Faced with a budget deficit of $28.4 million, SamTrans will hold four community meetings to receive public comments about proposed fixed-route and paratransit service reductions and fare increases.

These changes are proposed pursuant to direction from the SamTrans Board of Directors to analyze and consider cuts of up to 15 percent. These are only proposals. Community meetings to accept public comment on the proposals will be held on July 27, 28, 29 and Aug. 6, and the Board will conduct a public hearing Aug. 12.

The following routes are under consideration for elimination, modification or reduction:

Express Service
Route CX – Pacifica to Colma BART
Route DX – Pacifica to San Francisco
Route FX – Foster City, Mariners Island, 3rd Ave & Hwy. 101 to Downtown San Francisco
Route KX – Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Atherton, Redwood City, San Carlos, Belmont, to SFO and San Francisco
Route MX –San Mateo, Burlingame, Millbrae, San Bruno to SF Civic Center and SF Transbay Terminal
Route NX – Redwood Shores, San Mateo 101/92 Park & Ride to Downtown San Francisco
Route PX – Redwood City, San Carlos, Belmont, San Mateo to San Francisco
Route RX – Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Atherton, Redwood City, San Carlos, Belmont, San Mateo to San Francisco

Coastside
Route 14 – Pacifica to Colma BART
Route 17 – Pacifica to San Francisco

San Bruno, Millbrae, Burlingame
Route 141 - Downtown San Bruno, San Bruno BART, San Bruno Senior Center
Route 342 - Millbrae Intermodal Station, Downtown Millbrae, Mills Estate, Millbrae Highlands

Belmont, San Carlos
Route 262 - Carlmont Village, Downtown Belmont, Sterling Downs, Hillsdale Shopping Center

Redwood City
Route 270 - Redwood City Caltrain Station, Kaiser Hospital, Seaport Village, Harbor Village, Marsh Road (Menlo Park)

Menlo Park, East Palo Alto, Palo Alto
Route 280 - Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto Caltrain Station, East Palo Alto, Ravenswood Shopping Center
Route 281 - Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto Caltrain Station, East Palo Alto, Onetta Harris Community Center

Multi-City Service
Route 390 - Daly City BART, Colma, South San Francisco, San Bruno, Millbrae, Burlingame, San Mateo, Belmont, San Carlos, Redwood City, Atherton, Menlo Park, Palo Alto
Route 391 - San Francisco (limited), Daly City, Colma BART, South San Francisco, San Bruno, Millbrae, Burlingame, San Mateo, Belmont, San Carlos, Redwood City
Route 292 - Hillsdale Shopping Center, San Mateo, Burlingame, San Francisco International Airport, United Airlines Maintenance Base, South San Francisco, Brisbane, San Francisco
Route 295 - Downtown San Mateo, Hillsdale Shopping Center, Sequoia Hospital, Redwood City, Menlo Park
Route 297 - Redwood City, Palo Alto
Route 397 - San Francisco, South San Francisco, San Francisco International Airport, Burlingame, San Mateo, Belmont, San Carlos, Redwood City, Palo Alto

Other possible changes include:

• Increasing the adult fare by up to 25 cents and all other fare media by a corresponding amount
• Increasing paratransit fares by up to 75 cents
• Reducing paratransit service to correspond to bus service changes
• Eliminating the 15 percent discount on SamTrans passes with the purchase of the Muni sticker
• Other changes to the language of the Codified Tariff to be consistent with partner agencies

Several factors contributed to the shortfall: since Fiscal Year 2008 more than $11 million in state funds, which make up approximately 22 percent of the operating budget, have been eliminated. The District also has been impacted by the recession and job losses: sales tax revenues, which provide 44 percent of the District’s revenue, are down 5 percent so far for FY2009. Interest income also has declined, and ridership is beginning to drop.

SamTrans has already implemented a number of cost-cutting measures to reduce the deficit. A new fuel hedging program, which will set a cap on the price the District pays for diesel fuel, is expected to save approximately $1 million. Midyear, staff scrutinized the operating budget line by line, successfully cutting or deferring $750,000 in expenses. Currently, the agency is undergoing an extensive reorganization; layoffs are anticipated this fall. A fare increase, which will generate approximately $1.5 million annually, went into effect last February.

The meetings will take place at 6 p.m. on the following dates and locations:

• July 27 - Municipal Building
  33 Arroyo Drive, South San Francisco
• July 28 - SamTrans headquarters
  1250 San Carlos Ave., San Carlos
• July 29 - City Council Chambers
  701 Laurel St. , Menlo Park
• Aug. 6 - Cunha Intermediate School
  600 Church St., Half Moon Bay

For more information about SamTrans or Caltrain schedules, call Customer Service at 1-800-660-4287 (TTY 650-508-6448).

Comments will be accepted up until the Aug. 12 public hearing. To comment, attend one of the community meetings or public hearing, send e-mail to changes@samtrans.com, send regular mail to District Secretary, SamTrans, P.O. Box 3006, San Carlos, CA 94070-1306, or call 1.800.660.4287 (TDD for hearing impaired only 650.508.6448).

Hearing impaired and non-English speaking public hearing or meeting attendees may arrange for sign language or foreign language translation by calling 650-508-6242 at least three business days prior to the hearing or meeting.

07/15/09 - crd
Media Contact: Christine Dunn, 650-508-6238