SamTrans To Hold Public Hearing On Service Changes

The San Mateo County Transit District will hold a public hearing on May 9 to receive public comment on proposed changes to its service. The hearing will be held at 3 p.m. at SamTrans headquarters, 1250 San Carlos Ave. in San Carlos.

The district is proposing to eliminate the Regional Express bus route, which connects East Palo Alto and Menlo Park with the Redwood Shores area of Redwood City and the Millbrae Intermodal Station. Part of a regional program to provide service from low-income communities to job sites, the REX is funded by a combination of federal and state grants which are scheduled to run out at the end of the fiscal year.

In spite of an aggressive marketing campaign, ridership on the route has never lived up to expectations. Average weekday ridership over a one-year period is 98; not one bus trip carries more than 10 people. The annual cost to operate the service is more than $1 million.

SamTrans Routes 280 and 281 provide local service from East Palo Alto to the Palo Alto Caltrain Station, which is served by Baby Bullet express trains.

A number of small adjustments to paratransit service also are included in the proposed changes:

• paratransit riders will be able to ride SamTrans fixed-route service for free at all times, rather than only during non-peak hours;
• Social Security Disability will no longer be accepted as a qualifying criteria for the Lifeline fare;
• and, the Coastside paratransit service area will be defined.

The public will have the opportunity to comment on the proposed changes at the public hearing or by calling 1-800-660-4287 (or TTY only 650-508-6448). Written comment also can be sent through
e-mail to changes@samtrans.com or to
Service Changes, SamTrans Administrative Office,
P.O. Box 3006,
San Carlos, CA 94070-1306.