I wish to submit a few comments for the EIR:

Having dedicated lanes for buses is a significant investment, not only in dollar terms, but so is the amount of space on the roadway. On the other hand, the proposal for dedicated lanes would maintain local bus service operating in mixed traffic.

Under the dedicated lanes scenarios, an option that should be evaluated is to add additional stops and eliminate local curbside 22 route. A single tier service scenario would result in service similar to the corridors served by light rail along 1st Street and Capitol Avenue. Stations should be about 1/2 mile apart. For this project, it may mean double the number of the stops as currently proposed.
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In recent years, there is a debate between the role of private commuter buses (which includes shuttles, Google buses, and now a start up called Leap Transit). Many people support such concepts because it bring new options to commuters and reduce dependence on automobiles. Others are against it because it would somehow compete with Muni and result in a two tier transit system. Many are also concerned about it has impacted Muni because many of the private buses use Muni stops and at times delay Muni buses.

Private transit services, which I also happens to operate, is an important transportation element for large metropolitan areas. Also having served on SamTrans Citizens Advisory Committee for 9 years, I can see the differences between the public and private sectors and why many employers and riders are turning to the private sector as a way to get more transit. Read the rest of this page »

The so-call ride-sharing companies like Lyft and Sidecar have been operating a service in the SF Bay Area where the customer uses an mobile app to request a ride, and where the company would then dispatch a vehicle for the customer. Those companies differentiate from the traditional taxicab and limo service because of the mobile app, and more importantly, the car is a personal vehicle of the driver, which contracts with the mobile app company.

Aside from the mobile app use, the major problem with these companies is that they’re unfairly competing with taxi and limo providers by not complying with state and local regulations, along with mandatory insurance requirements. As someone who runs a commercial transportation myself, I can tell you the regulations that I have to comply. The cost of compliance (especially the insurance requirement) also raise the cost of operation far beyond the cost of owning a regular, private car. Read the rest of this page »

As a result of the economic crisis and a huge drop in tax revenue a few years ago, a lot of transit agencies were forced to cut back and reviewed its operations. The Bay Area’s Metropolitan Transportation Commission took leadership and created an incentive program to award agencies that are able to reduce costs (after factoring in inflation) and make transit routes more efficient and productive.

AC Transit is one of the transit agencies identified to improve productivity because it is the largest local transit provider in the East Bay. It provides main line service along key corridors, local and community service connecting with BART, as well as Transbay bus service to San Francisco. Read the rest of this page »

This is my comment on the SamTrans Service Plan, which was released in the Fall of 2012: http://www.samtrans.com/Planning/Planning_and_Research/SamTransServicePlan.html

292 – Rather than reducing service to SF to peak hours only, an option that should be included is to cut service to SF during night hours only, and keep the midday service (and weekend daytime service). I have seen some well utilized trips to and from SF on the weekends. Some tourists from airport hotels also take the 292 to get to San Francisco. Read the rest of this page »