Editing AC Transit (section)

==Bus fleet==
{{main|AC Transit fleet}}
[[File:ACT161 (11177781405).jpg|thumb|right|Mixed "old-look" and New Look buses from GM at the Seminary Division bus wash]]
At its inception, AC Transit purchased the mixed [[White Motor Company|White]], [[Mack Trucks|Mack]], and [[GM "old-look" transit bus|GM "old-look"]] bus fleet from its predecessor, the Key System. The ex-Key System buses were repainted in [[Clown#Whiteface makeup|"clownface"]] livery, featuring a predominantly white (upper half) and orange (lower front) color scheme with teal side stripes, and AC Transit adopted a "wing" logo featuring the same colors. After its inception, the first new AC Transit orders were for [[GM New Look bus]]es, which the agency advertised as "Transit Liners". AC Transit began New Look operation in late 1960.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.actransit.org/wp-content/uploads/03-08E.pdf |title=First of Luxury 'Transit Liners' Enter Transbay Service on Christmas Day |date=December 1960 |magazine=Transit-Times |publisher=AC Transit |volume=3 |number=8–E |access-date=8 January 2019}}</ref> AC Transit would continue to operate a mixed fleet of buses throughout the 1960s.{{citation needed|date=June 2013}}

[[File:AC Transit 1629, MAN SG-220 (21150030226).jpg|thumb|GM New Look and AM General/M.A.N. SG-220 buses, ca. 1980s]]
AC Transit also pioneered the use of [[articulated bus]]es in the United States; in March 1966 it was the first transit agency to use the [[Eagle bus|Super Golden Eagle]] long-distance coach (originally designed and built for [[Continental Trailways]]; AC Transit designated it XMC-77 and called it the "Freeway Train"), primarily on Transbay service.<ref name=TT-6603>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.actransit.org/wp-content/uploads/08-11.pdf |title=A New concept in Public Transit |date=March 1966 |magazine=Transit-Times |publisher=AC Transit |volume=8 |number=11}}</ref> By 1970, AC Transit was one of six agencies to participate in a "super bus project" coordinated by the National Transportation Center (Pittsburgh) to write a specification for a higher-capacity bus; once the specification had been written, two prototypes would be built and tested to select a winner for a large group procurement of 100 buses to keep per-unit costs low.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.actransit.org/wp-content/uploads/13-01.pdf |title=Super bus project: Design sought for future coach |date=July 1970 |magazine=Transit-Times |publisher=AC Transit |volume=13 |number=1 |access-date=8 January 2019}}</ref> Two European-built articulated buses were tested in the summer of 1974: a [[Volvo B58]], and a {{ill|MAN SG 192|de}}.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.actransit.org/wp-content/uploads/16-12.pdf |title=New services require maximum effort: Activity level reaches high peak in June |date=June 1974 |magazine=Transit-Times |publisher=AC Transit |volume=16 |number=12 |access-date=16 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.actransit.org/wp-content/uploads/17-01.pdf |title=Riders may have chance To test two new articulated buses |date=July 1974 |magazine=Transit-Times |publisher=AC Transit |volume=17 |number=1 |access-date=8 January 2019}}</ref> Riders received the M.A.N. bus favorably, and the specification was released for bid in 1975;<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.actransit.org/wp-content/uploads/17-08.pdf |title='Superbus' preliminary specifications Out to manufacturers for review |date=February 1975 |magazine=Transit-Times |publisher=AC Transit |volume=17 |number=8 |access-date=8 January 2019}}</ref> AC Transit placed an order for 30 buses in 1976 and deliveries began from the AM General/M.A.N. joint venture in 1978.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.actransit.org/wp-content/uploads/20-12.pdf |title=Articulated coaches will ease Space crunch on heavily-used lines |date=June 1978 |magazine=Transit-Times |publisher=AC Transit |volume=20 |number=12 |access-date=8 January 2019}}</ref>

For its rigid buses, AC Transit continued purchasing GM New Look buses through the early 1970s, then switched to purchasing [[Flxible New Look bus|Flxible New Look]] buses starting in 1974. Since the early 1980s, AC Transit began acquiring buses from [[New Flyer Industries|Flyer]], [[Neoplan USA|Neoplan]], and [[Gillig Corporation|Gillig]]. Around this time, AC Transit began ordering new buses in a "stripe" color scheme, featuring the same orange, teal, and white colors as the previous "clownface" livery. In the late 1990s, AC Transit added buses from [[North American Bus Industries|NABI]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.actransit.org/wp-content/uploads/board_memos/GM%2006-084%20NABI%20Bus%20Transfer%20-%20FB.pdf |title=AC Transit GM Memo 06-864 Revised |date=April 19, 2006 |publisher=AC Transit |access-date=8 January 2019}}</ref> AC Transit supplemented these buses with a fleet of 45-foot over-the-road coaches purchased from [[Motor Coach Industries]] beginning in the early 2000s.

[[File:AC Transit 2009.JPG|thumb|right|Van Hool AG300]]
In 2003, AC Transit began purchasing low-floor buses from [[Van Hool]]. The Van Hool buses were assembled in Belgium and featured low floors and three doors (four doors on articulated models), which AC Transit touted as the key to [[bus rapid transit]] service between Berkeley and San Leandro along [[Shattuck Avenue|Shattuck]], [[Telegraph Avenue|Telegraph]], [[International Boulevard (Oakland, California)|International Blvd]], and East 14th Street.<ref>{{cite news |author=Gammon |first=Robert |date=January 23, 2008 |title=The Buses From Hell |url=https://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/the-buses-from-hell/Content?oid=1088265 |access-date=16 January 2019 |newspaper=East Bay Express}}</ref> At the same time, AC Transit rolled out a revised "ribbon" livery featuring new colors (green and black), and a new logo.<ref>{{cite web |date=August 2003 |title=Corporate Style Guide |url=http://www.actransit.org/wp-content/uploads/purchasing/Attachment%207%20-%20ACT_Logo_Standards.pdf |access-date=16 January 2019 |publisher=Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District}}</ref> The logo was simplified in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |date=June 2014 |title=Interim Branding Guidelines |url=http://www.actransit.org/wp-content/uploads/purchasing/Exhibit%202B%20-%20ACT_Branding_Guidelines.pdf |access-date=16 January 2019 |publisher=Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District}}</ref>

After criticism over the use of federal funds to purchase foreign-made Van Hool buses and the tailoring of specification requirements to exclude domestic manufacturers,<ref>{{cite news |author=Gammon |first=Robert |date=January 23, 2008 |title=Belgium or Bust |url=https://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/belgium-or-bust/Content?oid=1088338 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130406005616/http://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/belgium-or-bust/Content?oid=1088338 |archive-date=2013-04-06 |access-date=16 January 2019 |newspaper=East Bay Express}}</ref> AC Transit ordered locally-built Gillig buses in 2012.<ref>{{cite news |author=Gammon |first=Robert |date=March 30, 2012 |title=AC Transit Made Right Choice to Finally Buy Local |url=https://www.eastbayexpress.com/SevenDays/archives/2012/03/30/ac-transit-made-right-choice-to-finally-buy-local |access-date=16 January 2019 |newspaper=East Bay Express}}</ref> In March 2013, AC Transit began operating the first of its new Gillig buses.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-03-28 |title=New Gillig Buses Now on the Road |url=http://www.actransit.org/2013/03/28/new-gillig-buses-start-service-march-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403113542/http://www.actransit.org/2013/03/28/new-gillig-buses-start-service-march-28 |archive-date=2013-04-03 |publisher=AC Transit}}</ref> In August of the same year, AC Transit placed the first of its new [[New Flyer Xcelsior]] articulated buses into service.<ref name="The New Flyers Are Here!">{{Cite web |date=2013-08-12 |title=The New Flyers Are Here! |url=http://www.actransit.org/2013/08/12/the-new-flyers-are-here |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130816011923/http://www.actransit.org/2013/08/12/the-new-flyers-are-here |archive-date=2013-08-16 |publisher=AC Transit}}</ref> Later that year, in November 2013, new Gillig buses with a suburban seating configuration and Transbay branding were introduced into service.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-11-07 |title=New Commuter Buses Launch November 8 |url=http://www.actransit.org/2013/11/07/new-ac-transit-commuter-buses-launch-november-8/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110213042/http://www.actransit.org/2013/11/07/new-ac-transit-commuter-buses-launch-november-8/ |archive-date=2013-11-10 |publisher=AC Transit}}</ref>

All AC Transit buses are wheelchair accessible and have front-mounted bicycle racks. The MCI buses also feature luggage bay bicycle racks. AC Transit buses purchased after 2007 have [[Air-conditioning|air conditioning]], as approved by the board of directors.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 19, 2007 |title=Consider approving the installation of air conditioning on buses |url=http://www.actransit.org/wp-content/uploads/board_memos/1_b8371e.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319232042/http://www.actransit.org/wp-content/uploads/board_memos/1_b8371e.pdf |archive-date=2012-03-19 |publisher=AC Transit}}</ref>

===Alternative power===
[[File:AC Transit 666, Steam Bus ACT268 (12915267905).jpg|thumb|AC Transit GM New Look bus #666, converted to steam power in the early 1970s]]
In 1969, AC Transit received a grant and converted bus #666 to steam power, which ran in revenue service between 1971 and 1972. The propulsion system was designed by William Brobeck and used a triple-expansion reciprocating steam engine; power was improved compared to the original six-cylinder [[Detroit Diesel]] [[Detroit Diesel Series 71|6V71 engine]] and emissions were reduced, but fuel consumption was higher than the conventional diesel bus.<ref name=TT-6902>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.actransit.org/wp-content/uploads/11-08.pdf |title=Government grant gives financial Support to bus test of steam power |date=February 1969 |magazine=Transit-Times |publisher=AC Transit |volume=11 |number=8}}</ref> The steam system is a closed loop. Exhaust steam is condensed and returned to the steam generator, which is an externally-fired boiler that uses {{convert|1400|ft}} of coiled steel tubing.<ref name=ACT-steam>{{cite web |url=http://www.actransit.org/wp-content/uploads/Steam-Bus.pdf |title=Introducing the modern steam bus |publisher=AC Transit |date=1971 |access-date=7 January 2019}}</ref> Prior to entering service, the steam bus was exhibited in Washington DC<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.actransit.org/wp-content/uploads/14-05.pdf |title=Steam Bus unveiled in Washington, D.C. Senators Cranston, Tunney among riders |date=November 1971 |magazine=Transit-Times |volume=14 |number=5 |access-date=10 January 2019}}</ref> and to the public.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.actransit.org/wp-content/uploads/14-07.pdf |title=Steam Bus unveiled to public |date=January 1972 |magazine=Transit-Times |volume=14 |number=7 |access-date=10 January 2019}}</ref> Bus #666 completed {{convert|3403|mi}} in revenue service when the trial ended in September 1972,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.actransit.org/wp-content/uploads/15-04.pdf |title=Steam bus project completed successfully After operation in revenue service |date=October 1972 |magazine=Transit-Times |volume=14 |number=7 |access-date=10 January 2019}}</ref> and the diesel engine was subsequently reinstalled in the bus.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.actransit.org/wp-content/uploads/15-08.pdf |title=Steam bus reconverted As experiment ends |date=February 1973 |magazine=Transit-Times |volume=14 |number=7 |access-date=10 January 2019}}</ref>
[[File:AC Transit route 12 bus on Broadway, April 2021.jpg|thumb|AC Transit bus #9076, a New Flyer XHE40 powered by a hydrogen [[fuel cell]] ]]
AC Transit is the lead agency of Zero Emission Bay Area (ZEBA), a consortium of five Bay Area transit agencies (AC Transit, [[Golden Gate Transit]], [[San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency|SFMTA]], [[SamTrans]], and [[Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority|VTA]]) demonstrating fuel cell buses.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.actransit.org/environment/the-hyroad |title=The HyRoad |publisher=AC Transit |access-date=10 January 2019}}</ref> The District began the HyRoad program in 1999 and tested several fuel cell buses with new hydrogen fuelling infrastructure, including the Ballard/[[XCELLSiS]] ZEbus (a [[New Flyer Low Floor|New Flyer F40LF]] with a Ballard fuel cell) in November 1999.<ref>{{cite report |url=http://www.actransit.org/wp-content/uploads/board_memos/06bcec.pdf |title=Short Range Transit Plan, FY2001-FY2010 |chapter=2 |publisher=AC Transit |access-date=10 January 2019}}</ref> Three [[hydrogen fuel cell|hydrogen-powered]] buses, based on the Van Hool A330, operated in revenue service from 2006 to 2010. AC Transit took delivery of 12 additional third-generation fuel cell buses, based on the Van Hool A300L in 2011. In 2019, AC Transit began operating 11 additional hydrogen fuel cell buses from New Flyer, one of which is a 60-foot articulated bus, and 5 battery electric buses from New Flyer.<ref name="2019-AC-status">{{cite web|url=https://actransit.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3857480&GUID=68B1B00F-29CF-4A8D-8C34-17CF2FD44218/|title=AC Transit Board Bus Fleet Update|date=13 February 2019|publisher=AC Transit}}</ref>