TO: AC Transit Board of Directors
FROM: Salvador Llamas, General Manager/Chief Executive Officer
SUBJECT: Public Hearing Waiver: Elimination of Paper Interagency Voucher (Transfer)
ACTION ITEM
AGENDA PLANNING REQUEST: ☐
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
Title
Consider waiving the requirement to hold a public hearing regarding the proposed elimination of paper interagency vouchers with the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District (Golden Gate Transit).
Staff Contact:
Ramakrishna Pochiraju, Executive Director of Planning & Engineering
Chris Andrichak, Chief Financial Officer
Body
STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE:
Goal - Convenient and Reliable Service
Initiative - Service Quality
Golden Gate Transit has informed AC Transit that it will discontinue accepting paper transfer vouchers under the existing interagency agreement effective July 1, 2026. The elimination of the paper interagency transfer between the Golden Gate Transit and AC Transit removes a minimally utilized legacy fare instrument associated with interagency transfers (“transfers”). Eliminating fare media such as transfer vouchers triggers the requirement for a public hearing in accordance with BP-110 Public Hearing Process for the Board of Directors.
BUDGETARY/FISCAL IMPACT:
Waiving the public hearing means the District would avoid costs associated with conducting a public hearing which are typically around $5,000. These costs may include legal notice publication, public posting requirements, news publication advertising, translation and interpretation services, printed materials, and facility and logistical support (in the event of a remote hearing).
BACKGROUND/RATIONALE:
AC Transit and the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District (Golden Gate Transit) maintain a 1993 interagency transfer agreement that pre-dates the Clipper® fare payment system. Under the initial 1993 Translink system rebranded as Clipper in 2010, riders transferring between regional transit operators used paper interagency transfer vouchers to receive discounted fares.
In November 2025, the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District notified AC Transit of its intent to discontinue acceptance of paper interagency transfer vouchers effective July 1, 2026. The existing interagency agreement permits either party to terminate the arrangement with a minimum thirty-day written notice. This request is consistent with prior regional fare modernization efforts, including the elimination of similar paper transfer instruments between AC Transit and BART in 2020. During that change in fare media, AC Transit held a public hearing to gather feedback because of the size and scale of the impact.
The proposed elimination of the paper transfer with Golden Gate Transit is expected to have a geographically limited and numerically small equitable impact, primarily affecting riders making connections at the Salesforce Transit Center, select Richmond-area stops, and the El Cerrito del Norte BART Station. Based on Golden Gate Transit observed usage patterns and operational experience, staff expect the number of riders affected on a typical day to be very small and modest in the overall context of the District’s average daily ridership of approximately 120,000 to 150,000 passengers.
In accordance with Board Policy 110, a public hearing would typically be required for this type of fare media change. However, given the geographically limited impact of this change, and as permitted under Board Policy 101, Section 10.1, staff recommend the Board waive the requirement for a public hearing.
ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES:
The advantage of moving forward with the staff recommendation is that it allows more time for geographically targeted public education and outreach and return to the Board for final adoption prior to the proposed effective date of the voucher elimination.
Staff found no disadvantages to taking this approach.
ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS:
Alternatively, the Board could direct staff to hold a remote public hearing within the geographic area, mostly impacted by fare media change. Staff do not recommend this approach because experience has shown that issues with limited geography and ridership impact fail to attract meaningful public hearing participation.
PRIOR RELEVANT BOARD ACTION/POLICIES:
Board Policy 101-Board of Directors Rules of Procedures
Board Policy 110-Public Hearing Process for the Board of Directors
Board Policy 518-Title VI and Environmental Justice Service Review and Compliance Report Policy
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Transfer Agreement between AC Transit and GGBHTD
Prepared by:
Phillip J. L. Halley, Title VI Program Manager
In Collaboration with:
Kendra Ma, Title VI Senior Program Specialist
Approved/Reviewed by:
David Wilkins, Director of Regulatory Programs
Ramakrishna Pochiraju, Executive Director of Planning & Engineering
Chris Andrichak, Chief Financial Officer
Aimee L. Steele, General Counsel/Chief Legal Officer
Salvador Llamas, General Manager/Chief Executive Officer