The Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District, or AC Transit, stopped operating fare-free rides April 19 to the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, a mass COVID-19 vaccination site.
AC Transit has been offering free rides from BART’s Coliseum station and Eastmont Transit Center to the Coliseum since Feb. 16. The shuttles operated from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week, according to an AC Transit press release. California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, or Cal OES, discontinued shuttle services after the Oakland Coliseum vaccination site ended its business day April 18.
The free shuttle service was able to provide transportation to the Coliseum for more than 3,500 individuals. The service was designed to assist individuals “left behind by prioritization,” according to an AC Transit press release.
“The AC shuttle service to the coliseum that was cancelled was due to lack of ridership,” said Cal OES spokesperson Bryan May in an email.
A press release by Cal OES states that the Oakland Coliseum was a mass vaccination site and was a part of an effort to establish Community Vaccination Centers in California. The project was approved by the Biden-Harris administration in February, and the site opened for operation Feb. 16.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom approved an extension April 6 for the Coliseum to continue giving COVID-19 vaccines for the next four weeks.
According to an AC Transit press release, those who need transportation to the Oakland Coliseum can ride on AC Transit line 73, which goes from Eastmont Transit Center to Oakland International Airport. Riders should exit at the Coliseum BART stop.
“We continue to have a shuttle from the BART/Train/Bus station to the pedestrian village to support those individuals who can’t make the walk along the pedestrian bridge,” May said in an email.
