The County Connection (officially, the Central Contra Costa Transit Authority, CCCTA) is a Concord-based public transit agency operating fixed-route bus and ADA paratransit (County Connection LINK) service in and around central Contra Costa County in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. Contra Costa County has four major public bus transportation services, divided geographically: three mostly serve destinations within the county, covering western (WestCAT), central (County Connection), and eastern (Tri Delta Transit) regions, and one (AC Transit) serves Bayside cities along the western edges of Contra Costa and Alameda counties.
Established in 1980 as a joint powers authority, CCCTA assumed control of public bus service within central Contra Costa first begun by Oakland-based AC Transit as it expanded into suburban Contra Costa County in the mid-1970s (especially after the opening of BART). In 2024, the system had a ridership of 2,823,100, or about 10,100 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2025.
History
An AC Transit bus at Orinda station prior to the County Connection takeover
AC Transit began operating local bus service under contract in central Contra Costa County in the 1970s after the coming of BART. Service began in Concord on September 8, 1975; in Pleasant Hill on December 8, 1975; and in Moraga and Orinda on September 13, 1976.[3]Walnut Creek began operating a downtown shuttle route connecting to BART in December 1974.[4]
On March 27, 1980, the Central Contra Costa Transit Authority (CCCTA) was created by a joint powers agreement between the cities of Clayton, Concord, Lafayette, Martinez, Moraga, Pleasant Hill, and Walnut Creek, plus the County of Contra Costa.[5][6][7] The agency took over operations of the Walnut Creek system on July 1, 1980; by 1982, it had seven routes and twelve minibuses.[7][5] The CCCTA originally planned to take over the other services in its district from AC Transit in August 1981. However, slow delivery of the buses and heavy rains that slowed construction of a maintenance facility delayed this until 1982.[7]
A Walnut Creek writer, Elizabeth Tenney, won a contest in early 1982 to create a slogan for the CCRTA system. Her slogan, "The County Connection", was adopted as the system branding.[8][9] The CCCTA took over local bus service in its district from AC Transit on June 7, 1982, with a fleet of 24 new Gillig buses. (AC Transit continued to operate express bus service that functioned as feeder service for BART.) At that time, the Walnut Creek routes had 2,500 daily riders, while the routes taken over from AC Transit had 8,000 daily riders.[7] Several routes were consolidated with the takeover, while a new Martinez–Concord–Clayton route was added.[10][9]
County Connection took over the operations of three private paratransit providers in 1990 to form its paratransit service, branded as LINK. In 1994, the agency took over the BART express bus feeder service.[5]
Service
As of May 2020, the County Connection operates 25 weekday routes (three of which also operate on weekends), seven weekend-only routes, and 19 school tripper routes within central Contra Costa County.[11] All routes, with the exception of some of the 600-numbered series select service trips, connect with regional train service, primarily BART, in addition to ACE in Pleasanton and Amtrak, including Amtrak California's Capitol Corridor and San Joaquin services in Martinez. Among its 30 weekday routes, the County Connection operates seven express routes (Routes 91X—98X). With support from the city of Walnut Creek, the County Connection also operates a free downtown circulator with trolley livery (Route 4) with service between Walnut Creek and Broadway Plaza.
The fleet consists of 121 accessible buses and 63 paratransit vans.[12]
Route overview
Weekdays
Weekday service is provided on all routes except 300-numbered series routes, which operate only on weekends. 600-numbered series routes are select service trips convenient to area schools and operate on school days, with service timed to school bell times.[11]
Operates during AM and PM peak periods only. Also serves Danville Park & Ride and San Ramon Transit Center
93X Kirker Pass Express
East-West
BART Walnut Creek AM terminal
Hillcrest (Antioch) Park & Ride PM terminal
Walnut Creek
Operates westbound AM only, eastbound PM only (mornings to Walnut Creek, afternoons to Hillcrest Park & Ride)
95X San Ramon Express
North-South
BART Walnut Creek
San Ramon Transit Center
Walnut Creek
Operates during AM and PM peak periods only. Also serves Danville Park & Ride
96X Bishop Ranch Express, North
Loop
BART Walnut Creek – Bishop Ranch
Walnut Creek
Operates mainly during AM and PM peak periods only with three midday trips. Also serves San Ramon Transit Center
97X Bishop Ranch Express, South
Loop
BART Dublin/Pleasanton – Bishop Ranch
Dublin/Pleasanton
Operates during AM and PM peak periods only. Also serves San Ramon Transit Center
98X Martinez/Walnut Creek Express
North-South
Amtrak Martinez
BART Walnut Creek
Martinez (Amtrak), Walnut Creek
Route also serves Contra Costa Blvd & Viking Dr – Sunvalley Mall
99X Martinez/North Concord Express
East-West
Amtrak Martinez
BART North Concord
Martinez (Amtrak), North Concord
Route serves Arnold Industrial Wy & Pacheco Transit Hub
Alamo Creek Shuttle
North-South
BART Walnut Creek
Alamo Creek
Walnut Creek
Operates 3 northbound trips and 2 southbound trips AM, 3 southbound trips and 2 northbound trips PM (last morning trip does not return to Alamo Creek, last afternoon trip does not return to BART).
Operates using specially wrapped vehicles under County Connection Link
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