The San Mateo County Transit District, which oversees SamTrans in San Carlos, CA, recently introduced a comprehensive set of service changes as a result of a two-year study that will change nearly every route in the bus system to improve frequency and reliability and make schedules more customer-friendly.

The SamTrans Service Plan (SSP) sets the agency on a path to improve efficiency, grow ridership, and increase reliability by doing “more of what works, less of what doesn’t, and trying new things,” agency officials said.

To lay the groundwork for the changes, SamTrans conducted an extensive community outreach campaign, which yielded more than 1,200 comments from dozens of public meetings.

“The SamTrans route network is undergoing one of the most extensive overhauls in the agency’s 38-year history,” said Michael J. Scanlon, general manager and chief executive officer. “It was a long process, with hours upon hours of outreach and involvement by riders and community members, to bring us to this point.

“But it was well worth it to ensure we heard from as many people, cities, businesses, and organizations as possible. This will lay the foundation for the next decade of SamTrans growth,” Scanlon added.

One key recommendation of the plan is for SamTrans to collaborate with the nearby communities of San Carlos and Pacifica to identify transportation gaps and develop creative solutions, including fixed route schedules, demand-based service, and “dial-a-ride” service.