The San Mateo County Transit District Board of Directors voted unanimously today to implement a 7.5 percent reduction in bus service and a fare increase to aid in reducing a $28.4 million SamTrans operating budget shortfall for the current fiscal year, which began on July 1.

The service reductions will result in layoffs of operations and administrative personnel and will be effective on December 20. The reductions will result in cost savings of more than $6.3 million annually. There will be no changes to the District’s paratransit service.

Board Chair Zoe Kersteen-Tucker called the service reductions “frustrating” but credited the community for an “amazing outpouring” of engagement and involvement in this decision. More than 800 people submitted comments, either at the meetings, by telephone, in letters or by e-mail. The comments also included three petitions.

Seven routes, including six express routes, will be eliminated. Other adjustments, including reductions in the frequency of service, will be made to six routes. A new route with six daily round trips will connect Foster City with the Millbrae Intermodal Station.

Details on the service reductions follow. For details about the fare increase, click here. (PDF, 8.56 KB)

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Service Change Reductions – Effective Dec. 20

• Route KX: Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Atherton, Redwood City, San Carlos, Belmont, to SFO and San Francisco
  • Reduce headways from 30 minutes to 60 minutes.
  • Eliminate the segment serving Page Mill Road.


• Route 280: Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto Caltrain Station, East Palo Alto, Ravenswood Shopping Center
  • Reduce headways from 30 minutes to 60 minutes.


• Route 14: Linda Mar, Oddstad Park, Casa Pacific
  • Operate service in one direction before 7 a.m. and after 4 p.m.


• Route 141: Downtown San Bruno, San Bruno BART, San Bruno Senior Center
  • Reduce headways from 30 minutes to 60 minutes, except during school hours.


• 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
  • On weekends only, reduce headways from 30 minutes to 40 minutes.


• Route 391: Serving San Francisco (limited), Daly City, Colma BART, South San Francisco, San Bruno, Millbrae, Burlingame, San Mateo, Belmont, San Carlos, Redwood City
  • On weekends only, reduce headways from 30 minutes to 40 minutes.


• Elimination of the following routes:
  • Route 342 - Millbrae Intermodal Station, Downtown Millbrae, Mills Estate, Millbrae Highlands
  • Route DX – Pacifica to San Francisco
  • Route FX – Foster City, Mariners Island, 3rd Ave & Hwy. 101 to Downtown 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

09/11/09 - crd
Media Contact: Christine Dunn, 650.508.6238