Free SamTrans 40th Anniversary Celebration this Saturday

SamTrans is having a party this Saturday, September 10, and the entire community is invited.

Between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., SamTrans will take over the fairgrounds at the San Mateo County Event Center, 1346 Saratoga Drive, with a celebration that will highlight 40 years of service in the Peninsula.  There is no admission or parking fees for this celebration.

“We are very excited to celebrate this significant milestone with SamTrans employees, friends and the community,” said SamTrans Board Chair Zoe Kersteen-Tucker. “The Transit District has grown tremendously over the last 40 years, and this anniversary party is the perfect way to highlight those accomplishments.”

Local dignitaries will help kick-off the festivities, including Congresswomen Anna Eshoo and Jackie Speier, and Assemblymen Rich Gordon and Kevin Mullin, who will present resolutions to SamTrans commemorating this special occasion. Representatives will be on-hand from State Sen. Jerry Hill’s office, in addition to Fiona Ma’s office, who is chairwoman on the State Board of Equalization.

Participants of the SamTrans 40th will also have plenty of things to do and see on Saturday. The Sequoia High School Pep Band will provide live music at the event, and there will be SamTrans memorabilia on display, as well as a vintage and modern bus display. Not only will SamTrans buses be well represented, but our regional transit partners from Muni, AC Transit, VTA, Golden Gate Transit and Dumbarton Express will provide buses for the exhibition. The Pacific Bus Museum will also provide historic buses for the day.  

SamTrans recently held its annual Bus Roadeo, where operators compete in a bus-driving course. Participants of the Roadeo were required to perform a series of difficult and technically-challenging driving and parking maneuvers. Winners from the Roadeo will be on-hand at the SamTrans 40th event to demonstrate those skills. Also, bus maintenance employees will demonstrate multi-test challenges that will feature a series of simulated vehicle problems and breakdowns.

For families, SamTrans will offer a children’s zone area with face painters, balloon artists, entertainers, and free treats.  Inside Sequoia Hall, attendees can learn about job opportunities at both SamTrans and the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office, and get information on the SamTrans Mobility Ambassadors Program and the SamTrans Veterans Mobility Corps Program. Anyone who visits the information booths may receive a giveaway item while supplies last. Attendees will have an opportunity to visit our photo booth area for a chance to be featured on SamTrans’ Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.

Lastly, the event would not be complete without tasty fare. Visitors of the event will have several gourmet food trucks options to purchase their afternoon lunch. Participating food trucks include Jojo’s Mojo, The Waffle Roost, Chutney Mary’s and Treatbot.

Attendees planning to take public transit to the anniversary celebration can hop on SamTrans' Route ECR and Route 292 for direct service to the site. Routes 294 and 295 can also get you there. Additionally, the event center is walkable from either the Hayward Park or Hillsdale Caltrain Stations.

History

SamTrans is celebrating 40 years of bus operations serving residents of the San Francisco Peninsula. On July 1, 1976, the San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans) officially began service, bringing 11 different bus agencies under one roof.

Over the years, the roles and responsibilities of the Transit District have grown. In 1977, SamTrans began providing paratransit service for passengers with disabilities. In 1988, the Transit District assumed managerial oversight of the San Mateo County Transportation Authority (TA). The TA is the entity in charge of administering Measure A, San Mateo County’s ½ cent sales tax, which provides funding for transportation and infrastructure improvement projects.

Three years later, in 1991, the Transit District expanded its managerial oversight to include Caltrain, the commuter rail system that serves San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.

Now a multi-modal operation, the San Mateo County Transit District serves more than 100,000 public transportation riders on a daily basis and employs some 650 people. We proudly serve to connect the communities of the San Francisco Peninsula, and we’ll continue to provide reliable, safe, and efficient transportation options for our loyal customers. A lot has changed over 40 years, but that commitment remains the same.