SamTrans Showing Steady Growth in Ridership

SamTrans continues to post steady gains in ridership and on-time performance measures, nearly two years after a dramatic reorganization of its service operations in the Peninsula.

During the 2015 fiscal year, which ended on June 30, SamTrans carried nearly 13.2 million passengers on its fixed-route bus service. That total represents a three percent increase from the prior year, and a six percent raise from 2013, which is when the first phase of the SamTrans Service Plan (SSP) was initiated.

The SSP was the most-ambitious reconfiguring of bus service in San Mateo County in a generation. Prior to the implementation of the SSP, SamTrans experienced years of stagnant ridership growth.

Although recommendations from the SSP have been in place for nearly two years, SamTrans still constantly works on improving service to meet the needs of its existing passengers and to grow its customer base. The SSP is a living document, which means it’s always being updated to do more of what works and less of what doesn’t, while also testing out new ideas.

Additionally, SamTrans reviews and updates its service and scheduling three times a year to take into account changing traffic impacts, travel patterns and bus operator availability. The adjustments help SamTrans improve on-time performance standards and make the bus system more efficient and reliable.

The latest of these regularly-scheduled changes occurred on Aug. 9, when changes to 11 different routes were initiated. Those included late-night service increases to Route 122, which will now provide more travel options for passengers travelling between the Stonestown Galleria in San Francisco and the South San Francisco BART Station.

“Our goal at SamTrans is to provide outstanding service for our customers along the Peninsula,” said Chuck Harvey, Deputy CEO of Operations, Engineering and Construction. “We’re constantly evaluating ways to improve and make things better for public transportation passengers, which is why it’s encouraging that more and more people are using our service.”

Currently, SamTrans carries nearly 43,000 passengers on an average weekday in the Peninsula. The buses are also getting passengers where they need to go in an efficient manner. In July, SamTrans posted on on-time performance rate of 86.85 percent, which topped the agency goal of 85 percent.

SamTrans and its partner agency, Caltrain—which has recorded nearly five straight years of monthly ridership increases—combine to carry more than 100,000 riders every weekday. The bus and rail services provide essential service to commuters, while also helping to reduce congestion on the Bay Area’s busy freeways.

“Each year, SamTrans and Caltrain help remove more than 400 million vehicle miles travelled from Bay Area roadways,” said Jim Hartnett, the General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of the San Mateo County Transit District, which oversees Caltrain and SamTrans. “We’re proud of the essential services we provide that keep this region moving in a safe, efficient and reliable way.”