BART bumps late night East Bay bus service

BART riders who work past the time trains stop running will soon be able to take a new bus service back to the East Bay starting as early as Dec. 21.

The BART Board of Directors Thursday approved a late night bus pilot service that expands overnight existing bus service with AC Transit and adds a new bus service from San Francisco to Pittsburg/Bay Point BART. AC Transit’s board approved the pilot at its Wednesday meeting.

AC Transit already provides overnight bus service to BART riders who are not able to catch the last train — the 800 (San Francisco to Richmond BART) and the 801 (downtown Oakland to Fremont BART).

Both those AC Transit routes start at 12:30 a.m. and end at 2:30 a.m. The pilot will expand service on those routes including increased frequencies.

The 800 route, which normally starts at Market Street and Van Ness Avenue will now depart from Mission and 24th Streets.

The new bus service being added — the 822X (San Francisco to Pittsburg/Bay Point BART) — will run every 30 minutes and will also depart from Mission and 24th streets. There will be three runs from 1 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Current AC Transit fares will apply. It’s $4.20 for Transbay trips and $2.10 for local trips.

BART officials said they secured the $796,000 to pay for the one year pilot. The Metropolitan Transportation Commissions’s “Lifeline” program contributed $496,000. The program focuses on transit funding for low-income residents.

BART contributed $200,000 from its own budget and expects to rest of pilot through revenue from the bus pilot. The total of the pilot is $838,000.

The late night transit bus pilot comes when workers who work during the grave yard shift say they have few options getting back home especially those who work in San Francisco and live in the East Bay.

San Francisco currently has a working group studying late night transit options for workers and residents who need to travel between midnight and 5 a.m. BART is an active member of the group.

City Supervisor Scott Wiener called for the formation of the group because of the lack of late night transit options in San Francisco.

The group is still holding meetings and conducting a survey until Oct. 12.