FLX Pacifica -- January 24, 2014

SamTrans is cutting off a big chunk of the route of our local bus in Pacifica and piloting a paratransit-like option on two routes.  The other is in San Carlos.  I don't remember any public hearings about this. 

http://www.samtrans.com/schedulesandmaps/Flex_Routes_Pilot_Project.html

"SamTrans to Introduce Two Flex Routes Effective Jan. 27, 2013
"As part of a one-year pilot program, SamTrans is launching two weekday bus routes that will be a mixture of fixed and flexible routing for customer convenience.  The routes – FLX Pacifica and FLX San Carlos – will serve SamTrans bus stops for the fixed routing.  For the flexible routing part of the service, the bus will pick up customers directly from their homes or other locations within the defined service area.  Buses will only stop to serve customers where it’s safe to do so and won’t go in private driveways, public parking lots or shopping centers.  SamTrans fares will apply.  SamTrans will use 25-foot wheelchair lift-equipped buses with bike racks for the pilot project.  By mid-January, route schedules and maps will be available online at www.samtrans.com/timetables, by calling 1-800-660-4287 (TTY 650-508-6448) and at the Pacifica and San Carlos city halls.

"FLX Pacifica
"Service area: The bus will travel clockwise from the Linda Mar Park & Ride along Highway 1 to Crespi Drive, Fassler Avenue, Terra Nova Boulevard, Oddstad Boulevard and back to Linda Mar Boulevard.
"Service flexibility: The bus will operate on a fixed schedule serving SamTrans bus stops.  However, customers will be able to arrange for direct service within one-half mile of the route by calling one day in advance. 
"Service hours: Buses will operate every 45 minutes weekdays from about 7 a.m. to 5:40 p.m."

"To arrange a ride: Customers will call a designated number up to one day before they want to travel.  Rides will be reserved based on availability. The reservation phone number will be available after Jan. 20."

Route map and schedule:

http://www.samtrans.com/schedulesandmaps/UpcomingChanges/FLX_Pacifica.html

SamTrans #5 -- August 9, 2013

Having eliminated my DX express bus and others in 2009, SamTrans continues to eliminate service into San Francisco.  Starting 11-August-2013, routes 390 and 391 will be replaced by the ECR (El Camino Real).  ECR will terminate at the Daly City BART station.  The name of the route disregards the work of the highly paid consultant who came up with their numbering scheme about ten years ago. 

The 411 -- January 11, 2010

SamTrans bus 411 at Colma BART station on 05-January-2010. The new bus models the new paint job.

Goodbye, DX -- December 17, 2009

Today I took my last round-trip on the DX express bus from Pacifica to San Francisco and back. The line is being cut because of the state's budget woes. I took the photo yesterday on the way home, as the bus passed through Schoolhouse Cut.

I got my shoes shined by Monroe at Second and Townsend. He's turning 71 the day after Christmas. A fire alarm went off in the building and Company 8 came over from Bluxome.

Shoes For Outings -- December 9, 2009

An ad for Kaufmann's Shoes ("Good Shoes") from the 31-May-1903 San Francisco Call. I like the use of a ferryboat in an ad that emphasizes "Shoes for Outings."

It was less cold today, but still pretty darn cold.

On the bus home today we heard two recorded announcements, one specifically about the DX going away and one about all the lines that are changing or being eliminated.

Save Our Bus #5- -- October 21, 2009

Our DX bus and many other lines will die on December 19. One driver was telling us that all they know is that there are going to be lots of layoffs, and that MV Transportation, a contractor, is going to take over surviving Pacifica services. Another driver said they were training MV drivers on the 14, which winds through the hills of Pacifica, but they weren't doing it in the dark, when the deer are out on the roads. She said that all their buses are based in San Francisco or Redwood City, so there will be days when runs won't show up.

I took the photo of 920, a 40-foot Gillig Phantom, at the Linda Mar Park and Ride lot on 01-October-2009. These buses have very comfortable seats, but are getting old.

Save Our Bus #4 -- September 11, 2009

SamTrans has released its list of service cuts and eliminations. My bus, the DX, is being eliminated. The local 14 bus is being reduced before 7am and after 4pm. The changes will take effect December 20. And a Merry Christmas to you, Mister Scrooge.

The mood of the 09/11 commemorations was different this year, with Bush out of office, although some people were screaming that the National Day of Service and Remembrance, proposed by families of 09/11 victims and passed on a bipartisan vote, was a plot by President Obama to politicize 09/11 and desecrate 09/11. How about that?

Save Our Bus #3 -- August 7, 2009

Yesterday I attended the Proposed Service and Fare Changes meeting in Half Moon Bay. Before the meeting, I asked a gentleman from SamTrans how turnout had been at the first three meetings. He said there had been about 60 at each. I later heard someone say it was 30-60 each. There were 130 people at last night's meeting. I'd say about half were from Pacifica and the rest were from Half Moon Bay, pleading for the life of the 17 bus. One person spoke about the FX, 292, and KX cuts.

The mayor of Half Moon Bay, a Pacifica councilmember, and members of the San Mateo County and Pacifica school boards were there, along with a member of the Pacifica Chamber of Commerce.

A group of people from a senior community in Half Moon Bay chartered a bus to come and make their case for the 17. Many senior citizens came from Pacifica to make a pitch for the 14.

Below is an email I sent to SamTrans to expand upon my comments.

I should add that it would be shameful to eliminate the 17. Many schoolchildren depend on it, along with most of the workers from the Nurserymen's Exchange. The manager said they sold 500 bus passes to their workers. Dwight Wilson of the Coastside Transportation Committee said that they applied for grants and ridership increased from 57,000 per year to 97,000.

=========================================

Last night I attended the Proposed Service and Fare Changes meeting in Half Moon Bay. I am sorry there was not a session in Pacifica or there would have been a better turnout of DX/CX/14 proponents. Thank you for the opportunity to speak and give my opinions. I would like to expand upon them here.

I appreciate that the current economy and budget situation have put SamTrans in a difficult position, but please consider how important bus service is to those of us who live on the Coastside. For one thing, we do not have the alternatives that people on the bay side enjoy: CalTrain, BART, redundant bus routes, and multiple north-south streets and freeways. In Pacifica, everything has to pass over Highway One. If the DX is eliminated, many of the 298 daily riders (from page 6 of the presentation) will choose to drive in the city or at least to a BART station. This will add to the strain on Highway One, which is going to get even worse when the Devil's Slide tunnel opens. If the CX is eliminated, many of the 317 people (page 7) will drive to BART stations. I hope I understood correctly that none of your proposals suggested eliminating both buses. Eliminating both would be a disaster.

If the CX and DX are combined, so some or all DX runs will drop off and pick up at Colma BART, I hope you will increase the number of DX runs, or the buses will be seriously overcrowded. Please remember that when the 1F, the old name of the DX, had every other run stop at Colma BART that most Pacificans crowded on the buses that went directly to and from the City. When the northbound runs arrived at Colma BART, a few people would get off and enough people would get on to fill all the seats in the bus. On southbound runs, most people got off at the BART station. Perhaps there is some way to discourage this behavior, like not picking up at BART on northbound runs and not dropping off on southbound runs.

Please also consider the danger to school kids and senior citizens in the San Pedro Valley if you eliminate the 14. How else are they supposed to get to school and go shopping?

Someone at the meeting suggested more aggressive selling of advertising. I like the idea. I see commercial advertisements on the outside of buses, but rarely inside. The DX I rode home today had one commercial ad, for the circus, and one questionable one, for the county fair. All the rest of the ads were public service-related. I assume you don't get any revenue for those. There was plenty of room for more ads. I know the economy is weak, but stores like Safeway derive a lot of benefit from people who ride buses.

Regards,

Joe Thompson

Train Station #13 -- August 5, 2009

Northspur Station is at the mid point of the California Western Railroad. Half day trips from Fort Bragg stop there for lunch. I took the photo in July, 2006.

Tomorrow night at 6pm there will be a meeting to discuss the fate of public transit on the Coastside. SamTrans wants to eliminate the CX to Colma BART, the DX to San Francisco, the 14 which is the only public transit up the San Pedro Valley, and the 17, which is the only public transit south of Half Moon Bay along the coast. The meeting will be at Cunha Intermediate School, 600 Church St., Half Moon Bay.

Save Our Bus #2 -- July 15, 2009

This morning the take one box on the bus had pink fliers about the service reductions and eliminations.

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SamTrans Sets Community Meetings: Proposed Service Reductions/Fare Increase

Faced with a budget deficit of $28.4 million, SamTrans will hold four community meetings to receive public comments about proposed fixed-route and paratransit service reductions and fare increases.

These changes are proposed pursuant to direction from the SamTrans Board of Directors to analyze and consider cuts of up to 15 percent. These are only proposals. Community meetings to accept public comment on the proposals will be held on July 27, 28, 29 and Aug. 6, and the Board will conduct a public hearing Aug. 12.

The following routes are under consideration for elimination, modification or reduction:

Express Service


Route CX – Pacifica to Colma BART

Route DX – Pacifica to San Francisco

Route FX – Foster City, Mariners Island, 3rd Ave & Hwy. 101 to Downtown San Francisco

Route KX – Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Atherton, Redwood City, San Carlos, Belmont, to SFO and San Francisco

Route MX –San Mateo, Burlingame, Millbrae, San Bruno to SF Civic Center and SF Transbay Terminal

Route NX – Redwood Shores, San Mateo 101/92 Park & Ride to Downtown San Francisco

Route PX – Redwood City, San Carlos, Belmont, San Mateo to San Francisco

Route RX – Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Atherton, Redwood City, San Carlos, Belmont, San Mateo to San Francisco

Coastside

Route 14 – Pacifica to Colma BART

Route 17 – Pacifica to San Francisco

San Bruno, Millbrae, Burlingame

Route 141 - Downtown San Bruno, San Bruno BART, San Bruno Senior Center

Route 342 - Millbrae Intermodal Station, Downtown Millbrae, Mills Estate, Millbrae Highlands

Belmont, San Carlos


Route 262 - Carlmont Village, Downtown Belmont, Sterling Downs, Hillsdale Shopping Center

Redwood City

Route 270 - Redwood City Caltrain Station, Kaiser Hospital, Seaport Village, Harbor Village, Marsh Road (Menlo Park)

Menlo Park, East Palo Alto, Palo Alto


Route 280 - Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto Caltrain Station, East Palo Alto, Ravenswood Shopping Center

Route 281 - Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto Caltrain Station, East Palo Alto, Onetta Harris Community Center

Multi-City Service


Route 390 - Daly City BART, Colma, South San Francisco, San Bruno, Millbrae, Burlingame, San Mateo, Belmont, San Carlos, Redwood City, Atherton, Menlo Park, Palo Alto

Route 391 - San Francisco (limited), Daly City, Colma BART, South San Francisco, San Bruno, Millbrae, Burlingame, San Mateo, Belmont, San Carlos, Redwood City

Route 292 - Hillsdale Shopping Center, San Mateo, Burlingame, San Francisco International Airport, United Airlines Maintenance Base, South San Francisco, Brisbane, San Francisco

Route 295 - Downtown San Mateo, Hillsdale Shopping Center, Sequoia Hospital, Redwood City, Menlo Park

Route 297 - Redwood City, Palo Alto

Route 397 - San Francisco, South San Francisco, San Francisco International Airport, Burlingame, San Mateo, Belmont, San Carlos, Redwood City, Palo Alto

Other possible changes include:

• 
  Increasing the adult fare by up to 25 cents and all other fare media by a corresponding amount
  


• 
  Increasing paratransit fares by up to 75 cents
  


• 
  Reducing paratransit service to correspond to bus service changes
  


• 
  Eliminating the 15 percent discount on SamTrans passes with the purchase of the Muni sticker
  


• 
  Other changes to the language of the Codified Tariff to be consistent with partner agencies
  

The changes are under consideration because the Transit District is facing a $28.4 million shortfall for the current fiscal year.

Several factors contributed to the shortfall: since Fiscal Year 2008 more than $11 million in state funds, which make up approximately 22 percent of the operating budget, have been eliminated. The District also has been impacted by the recession and job losses: sales tax revenues, which provide 44 percent of the District’s revenue, are down 5 percent so far for FY2009. Interest income also has declined, and ridership is beginning to drop.

SamTrans has already implemented a number of cost-cutting measures to reduce the deficit. A new fuel hedging program, which will set a cap on the price the District pays for diesel fuel, is expected to save approximately $1 million. Midyear, staff scrutinized the operating budget line by line, successfully cutting or deferring $750,000 in expenses. Currently, the agency is undergoing an extensive reorganization; layoffs are anticipated this fall. A fare increase, which will generate approximately $1.5 million annually, went into effect last February.

The meetings will take place at 6 p.m. on the following dates and locations:

• 
  July 27 - Municipal Building
  
  33 Arroyo Drive, South San Francisco
  


• 
  July 28 - SamTrans headquarters
  
  1250 San Carlos Ave., San Carlos
  


• 
  July 29 - City Council Chambers
  
  701 Laurel St. , Menlo Park
  


• 
  Aug. 6 - Cunha Intermediate School
  
  600 Church St., Half Moon Bay
  

For more information about SamTrans or Caltrain schedules, call Customer Service at 1-800-660-4287 (TTY 650-508-6448).

Comments will be accepted up until the Aug. 12 public hearing. To comment, attend one of the community meetings or public hearing, send e-mail to changes@samtrans.com, send regular mail to District Secretary, SamTrans, P.O. Box 3006, San Carlos, CA 94070-1306, or call 1.800.660.4287 (TDD for hearing impaired only 650.508.6448).

Hearing impaired and non-English speaking public hearing or meeting attendees may arrange for sign language or foreign language translation by calling 650-508-6242 at least three business days prior to the hearing or meeting.

07/15/09 - crd

Media Contact: Christine Dunn, 650-508-6238

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The National League lost the All Star Game again. Lincecum started and did ok.

Lay Over -- July 7, 2009

I got off the bus at the park and ride lot this afternoon and noticed that a section was coned off. The parking lines had been blacked out and it had been divided into three lanes where buses will lay over. The usual area where they lay over, parallel to Linda Mar Boulevard, also got restriped and painted with the words.

Save Our Bus #1 -- July 1, 2009

My daughter pointed out that an article in today's Pacifica Tribune says that SamTrans wants to eliminate most bus service to and in Pacifica, including the 14, the CX, and the DX. I ride the DX to and from work every day. I'm working on a letter to the editor and a letter to SamTrans management. They seem determined to put as many autos as possible on Highway One.

Karl Malden died. Good actor.

SamTrans #4 -- March 13, 2009

Yesterday when I was on my way home, I saw this Spare the Air wrapper on coach 609, a 40 foot Gillig Phantom, at the Park and Ride.

It's Hard Work Being a Cat #18 - December 26, 2008

My wife took this on Christmas Day after we opened the presents. All rights reserved.

I'm really enjoying the phonograph/cd player/cassette player/am-fm radio. My daughter got me an Arcadia book about SF State.

Everyone came to our house. It was crowded but nice. Very cold outside.

Today there were three passengers on the northbound bus. Not many people in the office. I came home early.

Eartha Kitt died. "Santa Baby" is a favorite with the family.

Harold Pinter (pause) died. Perhaps I am just a Philistine, but I have never gotten much out of his work.

Good Friday -- March 21, 2008

It's not letting me upload an image today.

It was very busy at work. I didn't get to go to church at Noon. There weren't many people on the bus going in or coming home.

Big Storm #2 -- January 25, 2008

Yesterday I noticed that samTrans had put up a new bus shelter. Years ago the old shelter was single width. Then they expanded it to double width. The new shelter is single width, and has no bench. That will be hard on a few commuters and lots of high school kids who hang out in the afternoon.

Also yesterday, when the bus home dove down the hill and took the Manor exit, we noticed that the McDonalds had been torn down.

It has rained all day today. At lunch time, I went downstairs to look. It was coming down hard.

My wife called in the afternoon and said someone had mentioned that there was flooding on Linda Mar Boulevard near the Park and Ride.

I took the first bus home, which goes on 101, and it was a slow ride. When we got to Crespi, we saw many cars heading towards the beach. The driver stopped at Linda Mar and De Solo and said "It's flooded." We got off and walked to the Park and Ride lot. There were saw horses blocking westbound Linda Mar at De Solo and a police car parked at the first turn into the shopping center. Traffic was allowed eastbound, but there was a big puddle at the main driveway from the shopping center. I got into the car and went to pull out, and found that a bunch of cars had run around the saw horses. I'm not sure if the police were getting ready to open the road.

I drove home slowly. The lights have flickered, but have stayed on so far.

I took this photo on 05-January-2008 at Palmetto and Carmel. Today I didn't want to get my camera wet.

Big Storm -- January 4, 2008

I was worried yesterday morning when KCBS said the Coast Guard had cancelled all leaves because of the series of approaching storms.

It rained yesterday, but it wasn't strong. I took this photo at the park and ride, showing the clearing sky over San Pedro Mountain.

We heard the wind blowing and rain falling all night. The power went out when I got to the bottom of the stairs in the morning, but came right back on. When I left the house, I misjudged my jump and didn't get across the big puddle near the driveway. I drove slowly to the beach, avoiding fallen branches.

When I got to the park and ride lot, I leaned against the wind and walked to the shelter, looking forward to getting inside. First I noticed that the two windows on the landward side had blown out. Then I noticed that the translucent roof on the ocean side was on the floor of the shelter, upside-down and shattered. I picked past it and stood in the rain, waiting for the bus. Then I noticed that the metal frame of the shelter was rocking back and forth in the wind. I thought about getting out of there, but our DX driver took pity and pulled up to let me on.

It was a long, slow trip into the city. The power went off again before the bus pulled out, but came on again right away. The power was off again by the time we got to Vallemar. I got a call from a member of the team who wanted to work from home. Another guy in Elk Grove didn't have power till 1pm.

The school where my wife teaches was closed. She and my daughter got home and found a leak upstairs. The management company sent someone to look. Some shingles had blown off the roof.

The wind and rain died down after noon.

Big Day Today #2 -- December 19, 2007

Yesterday morning it was raining as I rode the DX into the city. The bus I usually ride in the morning takes Ninth Street. When we turned onto Mission, the driver said "Looks like there's a fire up ahead." We could see several sets of flashing lights. She turned down Eighth to Folsom and then back up Seventh. We had a bad time turning back onto Mission from Seventh. The fire was between Seventh and Eighth, on the south side of the street.

I learned later that it was the Knights of the Red Branch building which was burning.

At lunchtime, I walked in the light rain to the Borders by the ball park to get gift cards for the members of my team. Then I handed out my Christmas cards.

When I left work to catch the bus home, a lady at the stop said that Mission was still closed and the building was still burning. This was a DX that takes Sixth Street, so we didn't have to detour, but traffic was terrible. The DPT people were turning traffic off of Mission onto Sixth rather than Seventh, I suppose because Sixth has two-way traffic.

This morning when the alarm went off, KCBS said Mission was still closed. The fire had burned all night. I surmised that the fire department was afraid the building was going to collapse. The Chronicle website confirmed that it is going to have to be demolished. This morning the driver went down Folsom to Sixth and over to Mission. That worked much better.

Today I spent the day building a new desktop at work. My old one died two weeks ago and I have been using my laptop, which is not as good ergonomically. I didn't finish installing everything I need, but I made a good start.

At lunchtime, I went to Patrick's Office Supplies and See's Candy to buy stocking stuffers.

When I left to come home, I caught a Tenth Street DX. The driver turned on Sixth and went over to Howard, then straight out Howard to Tenth. Traffic was terrible on 101.

I took the photo at the Linda Mar Park and Ride lot on 07-August-2007. It shows Gillig Phantom 40-foot low floor bus number 316.

Catching Up #1 - September 12, 2007

I had a great time participating in the Slapstick Blog-a-Thon. Now I need to do a little catching-up.

1. Luciano Pavarotti passed on last week. He had a remarkable voice. My grandfather talked about Caruso; I'm sorry he didn't live to hear Pavarotti. Pavarotti's voice was not so dark, but he could do many things with it.

I went to see him in person once, at the Opera House, in a memorial to Mayor George Moscone. Unfortunately, Pavarotti did not show up. In his place, they had Frank Sinatra. That was all right ;0)

2. Yesterday was the sixth anniversary of 09/11/2001. I remembered a dream I had had the next night, of an airliner crashing into the Bank of America building.

3. Saturday, we went to the Cartoon Art Museum on Mission Street. The main exhibit was a show of political cartoons from around the world called "Why Do They Hate Us?" Many of them were not as harsh as what we do in this country. There was also a Peanuts exhibit, Edward Gorey's designs for Dracula, animation items, including two drawings by Winsor McKay, and a nice selection from the general collection. While the family visited the Gap store at Powell and Market, I watched two cable cars get towed away because the cable had stopped. I'll post videos on YouTube.

4. This may be the only time I ever mention football in this blog, but Monday I got off the SamTrans bus at the park and ride lot in Pacifica, and it was full of cars. And there were a bunch of people dressed in red. Then I realized that the Forty-Niners were playing Monday Night Football at Candlestick. I had never seen a Ballpark Express bus there on a weekday because Monday Night Football games usually start around 5pm. This game was starting at 7:15pm for some reason.

The bus, 118, an articulated, was signed for line 810.

samTrans #3 - August 7, 2007

Today I rode home with driver 1001, only the second time I have seen a four-digit number. She managed to hit the spot where the bus passes from Sixth Street to the 280 Extension just right and I rose a good six inches in the air and slammed down hard. Not every driver can do that properly.

I took the photo at the Linda Mar Park and Ride lot on 07-August-2007. It shows Gillig Phantom 40-foot low floor bus number 316. Today I was on 35-foot bus 740.