SamTrans Holding Hearing on Proposed Fare Changes

By Bay City News Service

The San Mateo County Transit District was holding a public hearing Wednesday afternoon to discuss proposed changes to the SamTrans fare structure, although there won't be a vote on the changes until October. 

SamTrans already held four meetings in August to discuss altering the board-approved document that sets its fare policy, known as the codified tariff, SamTrans spokeswoman Christine Dunn said.
The changes proposed include reducing the price of a day pass from three times the cash fare to two-and-a-half times the cash fare, and also establishing an annual pass for housing complexes and businesses.

The changes would not affect regular customers paying in cash, Dunn said. 

Establishing annual passes for housing complexes and businesses would allow a property owner to purchase passes for all residents in the complex over 5 years of age, Dunn said.

"It works on the same business model as health or car insurance -- everyone pays a certain amount, some use it all the time and some people don't," Dunn said.

She said that idea is attractive to both SamTrans and property owners in that it will increase ridership and attract potential residents to participating housing complexes.

"It's attractive for property owners to fill all units and a way for SamTrans to generate ridership and revenue," Dunn said.

Peninsula Station Affordable Housing in San Mateo already participates in the program, and the Mid-Penninsula Housing Coalition, also in San Mateo, is expected to begin participating in October, Dunn said.

Property owners and business owners taking part in the program would pay a set price per eligible resident or business employee working 20 hours or more each week.

The price would be set at $115 per rider for 2014 and $125 per rider for 2015, Dunn said.

The meeting Wednesday will also address a proposal to provide a 20 percent discount to groups of 25 or more people on pre-purchased fares. Any changes eventually approved by the board would take effect in January 2014.

The public hearing Wednesday will take place at 2 p.m. at the SamTrans Administrative Office at 1250 San Carlos Ave., San Carlos.

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