San Mateo County Grand Jury
• 2018-2019
Just Missed It! Fixing Samtrans’ “caltrain Connection” Issue | Summary | Background | Discussion | Findings |
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 9 findings
F1
Under SamTrans’ current “Caltrain Connection” bus schedules for the morning weekday commute, only 35 percent of buses are scheduled to arrive at Caltrain stations between 5 and 15 minutes before the next train is scheduled to depart.
No recommendations for this finding
F2
Under SamTrans’ current “Caltrain Connection” bus schedules for the evening weekday commute, only 43 percent of buses are scheduled to depart Caltrain stations between 5 and 15 minutes after the previous train is scheduled to arrive.
No recommendations for this finding
F3
SamTrans could set its “Caltrain Connection” bus schedule arrival times at Caltrain stations to increase the numbers of buses that arrive at train stations between 5 and 15 minutes before the next train departs.
No recommendations for this finding
F4
SamTrans has not studied the feasibility or desirability of setting “Caltrain Connection” bus schedule times to facilitate transfers between these buses and Caltrain trains, nor the extent of commuter demand for better coordinating these bus and train schedules.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
SamTrans should study the feasibility of coordinating “Caltrain Connection” bus schedules with existing Caltrain train schedules to facilitate bus/train transfers and minimize wait times. The SamTrans Board of Directors should consider the results of that study at a public hearing
F5
Caltrain has not studied the extent of train commuter demand for better coordinating “Caltrain Connection” bus schedules with train schedules so as to facilitate their using SamTrans for commuting between home and the Caltrain station.
Related Recommendations (2)
R2
SamTrans should perform marketing research on existing and potential riders of “Caltrain Connection” buses, including those who use Caltrain, to determine their interest in coordinating “Caltrain Connection” bus schedules with existing Caltrain schedules. The SamTrans Board of Directors should consider the results of that survey at a public hearing
R3
Caltrain should survey existing riders of Caltrain trains in San Mateo County, including those who use SamTrans, to determine their interest in coordinating “Caltrain Connection” bus schedule arrival times at Caltrain stations with existing Caltrain schedules. The Caltrain Board of Directors should consider the results of that study at a public hearing
F6
While coordinating SamTrans fixed-route bus schedules with Caltrain train schedules for service between home and Caltrain stations could attract current Caltrain riders who now travel from home by car and park at Caltrain stations, no data has been collected by SamTrans or Caltrain to support this hypothesis.
No recommendations for this finding
F7
Before 2018, SamTrans did not identify reduction of traffic congestion as one of its objectives.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
The Boards of Directors of SamTrans and Caltrain should discuss together the value and feasibility of using “Caltrain Connection” buses as a feeder system to Caltrain to reduce traffic congestion. This should be undertaken
F8
Within the text of the recently passed Measure W, which was authored by SamTrans and will be carried out by SamTrans and the TA, the included Congestion Relief Plan states that SamTrans will “[i]ncentivize transit, bicycle, pedestrian, carpooling and other shared- ride options over driving alone” and that “[i]nvestments will be designed to increase ridership, improve efficiency, and reduce congestion within the County by facilitating the creation of new services that incentivize more riders to choose public transit.” 24 SamTrans, Market Segmentation Study – Summary Report, Spring 2018 http://www.samtrans.com/Assets/_MarketDevelopment/pdf/SamTrans+Market+Segmentation+Study+Report.pdf
No recommendations for this finding
F9
SamTrans officials state that “Caltrain Connection” routes are not a feeder service to Caltrain. The designation “Caltrain Connection” refers to the fact that these routes provide connection to Caltrain stations, not that the buses connect to Caltrain trains.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
The Boards of Directors of SamTrans and Caltrain should discuss together the value and feasibility of using “Caltrain Connection” buses as a feeder system to Caltrain to reduce traffic congestion. This should be undertaken
No Responses Found 1
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.