OAKLAND, Calif. -- Facing a projected $56 million budget shortfall by June of 2011, AC Transit has announced it will be making perhaps its broadest service changes ever on March 28.

The Oakland-based bus agency, which serves parts of Alameda and Contra Costa counties, said the service changes will impact 108 bus lines, reducing overall service hours by about 8 percent and saving it about $9.5 million annually.

However, AC Transit said that even though the changes are unprecedented and will be felt throughout its services areas it has taken care to retain and even enhance services for communities who are most in need.

Interim General Manager Mary King said in a statement, "We did a lot of analysis on who rides the bus, how the service is used and what kind communities need the service the most. We worked hard to leave no one out."

AC Transit said that given the service reductions that were forced by its bleak fiscal picture, it chose not to simply reduce service hours and is instead reshuffling them, line-by-line, based on demonstrated usage and functionality.

An example is Line 51, a 13-mile route that runs along major traffic corridors from Berkeley's estuary to Alameda's southern shore and is considered to be one of the East Bay's most heavily used bus lines.

The agency admitted the line has been troubled by scheduling problems, so it elected to split the line in half with a new Line 51A from Alameda to the Rockridge BART station in Oakland and a new Line 51B from the Rockridge BART station to the Berkeley estuary.

AC Transit said the split makes both lines easier to manage because they are shorter and delays or trouble at one end of the line will no longer impact service on the other end.

The result should be fewer delays for passengers and more efficient service, AC Transit said.

In addition to making the service adjustments, the bus agency has laid off some employees, imposed a hiring freeze, improved operating and departmental efficiencies by 15 percent and raised fares to help offset its projected deficit.

The changes follow a series of public hearings and transit agency board meetings on the matter.

Details about the service adjustments are available on AC Transit buses, at local libraries and online at www.actransit.org.

People may also call the agency's customer services department at (510) 891- 4700.