County Connection bus service in Walnut Creek could be reduced under a contingency plan the agency’s board adopted to address a $6.5 million budget gap if additional funding does not become available.

The transit agency, officially called the Central Contra Costa Transit Authority, published its Alternative Service Plan on Friday, Oct. 9. The plan targets routes across three subregions. In the Central County area covering Walnut Creek, Concord, Clayton and Pleasant Hill, all 15 listed routes could see changes: Routes 5, 7, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 28, 92X, 93X, 95X, 301, 310, 315 and 320.

In Walnut Creek, Route 5 serves Creekside Drive, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center and Walnut Creek BART. Under the plan, buses would run every 60 minutes instead of every 45 minutes.

The agency said the cuts would trim about $6.5 million in operating expenses by July 2029.

County Connection blamed the deficit on sales tax revenue that has not kept pace with inflation. The agency said it has been drawing down reserves to maintain current service levels.

A separate service reduction took effect earlier this year. Route 18 dropped to 85-minute intervals under a schedule change that took effect Sunday, June 7.

County Connection stressed the plan is a contingency, not a certainty. Additional funding could allow the agency to avoid the proposed reductions.

The agency reports about 2.8 million annual rides across its bus and paratransit services. Its website lists a fleet of 125 transit buses and 63 paratransit vehicles serving central Contra Costa County.

A regional transit funding proposal, Measure RTM, is on the Nov. 3 ballot. It would impose a 0.5% sales tax across Contra Costa, Alameda, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties and a 1% sales tax in San Francisco County for 14 years. If approved, the measure would generate roughly $980 million a year regionwide, with revenues flowing to county transportation agencies for transit operations and road repaving on bus corridors, Contra Costa News reported.

A California State Auditor report examined six East Bay transit agencies and found five could exhaust their reserves within one to five years without new funding. General Manager Bill Churchill said in the agency’s May press release that County Connection remains focused on responsible management of public resources while maintaining service.

The agency says it will post further information on its plan page in the coming months. Residents with questions can email [email protected] or call Customer Service at 925-676-7500.