AC TRANSIT ROLLS OUT BACK-TO-SCHOOL SERVICE STARTING AUGUST 9

AC TRANSIT ROLLS OUT BACK-TO-SCHOOL SERVICE STARTING AUGUST 9

Students can save up to 50% on bus fares or ride free if qualified

OAKLAND, Calif. - The Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) is helping students start the school year right. Beginning August 9, Supplementary School Service returns to scores of East Bay schools, reconnecting students with our longstanding commitment of safe, reliable transit for the 2026-27 school year.

Many families are surprised to learn that traditional yellow school bus service is limited, and in some communities, unavailable altogether. For more than two decades, AC Transit has helped fill that transportation gap, getting students to and from school.

AC Transit's Supplementary School Service consists of 600-series bus lines that operate on the academic calendar, pausing during summer break and resuming as East Bay students return to school each fall.

Our service to schools remains in high demand. Of AC Transit's more than 3 million monthly riders, approximately 4,400 travel to schools each day. To meet that demand, AC Transit will once again operate 46 Supplementary School Service bus lines, carrying an estimated 30,000 students across Alameda and Contra Costa counties.

In addition to the 600-series lines, many regular AC Transit bus lines, commonly referred to as "school trippers," will serve periods of high student demand.

This expanded network is especially important because many of the school districts AC Transit serve participate in open enrollment, allowing students to attend schools outside their immediate neighborhoods. To support those students, AC Transit works with participating school districts to coordinate morning and afternoon bus schedules with school bell times whenever possible.

Planning and operating this network require extensive coordination and represents an annual investment of approximately $11.8 million. Despite the operating cost, AC Transit remains committed to providing affordable transit because we know access to transit helps make access to education possible.

In addition to working to keep student fares low, families are encouraged to help save on fares by obtaining a Youth Clipper card, which provides riders ages 5 to 18 with a 50% discount on AC Transit fares and most Bay Area transit systems.

Another money-saving option is the Student Transit Pass Program (STPP), which offers eligible Alameda County students in grades 6 through 12 unlimited free bus rides. During one school year alone, STPP provided more than 2 million free bus rides across the East Bay, helping students travel to class, internships, and career-building experiences.

We've also made it easy to plan your student's ride to school this year with the AC Transit Trip Planner.

August 9th brings several other important service updates: bus stops at the West Oakland BART Station will move to new permanent locations ahead of construction of the Mandela Station project; adjustment of the last stop of Line 60, serving Cal State East Bay; and schedule adjustments on select bus lines to better match today's traffic patterns and improve on-time performance.

Find the full list of August service updates at actransit.org/service-changes.