SamTrans unveils long-term strategy called Moving San Mateo County for a more inclusive and eco-friendly transportation system
San Mateo County, California – Formally adopting a new long-term strategy plan dubbed “Moving San Mateo County,” the San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans) Board of Directors marks a major step toward changing transportation for the Peninsula. Designed to guide SamTrans’s service and operational strategies through 2035, this ambitious plan lays out a vision to modernize the county’s transit environment, increase mobility options, and promote an environmentally sustainable and inclusive community.
Characterized by its all-encompassing framework, this strategy plan is poised to affect every aspect of SamTrans’s activities for the next ten years. The SamTrans Board of Directors’ Chair, Marina Fraser, says “Moving San Mateo County” signals a cooperative turning point.
“We’re thrilled to adopt the ‘Moving San Mateo County’ strategic plan, which will pave the way for an even brighter future for our transit services along the Peninsula,” Fraser said in a news release. “I’m proud of the collaborative effort that brought us here, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact this will have for years to come.”
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At the heart of “Moving San Mateo County” are four core pillars—Vision, Mission, Core Values, and Goals—that reflect SamTrans’ commitment to providing a top-tier mobility experience, fostering a collaborative workplace, and managing regional transit resources responsibly. Emphasizing efficiency and sustainability, the Vision Statement seeks to provide “an exceptional mobility experience” for communities across San Mateo County. The Mission is to “revolutionize mobility” in such ways that public transportation becomes a natural, fair, and environmentally friendly option for both commuters and residents.
Equity, quality, creativity, cooperation, safety, and sustainability are the fundamental values behind our vision and mission. These principles highlight SamTrans’s commitment to striking a balance between consumer needs and more general society goals including lower carbon emissions, guaranteed accessibility for all, and delivery of services with the best safety standards. The objectives stated in the strategy also call for improving mobility services, providing first-rate client experiences, SamTrans becoming a preferred employment, and guaranteeing responsible leadership and efficient administration.
Developing the “Moving San Mateo County” strategy was no small accomplishment. It included a lot of internal SamTrans stakeholder participation as well as comments from the larger community gathered from a series of interviews, polls, seminars, listening sessions, and public hearings. Through this inclusive method, SamTrans was able to record a broad spectrum of viewpoints, therefore ensuring that the strategy represents the goals and concerns of community members as well as staff.
The proposal also builds upon the results of current District projects including the Bus Stop Improvement Program and the Reimagine SamTrans project. These projects have given important new perspectives on passenger requirements and preferences as well as operational efficiencies meant to improve transit services. For example, the Reimagine SamTrans project underlined the need of route optimization, while the Bus Stop Improvement Program concentrated on improving passenger comfort and accessibility throughout the county.
Although the strategic plan has a strong purpose, it does not yet influence the budget of the district. Several projects in the plan, however, might call for more money, which will be examined and potentially distributed in next budget cycles. With this staggered funding model, SamTrans may balance strategic goals set out in “Moving San Mateo County” with fiscal sustainability over time.
Established in 1976, SamTrans—which runs 74 bus lines and two on-demand service areas—has grown to be a critical lifeline for San Mateo County, supporting Caltrain and the San Mateo County Transportation Authority administratively. Supported in part by a half-cent sales tax, SamTrans remains the pillar of mobility for local citizens, linking communities and advancing environmentally friendly transportation options.
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SamTrans’s “Moving San Mateo County” strategy places the agency as a proactive leader in public transportation as the next decade gets under way. The plan pledges to build a more resilient and responsive transit system that fits the varied population of the county through the implementation of its strategic emphasis on innovation, equity, and sustainability. SamTrans is laying the groundwork for a time when public transit will not only be a practical substitute but also a preferred choice for people in San Mateo County by welcoming change and giving community feedback top priority.
