According to a recently conducted on-board survey of passengers, the Hacienda Shuttle Bus service is receiving praise from business park employees and better-than-expected ridership as it completes its third month of service.

The Hacienda Shuttle service is part of the business park's Transportation Systems Management (TSM) program. Along with bicycle lanes, preferential parking for car and vanpoolers, ride matchlists and aggressive park-wide promotions, the shuttle system is making Hacienda's TSM promotions a success and the subject of study by industririal developments throughout the United States.

Of those shuttle riders surveyed, 46 percent stated that the convenience offered by the Hacienda Shuttle was the best part of the service. Besides offering non-stop service between the business park and BART, other conveniences include a free lunchtime shuttle to nearby shopping centers, and a continuous intra-park route transporting employees between buildings.

"The lunchtime and internal shuttle make it easy for those who use the BART service or who are in carpools to do their errands," said Karen Fraser-Middleton, transportation manager at Hacienda Business Park. "Even though they don't bring a car to work. they can still shop, eat out, and get to meetings on the other side of the Park by using the bus services."

The friendly atmosphere found on the shuttle buses also won praise from Park employees. Twenty-one percent of the riders said they were most impressed with the helpful, courteous drivers. Others cited the cheerfulness of their fellow passengers.

The brand-new Hacienda Shuttle buses were designed with passenger comfort in mind. The all-wood reclining seats, individual reading lights, air conditioning and window shades were judged as the most important features by 18 percent of the daily riders.

Currently, the Hacienda Shuttle carries commuters between the Bay Fair BART station and the north Pleasanton business park, making four morning and five evening commutes.

In conjunction with the express buses operated by BART, commuters now have six opportunities to ride between BART and Hacienda Business Park in the morning and 10 opportunities in the evening. 

To accommodate early risers, Fraser-Miadleton is looking into the possibility of adding yet another shuttle trip in the morning.

In response to rider feedback, the commute schedule was changed to serve an earlier commute period and to better accommodate morning riders. The last morning and evening trips were replaced with a 6:30 a.m. run for early risers and a 3:55 p.m. trip for those getting off work in the early afternoon.

Additionally, the route was taken off Hopyard and changed to exit the Park on Owens Drive rather than Stoneridge Drive, reducing travel time.

Working with AT&T Communications, the Business Park arranged 10 reroute the internal shuttle. The new service circulates around the AT&T buildings every ten minutes between 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 to 7:00 p.m., No changes were made in the lunch service.

To see a reproduction of the original article and edition of Pleasanton Pathways, visit: September 9, 1985.