Editing SamTrans (section)

== Bus service ==
Currently, SamTrans serves the cities of [[San Mateo County, California|San Mateo County]], including [[Atherton, California|Atherton]], [[Belmont, California|Belmont]], [[Brisbane, California|Brisbane]], [[Burlingame, California|Burlingame]], [[Colma, California|Colma]], [[Daly City, California|Daly City]], [[East Palo Alto, California|East Palo Alto]], [[Foster City, California|Foster City]], [[Half Moon Bay, California|Half Moon Bay]], [[Hillsborough, California|Hillsborough]], [[Menlo Park, California|Menlo Park]], [[Millbrae, California|Millbrae]], [[Pacifica, California|Pacifica]], [[Palo Alto, California|Palo Alto]], [[Redwood City, California|Redwood City]], [[Redwood Shores, California|Redwood Shores]], [[San Bruno, California|San Bruno]], [[San Carlos, California|San Carlos]], [[San Mateo, California|San Mateo]], and [[South San Francisco, California|South San Francisco]]. Most routes provide connecting service to [[Bay Area Rapid Transit|BART]], [[Caltrain]], or both. There is also regular scheduled service to [[San Francisco International Airport]] (SFO) and [[San Francisco Transbay Terminal|Transbay Terminal]] in downtown San Francisco.

Unlike most large transit operators in the Bay Area, SamTrans [[Outsourcing|outsources]] to private contractors the operation of a number of its routes. The current contract operator for Peninsula mainline, Coastside and paratransit services is [[MV Transportation]].

SamTrans previously operated special service for a couple of Bay Area events such as [[San Francisco 49ers]] home [[American football|football]] games and the quirky [[Bay to Breakers]] footrace in San Francisco.

=== Route designations ===
{| class=wikitable style="font-size: 85%;text-align: center;"
|+ style="font-size: 110%;" | samTrans route numbering scheme<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 17, 2002 |title=Schedules |url=http://www.samtrans.com/schedules.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021217014812/http://www.samtrans.com:80/schedules.html |archive-date=December 17, 2002 |access-date=August 1, 2018 |publisher=samTrans}}</ref>{{efn|One exception is for Route ECR, which designates the line that replaced Routes 390 and 391, operating along El Camino Real between Daly City and Palo Alto.}}{{efn|Another exception is for Route FLX, a circulator route in Pacifica.}}{{efn|Another exception is for Route SFO, a loop route between Millbrae Intermodal Station and San Francisco International Airport.}}
|-
! style="font-size: 350%;" colspan=2 | 2
! style="font-size: 350%;" colspan=3 | 9
! style="font-size: 350%;" colspan=2 | 2
|-
| colspan=2 | Transit connections
| colspan=3 | Areas served / Express sequence<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013 |title=Timetables |url=http://www.samtrans.com/schedulesandmaps/timetables.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130805190621/http://www.samtrans.com/schedulesandmaps/timetables.html |archive-date=August 5, 2013 |access-date=August 1, 2018 |publisher=samTrans}}</ref>
| colspan=2 | Sequence number / Express
|-
! scope="col" style="width:5%;font-size:150%;" | —
| scope="col" style="width:28%;" | "Community route", no inter-agency connection{{efn|In general, express routes do connect with other Bay Area transit agencies, including [[Bay Area Rapid Transit|BART]], [[Caltrain]], [[San Francisco Municipal Railway|Muni]], [[AC Transit]], and [[Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority|VTA]], despite the lack of the third-digit designator.}}
! scope="col" style="width:5%;font-size:150%;" | A
| colspan=2 | Sequential alphabetic designator for express route{{efn|For example, the first express route was AX, followed by BX, CX, DX, etc.}}
! scope="col" style="width:5%;font-size:150%;" | X
| scope="col" style="width:28%;" | Designates express service
|-
! style="font-size:150%;color:blue;" |1
| Connects to [[Bay Area Rapid Transit|BART]]
! style="font-size:150%;" |1
| colspan=2 | Coastside
! style="font-size:150%;" |0
| Sequential number assigned to numbered routes
|-
! style="font-size:150%;color:red;" |2
| Connects to [[Caltrain]]
! style="font-size:150%;" |2
| scope="col" style="width:10%;" rowspan=3 | North County
| scope="col" style="width:18%;" | [[Colma, California|Colma]] / [[Daly City, California|Daly City]]
| rowspan=8 colspan=2 |&nbsp;
|-
! style="font-size:150%;color:green;" |3
| Connects to BART and Caltrain
! style="font-size:150%;" |3
| [[Brisbane, California|Brisbane]] / [[South San Francisco, California|South San Francisco]]
|-
| rowspan=6 colspan=2 |&nbsp;
! style="font-size:150%;" |4
| [[San Bruno, California|San Bruno]] / [[Millbrae, California|Millbrae]] / [[Burlingame, California|Burlingame]]
|-
! style="font-size:150%;" |5
| rowspan=3 | Mid County
| [[San Mateo, California|San Mateo]] / [[Foster City, California|Foster City]] / [[Redwood Shores, California|Redwood Shores]] 
|-
! style="font-size:150%;" |6
| [[Belmont, California|Belmont]] / [[San Carlos, California|San Carlos]]
|-
! style="font-size:150%;" |7
| [[Redwood City, California|Redwood City]]
|-
! style="font-size:150%;" |8
| South County
| [[Menlo Park, California|Menlo Park]] / [[East Palo Alto, California|East Palo Alto]] / [[Palo Alto, California|Palo Alto]]
|-
! style="font-size:150%;" |9
| colspan=2 | Multi-city service
|}

;Notes
{{notelist|30em}}

SamTrans reorganized its bus routes in August 1999 and adopted a new route designation system to identify service types, geographical coverage, and connections to [[Rail transport|rail services]].

=== Routes ===
{{Main|List of SamTrans bus lines}}

Local routes have either two or three digits or a special designation (e.g., '''<span style="color:green;">ECR</span>'''). For three-digit routes, the first digit identifies a rail connection:

*'''<span style="color:blue;">1</span>''' – Connection to [[Bay Area Rapid Transit|BART]] stations only (primarily routes in [[Daly City, California|Daly City]], [[Colma, California|Colma]], [[South San Francisco, California|South San Francisco]] and [[San Bruno, California|San Bruno]])
*'''<span style="color:red;">2</span>''' – Connection to [[Caltrain]] stations only (primarily routes south of [[Millbrae, California|Millbrae]]) (Route '''<span style="color:red;">292</span>''', with service between San Francisco and [[San Mateo, California|San Mateo]], only began connecting to BART at Millbrae in 2022;<ref>{{cite web |title=Rider's Digest: Upcoming Service Changes Effective August 7, 2022 |url=https://www.samtrans.com/media/21041/download |website=SamTrans |access-date=4 April 2025}}</ref> since it originally served Caltrain stations but no BART stations, its first digit is '''<span style="color:red;">2</span>'''.)
*'''<span style="color:green;">3</span>''' – Connection to both BART and Caltrain stations ('''<span style="color:green;">ECR</span>''', previously designated '''<span style="color:green;">390</span>''' and '''<span style="color:green;">391</span>''', provides service between [[Palo Alto, California|Palo Alto]] and Daly City, '''<span style="color:green;">397</span>''' provides overnight service between San Francisco and Palo Alto as a part of the [[All Nighter (night bus service)|All Nighter]] network, and '''<span style="color:green;">ECR OWL</span>''', previously designated '''<span style="color:green;">399</span>''', provides overnight service between Daly City and [[San Francisco International Airport]] as a part of the All Nighter network.) 

All two-digit routes are community service routes. Most of these routes do not connect with rail and operate only on school days.

==== Express routes ====
[[Express bus]] routes are designated by two letters followed by X; previously, just one letter preceded the X. In December 2009, six express routes (DX, FX, MX, NX, PX, and RX)<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 2009 |title=Service Reductions & Alternate Transportation |url=http://samtrans.com/pdf/SamTrans_Service_Reduction_Elimination_Guide_2009.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100115212056/http://samtrans.com/pdf/SamTrans_Service_Reduction_Elimination_Guide_2009.pdf |archive-date=January 15, 2010 |access-date=July 14, 2018 |publisher=SamTrans}}</ref> were eliminated due to high budget constraints; a seventh express route, Route CX, was redesignated Route 118, and then replaced by route PCX in 2024.<ref>{{cite web |title=Timetable Updates effective August 4, 2024 |url=https://www.samtrans.com/schedules/timetableupdates |website=SamTrans |access-date=4 April 2025}}</ref> In August 2018, express route, KX, was folded into Route 398,<ref name="RDigest-2018-08">{{Cite web |date=August 2018 |title=Rider's Digest |url=http://www.samtrans.com/Assets/Rider$!27s+Digest+-+August+2018.pdf |access-date=August 1, 2018 |publisher=samTrans}}</ref> which was replaced by new express route EPX in February 2024.<ref>{{cite web |title=Reimagine SamTrans Phase 3 Implementation |url=https://www.samtrans.com/media/32514/download |website=SamTrans |access-date=4 April 2025}}</ref> Express route FCX, between Foster City and San Francisco, debuted in August 2019<ref>{{cite web |title=Express Bus Service Foster City <=> San Francisco |url=https://www.samtrans.com/media/6393/download |website=SamTrans |access-date=4 April 2025}}</ref>

In April 2017, SamTrans identified fifteen potential express bus routes connecting the Peninsula counties of [[San Francisco County, California|San Francisco]], [[San Mateo County, California|San Mateo]], and [[Santa Clara County, California|Santa Clara]]. Most of the potential routes ran along [[Bayshore Freeway|U.S. 101]], and some were planned to take advantage of [[managed lane]]s to provide speedier service. By June 2018, the list of potential bus routes was reduced to eight.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018 |title=US-101 Express Bus Feasibility Study |url=http://www.samtrans.com/Planning/Planning_and_Research/US-101_Express_Bus_Feasibility_Study.html |access-date=August 1, 2018 |publisher=SamTrans}}</ref><ref name="FEBFS-2018">{{Cite report |url=http://www.samtrans.com/Assets/_Planning/pdf/Final+Express+Bus+Feasibility+Study.pdf?v=2 |title=US-101 Express Bus Feasibility Study |date=November 2018 |publisher=samTrans |access-date=December 7, 2018}}</ref> The draft final report was released in November 2018, and the Board adopted it in December.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=SamTrans Board Adopts Express Bus Study |date=December 5, 2018 |publisher=samTrans |url=http://www.samtrans.com/about/MediaRelations/news/SamTrans_Board_Adopts_Express_Bus_Study.html |access-date=December 7, 2018}}</ref> SamTrans relaunched express bus service in August 2019 from [[Foster City, California|Foster City]] to downtown San Francisco along U.S. 101, followed by a second route in Spring/Summer of 2020 from Palo Alto to western San Francisco along [[Interstate 280 in California|I-280]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Clark, Zachary |date=December 7, 2018 |title=Express buses set for rollout |work=San Mateo Daily Journal |url=https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/express-buses-set-for-rollout/article_280ead82-f9d3-11e8-9047-671e56669479.html |access-date=December 7, 2018}}</ref> The Foster City–San Francisco route was launched as FCX in August 2019, but ridership and frequency have been adversely impacted by the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the San Francisco Bay Area]]. The launch of the other proposed express route planned for Phase 1, PAX (Palo Alto to western San Francisco), has been delayed indefinitely and there is currently no exact or estimated date for it to begin operation. Phase 2 of the express bus plan includes two additional routes: EPX (East Palo Alto to San Bruno) and an un-named route (San Mateo to downtown San Francisco); EPX was launched in 2023 after SamTrans completed acquisition of [[New Flyer Xcelsior|XE40]] battery-electric buses.<ref>{{cite report |url=https://www.samtrans.com/media/5964/download?inline |title=Award of contract for the purchase of seven battery electric buses through a Commonwealth of Virginia cooperative purchasing contract and increase the Fiscal Year 2021 capital budget by $8,802,841 for a total capital budget of $20,701,363 |author=Hansel, Derek |author2=Olmeda, David |date=June 2, 2021 |publisher=San Mateo County Transit District |access-date=13 June 2022}}</ref>

=== Fares ===
''Since January 1, 2020''<ref>[http://www.samtrans.com/fares/farechart.html SamTrans Fare Chart]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 1, 2020 |title=2020 Fare Changes |url=http://www.samtrans.com/fares/farechanges.html |access-date=January 16, 2020 |publisher=samTrans}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan=2 | Fare category
! Cash/{{efn|No change cards provided after April 1, 2020.}}<br />Mobile{{efn|Purchases made using the samTrans mobile app for smartphones.}}
! Clipper
! Transfers{{efn|For riders who hold a single-ride local fare, within two hours of purchase, when purchased using Clipper or samTrans mobile app.}}{{efn|Transfers for riders who have purchased express fare to local service are free, when purchased using samTrans mobile app.}} &<br /> Reciprocity{{efn|For holders of samTrans local monthly passes, [[AC Transit]]/[[Dumbarton Express]] 31-day tickets, [[Caltrain]] 2-zone monthly passes, or [[Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority|VTA]] monthly passes}}
! Day pass
! Monthly pass
|-
! rowspan=2 | Adult{{efn|Ages 19–64}}
| Local
| $2.25
| $2.05
| –
| $4.50
| $65.60
|-
| Express{{efn|name=Express|Fare for express routes, such as FCX.}}
| $4.50
| $4.00
| $1.95{{efn|$2.25 for holders of local day passes.}}
| bgcolor="gray" |
| $130
|-
! rowspan=2 | Youth{{efn|Ages 6–18}} &<br />Eligible Discount{{efn|Eligible discounts apply to riders who are Senior (Ages 65+), Disabled, or Medicare cardholder}}
| Local
| $1.10
| $1.00
| –
| $2.00
| $27
|-
| Express{{efn|name=Express}}
| $2.25
| $2.00
| $1.00
| colspan="2" bgcolor="gray" |
|-
|}

;Notes
{{notelist}}

As of December 22, 2010, [[Clipper card]] fare machines became fully operational throughout the system, allowing riders to pay fares using Clipper card, a transit smart card that is also accepted by most other Bay Area transit agencies.

Clipper cards come in four varieties: adult, youth, senior and disabled (which includes Medicare cardholders). Adult Clipper cards may be obtained from a wide variety of vendors, but youth, senior and disabled Clipper cards must be obtained from SamTrans or another Bay Area transit agency. Each Clipper card contains some sort of stored value (e.g., monthly passes, "Clipper Cash" e-funds used for transit fares) and the history of recent trips using the card. Clipper cards generally confer an approximately 10% discount relative to cash fares.

SamTrans does not provide physical [[transfer_(public_transit)|transfers]], but Clipper cards offer free transfers to other SamTrans buses within 2 hours of the first boarding.<ref>{{cite web |title=Free 2-Hour Transfers|publisher=samTrans|access-date=April 12, 2023|url=https://www.samtrans.com/fares/fare-chart/free-2-hour-transfers}}</ref> SamTrans additionally offers a Day Pass which allows unlimited rides on local routes and a credit on higher-cost routes.  The cost of the Day Pass is thrice the one-way fare on the local routes for adults, youth, and seniors/disabled/Medicare cardholders.

With the exception of youth summer passes, all SamTrans monthly passes must be loaded onto a Clipper card. Youth, senior and disabled monthly passes may only be loaded onto a corresponding Clipper card obtained from SamTrans or another Bay Area transit agency.

To ride SamTrans with Clipper card, the card must be "tagged" (read) by the Clipper card reader installed at the front of the bus near the farebox.  The reader checks for a SamTrans monthly pass and local-fare credits from other agencies, computes the remaining fare and (if there is one) collects it in Clipper Cash.  Note that northbound passengers on route KX to San Francisco must "tag" their Clipper card twice: once when boarding within San Mateo County (which collects a local fare or equivalent) and once before exiting in San Francisco (which collects any remaining fare).

Caltrain monthly passes (with two or more zones) and VTA monthly passes (that have been tagged on VTA in the last two hours) are honored on SamTrans as a local-fare credit.<ref>{{cite web |title=Interagency Transfers|publisher=samTrans|access-date=April 12, 2023|url=https://www.samtrans.com/rider-information/interagency-transfers}}</ref> To use a local-fare credit from a monthly pass loaded onto a Clipper card on higher-cost routes, the remaining fare must be collected in Clipper Cash.

New fareboxes were installed in June 2011.  The fareboxes collect fares, issue new magnetic striped tickets (e.g., day passes, change cards) and process previously issued magnetic striped tickets (e.g., day passes, youth summer passes, change cards).  When a patron does not have exact change, a change card is issued with a cash value that can be redeemed at a future farebox transaction for up to a year.

Up to three kids under 5 with fare-paying rider can board for free.

=== Fleet ===
{{Main|SamTrans fleet}}
[[File:SamTrans Gillig 408.jpg|thumb|right|The most common type of bus operated by SamTrans, the Gillig BRT]]
SamTrans currently has a fleet of 296 buses of various sizes for its fixed-route service. Fifty-five are [[articulated bus]]es made by [[New Flyer Industries]] with the 10&nbsp;m (35&nbsp;ft) and 12&nbsp;m (40&nbsp;ft) buses with low flooring, are made by the [[Gillig]] Corporation. Each bus is equipped with [[GPS tracking]] providing both visual and voice next-stop announcements, and are accessible to passengers in wheelchairs and those with limited mobility.

In 2009, SamTrans added 135 custom made [[Gillig]] low floor buses to their fleet, numbered 400-490, 500-539 & 2900-2903, replacing 137 older Gillig Phantom buses in their fleet.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rosenberg, Mike |date=December 28, 2009 |title=SamTrans rolls out new buses with sleeker look, more features |work=East Bay Times |url=https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2009/12/28/samtrans-rolls-out-new-buses-with-sleeker-look-more-features/ |access-date=July 13, 2018}}</ref>

In 2018, SamTrans placed an order for 10 [[Proterra, Inc.|Proterra]] 40-foot Catalyst BE40s buses as a first step towards the goal to have an all-electric fleet by 2033.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=SamTrans Orders 10 Proterra Catalyst E2 Buses and Sets A 100 Percent Zero-Emission Fleet Goal by 2033 |date=March 14, 2018 |publisher=Cision PR Newswire |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/samtrans-orders-10-proterra-catalyst-e2-buses-and-sets-a-100-percent-zero-emission-fleet-goal-by-2033-300613692.html |access-date=July 13, 2018}}</ref> The battery electric buses were expected to enter revenue service in early 2019, and a charging station will be installed at each SamTrans maintenance facility. However, issues with battery charges and turning radius led to Samtrans ending the program. Recently, Samtrans took possession and testing of a New Flyer battery power bus, which has now led to both bases getting chargers installed or in process of being installed.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Clark, Zachary |date=March 9, 2018 |title=SamTrans acquires 10 electric buses |work=San Mateo Daily Journal |url=https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/samtrans-acquires-electric-buses/article_f3caf578-2348-11e8-8e1c-03710462545a.html |access-date=July 13, 2018}}</ref>

In 2023, SamTrans ordered 108 [[Hydrogen fuel cell bus|hydrogen fuel cell buses]] from New Flyer at a cost of $168m.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2023-12-13 |title=California, SamTrans approves purchase of 108 fuel cell buses from New Flyer |url=https://www.sustainable-bus.com/news/samtrans-new-flyer-purchase-fuel-cell-buses/ |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=Sustainable Bus |language=en-US}}</ref> SamTrans aims to have a diesel free bus fleet by the mid 2030s.<ref name=":0" />