SamTrans

File:SamTrans logo (1976).svg

Voters in San Mateo County approved the formation of the San Mateo County Transit District in 1974. SamTrans was formed in 1976 by the consolidation of 11 different city bus systems throughout San Mateo County; several more systems were added over the following years.{{Cite web |title=SamTrans Bus Operations History |url=http://www.samtrans.com/about/Bus_Operations_Information/History.html |access-date=November 27, 2017}} SamTrans took over Western Greyhound Lines commuter service on July 2, 1977; some routes were curtailed from downtown San Francisco to Daly City station.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-peninsula-times-tribune/144783828/ |first=Janet |last=Reinka |title=SamTrans to expand service over Greyhound system |newspaper=The Peninsula Times Tribune |date=June 22, 1977 |page=6 |via=Newspapers.com}} SamTrans purchased 40 buses from Greyhound at that time, and its fleet exceeded 200 buses by 1980.{{Cite web |title=Transportation History |url=http://www.sustainablesanmateo.org/home/indicators-report/key-indicator/transportation-history/ |access-date=August 2, 2018 |publisher=Sustainable San Mateo County}}

In August 2013, the agency merged two routes along El Camino Real into the single all-day ECR route with 15-minute headways,{{Cite news |date=August 22, 2013 |title=SamTrans Upgrades El Camino Real Bus Service With More Reliable Route |language=en-US |work=Streetsblog San Francisco |url=https://sf.streetsblog.org/2013/08/22/more-reliable-samtrans-ecr-bus-replaces-390-and-391/ |access-date=November 27, 2017}}{{Cite web |date=August 2013 |title=Rider's Digest |url=http://www.samtrans.com/Assets/_Marketing/pdf/Final+2013+Aug+Rider$!27s+Digest.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130823094321/http://www.samtrans.com/Assets/_Marketing/pdf/Final+2013+Aug+Rider$!27s+Digest.pdf |archive-date=August 23, 2013 |access-date=July 14, 2018 |publisher=SamTrans}} briefly stemming a long-term decline in bus ridership that began in the early 1990s. Ridership on SamTrans buses was 52,140 passengers per weekday in November 2009;{{Cite report |url=http://www.samtrans.com/Assets/__Agendas+and+Minutes/SamTrans/Board+of+Directors/Agendas/2010/1-13-10+SamTrans+Agenda.pdf |title=Multimodal Ridership Report—November 2009 |date=January 13, 2010 |publisher=San Mateo County Transit District |page=8 |access-date=August 2, 2018}} by November 2017, it had fallen to 37,830 bus passengers per weekday{{Cite report |url=http://www.samtrans.com/Assets/__Agendas+and+Minutes/SamTrans/Board+of+Directors/Agendas/2018/2018-01-03+SamTrans+Agenda.pdf |title=Multimodal Ridership Report — November 2017 |date=January 3, 2018 |publisher=San Mateo County Transit District |page=18 |access-date=August 2, 2018}} and continues to decline, further threatening the agency's budget.{{Cite news |last=Clark, Zachary |date=February 17, 2018 |title=SamTrans ridership dropping |work=San Mateo Daily Journal |url=https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/samtrans-ridership-dropping/article_8f6afd24-13a5-11e8-b139-6b7c04c285ed.html |access-date=August 2, 2018}} According to a route-level analysis, in 2014, four lines accounted for more than half of all weekday riders: ECR, 120, 292, and 122/28, with ECR alone accounting for more than one quarter of all weekday riders.{{rp|37}} A half-cent sales tax, Measure W, which partially goes to SamTrans, passed on the November 2018 ballot.{{Cite web |date=December 6, 2018 |title=November 6, 2018 – Election Results |url=https://www.smcacre.org/post/november-6-2018-election-results-0 |access-date=January 4, 2019 |publisher=Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections, County of San Mateo}}

SamTrans headquarters are at 1250 San Carlos Avenue in a {{convert|125000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} building built in 1979 and acquired in 1990, one block southwest of the {{cals|San Carlos}} Caltrain station.{{Cite report |url=http://www.samtrans.com/Assets/_Planning/SamTrans+Short+Range+Transit+Plan+FY14-23.pdf |title=Final Draft: San Mateo Count Transit District: Short Range Transit Plan – Fiscal Years 2014–2023 |date=December 29, 2014 |publisher=samTrans |access-date=July 13, 2018}} In 2023, SamTrans authorized the acquisition of a new building near Millbrae BART and Caltrain station to be used as the new headquarter.{{cite web | last=DiNapoli | first=Alyse | title=SamTrans’ HQ moving to Millbrae | website=San Mateo Daily Journal | date=2023-12-19 | url=https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/samtrans-hq-moving-to-millbrae/article_01804030-9e20-11ee-b9c0-ff962c2fb7b9.html | access-date=2024-01-09}}

SamTrans has two maintenance bases. North Base opened in 1988. It is in South San Francisco, just north of San Francisco International Airport and adjacent to U.S. 101 and I-380. South Base opened in 1984 near the San Carlos Airport, east of U.S. 101 off Redwood Shores Parkway. Primary maintenance is carried out at North Base, which can store 200 buses. South Base can store 150 buses. SamTrans also owns Brewster Depot in Redwood City, which is used by its subcontractor MV Transportation for storage and dispatching; Brewster Depot is {{convert|3000|sqft|m2}} and was built in 1940.

Currently, SamTrans serves the cities of San Mateo County, including Atherton, Belmont, Brisbane, Burlingame, Colma, Daly City, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Half Moon Bay, Hillsborough, Menlo Park, Millbrae, Pacifica, Palo Alto, Redwood City, Redwood Shores, San Bruno, San Carlos, San Mateo, and South San Francisco. Most routes provide connecting service to BART, Caltrain, or both. There is also regular scheduled service to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Transbay Terminal in downtown San Francisco.

Unlike most large transit operators in the Bay Area, SamTrans outsources to private contractors the operation of a number of its routes. The current contract operator for Peninsula mainline, Coastside and paratransit services is MV Transportation.

SamTrans previously operated special service for a couple of Bay Area events such as San Francisco 49ers home football games and the quirky Bay to Breakers footrace in San Francisco.

;Notes

{{notelist|30em}}

SamTrans reorganized its bus routes in August 1999 and adopted a new route designation system to identify service types, geographical coverage, and connections to rail services.

{{Main|List of SamTrans bus lines}}

Local routes have either two or three digits or a special designation (e.g., ECR). For three-digit routes, the first digit identifies a rail connection:

• 1 – Connection to BART stations only (primarily routes in Daly City, Colma, South San Francisco and San Bruno)
• 2 – Connection to Caltrain stations only (primarily routes south of Millbrae) (Route 292, with service between San Francisco and San Mateo, only began connecting to BART at Millbrae in 2022;{{cite web |title=Rider's Digest: Upcoming Service Changes Effective August 7, 2022 |url=https://www.samtrans.com/media/21041/download |website=SamTrans |access-date=4 April 2025}} since it originally served Caltrain stations but no BART stations, its first digit is 2.)
• 3 – Connection to both BART and Caltrain stations (ECR, previously designated 390 and 391, provides service between Palo Alto and Daly City, 397 provides overnight service between San Francisco and Palo Alto as a part of the All Nighter network, and ECR OWL, previously designated 399, provides overnight service between Daly City and San Francisco International Airport as a part of the All Nighter network.)

All two-digit routes are community service routes. Most of these routes do not connect with rail and operate only on school days.

Express bus routes are designated by two letters followed by X; previously, just one letter preceded the X. In December 2009, six express routes (DX, FX, MX, NX, PX, and RX){{Cite web |date=December 2009 |title=Service Reductions & Alternate Transportation |url=http://samtrans.com/pdf/SamTrans_Service_Reduction_Elimination_Guide_2009.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100115212056/http://samtrans.com/pdf/SamTrans_Service_Reduction_Elimination_Guide_2009.pdf |archive-date=January 15, 2010 |access-date=July 14, 2018 |publisher=SamTrans}} were eliminated due to high budget constraints; a seventh express route, Route CX, was redesignated Route 118, and then replaced by route PCX in 2024.{{cite web |title=Timetable Updates effective August 4, 2024 |url=https://www.samtrans.com/schedules/timetableupdates |website=SamTrans |access-date=4 April 2025}} In August 2018, express route, KX, was folded into Route 398,{{Cite web |date=August 2018 |title=Rider's Digest |url=http://www.samtrans.com/Assets/Rider$!27s+Digest+-+August+2018.pdf |access-date=August 1, 2018 |publisher=samTrans}} which was replaced by new express route EPX in February 2024.{{cite web |title=Reimagine SamTrans Phase 3 Implementation |url=https://www.samtrans.com/media/32514/download |website=SamTrans |access-date=4 April 2025}} Express route FCX, between Foster City and San Francisco, debuted in August 2019{{cite web |title=Express Bus Service Foster City <=> San Francisco |url=https://www.samtrans.com/media/6393/download |website=SamTrans |access-date=4 April 2025}}

In April 2017, SamTrans identified fifteen potential express bus routes connecting the Peninsula counties of San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara. Most of the potential routes ran along U.S. 101, and some were planned to take advantage of managed lanes to provide speedier service. By June 2018, the list of potential bus routes was reduced to eight.{{Cite web |date=2018 |title=US-101 Express Bus Feasibility Study |url=http://www.samtrans.com/Planning/Planning_and_Research/US-101_Express_Bus_Feasibility_Study.html |access-date=August 1, 2018 |publisher=SamTrans}}{{Cite report |url=http://www.samtrans.com/Assets/_Planning/pdf/Final+Express+Bus+Feasibility+Study.pdf?v=2 |title=US-101 Express Bus Feasibility Study |date=November 2018 |publisher=samTrans |access-date=December 7, 2018}} The draft final report was released in November 2018, and the Board adopted it in December.{{Cite press release |title=SamTrans Board Adopts Express Bus Study |date=December 5, 2018 |publisher=samTrans |url=http://www.samtrans.com/about/MediaRelations/news/SamTrans_Board_Adopts_Express_Bus_Study.html |access-date=December 7, 2018}} SamTrans relaunched express bus service in August 2019 from Foster City to downtown San Francisco along U.S. 101, followed by a second route in Spring/Summer of 2020 from Palo Alto to western San Francisco along I-280.{{Cite news |last=Clark, Zachary |date=December 7, 2018 |title=Express buses set for rollout |work=San Mateo Daily Journal |url=https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/express-buses-set-for-rollout/article_280ead82-f9d3-11e8-9047-671e56669479.html |access-date=December 7, 2018}} The Foster City–San Francisco route was launched as FCX in August 2019, but ridership and frequency have been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in the San Francisco Bay Area. The launch of the other proposed express route planned for Phase 1, PAX (Palo Alto to western San Francisco), has been delayed indefinitely and there is currently no exact or estimated date for it to begin operation. Phase 2 of the express bus plan includes two additional routes: EPX (East Palo Alto to San Bruno) and an un-named route (San Mateo to downtown San Francisco); EPX was launched in 2023 after SamTrans completed acquisition of XE40 battery-electric buses.{{cite report |url=https://www.samtrans.com/media/5964/download?inline |title=Award of contract for the purchase of seven battery electric buses through a Commonwealth of Virginia cooperative purchasing contract and increase the Fiscal Year 2021 capital budget by $8,802,841 for a total capital budget of $20,701,363 |author=Hansel, Derek |author2=Olmeda, David |date=June 2, 2021 |publisher=San Mateo County Transit District |access-date=13 June 2022}}

Since January 1, 2020[http://www.samtrans.com/fares/farechart.html SamTrans Fare Chart]{{Cite web |date=January 1, 2020 |title=2020 Fare Changes |url=http://www.samtrans.com/fares/farechanges.html |access-date=January 16, 2020 |publisher=samTrans}}

;Notes

{{notelist}}

As of December 22, 2010, Clipper card fare machines became fully operational throughout the system, allowing riders to pay fares using Clipper card, a transit smart card that is also accepted by most other Bay Area transit agencies.

Clipper cards come in four varieties: adult, youth, senior and disabled (which includes Medicare cardholders). Adult Clipper cards may be obtained from a wide variety of vendors, but youth, senior and disabled Clipper cards must be obtained from SamTrans or another Bay Area transit agency. Each Clipper card contains some sort of stored value (e.g., monthly passes, "Clipper Cash" e-funds used for transit fares) and the history of recent trips using the card. Clipper cards generally confer an approximately 10% discount relative to cash fares.

SamTrans does not provide physical transfers, but Clipper cards offer free transfers to other SamTrans buses within 2 hours of the first boarding.{{cite web |title=Free 2-Hour Transfers|publisher=samTrans|access-date=April 12, 2023|url=https://www.samtrans.com/fares/fare-chart/free-2-hour-transfers}} SamTrans additionally offers a Day Pass which allows unlimited rides on local routes and a credit on higher-cost routes. The cost of the Day Pass is thrice the one-way fare on the local routes for adults, youth, and seniors/disabled/Medicare cardholders.

With the exception of youth summer passes, all SamTrans monthly passes must be loaded onto a Clipper card. Youth, senior and disabled monthly passes may only be loaded onto a corresponding Clipper card obtained from SamTrans or another Bay Area transit agency.

To ride SamTrans with Clipper card, the card must be "tagged" (read) by the Clipper card reader installed at the front of the bus near the farebox. The reader checks for a SamTrans monthly pass and local-fare credits from other agencies, computes the remaining fare and (if there is one) collects it in Clipper Cash. Note that northbound passengers on route KX to San Francisco must "tag" their Clipper card twice: once when boarding within San Mateo County (which collects a local fare or equivalent) and once before exiting in San Francisco (which collects any remaining fare).

Caltrain monthly passes (with two or more zones) and VTA monthly passes (that have been tagged on VTA in the last two hours) are honored on SamTrans as a local-fare credit.{{cite web |title=Interagency Transfers|publisher=samTrans|access-date=April 12, 2023|url=https://www.samtrans.com/rider-information/interagency-transfers}} To use a local-fare credit from a monthly pass loaded onto a Clipper card on higher-cost routes, the remaining fare must be collected in Clipper Cash.

New fareboxes were installed in June 2011. The fareboxes collect fares, issue new magnetic striped tickets (e.g., day passes, change cards) and process previously issued magnetic striped tickets (e.g., day passes, youth summer passes, change cards). When a patron does not have exact change, a change card is issued with a cash value that can be redeemed at a future farebox transaction for up to a year.

Up to three kids under 5 with fare-paying rider can board for free.

{{Main|SamTrans fleet}}

File:SamTrans Gillig 408.jpg

SamTrans currently has a fleet of 296 buses of various sizes for its fixed-route service. Fifty-five are articulated buses made by New Flyer Industries with the 10 m (35 ft) and 12 m (40 ft) buses with low flooring, are made by the Gillig Corporation. Each bus is equipped with GPS tracking providing both visual and voice next-stop announcements, and are accessible to passengers in wheelchairs and those with limited mobility.

In 2009, SamTrans added 135 custom made Gillig low floor buses to their fleet, numbered 400-490, 500-539 & 2900-2903, replacing 137 older Gillig Phantom buses in their fleet.{{Cite news |last=Rosenberg, Mike |date=December 28, 2009 |title=SamTrans rolls out new buses with sleeker look, more features |work=East Bay Times |url=https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2009/12/28/samtrans-rolls-out-new-buses-with-sleeker-look-more-features/ |access-date=July 13, 2018}}

In 2018, SamTrans placed an order for 10 Proterra 40-foot Catalyst BE40s buses as a first step towards the goal to have an all-electric fleet by 2033.{{Cite press release |title=SamTrans Orders 10 Proterra Catalyst E2 Buses and Sets A 100 Percent Zero-Emission Fleet Goal by 2033 |date=March 14, 2018 |publisher=Cision PR Newswire |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/samtrans-orders-10-proterra-catalyst-e2-buses-and-sets-a-100-percent-zero-emission-fleet-goal-by-2033-300613692.html |access-date=July 13, 2018}} The battery electric buses were expected to enter revenue service in early 2019, and a charging station will be installed at each SamTrans maintenance facility. However, issues with battery charges and turning radius led to Samtrans ending the program. Recently, Samtrans took possession and testing of a New Flyer battery power bus, which has now led to both bases getting chargers installed or in process of being installed.{{Cite news |last=Clark, Zachary |date=March 9, 2018 |title=SamTrans acquires 10 electric buses |work=San Mateo Daily Journal |url=https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/samtrans-acquires-electric-buses/article_f3caf578-2348-11e8-8e1c-03710462545a.html |access-date=July 13, 2018}}

In 2023, SamTrans ordered 108 hydrogen fuel cell buses from New Flyer at a cost of $168m.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-13 |title=California, SamTrans approves purchase of 108 fuel cell buses from New Flyer |url=https://www.sustainable-bus.com/news/samtrans-new-flyer-purchase-fuel-cell-buses/ |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=Sustainable Bus |language=en-US}} SamTrans aims to have a diesel free bus fleet by the mid 2030s.

• AC Transit
• Bay Area Rapid Transit
• Caltrain
• Clipper card
• Dumbarton Cut-off — disused transbay rail line owned by SamTrans
• List of SamTrans bus lines
• Muni Metro
• San Francisco Municipal Railway
• Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.mvtransit.com/ MV Transportation]
• [http://www.samtrans.com/ SamTrans] Official site
• [http://www.coastside.org/ Coastside Opportunity Center]

{{San Francisco Bay Area Public Transit}}

{{Caltrain}}

{{San Carlos, California}}

Category:County government agencies in California

Category:Bus transportation in California

Category:Public transportation in San Mateo County, California

Category:Public transportation in Santa Clara County, California

Category:Public transportation in San Francisco

Category:Transit agencies in California

Category:Special districts of California