The San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans) in San Carlos, CA, has begun collecting data from its riders as part of its Service Plan effort. The agency conducted five public meetings in July to gather input.

So far, SamTrans has discovered that approximately 40 percent of its ridership consists of people between ages 13 and 24—who may be more likely to keep riding because of their early introduction to public transportation. Other concerns raised at the meetings include changes to the SamTrans web site to make it more user-friendly; late-night service to college campuses; and improving connections with other public transit services.

SamTrans plans to work with the data it has already gathered and present it at community workshops in September.

The ultimate purpose of the plan, due for completion early next year, is to design improved transit service in San Mateo County, both in the short term (two to five years) and the long term (15 years). Specific goals are to:

* Maintain service quality, particularly safety, along with any service modifications;
* Maximize efficiency while maintaining high-quality service;
* Maintain core services to markets that serve transit-dependent populations, seniors, and persons with disabilities;
* Invest resources where they will have the maximum benefit to customers; and
* Increase efficiency and effectiveness of SamTrans service.