Moving the Peninsula: Why SamTrans Matters More Than Ever

SamTrans is more than a bus system — it is a daily engine powering San Mateo County’s economy, connecting communities and steadily shaping a more sustainable future. 

Throughout the Peninsula, SamTrans plays a central role in keeping people moving to work, school, medical appointments and daily life. Its impact stretches well beyond transportation, influencing economic stability, housing access and environmental outcomes in ways that are often overlooked. 

For business leaders, reliable transit is directly tied to economic competitiveness. Rosanne Foust, president and CEO of the San Mateo County Economic and Development Association (SAMCEDA), points out that SamTrans expands access to talent and reduces barriers that might otherwise keep people out of the workforce. 

“SamTrans is important within San Mateo County and [connects] riders to San Francisco, the East Bay and Silicon Valley,” Foust said. “It is necessary for talent recruitment and business competitiveness. It reduces hiring friction when you think about it. It allows people to get to their jobs. Fewer candidates will drop out of the labor market because they don't have the commute constraints.” 

SamTrans bus picking up and dropping off riders at Hillsdale Shopping Center

That access becomes even more critical as housing patterns shift along major corridors like El Camino Real, where new development is bringing more residents into transit-rich areas. 

Transit, in this sense, is not just about movement — it is about opportunity. By expanding the realistic commute range for workers, SamTrans effectively widens the labor market for employers while creating more pathways to employment for residents. 

For riders, the value is even more immediate. Max Mautner, a member of the SamTrans Citizens Advisory Committee, pointed to the essential, everyday role SamTrans plays for a wide range of users, including workers, families, seniors and people with disabilities. 

“I think it's best framed in what would happen without it,” he said. “We would see tremendous labor cost shocks … a lack of availability of service industry employees for all kinds of jobs that people might not think about on a regular basis.” 

For students, SamTrans is equally vital. It provides independence, reliability and a connection to education that would otherwise depend heavily on family schedules or private vehicles. 

Students boarding Route Sky 

Ben Mangiafico, a high school student and member of the SamTrans Youth Advisory Committee, sees firsthand how transit shapes both mobility and environmental outcomes. 

On his daily route, the scale of impact is clear. 

“On my school route … there are, I believe, like 100 students or so that commute to school every morning and back every afternoon,” he said. “And if SamTrans didn't exist, there would be more cars on the road, which would lead to a lot more congestion for everyone else.” 

That shift from buses to cars would not only increase congestion but also worsen air quality and greenhouse gas emissions — reinforcing the role transit plays in advancing environmental goals. 

Along the Peninsula, few examples illustrate this connection between transit, the economy, housing and sustainability better than El Camino Real. As cities add housing along this historic corridor, the importance of frequent, reliable bus service continues to grow. 

“El Camino Real is really the spine of the peninsula,” said Dylan Finch, chair of the SamTrans Citizens Advisory Committee. 

While rail often receives the spotlight, Finch noted that buses remain a critical — and sometimes underappreciated — part of the system. 

Planning to make El Camino Real a more transit-friendly roadway, like what's happening with the Grand Boulevard Initiative, could lead to more reliable service. 

South San Francisco El Camino Real complete street demo

“This is an example of what it could look like in the future, and how much better it could get in terms of a dedicated bus lane and moving people a lot faster,” said Finch. 

Taken together, these perspectives paint a clear picture: SamTrans is not just a transportation provider. It is a foundational piece of the region’s infrastructure — one that supports economic growth, expands access to opportunity, reduces environmental impacts and connects people to the places that matter most. 

Whether it is a worker commuting to a job, a student heading to school, a senior traveling to an appointment or a family navigating daily life, SamTrans helps keep the region moving and thriving.