SamTrans staff has prepared a revised bus service proposal that eliminates most express service to San Francisco and preserves essential service for riders who have no other alternative. The Board of Directors will consider the proposal at its Sept. 9 board meeting.

The changes, the most drastic in the agency’s 33-year history, are under consideration because the Transit District is facing a $28.4 million budget shortfall for the current fiscal year, which began on July 1.

Proposals for service reductions of up to 15 percent and a fare increase were presented to the public at four community meetings and a public hearing.

The revised proposal will reduce service about 7.5 percent and result in cost savings of more than $6.3 million annually. The service reductions will result in layoffs of operations and administrative personnel. Less than 3 percent of current SamTrans weekday riders will be impacted by the changes. An estimated $1 million would be generated by the fare increase proposal.

More than 800 people submitted comments, either at the meetings, by telephone, in letters or by e-mail. The comments also included three petitions.

The comments from the public influenced the decision to base the proposal on a key principle from the Transit District’s Strategic Plan: “Sustain basic mobility service for transit-dependent and low-income persons.”

“We have a responsibility to those for whom we are their only means of mobility – people who depend on us to get them to their jobs, to school, to the doctor’s office and to the grocery store,” said Deputy CEO Chuck Harvey.

The service proposal does not anticipate any changes to the District’s Redi-Wheels service.

Many comments expressing support for express service to San Francisco were received. However, these routes provide service that, while not as direct, is duplicated by Caltrain or BART. To mitigate the loss of the Route FX, a new route with six daily round trips will connect Foster City with the Millbrae Intermodal Station. Route CX, which connects Pacifica with the Colma BART Station, will be retained, as will the KX, which provides local service on El Camino Real to Hillsdale in San Mateo and then provides express service to San Francisco International Airport and downtown San Francisco.

If approved, the service changes will be effective Dec. 20. The following recommendations will be presented to the board:

• 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


• Bus Fare Increase – effective February 1, 2010
  • 25 cent increase to adult local cash fare
  • 50 cent increase to adult fare – out of SF and express
  • 25 cent increase to youth cash fare
  • Corresponding increases to passes and eligible discount fares


• Paratransit Fare Increase
  • 50 cent increase effective July 1, 2010
  • 25 cent increase effective July 1, 2011


• Agency-sponsored Paratransit Fare Increase
  • 20 percent increase effective July 1, 2010


• Eliminate 15 percent discount on SamTrans Monthly Pass with purchase of Muni sticker

In addition, the board will be asked to adopt changes to the language of the Codified Tariff to be consistent with partner agencies.

09/02/09 - crd
Media Contact: Christine Dunn, 650.508.6238