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Early Bird Express service to change due to shelter in place orders

Beginning Monday, April 27, 2020, service on all 13 Early Bird Express (EBX) bus routes will be reduced or discontinued until further notice due to decreased ridership during shelter-in-place orders. In mid-March, the network carried roughly 1,000 riders per day. Today, that number has dropped to between 100 and 150 riders, an 85-90% decline in ridership.

Since the shelter-in-place order was established, BART and its seven partnering bus agencies have been working to monitor ridership trends, evaluate potential service options, and craft a data-driven service plan. EBX service needs to be reduced to match demand, save costs and support our transit partners in maintaining reliable service based on staffing levels. Partner bus agencies have also indicated that EBX service reductions are needed to free up their overall service capacity to sustain their core routes.

The following routes will continue running with the number of daily trips reduced:

  • 701 (Pittsburg/Bay Point Station to Salesforce Transit Center)
  • 702 (Pleasant Hill Station to Salesforce Transit Center)
  • 704 (El Cerrito Del Norte Station to Salesforce Transit Center)
  • 705 (MacArthur Station to Salesforce Transit Center via 19th St./Oakland Station
  • 706 (Bay Fair Station to Salesforce Transit Center via Fruitvale Station)
  • 713 (Salesforce Transit Center to San Francisco International Airport Station)
  • 714 (Salesforce Transit Center to Daly City Station)

The following routes will be discontinued:

  • 703 (Dublin/Pleasanton Station to Salesforce Transit Center)
  • 707 (Fremont Station to Salesforce Transit Center)
  • 708 (El Cerrito Del Norte Station to 19th St./Oakland Station)
  • 709 (Antioch Station to Pittsburg/Bay Point Station)
  • 712 (Pittsburg/Bay Point Station to 19th St./Oakland Station)
  • 715 (North Concord Station to Pleasant Hill Station)

The chart below details the route changes and includes alternatives for each trip that is being discontinued. The service plan provides at least one trip into San Francisco from each region. This will help to ensure that EBX stays within budget and is able to restore service as shelter-in-place orders are lifted and customers return.

Early Bird Express chart

Download or view a printable PDF of this chart.

County Connection will implement their portion of the reduction plan on Monday April 20th, for routes 712 and 715 between Pittsburg Bay Point, Pleasant Hill and Downtown Oakland. Those riders have been notified in person and staff was in the field on Friday, April 17th to conduct further outreach.

BART staff will conduct in-person outreach on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (April 20-22) at the Salesforce Transit Center and at 19th St./Oakland Station. Signage will also be posted at all EBX departure stations informing riders about the changes. For more information and background about EBX please visit bart.gov/earlybirdexpress

Feedback and Trip Planning Help by Phone or Email

Phone operators at BART's Transit Information Center are available Monday-Friday, 8 am-6 pm at 510-465-BART (2278). Operators can help riders plan their trips and gather feedback. Riders can also send an email message online here.