told Directors, byachieving greater efficiencies in riskmanagement and inventory control; cuttingexpenditures for travel and meetings, consultingservices, hiring of temporary help,and utilities usage, a total savings of $6.9million could be accomplished.To cover the remainder of the shortfall(a projected $4.1 million), Peterson proposeda challenge to the District's workforceby identifying several "opportunitiesto improve our cost of operation and toimprove our efficiency."Curbing absenteeismEmployee absenteeism was targeted asone currently costly item. When comparedwith 20 peer agencies, Peterson noted, ACTransit's absenteeism rate is four timesworse than its best peer - and twice asbad as the average."As employees, we have to improve ourperformance in order that our riders donot suffer loss of service," Peterson stressed,calling on Directors to establish anovel 12-month "Gain-Sharing" plan inwhich individual workers could realize dollardividends through a major reduction inoverall absenteeism.The proposed 1988-89 spending planalso calls for an adjustment in cash fares- a ten-cent increase for adults (from 75to 85 cents) and a 25-cent increase (from50 to 75 cents) for youth utilizing commutehour-only local service; and a 50-4cent hike (from $2 to $2.50) for adultsmaking eastbound transbay trips (with nochange in the $1 westbound fare). However,Monthly Pass prices would remainunchanged.AC Transit also would introduce a new$3 Daily Pass for transbay riders - thesame cost as the current round-trip cashfare. Other recommendations to be presentedat an August 17 Public Hearinginclude development of a new, widelypublicizeddistribution network that willmake the various transit passes readilyavailable throughout the District's servicearea.Service adjustmentsA number of service adjustments, curtailments,and improvements are proposed(some to be effective in September), including:reduction in school-day SupplementaryService and elimination of unproductivebus trips; curtailment of Line86S in Hayward and Line 15 night serviceeast of Fruitvale Avenue in East Oaklandafter 10:30 p.m.; and introduction of express-typeLimited Stop service on Line40.The spending plan also designates dollarsfor specific improvements: hiring moremaintenance workers and road supervisors(while cutting about two dozen administrativeand support positions); implementingnew bus service in the Richmond-El Cerritoarea and beefing up other bus routesin conjunction with the planned CAL­TRANS construction projects planned forInterstates 80 and 880.Though the currently proposed budgetis less than last year's $122 million figure,the shortfall stems from such changed circumstancesas a contractual wage increase,effective July 1; loss of the BART Expressbus contract; sluggish revenues; and projectedincreases in the cost of doing business.Election will allot Board seatsFour seats on AC Transit's policymakingBoard of Directors will be on theballot in the November General Election.The positions which are up for electionthis year include one District-wide At­Large seat, two four-year seats representing,respectively, the voters of the District'sWards I and II, plus a two-year post representingWard III. Candidates for each ofthe Ward seats must live and be registeredto vote within the geographic area theyseek to represent.Ward IWard I, currently represented by BoardPresident Michael H Fajans, consists ofthat portion of Berkeley east of MartinLuther King Jr. Way plus large segmentsof Oakland, including the Rockridge, Claremontand Central Business districts andthe area from Lake Merritt east to 35thA ve. Opposing Fajans is Michael Winter,Nakadegawa will seekBART board positionAC 1ransit Director Roy Nakadegawahas announced he will run for the BARTboard of directors this Fall as he seeks tounseat Howard Ableson, a former EI CerritoCity Councilman who was appointedearlier this year to fill the unexpired termof former BART board member ArthurShartsis.If elected to the BART board, Nagadegawahas stated he would give up his seatas one of the two AC 1ransit Directors At­Large on the bus system's policy makingbody.of Berkeley.Ward IIWard II, now represented by Jerome G.Wiggins, encompasses much of Berkeley(west of Martin Luther King Jr. Way) plusAlbany, Emeryville and (in Contra CostaCounty) El Cerrito, Kensington, Richmond,San Pablo and parts of El Sobrante.Running against Wiggins is former AlbanyMayor Ruth Ganong.Ward IIIWard III, the seat now held by Alice H.Creason, consists of Alameda, Piedmontand parts of the Oakland Hills and EastOakland, including Montclair, PiedmontPines, Oakmore, Fruitvale, Melrose, Millsmont,Oak Knoll, Seminary and SheffieldVillage districts. Creason is being opposedby Diane Raulston, of Oakland.At-LargeThe At-Large constituency now representedby John Woodbury includes the entireAlameda-Contra Costa Transit District- all cities (except Union City) plus theadjacent unincorporated areas west of thehills from San Pablo south to Fremont.Woodbury is being challenged by DianeThur, of Hayward, and Hector Reyna, ofOakland.The filing period for seeking electionclosed August 12.Information regarding elections andareas represented by individual boardmembers is handled by the AC TransitDistrict Secretary's Office, 1600 FranklinStreet, Oakland, California 94612.5

July Rodeo exhibits wide varietyOf behind-the-wheel skills, know-howAC Transit employees "saddled up" forthe 1988 Bus Roadeo, with U.S. SavingsBonds and trophies as incentives for topperformers.Competitors got behind-the-wheel of 10-ton vehicles Saturday, July 16, at the District'sTraining and Education Center, Hayward,to test their skills at maneuvering40-foot buses among a variety of obstacles.Challenges drivers faced included serpentinecourses and reverse-direction maneuvering,such as right and left "Y -backs."Also, contestants were judged on personalappearance and on a written test coveringsafety, driving regulations and general attitude.Investigative skills also were testedas operators inspect a bus for "hidden"problems.The event is open to all union employees,divided into two categories of competition.The first category consists of all eligibleAmerican Public Transit Association(APT A) contestants, who were trying fortop-spot prizes of a $500 Savings Bond, aFirst Place trophy, and the honor of representingAC Transit in the regional (RT A)Roadeo and the National Roadeo in Montrealthis fall.Eligibility for the APT A category isbased on attendance, plus accident andwork records.Second place for the APT A-eligible driversearned a trophy, a $400 Savings Bond,and being among the three to representAC Transit at the RT A Roadeo - to behosted by Contra Costa County TransitAuthority, Concord, in August. Third placeearned a trophy, a $300 Savings Bond,and eligibility to compete in the RT Aevent.Those employees who had not qualifiedfor the APT A-category contest vied separatelyfor a first prize of a $100 SavingsBond, a second prize of a $75 SavingsBond, and third prize of a $50 SavingsBond. Trophies also were presented to allthree winners.6EARNED HONORS - Though a relative newcomerto the District's driving ranks - shebecame a full-time operator in May, 1986, afterworking as a part-timer since August, 1985 -Louella Delaney (with trophy) bested all rivals atthis year's Roadeo. In doing so, she establishedan important "first" - the first woman driver towin the in-house event. Here, she's receiving congratulationsfrom Linda Shepard, Alice Creason,Roy Nakadegawa, and Michael Fajans. She willrepresent AC Transit in the National AmericanPublic Transit (APT A) Bus Roadeo in Montrealin October.For park' trips, try the busTo enjoy hassle-free funSummer fun opportunities without trafficor parking hassles are being offered thisyear through a joint effort of the East BayRegional Park District and AC Transit toprovide trips to 46 different sites. The firstsuch excursions took place June 20.The program is geared for group outings,especially senior citizens and the disabled,but also is open to individuals who simplywant to get to a Park District site.Bus routes to each park, and boardinglocations, are available from Kimberly Lenzof the Park District, who also providesassistance in planning trips. Phone numberis 531-9300, extension 2205.Five more earn Employee Recognition honorsDRIVING AWARDS - Hayward's Danny Tucker,who shared "Driver of the Quarter" honors withhis brother Otis (see Box) is being congratulatedhere by Carol Russell, acting assistant superintendent.The Tucker brothers' selection was theDistrict's first co-awardJOB HONORS - Acting Assistant SuperintendentDonna Pate, chosen "Management Employee ofthe Quarter, " starred at June 13 ceremonies in theAdministrative Offices. Before taking her presentpost at Richmond Division, she was EmployeeRelations Representative.PATTEN PRAISED­Hayward DispatcherLeon Patten, left, receivedcongratulationsfrom Acting AssistantSuperintendent BobEstrella after beingselected "Clerical EmployeeoftheQuarter. "He was honored atthe division June 9.Otis Tucker - named in May to sharehonors as "Bus Driver of the Quarter" withhis brother Danny (see left column) - diedJune 12 at his home in Union City.The photo above was taken at the divisionalceremonies where he received hisEmployee Recognition plaque.He had completed 30 years of serviceduring which he also earned the 25-YearSafe Driving Award.In addition to his brother, he is survivedby his widow, Marie, and four children:Frances, Eric, Shirley, and Marco.SalutesfromtheSystemMAINTENANCE KUDOS - Emeryville's BennieWilliams became "Maintenance Employee of theQuarter" after earlier service as a driver, duringwhich he earned a 25-Year Safe Driving Award.This latest honor was celebrated June 14.7

FOCUS: Transit People and ProjectsFOCUS: Transit People and ProjectsTo al/ AC Transit emplovees ...HAPPY TRANSIT ~APP~ECIATION DAY mYou are the GREATEST!B US/NESS BOOSTERS - A C Transit's Colby Swanson (left), acting assistant director of maintenance,and Sandra Privett, minority business enterprise representative, exchanged views with Robert G. Owens,director, office of Civil Rights, Urban Mass Transportation Administration, Washington, DC, during thisyear's Transit Business Opportunities Conference. The event informs and encourages firms andindividuals who are interested in doing business with public transit organizations.SAFETY MARKSHayward Divisiondrivers Manuel "Paul"Mendes (left), andEdmond "Bud" Ostercut into their cakesduring ceremonies commemoratingtheir milestonesin safely operatingA C Transit buses.Mendes has logged 30years of safe driving,while Oster has achieved25. It is estimated thatthe two operators carriednearly five million passengerssafely over morethan two million miles.PROUD DISPLAY - Hayward Division Dispatchers Odie Collins (left) and Karen Maxwell prepare topost one of the in-house signs recognizing Transit Appreciation Day and the daily contributions ofemployees to getting people where they need and want to go. Celebration of the day included the donningof carnations and ribbons by all District personnel Donuts and coffee were "on the house" at variouswork sites, including the Transbay Transit Termina~ the Central Maintenance Facility, Training Center,Division Gillie Rooms and the Administrative Offices.LAKE CELE­BRAT/oN-ACTransit BoosterClub volunteersstaffed a boothproviding bususeinformationfor attendees atOakland's annualFestival atthe Lake, heldJune 3-5. Currentand potentialriders of allages stopped bythe booth forroute and scheduleinformation.89

What the Press is Saying about TransitTHE TRIBUNEK .. dos for AC rrran.si tPublic agency budgets are usually asinformative and stimulating as newspaperlegal notices. If the fine print doesn't blindyou, the turgid and self-serving prose willcure your insomnia.Then along comes AC Transit's proposedbudget for the 1988-89 fiscal year, courtesyof Interim General Manager Neil Peterson.Much more than a collection of numbersand platitudes, it combines an unsparingcritique of the system's past performancewith a bold but realistic course of remedialaction. And you don't have to be a lawyer oran accountant to follow it.• • •The key elements of his plan are contracting-outof services to cut costs, attackingemployee absenteeism, selective fareincreases and investments in better service.• • •Peterson also proposes leasing out underutilizeddistrict facilities, including its oversizedmaintenance yard and the top floor ofits lavish new office building.For the first time in memory, the districtwill confront head on its most scandaloussource of red ink: absenteeism. Petersonrightly calls the problem "atrocious" and"astronomical" in scope.At the current rate of absenteeism, theaverage operator will miss work nearly twofull months out of the year. The averageservice worker, according to the report, lastyear "showed up for work three out of fivedays a week." A consultant hired by ACranked its attendance record the worst outof 20 comparable agencies.10All that costs big money, either forquestionable sick leave or for overtime tocover unattended shifts. Peterson offers a tastycarrot - large incentive payments for employeeswho show up for work reliably -along with the threat of mass layoffs ifworkers don't lick their absenteeism.To his credit, Peterson understands thecomplex history of management failuresthat produced terrible morale and absenteeismamong AC's employees. Besidesworking closely with the union on thematter, he points no fingers, referring to it as"our" problem. That spirit should producelabor cooperation, not conflict.Budget crises inevitably mean fare increases,and this one is no exception. But thecash fare will rise only 1 ° cents at peakhours, and not at all for passes. The boostwas unavoidable since the MetropolitanTransportation Commission made it a conditionof AC 'receiving $1,250,000 in subsidies.• • •No round of cost cutting will save AC ifservice continues to spiral downward. Thisbudget proposes strategic investments tomake the system more attractive once againto the Eastbay public.• • •(This is excerpted from an editorialin the July 8 Oakland Tribune)Diesel training gives opportunity to manyPROGRAM CONCLUSION - The Diesel Traininggraduates pictured here had reason to lookhappy: they had just concluded a grueling twosemester,mostly hands-on course which consumeda total of 144 hours of their non-workhours. They represent the ninth program session,producing 75 AC Transit employees trained tokeep District buses in sound working order. Graduates(left to right, posing with their College ofAlameda instructor, Vic Carranza, kneeling infront) are Ronald Williams, Avant Madison,Frederick Glascoe, Edward Morgan, GregoryBums, Robert Jeffery, Dennis Light, and RickySullivan. Not present for the photo was HughHyland.Car crash aid wins praiseWhen Emeryville Division Driver SheilaLawrence witnessed a two-car accident whileon duty in late June, she responded in amanner which elicited a commendatory letterfrom David L. Cutter, former Chairmanof the Board, Cutter Laboratories, Berkeley.The letter explains that Cutter, involvedin an accident at the heavily-trafficked intersectionof Claremont and Ashby, Berkeley,was pleased to be handed a note fromLawrence, stating that she had seen theaccident and that the other party had beenat fault.Her information, Cutter states, "resultedin the other party's insurance companyaccepting full responsibility."Lawrence's willingness to be helpful insuch a situation wins high praise fromCutter:"Nowadays we usually find folks who'don't want to get involved.' It is refreshingto find someone like Ms. Lawrence who iswilling to step forward, without being asked,to insure that the correct facts arepresented."Buses get younger!AC Transit buses are getting youngerand younger, according to Colby Swanson,acting assistant maintenance manager, asa major bus replacement program paresmore than three years off the average ageof the fleet.At the end of 1987, AC Transit coachesaveraged 9.4 years. By June 30, 1988, thatfigure had been reduced to 8.3 years - aresult of initial deliveries of 56 New Flyermodels, all of which will be here by early1989.Another 52 New Flyers are slated fordelivery by March 10, 1989, and an orderfor 15 articulated models lias been placedwith that same manufacturer. It's estimatedthat the District's 800 buses will average6.2 years in age by June 30,1989.By that date, many of the buses scheduledfor retirement will have traveled morethan a million miles, Swanson notes.Boosters' promotionBOOSTERS CHECK MESSAGES - AC TransitBooster Club members Robert Vaughn (lefO, andDon Jewel inspect the interior of District Bus No.1422, which features messages, information andpromotions of the group (note advertising carcards posted on the right).October 1 is birthdayHistorically, Oct. 1 is an important dayfor AC Transit. This year it marks the28th birthday of operations for the District.The bus system began operations on thestreet Oct. 1, 1960, but formation of theDistrict began a half decade earlier as theCalifornia State Legislature created statuteswhich established AC Transit in 1955.11

Transit trends and topicsHearings will refine CSP detailsInauguration May 2 of a key demonstrationproject at BART/Hayward not onlymarked the first test of the concept of"Timed Transfer" connections from busto-busand bus-to-rail but represents theprototype of various rail/bus interlinkscalled for in AC Transit's ComprehensiveService Plan (CSP).The CSP's aim is to tailor bus routes tomeet the needs of current riders whileinitiating new concepts targeted at attractingnew riders. The evolving design, whichwill be discussed at more than a dozenpublic hearings in coming months, willchange the entire configuration of ACTransit bus service in the East Bay.The hearings assure that the public providesits crucial input. But AC Transit alsois encouraging drivers, mechanics, and supportpersonnel to offer suggestions basedon their experience and expertise.Since the broadly conceived CSP was toexperience its first tangible testing in theHayward project, much ground-work waslaid for its launching. AC Transit planners,in preparatory work, were joined by personnelof UC Berkeley's Institute for TransportationStudies. The result: a workingcomputer model incorporating such demographicdata as area employment, pluseducation, recreational, and residential patterns- both current and projected.Information from the BART/Haywardproject will be incorporated in decisionmakingas the overall Comprehensive ServicePlan develops further with the scheduleof summer and fall public hearings.While timed-transfer centers provide serviceefficiently to serve low- to moderatedensitycommunities, the CSP also proposesintroduction of a grid of interlacedlines crisscrossing the East Bay's urbancore. The long range goal is to produce aservice network that gets more people tomore places throughout the East Bay moreefficiently and quickly.Bay Area boasts diverse public transit modesOn an average weekday, some 15,000Bay Area public transit employees putinto operation a fleet of passenger vehiclesas diverse as any in the country.The most familiar form - the area'snearly 3,000 buses - range from highcapacity60-foot models utilized in urbancore areas, to small coaches and vansserving suburban neighborhoods.In addition, there's the heavy rail masstransit operated by BART and CalTrain,light rail vehicles in San Francisco andSanta Clara County, streetcars and electrically-poweredtrolley coaches, a fleet offerries, and the fabled cable cars.Collectively, these public transit vehicleslog nearly 130 million miles annually inrevenue service over roads, rails, and onthe waters of San Francisco Bay. Theyserve about 1.5 million riders daily -which totals nearly 500 million passengertrips a year.Predictably, transit ridership is concen-12trated in the choke points: the 49-squaremiles of San Francisco; Bay Bridge corridor;the metropolitan cores of the Eastand South Bay; the Highway 101 corridorson the Peninsula and across the GoldenGate Bridge.Over 200 million annual passenger tripsare registered by San Francisco MUNI,followed by AC Transit (70 million annualpassenger trips), BART (60 million), SantaClara County Transit (30 million), Sam­Trans (20 million), Golden Gate Transit(nearly 10 million), CalTrain, and centralContra Costa's County Connection (thelatter two at about 5 million each).New transit service is being introducedto the Livermore/Amador Valley, AlamedaCounty, and the burgeoning cities of Napa,Solano, Sonoma and southern Santa Claracounties.Old or new, all providers share a commoncharacteristic: requiring wide-rangingskills within their work-force.Oz Gould leaves DistrictAfter distinguished careerOzro D. Gould, Risk Manager for ACTransit, is retiring after more than 20 yearswith the District, and five decades of workingin the risk, claims and insurance arena.The colorful Gould, whose Irish heritagehas frequently evoked comment, has longbeen considered an expert in the field ofdealing with accident and liability claims,and is generally regarded as the personwho has consistently kept AC Transit'sinsurance premiums at a minimum whilesecuring maximum protection in coverage.Prior to joining AC Transit, Gould wasin charge of claims for Western GreyhoundLines. He retired from Greyhound in 1968.As he recently reviewed his distinguishedcareer in claims and insurance, Gould commentedthat the constantly shifting natureof legislation and rulings was the mostdifficult challenge facing anyone in hisprofession. "Every year is the biggestchange," he says. "You have a full-timelegislature constantly enacting new legis-District reproducingInformational brochureA revised version of the much-requested"Focus on Facilities" brochure describingAC Transit's physical makeup with additionaloverall statistics about the East Bay'sbus system is currently in production atthe District's print shop.The inform~tive brochure, available toall interested parites, details each of ACTransit's sites including operational yards,maintenance facilities, the training andeducation center and other "capital" assetsused in carrying the more than 5 millionpassengers who use District buses eachmonth.Useful as a handy reference guide, thebrochure details specifics about the transitsystem.Among the listed bits of information arefuel consumption at 150,000 gallons ofdiesel each week, and service milesof 30 million each year.lation. They are always full of surprises."The increased number of legal actionsagainst public agencies like AC Transitalso has created problems. "Wholesale advertisingby attorneys has resulted in peopleending up with a misconception ofwhat can happen. Invariably, they end upwith considerablyless than theywould have afterthe lawyers gettheir fee. Normallyreasonablepeople fail to acceptreasonablesettlements becausesome attorneyshave convincedthem theyare going to re­Ozro D. Gouldceive unreasonablecompensation," he says. "Sadly, weare becoming an ever-increasing litigioussociety. Everyone is suing everyone else,and frequently!"The most difficult case he worked onduring his tenure with the transit systemwas the 1982 Caldecott Tunnel accidentin which there were seven fatalities, includingan AC Transit bus driver, John Dykes,Jr. Many months of legal actions, hearings,depositions, reports and meetings resultedin a settlement just as an expected lengthytrial got underway. "It was, without adoubt, the single worst thing that everhappened to me at AC Transit," Gouldsays.Gould intends to stay active in his retirement,devoting time to his much loved sailboat anchored in Richmond, and continuingto enjoy the extensive traveling he hasdone with his wife, Frances Carr, a CaliforniaState Appellate Court Judge inSacramento.Gould is being replaced by RonaldJulian, who brings a broad background ofexperience with Di Giorgio Corp. and BechtelGroup, Inc., in risk, claims and insurance.13

Actions of the BoardAt a regular meeting May 11, the Boardof Directors:• Approved travel, retroactively, of DirectorNakadegawa to attend May 6 APT ATask Force on Accessibility in Washington,D.C., plus travel of DirectorNakadegawa to attend May 19 APT APolicy and Planning Committee in St.Louis, on motion of Director Bettencourt.• Approved updated procedures for issuanceof warrants or warrant checks, onmotion of Director Bettencourt.• Adopted resolution of appreciation andbest wishes to slate of District retirees, onmotion of Director Wiggins.• Adopted resolution approving legal counsel,legal services, and actions relating torefinancing of the Administrative Officesfacility, on motion of Director Wiggins.• Approved re-definition of District secretarypost and re-structuring of compensationrange; authorized InterimGeneral Manager to select specifiedsearch firm to fill post of Risk Manager,on motion of Director Bettencourt.• Approved broadened list of finalists to beconsidered for appointment to fill Director-at-Largevacancy, on motion of DirectorCreason.***At an adjourned regular meeting May 25,the Board of Directors:• Approved amendment to financial grantto allow inclusion of two specified capitalimprovements, on motion of DirectorWiggins.• Appointed John Woodbury to fill Director-at-Largeposition, on motion ofDirector Nakadegawa (see story, Pg. 3).• Extended contract of Interim GeneralManager for a period not to exceed twoTransit-TimesPublished monthly by theALAMEDA-CONTRA COSTA TRANSIT DISTRICT1600 Franklin St., Oakland, California 94612-2806Telephone (415) 891-4777BOARD OF DIRECTORSMICHAEL H. FAJANS ....... . .. . ........ ...... . ... PresidentWard IJEROME G WIGGINS .... . . . ... . ..... . ....... . . . . . . . Ward IIWILLIAM J. BEnENCOURT ... ... .. ... . . . . .. . . ...... Ward IVLINDA SHEPARD . . ......... ... .. .... .. . ... . .. . .. .. . Ward VALICE H. CREASON . ..... .... ........ . .......... . .. Ward IIIROY NAKADEGAWA ............ . .. . .. . .... Director at LargeOFFICERS OF THE QISTRICTNeil Peterson . . ... . .. . . . . .. . • . .. .. . I~terim General ManagerRichard Kassis ... • •.... ....... . Acting Attorney for the DistrictMANAGEMENTMichal Settles ... . . .. .. . . . .. .. .•. . .. Director of AdministrationGeorge Grandison ... . .... .... Deputy to the General ManagerGlenn R. Andrade . . . . . . . . . . . .. Purchases and Stores ManagerRichard A. Fratus .......... .. . ...... . . . .. .. . . .. .. ControllerBruce Goddard .... Government/Community Relations Manager·Ozro D. Gould ... . .. . .... . .... .. ... ....... . . .. Risk ManagerPamela Granger . . . . • . .• ... . . Administrative Projects Manager/Acting Director, Budget OfficeFrank Johnson .. . ... ••• . . .. Maintenance Operations ManagerJoe M. Kinchen .... . .... . .. . .. . Computer Operations ManagerDonald S. Larson ............ Research and Planning ManagerMike Mills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. Public Relations ManagerDorothy Parrish. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Human Resources ManagerGeorge C. Skezas ....... Director of Maintenance/ConstructionLeland Skilling ......... . ..... Acting Labor Relations ManagerSterling Stewart .. .. .. . ... ... Acting Director of TransportationB. F. Williams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... Operations Center Managermonths, on motion of Director Bettencourt.• Approved opposition to state Proposition72, on motion of Director Creason.• Approved staff development of actionplan to strengthen internal accountingcontrol; awarded contract to ArthurAndersen for financial auditing servicesfor Fiscal Year ending June 30, withoption to extend for four years, on motionof Director Wiggins.• Authorized Interim General Manager todevelop transit shelter program, on motionof Director Nakadegawa.(Continued on Page 14)AC Transit, 1600 Franklin St., Oakland, CA 94612-2806032-01031327 3 5GOODWIN SAMM[l2012 fRANCISCO STBERKELEY CA 94709BULK RATES. POSTAGEPAIDakland. CAermit 1t2105, .....