Belmont City Council
July 11, 2023

SamTrans/TA Overview
Belmont City Council
July 2023
 Operational Facts
• San Mateo County, parts of San Francisco, City of Palo Alto • 300 fixed route buses serving 70 bus routes
• 2 Ride Plus on demand routes (EPA/Belle Haven and Half Moon Bay) • Rediwheels for persons with mobility challenges
 Rider Profile
• Currently 74% year to date pre-pandemic level
• 90% low income (64% extremely low income) based on SMC affordable housing metrics; lowest income ridership of any major Bay Area transit agency
• Nearly 80% do not have access to a car
• 2021: ~5% of all rides served people with disabilities or mobility challenges
2 SamTrans Overview
2022: Board adopts new transit network
• Three rounds multilingual public
engagement over two and a half years
• Pre/post pandemic ridership analysis
• Phased implementation plan
3 Reimagine SamTrans: The New Network
New Network Priorities
Phase 1: August/November 2022
• Streamlined existing service
• Removed duplicative and underused
routes
• Phase 1 results: ridership increased from 64% to 80% the months after implementation; currently 74% YTD pre- pandemic level
Phase 2 and beyond: 2023-2024+
• Frequency improvements and expanded
service hours on multiple routes
• Launched Ride Plus on demand service in
East Palo Alto/Belle Haven and Half Moon
Bay (June 2023)
• Launch new routes (East Palo Alto to SFO)
4 Operator Recruitment
• Service expansion dependent on operator recruitment
• New operators can earn retention incentives up to $4000 in their first year • $1500 referral incentives for current employees
• Increased follow up with candidates during training period • Redesigned webpage and marketing, in-person outreach
• Free fares for qualifying low-income students (age 18 and under)
– 30,000 eligible students in San Mateo County
• Pilot launched in January 2022; permanent as of August 2022
• Close collaboration with schools and districts to distribute passes and evaluate pilot
– Aprox. 25,000 passes distributed to over 30 Districts and Schools 5 Youth Unlimited Program Overview
 Zero Emission Buses:
• Planned conversion by 2034, six years ahead of state Innovative Clean Transit (ICT) requirements • 300+ vehicles housed in SSF and San Carlos
• Upgraded infrastructure
• Battery electric buses (BEBs)
• Hydrogen fuel cell buses (FCEBs)
• Early routes: East Palo Alto, major employers on US-101 corridor, and BART San Bruno  Climate Adaptation:
 SamTrans two bus bases (SSF and San Carlos) climate adaptation infrastructure  Deferred Maintenance:
 Multiple budlings past useful life – HQ, North Base building, more 6 SamTrans Future Capital Expenses
• SamTrans is actively participating in MTC lead regional coordination between transporation agencies.
• Highlighted projects include:
• Clipper START (50% fare discount for low-income riders) and fare integration pilots • Regional wayfinding project
• Coordinated funding advocacy and potential Zero Emission Bus applications (study underway)
• Regional Network Planning effort
• And more…
7 Regional Collaboration
8 San Mateo County Transportation Authority (TA)
Overview
• Created in 1988 through the passage of Measure A
• Oversees administration of voter-approved Measures A & W funding for:
• Advocate and/or apply for Federal, State, and Regional funding • Sponsor and deliver highway projects of countywide significance • Ex. US 101 Express Lanes Project San Mateo County (operational 2023) • Provide technical assistance to/manage projects for local jurisdictions 9 Funding Programs
Measure A generates approximately $100 million annually. Measure W generates approximately $50 million annually for the TA. Half of Measure W funds are administered directly by SamTrans and account for an additional $50 million annually.
10 Project Highlight: US 101 / SR 92 Interchange
Area Improvements
• Near term project to improve flow and safety at the101/92 interchange
Direct Connector Project
• Long term project to improve traffic flow and safety from SR 92 into 101 Express Lanes, including construction of a direct connector between the two
Mobility Hub & Smart Corridor Concept Plan
• Developing a plan for a Class IV separated bikeway, Complete Street improvements and the conversion of the existing Park and Ride into a Mobility Hub for future SamTrans Express Bus service on nearby corridor
US 101 Multimodal Strategy
• Study to develop a comprehensive multimodal strategy to help pedestrians, bicyclists, drivers, and transit move through the are safely and efficiently
Multimodal Approach to Highway Infrastructure
11 TA Funding at Work: Large-Scale Projects
Project Total Cost Committed Funding Funding Gap
US 101 / SR 84
(Woodside Rd)
Interchange
$307.8 M $126 M
• TA: $81.6 M
• STIP: $8 M
• Local: $36.4 (includes ROW acquisition)
$181.8 M
Broadway Grade
Separation
$327 M $26.4 M
• TA: $24.4 M
• Local: $2 M
$300.6 M
Linden/Scott Grade
Separation
$305 M $6.4 M
• TA: $5.6 M
• Local: $0.76 M
$298.6 M
Ravenswood (Menlo
Park) Grade
Separation*
$310 - $380 M $665k
• TA: $665k
$309 - $379 M
*Project is currently paused but will restart soon, figures to be updated at that time • Fully open and operational as of March 2023
• Delivered on budget and within a few months of
original target date
• San Mateo/Santa Clara border to I-380
• Encourages carpooling and transit; improves travel
time and reliability for all express lane users
Tolls Fund: Community Transporation Benefits Program
• Helps qualifying low-income San Mateo County residents cover transportation costs
• Two options:
o Clipper card with a value of $100; or
o FasTrak® toll tag/transponder with value of $100
• 1,500 benefits distributed so far
Working with Belmont
13 SamTrans
• Reimagine SamTrans
Implementation – June 2023
• Bus Stop Improvement Plan
• El Camino Real Mid-County
Transit and Multimodal
Corridor Plan (ECR Mid-County
Plan)
Transportation Authority (TA)
• Funding for Belmont Village
Pedestrian and Bicycle
Improvements