MEET WARD 3
One transit district. Three distinct East Bay communities.
In December 2023, the AC Transit Board of Directors adopted a new seven-ward election system, replacing the previous combination of ward and at-large representation. Beginning with the November 2026 election, every member of the AC Transit Board will represent a specific ward.
The new Ward 3 brings together Alameda, Piedmont and a portion of Oakland; three communities with distinct identities, but a shared dependence on a transit system that connects them to each other and to the rest of the East Bay.
“I don't see Ward 3 as three separate places. I see three communities that are connected by the lives people live across them. Our transit system should reflect that—and make those connections work.”
Get on Board: A Rider's View of Ward 3
Adriana knows this district from the seat of a bus.
As a frequent transit rider who does not drive, she has spent years navigating the East Bay by bus, BART, bicycle, and on foot. She has ridden routes throughout the new Ward 3—from Alameda across to Oakland, through Piedmont and throughout the neighborhoods that connect them.
She knows that the map may be new, but the need for reliable connections is not.
ALAMEDA
Alameda's geography makes reliable transit particularly important. The island does not have BART, so AC Transit plays a critical role in connecting residents to BART, jobs, schools, healthcare and destinations in the Bay Area.
Adriana's priorities for Alameda include reliable and frequent service, better connections to regional transit hubs and ferries, and strong connections to Oakland and the rest of the East Bay.
For Alameda, a bus that doesn't show up can mean much more than an inconvenience. It can mean missing the next connection across the Bay or being unable to get where you need to go.
“Ward 3 brings together three very different communities,” Adriana says. “But whether you're trying to get to work in Oakland, catch a ferry in Alameda, get to school in Piedmont, or connect to BART, people need a transit system they can count on.”
Adriana has also spent time talking with residents, parents, workers, businesses, and community leaders throughout the new ward. Those conversations have reinforced something she already knows as a rider: one size does not fit all.
OAKLAND
The Oakland portion of Ward 3 includes diverse neighborhoods where AC Transit is an essential part of everyday life. Buses connect residents to jobs, schools, healthcare, shopping, BART and the broader regional network.
Adriana wants to focus on reliable service, strong connections to BART and other transit, and routes that reflect where people actually live and travel.
Oakland is also where transit, housing, jobs and economic opportunity intersect most visibly. Good transit connects people not only to destinations, but to opportunity.
PIEDMONT
Piedmont is a small, largely residential community surrounded by Oakland, but its residents are deeply connected to the larger East Bay.
For Piedmont, Adriana wants to focus on convenient connections to Oakland and regional transit, safe and accessible routes to schools and neighborhood destinations, and maintaining transit options that serve residents who cannot or choose not to drive.
Piedmont's needs may look different from Alameda's or Oakland's—but its residents depend on the same regional transportation network.