Transportation

Class of 1966 Reunion in 2009

Flying into SFO

Many classmates will fly into San Francisco International Airport (SFO). According to the hotel website, these are typical fees from SFO (21 miles):

Limousine	US$45 per car (See details below)
Taxi	US$50 (approx) per car
Airport shuttle	US$38 per person
BART (like a subway/MTR)	US$8.65 per person (See details below)

Flying into OAK

Emeryville is considerably nearer the Oakland International Airport (13.5 miles). Some of you, especially those from North America, may take advantage of flights to Oakland (OAK). All the above four options are open to you, just faster and cheaper than from SFO.

Limo

This is a change from our previously recommended limo service.

Make a reservation with Aiddle (pronounced idle) at 1-510-584-7233. Tell him your arrival time, and that Ron Poon has pre-negotiated with him a rate of $45 per limo. This includes luggage and Bay Bridge toll, which the driver pays on the return trip (from Emeryville to SFO) but not the out-going trip.

On arrival at SFO, go to a pay phone and call Aiddle. He'll probably tell you to go outside and meet him in the courtyard garage area. Ask him for his car color and plate number, and tell him how you are dressed, so it's easier to recognize each other. He'll drive you directly to the hotel (i.e., no more other passengers). The trip should just take 20-25 minutes with no traffic.

The pay phone will require perhaps 75 cents, so have a few U.S. quarters ready.

Ella has used a different limo service twice, and both times there were hiccups, the second time major. That's why we are switching. The new one is actually cheaper.

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART)

There is a possible BART strike

that may throw everything off here, but otherwise BART will conveniently take you from San Francisco and save you the hassle of traffic jams and parking in the City. Here are some details to take BART from SFO to the hotel (HGI):

1. From the SFO International Terminal, take the AirTrain and, on the same level, go to Garage G/BART station. (The BART entrance is behind the elevator.)

2. The one-way BART fare from SFO to the MacArthur station is $8.65 (round trip is $16.90). You can check the fare here: http://www.bart.gov/tickets/calculator/index.aspx.

BART Ticket value is determined by how much money you add. The ticket machine accepts 5, 10 and 25 cent coins and $1, $5, $10, $20 paper bills. The way the machine works is that you put in your money first, and then adjust your ticket values by adding or subtracting $1 or $ 0.05 each time until the desired value. It will give you the change back once you finish buying the ticket. For example, you want to buy $8.65 ticket with a $10 bill. First you put in a $10 bill, then you subtract $1 by pressing "Subtract $1" button. The screen on the machine will show you the value of the ticket: "Print $9.00 Ticket". Press "Subtract 5-cent" a number of times until it shows "Print $8.65 Ticket" and press the button to print the ticket. It will give you a $8.65 ticket, plus $1.35 as change.

There are also one or two machines that accept credit cards, but they are more restrictive than the cash-only machines. See http://www.bart.gov/tickets/sales/machines.aspx.

3. Take the escalator to the platform and get on the train. The only BART line that services the airport is the Pittsburg/Bay Point line (the 'yellow' line). There is no need to change station. Get off the train at MacArthur Station. The ride will take about 50 minutes.

4. At the McArthur BART station in Emeryville, take the City of Emeryville free shuttle from Monday to Friday:

(a) Monday through Friday, 7 am to 7 pm - take the Emery-Go-Round Shuttle, Watergate Express Loop from Macarthur BART to HGI

(b) Monday through Friday, before 7 am or after 7 pm - take the Emery-Go-Round Shuttle, Powell Street Loop from Macarthur BART to HGI

Saturday and Sunday - take a taxi from Macarthur BART to HGI, as there is no direct shuttle from BART to HGI