9/25/24: Shape the direction of Bay Area transit at these community workshops
Right now, our region is deciding the future of transit service and infrastructure expansions. Join us at a series of workshops (including one this Thursday) because these plans needs input from community members like you!
Additionally, we have a whole bunch of fun upcoming fun events including a morning Caltrain Cafe Crawl to celebrate new electric trains, a transit board game night, and the Rider First Awards to cap off the Transit Month 2024 festivities. Read on and sign up for these events!
Community Workshops: Improving Public Transit in your community and the Bay Area
Join us for a series of workshops throughout September and October to help shape the direction of Bay Area transit for decades to come. The Bay Area’s transportation plan, known as Transit 2050+, is being drafted right now and needs review by community members. This plan is important as projects identified in the plan are eligible for federal, state, and regional funding. For the first time in history, the planning uses a perspective of improving service connections to make traveling around the region easier and is not just focused on capital projects.
These workshops are being hosted by us, and our partners across the region so that local needs are better reflected.
Upcoming Workshops
Date: Thursday, Sept 26th, 12-1pm
Location: Zoom
Santa Clara County Workshop (English and Spanish)
Date: Saturday, Sept 28th, 12-2pm
Location: East San Jose Carnegie Branch Library
South San Mateo County Workshop (English and Spanish)
Date: Monday, Sept 30th, 6-7:30pm
Location: Belle Haven Community Campus,
Date: Thursday, Oct 10th, 12-1pm
Location: Zoom
Volunteer to support San Mateo County public transit!
Bay Area transit needs to be much better, but it’s at risk of becoming much worse due to funding shortfalls. Right now, our elected officials are making important decisions about the size and scope of a 2026 regional transportation ballot measure that could transform Bay Area transit.
Between now and early October, we need transit riders that live, work, or use public transit in San Mateo County to help us build a coalition in support of a robust regional transportation funding measure! This is especially important as the Caltrain and SamTrans Boards will be meeting in the first week of October. We need to tell our elected officials that a regional measure should include all 9 Bay Area counties and that funding not only prevents service cuts, but improves transit with faster, more frequent, and expanded service, integrated fares, coordinated schedules, and more.
You can flyer on your own or be paired up with a team of other volunteers! We’ll be assembling all throughout San Mateo County to build up support for a robust regional measure.
In the meantime, please sign this petition telling your elected officials that all Bay Area residents deserve a fast, affordable, better integrated, and accessible public transit network. A nine-county ballot initiative with robust funding is the best way to achieve this vision.
September 28th, 7-9pm – Transit Month Board Game Night (Plucky’s Cafe in Burlingame)
Join us for a Transit Month Board Game Night at Plucky’s Cafe in Burlingame as we celebrate the last week of Transit Month 2024!
Socialize and meet other transit enthusiasts, board gamers, and community members for an evening featuring “Connect the Bay,” the game about seamless transit, and “Get on Board,” the game about planning the best bus route.
$10 per person (pay on arrival) includes playing all hosted games and full game library access including Trial by Trolley, Ticket to Ride, and 250+ more games. Food and drink will also be available for purchase.
⚡Celebrating Caltrain Electrification ⚡
Full Caltrain electric service began this weekend! This historic moment deserves to be recognized as a major accomplishment for Bay Area transit and a project in the making for several decades.
These new trains will not only be better for the environment, quieter for the surrounding communities, and have a whole suite of new amenities (abundant bike parking, onboard wifi, better onboard displays, and ADA accessible restrooms), but they also usher in a new era for Caltrain – helping evolve the system from a commuter rail system to a truly world-class regional rail service that better meets the needs of various trips purposes for all kinds of people.
September 29th, 10am – Caltrain Weekend Morning Cafe Crawl! (Starting in Burlingame)
Our friends at Transbay Coalition are hosting a Morning Cafe Crawl on Caltrain’s new electric trains with 30 minute weekend frequencies! They will be visiting some coffee shops, farmers markets, and bakeries in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties.
Save the date! October 18th, 6-8pm – Rider First Awards
Join San Francisco Transit Riders and Seamless Bay Area to close out Transit Month by celebrating some of the people who have gone above and beyond to improve transit in the past year. The Rider First Awards caps off a month of events, rallies, and our Ride Contest.
We'll honor bus operators, transit planners, and advocates alike who help us build a more equitable, growing and accessible public transit system and culture for all. It's also where we'll be announcing our various Ride Contest winners and handing out prizes.
Location: Bay Area Metro Center (375 Beale Street, San Francisco)