In last years SamTrans Coast-side meetings there was strong support to bring back the HMB-Pacifica-Downtown SF express bus. It is a disappointment that SamTrans did not even address the request (see their response to the Coastside transit study below). There is a grass-roots effort to strongly bring this up at the upcoming SamTrans meetings – see below
Invite from SamTrans:
We would like to invite you to attend a community meeting to learn about the findings from the SamTrans Coastside Study, an analysis of coastal transit service and recommendations for improvement.
Tuesday, January 30, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Ted Adcock Community Center, Grand Oak Room, 535 Kelly Avenue, Half Moon Bay
Thursday, February 1, 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Pacifica Community Center, Auditorium, 540 Crespi Dr, Pacifica
Additionally, at the Pacifica meeting attendees will hear a presentation on Get Us Moving San Mateo County and have the opportunity to provide feedback on transportation priorities in the County. Get Us Moving is a collaborative effort between SamTrans, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, and partner agencies and groups to develop a San Mateo County Transportation Funding Plan. Residents can also participate by taking the short survey at www.GetUsMovingSMC.com
SamTrans Response to Coastside study:
Coastside Transit Stakeholders:
Earlier this year, SamTrans launched a study of Coastside transit service. To gather community feedback, staff conducted two public meetings in Pacifica and Half Moon Bay and also received input via the study webpage. Since then, SamTrans staff has reviewed origin/destination trip data for the Coastside and recent and historic operations data, such as ridership and cost per passenger. Based on input from the community and technical analysis, SamTrans staff have developed a set of Coastside service recommendations for both near-term and longer-term implementation.
Near-term improvements:
- Extension of the 118 route to serve Daly City BART. Route 118 currently serves Colma BART. By extending service to Daly City BART, passengers will have new access to a BART station with twice as much train service and a slightly less expensive fare for trips heading north into San Francisco. The current route will not change. This change will occur in January 2018.
- Introduction of one additional trip in the evening on the 118. The new trip will depart Daly City BART around 7:30 pm. This will offer more flexibility to passengers that require a later connection between BART and SamTrans. This change will occur in January 2018.
- Educate the community on how to use the FLX service in Pacifica. We heard there was confusion around how to use the FLX service in Pacifica. This outreach will seek to spread information on how to call SamTrans to request a deviation on the FLX route, as well as how to use the FLX route as a normal service with stops and timetables. Timing of this information campaign is being developed.
Longer-term improvements, requiring significant resource investment, which will be further studied individually by SamTrans staff:
- Introduction of an express bus route between Half Moon Bay and Daly City BART.This service would run on weekdays at 30-minute frequency in the peak commute periods and hourly in the midday periods.
- Invest in physical improvements at Linda Mar park-and-ride, such as secure bike parking, better waiting areas, restrooms, and other amenities. This would require significant coordination with Caltrans, the owner of the park-and-ride, and the City of Pacifica.