Oakland, California’s Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) announced its first consecutive three-month year-over-year ridership increase of the post-pandemic era, signaling a major milestone in the East Bay’s transit recovery and a sharp acceleration in rider demand in Fiscal Year 2025–26.

Officials said the ridership gains recorded in February, March, and April signal renewed public confidence in transit and reinforce AC Transit’s vital role in connecting East Bay residents with jobs, schools, healthcare, shopping, and recreational destinations.

The momentum began in February 2026, when AC Transit posted a remarkable 6% year-over-year ridership increase, adding 192,875 monthly riders compared to February FY 2024–25.

The increase stands in sharp contrast to the prior fiscal year, when February ridership declined by approximately 130,270 riders, or 4%. February 2026 marked the strongest February ridership performance recorded by the District in the last three fiscal years.

Continued Ridership Growth

Ridership momentum intensified even further in March. AC Transit recorded an impressive 8% year-over-year increase, adding 270,247 riders systemwide compared to March FY 2024–25.

By comparison, the previous fiscal year saw only a modest increase of 15,137 riders, or 0.4% growth. The sharp jump illustrates a substantial strengthening in transit demand and rider activity across the District’s service area.

The trend continued into April, as East Bay residents increasingly relied on AC Transit bus lines for work commutes, school trips, medical appointments, and everyday travel.

April FY 2025–26 ridership increased by 108,379 rides, representing more than 3% year-over-year growth over April FY 2024–25. In comparison, April FY 2024–25 recorded an increase of 80,881 rides, or approximately 2.3% growth over FY 2023–24.

“This is far more than incremental ridership growth,” said Sal Llamas, AC Transit’s GM. “It is real-time proof that the refinements made to our Realign bus network,  implemented on the very first day of February, are responding directly to what riders and frontline employees told us mattered most in their daily lives. From reliability and trip timing to stronger connections across the East Bay, we are seeing riders step on board with renewed confidence.”

Realign in Action

Realign launched in summer 2025 and was necessary to right-size AC Transit’s bus network and make service more nimble, reliable, and responsive to how East Bay riders travel today.

More than two years of planning informed its implementation. However, with any major service change involving more than 120 bus lines, even the strongest plans cannot predict every real-world variable: shifting traffic patterns, hybrid work realities, construction impacts, and evolving rider habits, said officials.