MTC discusses regional funding measure policies with support for fare/schedule coordination and stronger network management
MTC Commissioners discussed proposed policies to increase voter confidence and improve agency accountability in the context of a regional transportation funding measure at 3 meetings in December. Staff recommended the authorizing legislation strengthen MTC’s role as a transit network manager to accelerate the region’s “Transformation Action Plan” initiatives for integrated fares, schedules, wayfinding and other system coordination improving rider experience. MTC is looking to sponsor enabling legislation in 2024 that would authorize placing a measure on the ballot in up to nine counties as early as in 2026.
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Notes from Singapore, a transit mecca
Singapore is a transit mecca that both exemplifies well-known transit best practices and challenges oft-held assumptions of how transit ‘should’ work. As I’ve been taking transit in the city-state of 5.5 million over the past week (while visiting family who live in Singapore), I’ve found a lot to be inspired by. Of course I am aware that Singapore and cities in California have many differences - but now more than ever California needs to be looking abroad at successful practices in other parts of the world as we seek to transform transit. Singapore offers plenty of lessons.
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State of California kicks off Transit Transformation Task Force
The SB125 Transit Transformation Task Force – charged by the state legislature with studying the costs to operate and maintain public transportation over the next ten years and making recommendations regarding how to improve mobility and increase ridership on transit – hosted their inaugural meeting on December 19th. The task force includes 25 members, with representation from transit agencies, labor, business, academics, and nonprofits (including Seamless Bay Area), as well as key staffers from the state administration and legislature.
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More discounts available with open payment from California Integrated Travel Project
In November, Monterey Salinas Transit announced that veterans can access their transit discounts by paying with a contactless credit or debit card. Seniors in the Monterey-Salinas area gained the ability in September of 2022. Seniors in Santa Barbara gained access in 2023. These developments open up the possibility that transit riders in the Bay Area might be able to access discounts they’re eligible for while paying with a credit or debit card, sometime after the launch of the next-generation Clipper system in the Fall of 2024.
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Seamless Bay Area 2023 #Wrapped
What a year it has been. As we enter the last days of 2023, here’s a #wrap of some of the key numbers showing Seamless Bay Area’s major accomplishments this year.
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Transformation Action Plan Two Year Update - Progress and Next Steps
On December 8, the MTC’s Regional Network Management Committee reviewed a two year status update for the Transformation Action Plan. The update covers welcome results for riders, as well as behind the scenes progress being made. The update summarizes progress on fare integration, mapping and wayfinding pilots, connected network planning, the groundwork for a regional funding measure and more.
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South Bay transit leaders: Prioritize schedule and fare integration
South Bay Transit leaders who participated in a recent study delegation to Switzerland believe that integrating schedules and fares, in addition to providing significantly more frequent service, should be key priorities for growing Bay Area transit ridership. Leaders discussed these and other ideas during a panel discussion that was part of Seamless Bay Area’s November 16th event, Transforming Transit: A Swiss-style rider-focused public transit system in the South Bay, in Downtown San Jose.
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Learning from Europe: Organize regionally and focus on the customer
Regionally integrated fares, service planning, and customer experience are practically universal attributes of public transit systems in Europe’s largest and most transit-rich metropolitan areas, and are made possible by regional Public Transport Authorities (PTAs) - or network managers - that have the legal responsibility to organize public transportation.
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Clipper 2.0 rollout expected for late 2024 with credit/debit card payment and free transfers
Bay Area transit riders will be able to pay fares with credit and debit cards by August 2024. This change will reduce barriers for first-time and infrequent users, making transit a more compelling travel option and helping regrow ridership.
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A path forward to the unified transit agency the Bay Area deserves
In the next six months, MTC should analyze feasible options for transit agency consolidation - bringing key stakeholders from all transit regional agencies together to identify a unified transit agency that can best serve the Bay Area for the next generation of transit riders.
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Parallel ridership trends - BART and Caltrain
Recent customer surveys of BART and Caltrain riders show similar patterns in trip purposes and station access. Given the similarities, the customer research and ridership growth strategies are an opportunity for increasing functional integration and efficiency. The recent surveys show that for both parts of the regional rail backbone, 61% of trips are work commute trips. About a quarter of trips using both services are for social, recreational, and other non-commute purposes.
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Lessons from Sweden: Regional “Public Transport Authorities” are key to success
Sweden, a country of approximately 10 million that is bigger in area than the state of California, has succeeded in significantly increasing public transit ridership over the past several decades thanks in part to strong, empowered regional institutions, called “Public Transport Authorities” (PTAs), which plan and manage coordinated public transportation networks within each of Sweden’s 19 regions.
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The Rider First Award party wraps up 2023 Transit Month
Last Friday, we closed out Transit Month with our annual Rider First Awards, recognizing our transit heroes of the year, announcing Ride Contest winners (and dispensing 50+ prizes), and listening to speeches from our guests for the night, including Assemblymember Phil Ting. We had a blast hosting this last Transit Month event with San Francisco Transit Riders at the Bay Area Metro Center!
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Discover Bay Area geology (and so much more) by transit
The Seamless Bay Area blog is usually chock full of content that’s exclusively about transit. But this month (Transit Month!) we’re making an exception, and venturing into the natural world to highlight the fact that transit shouldn’t “just” be your commuting tool, or the connection to the services you need and the people you care about. Transit has the potential to connect us all to the incredible vistas and experiences of the Bay Area’s wild places, and the fascinating natural systems behind them.
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BayPass all-agency transit pass pilot advances - but omits opportunities to increase ridership
Clipper BayPass - the Bay Area’s successful all-agency transit pass pilot - is taking an important step forward, expanding from the first set of institutional customers - public colleges/universities and affordable housing communities - to employers by the end of this year.
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It’s Transit Month!! 🚌🚆⛴️🚅 Start logging your rides today.
Folks, the time we’ve all been waiting for has arrived: Transit Month! This is your quick guide for all that’s happening throughout September from our 30+ events, the Ride Contest, Nominating Transit Heros, and more.
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Take MTC’s survey to share your priorities for funding & transforming transit - by Sept 7th
Help the Bay Area develop a frequent, well-connected transit network by taking this quick, online survey. This is an official public input opportunity so your comments in support of a seamless, equitable, and fast transit network are especially important.
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Bay Area transit accessibility initiatives moving forward
Key Bay Area transit accessibility initiatives are moving forward, such as a one-seat paratransit pilot program and the creation of “mobility manager” services in each county. These actions are much needed as people with disabilities bear the brunt of our fragmented, inaccessible, and car-dependent transportation infrastructure.
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