This phase is not about starting over. It is about confirming alignment, improving clarity, and making final adjustments. Engagement focuses on clearly outlining what has changed, highlighting improvements to frequency and reliability, being transparent about tradeoffs, and collecting input to support final decisions.

The goal is a network that feels familiar, works better for how people travel today, and can be delivered reliably within available resources.

Bus Line Redesign began by asking riders and operators what needed to change in the bus system. 

Phase 1: Setting Direction 

• Early engagement focused on understanding priorities. Riders emphasized the need for: 
• Better connections between neighborhoods 
• Service that reflects today’s travel patterns 
• Improved connections to key destinations like Oakland and the airport
• More frequent and reliable service 

Phase 2: Refining the Ideas 

Through focus groups, one-on-one discussions, and broader outreach, these priorities were confirmed and refined. Nearly 5,000 comments helped shape Bus Line Redesign 1.0, reinforcing the need to: 

• Invest in frequency rather than coverage 
• Improve evening and weekend service 
• Better serve trips beyond the traditional commute 

These findings were supported by data analysis and operator input. 

Testing the Network 

PRT then shared proposed network changes for public review. During this phase of engagement with more than 100 meetings and online engagement, over 12,000 comments were received. Engagement included outreach in all 25 priority equity communities. 

Staff reviewed feedback route-by-route to understand what worked well, what needed adjustment, and where proposals were not supported. That feedback directly informed revisions. 

The result is Bus Line Refresh — a more focused update that strengthens existing service, reduces disruption, and responds to what riders told us matters most. 

Learn more about previous rounds: Click here to learn more about PRT’s engagement approach for this phase of the project.

Feedback in this phase will focus on: 

• Does the proposed service support how people travel today, improve reliability and quality, and increase willingness to ride?
• Do the proposed routes improve connections to jobs, schools, healthcare, and essential places?
• Do the proposed service levels – frequencies, travel times, transfers, and days of the week – meet rider needs?
• Is proposed service easier to use? What tools and information would help riders during rollout?