SamTrans Celebrates Anniversary and Recognizes 35-year Employees

SamTrans Celebrates Anniversary and Recognizes 35-year Employees

By

May 25, 2011

ST 35 years full photo

As SamTrans rolls into its 35th year of service, more than a half billion customers have ridden its buses throughout San Mateo, Santa Clara and San Francisco counties. The district provides the community with a 48 fixed-route bus system, as well as Redi-Wheels paratransit services.

And as SamTrans celebrates its milestone anniversary, the transit district also is celebrating the employees who helped make it happen from the very beginning. The following 12 employees will be honored for their 35 years of service to SamTrans this year:

Name Job Title Hire Date
William Snell Senior Instructor 5/20/1976
Kathie Hollinger Bus Transportation Supervisor 6/1/1976
Charles Petrocchi  Mechanic 6/17/1976
Al Camilleri Asst Superintendent, Bus Maintenance 6/29/1976
Ed Proctor Superintendent, Bus Transportation 7/1/1976
Vincent Gavin Jr. Bus Operator 7/1/1976
Frances Tobar Dispatcher 7/6/1976
Kathy Zaldivar Bus Operator 7/12/1976
Lawrence Fazio Bus Operator 7/19/1976
Kitty Mansfield Bus Operator 7/19/1976
Stanley Woods Maintenance Supervisor 9/1/1976
Geary Bastain Bus Operator 11/8/1976

Senior Instructor William Snell, who has personally trained more than 1,000 bus operators, is SamTrans most senior employee. Snell said he's seen many changes in his 35 years with the transit district including the buses, communication equipment and the shift in population.

"The best part about working at SamTrans has been the people I work with everyday and the customers we serve," Snell said.

On July 1, 1976, SamTrans officially opened for business, after consolidating 11 municipal bus systems under the umbrella of the San Mateo County Transit District. Bus ridership in San Mateo County has grown from four million in SamTrans' first year, to more than 15 million a year now.

In addition to traditional bus service, SamTrans has become an integral part of regional public transit. In 1991, SamTrans joined the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority to become a member of the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board. The JPB assumed control of the Caltrain from the state, which essentially saved the commuter railroad from being dismantled.

The transit district also manages the San Mateo County Transportation Authority, the agency formed to administer the proceeds of a countywide half-cent sales tax that provides capital funds for Caltrain, grade separation projects, and street and highway improvement projects. It also provides funding for Redi-Wheels, the county's paratransit service.

Media Contact: Tasha Bartholomew, 650-508-7927