With a similar agreement with the City of San Leandro, Calif., already in place, AC Transit and the City of Oakland have come to terms on the agency’s bus rapid transit project (BRT), eliminating the last major obstacle between concept and construction.

After weeks of discussion, the parties endorsed the East Bay Bus Rapid Transit Operations and Maintenance Agreement (O&M), which outlines specific responsibilities for the project’s viability once the BRT service begins.

The BRT will cruise the 9.5-mile stretch from downtown Oakland to San Leandro BART. The project will make bus transit more efficient and cleaner with dedicated bus lanes, improved street lighting and crosswalks, artistic landscaping, signal priority, elevated boarding stations and more.

Along with bringing a new look to the corridor, the BRT will create more than 1,000 jobs during its construction phase and help stimulate businesses along the street for years to come, according to AC Transit. The new bus service will provide one of the busiest traffic corridors in the country with a fast, economical and environmentally-friendly transportation system.

“As partners, the District and the City of Oakland have worked hand-in-hand toward building and operating these new transit stations and the host of amenities that will improve the look and safety along this corridor,” said AC Transit GM David Armijo.

Armijo noted that the BRT project will invest more than $100 million in traffic improvements, parking and other beautification efforts to dramatically enhance the densely-populated, well-worn corridor.

BRT construction will begin this year. The service will be fully implemented in 2017.