The Bay Area is finally going to develop a vision of a connected transit network over the next 18 months that will serve as a clear guide for future transit investments, policies, and reforms. This is a huge breakthrough for the Bay Area, marking a significant shift to more people-focused transit planning - and a major victory for riders who want to see a seamless transit system.
Read MoreCaltrain is likely to be the first major agency in the Bay Area to face a fiscal cliff, as federal relief funding runs out and ridership is growing back more gradually. This could result in cuts to service and/or maintenance starting as soon as this coming year. Caltrain presented a report to the board Workplan Committee in November and its board in December showing a fiscal cliff looming in 2024.
Read MoreThe planned upgrade of infrastructure to support Clipper, the region’s regional fare card system, is being delayed by a year, which could impact when riders get to experience the benefits of free and reduced price transfers. MTC and agency staff are now working to assess whether it would be feasible to implement free and reduced price interagency systems using the current Clipper 1.0 system, on the original proposed time frame of late 2023.
Read MoreThe future of Bay Wheels -- the Bay Area’s bike-share network that now carries over 1 million daily trips -- will be considered by MTC over the next three years, and provides an opportunity for the Bay Area to craft a more effective micromobility network that is seamlessly integrated with transit and is affordable, reliable and accessible.
Read MoreThis post, originally published on November 10th, has been updated following the Nov. 14 Network Management Business Case Advisory Group Meeting based on new information. Riders who want a seamless transit system should speak for transit governance that is truly accountable to the public, and that doesn’t recreate our region’s past failed coordination structures.
Read MoreMTC is developing a policy for no-cost and reduced-cost transfers on the next-generation Clipper 2.0 system rolling out next year, bringing us one step closer to realizing the Fare Policy Vision approved last year by MTC and transit agencies. On October 17, the project team presented its updated draft policy for the project, giving a better view of what free and reduced cost transfers might look like in the near future.
Read MoreSeamless Bay Area has been partnering with other advocacy groups to develop and distribute a candidate questionnaire focused on transportation issues to local candidates in multiple Bay Area counties. After analyzing all 154 responses, we found that 88% of candidates stated their support for the principles of Seamless Transit in the Bay Area.
Read MoreJoin us for our first major party in over two and a half years, Level Up Bay Area Transit on Friday, December 9th from 5:30-7:30pm at Intersection for the Arts (1446 Market St., San Francisco), with special guests Sen. Scott Wiener, SF City Attorney David Chiu, and BART Board Director Janice Li.
Read MoreA new study funded by the State of California concluded that there are potential benefits to be gained from regionalizing capabilities of the Bay Area’s fragmented rail system. ‘Regionalized’ capabilities would be led and managed by a single entity across the region.
Read MoreUnfortunately, the Bay Area’s current plans to focus housing growth near high quality transit in order to reduce emissions and automobile use are limited in their potential impact by the lack of a connected, reliable transit network. Fortunately, the region’s upcoming planning for a connected transit network has the potential to turbocharge opportunities for housing.
Read MoreOn September 1st, 2022, Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST) announced that senior discounts on bus fares would now be available when using a contactless debit or credit card to pay for fares on fixed-route MST buses.
Read MoreThe Bay Area’s regional planning organization and largest regional transit agency are starting to grapple with the specifics of the impending financial crisis when federal Covid relief funding runs out as transit ridership has been returning gradually. Last month, the MTC outlined a general strategy to pursue fiscal bridge funding from the state, while working in a longer time frame on a regional funding measure. The work is now beginning in earnest.
Read MoreBay Area voters will have the opportunity to consider a number of ballot measures and propositions related to public transit and active transportation in the upcoming November election. Seamless Bay Area is proud to endorse ‘yes’ votes on San Francisco Proposition L and Oakland Measure U; we also recommend that San Francisco residents vote ‘no’ on Proposition I and ‘yes’ on Proposition J.
Read MoreToday, Bay Area civic groups jointly released a Transit Transformation Report Card tracking the region’s progress toward integrating the region’s 27 transit systems. The Report Card is being released on the one-year anniversary of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s adoption of the ambitious Transformation Action Plan aimed at growing transit ridership.
Read MoreIn the Bay Area, riders with disabilities can access public transit and receive reduced fares through the Regional Transit Discount (RTC) card program and ADA Paratransit. On August 26, Clipper representatives presented ongoing and future work on these two programs to improve the experience of disabled users.
Read MoreMore than six months into the Network Management Business Case, the study is at risk of going seriously off track due to calls from transit agencies for time-consuming, exhaustive analysis to ‘prove’ the value of regionalizing certain transit system functions, which may limit the outcomes to incremental reforms.
Read MoreSeamless Bay Area and partner advocacy groups have developed a candidate questionnaire focused on transportation issues - so we can hear where candidates stand and let them know that voters care.
Read MoreOn Monday, August 15, 2022, the brand new Clipper BayPass pilot was launched at four Bay Area community colleges and universities, providing students with unlimited travel on every transit operator that uses the Clipper fare system.
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