Coastside riders have been flocking to SamTrans’ Route 17 bus since the agency started offering expanded service in July. Ridership increased by more than 50 percent during the first month, and it has shown consistent growth each month since then. Ridership in July was up 51 percent; ridership in August was up 56 percent; and ridership in September was up 52 percent, each over the same month in the previous year (See table below).

Route 17, which had only traveled Highway 1 between Half Moon Bay and Moss Beach, was extended into Montara. The expansion also added longer service hours, more morning and afternoon buses during the school year. Sunday service was added as well, as the route had only run Monday through Saturday before the change.

The service expansion was made possible through a Lifeline Transportation Planning grant from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, and the service was developed in conjunction with the Peninsula Traffic Congestion Relief Alliance and other members of the Coastside Transportation Committee (Coastside Hope, City of Half Moon Bay, Cabrillo Union School District, County of San Mateo, and City/County Association of Governments of San Mateo County). The project seeks to reduce traffic congestion and create more access to alternatives to driving alone on the Coastside. Grant funding for this expansion is expected to be available until fall 2009.

Through a similar partnership, SamTrans also recently expanded service on its Route 14, which travels through Pacifica. The service expansion on this route began mid-August, and during the short period since then, the route has shown significant growth in ridership. Although too soon to demonstrate a proven trend, SamTrans is hopeful the route will prove as robust as the one in Half Moon Bay.

“The ridership increases we have seen on Routes 17 and 14 shows what we can achieve when communities and stakeholders work collaboratively with SamTrans to create routes and schedules that riders want,” said SamTrans Chief Operating Officer Chuck Harvey. “We’re thrilled with the success we have seen so far, and we hope to see it these trends continue.”

For SamTrans schedule information and trip planning assistance, call the SamTrans Customer Service Center at 1-800-660-4287 (TTY 650-508-6448), or visit www.samtrans.com. Representatives are available to assist customers in English, Spanish and a variety of other languages.