HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 04.08 - Santa Clara County Transit Dist. Bus Routes
AGENDA:
September 24, 1991
CATEGORY: Consent
4.8
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DEPT.:
Planning and Community Development
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TITLE:
Bus Route Changes
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RECOMMEND A nON
Approving the recommendation of the Council Transportation Committee to approve
most of the County Transit District's proposed bus service reductions, but urging recon-
sideration of Line 104 service reduction and replacement of Line 35M* service.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact for the City of Mountain View. However, retention of service on
Lines 35/35M* and 104 would have a fiscal impact on the Santa Clara County Transit
District (SCCTD) unless service is reduced on other routes.
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
For the first time in 18 years, the SCCTD is proposing to reduce bus service County-wide
in order to stay within its operating budget. The District is focusing on routes that carry
the fewest passengers. Thirteen of the 49 routes proposed for reduction serve Mountain
View. Most of the changes are minor in that they eliminate early morning, late day or
weekend runs with low ridership, or a segment of a route where alternative bus service is
available. However, one route would be entirely eliminated (the 35M*) and two other
route changes would adversely affect the efforts of large employers to implement
Transportation Demand Management programs (Lines 104 and 117).
Based on the analysis in the attached report, staff recommended that the 35/35M* route be
modified to reduce service but that it not be eliminated. This route serves Mountain
View residents traveling from the San Antonio Road area up Middlefield Road through
Palo Alto and into Menlo Park where there are several very large employers. Staff also
recommended that the Line 104 express bus continue to serve Moffett/Ames, but that a
reduction in service on the Line 117 express bus be accepted because an alternative is
available to its riders.
APPROVED BY THE MOUNTAIN VIEW:
CITY COUl'ICIL ON ~
AGENDA:
PAGE:
September 24, 1991
2
On September 16, 1991, the Council Transportation Committee reviewed and approved
the staff recommendations, but asked for evidence of what NASA/ Ames would do to
increase ridership on Line 104 in order to justify continued service. According to NASA's
transportation coordinator, she will be making an extra effort to publicize the service, for
example, in the agency newsletter.
~:J.U-
Walter S. Cohen
Planning and Community Development
Director
Approved by:
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Kevin C. Duggan
Ci ty Manager
WSC/LM/CAM
859-9-17-91M1
Attachments: Staff Report-September 9, 1991
Council Transportation Committee minutes-September 16, 1991
Letter from Mr. John Nimmo
CITY OF MOUNTAIN VIEW
MEMORANDUM
DATE: September 9, 1991
TO: Council Transportation Committee
FROM: Lynnie Melena, Senior Urban Planner
SUBJECT: Bus Route Changes
RECOMMENDATION
Send a letter to the Santa Clara County Transit District approving most of the
proposed bus route changes, but urging it (1) to reconsider the reduction in Line 104
service to Moffett/Ames and (2) to consider, as a replacement for Line 35M, a
modification to service on Line 35 during the morning and evening commute
periods so that alternate runs continue from Mountain View into Menlo Park.
BACKGROUND
For the first time in its 18-year history, the Santa Clara County Transit District is
proposing to reduce bus service Countywide. The proposed changes affect 49 of the
District's 80 routes including 13 routes serving Mountain View. Overall, bus service
in the County would be reduced by five percent. The changes are being circulated
for public review and would be implemented in January 1992.
The reductions are needed because the District's costs are expected to exceed
revenues. A decline in sales tax revenue (from the County's half-cent transit sales
tax) is a contributing factor. The District has aggressively tried to reduce operating
expenses for support functions. However, providing service on the street is still the
District's largest cost item. The proposed service reductions on selected routes are
intended to maximize the efficiency of the entire system, and service that is
eliminated is unlikely to be reinstated. Additional buses acquired during the next 20
years under the T2010 Countywide transportation plan are intended to provide
higher levels of service during peak commute periods.
In recommending service reductions, the District is focusing on those routes that
are carrying the fewest passengers. Standards for minimum number of passengers
have been established for each, with the specific standard depending on time of day
and type of route (grid, feeder, express and bonus routes).
1
The attached "Description of Proposed Changes" lists all routes proposed for service
reductions. The routes in Mountain View have been marked with a large asterisk.
ANALYSIS
Most of the changes would eliminate specific runs or a segment of a route, but not
an entire route. Generally, staff believes that the changes to Mountain View routes
are minor in that they eliminate early morning, late day, or weekend runs with low
ridership, or a segment of a route where alternative bus service is available.
However, one route serving a portion of Mountain View would be entirely
eliminated-the 35M that runs from the San Antonio Shopping Center, along
Middlefield Road through Palo Alto, to the Menlo Park CalTrain Depot; and two
other route changes give staff some concern in light of Transportation Demand
Management (TDM) efforts. They are discussed below.
· Line 35M provides direct service, during the morning and evening commute
periods, between San Antonio Road and major employers on or near
Middlefield Road in Menlo Park (e.g., the Stanford Research Institute, the U.s.
Geological Survey, and other office centers). According to the the County, the
five morning runs typically have between 1 and 8 riders. The low ridership
may be attributable, in part, to the fact that the 35M duplicates the 35 route for
most of its alignment. The difference between the two is that the 35 bus turns
off Middlefield Road near Downtown Palo Alto and terminates at Stanford
University, while the 35M continues to Menlo Park.
One possibility would be to eliminate the 35M, but have alternate runs of the
35 line continue to Menlo Park. Unfortunately, this would reduce service for
passengers headed for Downtown Palo Alto or Stanford, but there are other
bus routes available to them. An analysis should be made of how many
passengers may be inconvenienced. In any event, the 35M can probably be
discontinued when the San Antonio CalTrain stop opens (in approximately
1-1/2 to 2 years) since CalTrain will then provide direct service from the San
Antonio Road area to Menlo Park, with bus connections to Middlefield Road.
Staff recommends that if the 35M is eliminated, the Transit District analyze
the feasibility of modifying service on Line 35 during the morning and
evening commute periods so that alternate runs continue to Menlo Park.
This would be until the San Antonio CalTrain stop opens.
.
Line 104 is an express route connecting Piedmont Hills in eastern San Jose to
Palo Alto. The route makes six runs each morning and each evening, and
one of these six turns off U.S. 101 into Moffett/ Ames. The proposed change
would eliminate the one deviation into Moffett/ Ames. According to the
County, there are only four riders who disembark at Moffett/ Ames. The stop
adds about nine minutes to the run. While ridership is certainly low,
2
elimination of express service to this area undermines NASA'S efforts to
implement its TDM program. Staff recommends that the County reconsider
this service reduction, and give NASA an opportunity to increase ridership.
· Line 117 runs from west San Jose, along Route 85 to Whisman, Ellis, and
ultimately NASA Ames. The number of morning and evening runs would
be reduced from two to one. One of the two morning runs currently carries 20
passengers and the other carries 10. The la-passenger run would be
eliminated, although riders would have the option of taking the other earlier
run. Although this change may also adversely affect TDM programs of
Mountain View employers, commuters do have the option of using the one
remaining run. Therefore, staff recommends no action on this proposed
change.
CONCLUSION
The Transit District has no choice but to reduce bus service in order to stay within its
operating budget. In proposing these service reductions, it appears that the Transit
District has made a sincere effort to improve the overall efficiency of the bus system
while inconveniencing as few passengers as possible. While is difficult to support
reductions in bus service when so much effort is being focused on encouraging
people to take transit, staff concurs with the changes, except for the Route 35M and
the Route 104 changes as described above.
Prepared by:
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Lynnie Melena
Senior Urban Planner
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Walter Cohen
Planning and Community
Development Director
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Kevin C. Duggan
City Manager
Attachments: Description of Proposed Changes
3
DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED CHANGES
DiaI-A-Ride*--Service hours would be cut back to approximately
7:30 p.m. on weekdays.
Line 10* (Santa Clara to Jose CalTrain Depot)--The portion of the
route currently operating between the San Jose CalTrain depot and
the Metro LRT station is largely duplicated by light rail and
would be deleted. The routing on this line would be modified to
operate between the Metro LRT station and Franklin Mall via the
San Jose Airport. The frequency of service on this remaining
portion of the route would be adjusted to operate approximately
every 20 minutes on weekdays, and 40-45 minutes in the evenings
after 7:00 p.m. and weekends.
Line 13* (Almaden LRT Station to Almaden & McKean/New
Almaden)--The frequency of service would be improved to operate
at 15 minute intervals during the morning and afternoon commute
hours. The northbound trip at 4:57 a.m. and the southbound trip
at 5:16 a.m. would be deleted. These changes are in conjunction
with changes proposed for Line 64.
Line 14* (Downtown San Jose to The Housing Authority)--Service on
this line is proposed to be deleted due to extremely low
patronage. Other lines will continue to provide service nearby.
Line 17* (First & Wren to Tenth & Chestnut)--The weekday
counterclockwise trips departing First and Wren at 5:29 a.m. and
7:47 p.m. would be deleted. Weekend service would be
discontinued.
*
Line 20* (Dixon and Milpitas to San Antonio Shopping
Center)--Weekend schedule adjustments are proposed that would
delete the 9:02 a.m. eastbound trip, and the 8:04 a.m. and 9:22
a.m. westbound trips. Weekend service would be modified to
operate hourly after 6:30 p.m.
Line 24* (Downtown San Jose to Palo Alto CalTrain Depot via
Stevens Creek)--proposed changes would eliminate the selected
trips serving the California CalTrain depot in Palo Alto (Line 88
will continue to serve the train depot). The 7:46 p.m. westbound
trip is also proposed to be deleted.
Line 25* (East San Jose to De Anza College via Valley Medical
Center)--Midday service would be improved on weekdays to operate
every 15 minutes between east San Jose and Valley Medical Center.
The weekday 11:43 p.m. westbound trip is proposed to be deleted,
and weekend service modifications have the 5:47 p.m. and 6:40
p.m. westbound trips operating only as far as Valley Medical
Center.
Line 26* (Eastridge to Sunnyvale/Lockheed)--The westbound trips
leaving Eastridge after 7:00 p.m. on weekdays would only operate
as far as Prospect and Saratoga. Weekend service hours would be
cut back to approximately 7:30 p.m.
Line 27* (Santa Teresa Hospital to West Valley College)--The
weekend evening service hours are proposed to be cut back to
approximately 7:30 p.m.
*
Line 34* (Santa Clara CalTrain Depot to San Antonio Shopping
Center)--The eastbound 6:28 p.m. and westbound 6:26 p.m. trips
are proposed to be deleted.
*
Line 35/35M* (Stanford University to Foothill College / Menlo
Park Caltrain Depot to San Antonio Shopping Center)--The 35M
trips operating between the Menlo Park CalTrain depot and San
Antonio Shopping Center would be discontinued. Other weekday
service adjustments would include: modifying the evening service
to operate hourly after about 8:00 p.m.; terminating the 7:24
p.m. and 8:25 p.m. southbound trips at San Antonio Shopping
Center; and deleting the northbound 5:46 a.m. and southbound 5:41
a.m. trips. The weekend evening service hours and frequency
would be modified to match weekday.
Line 36* (East San Jose to Vallco Fashion Park via San Jose Flea
Market)--The weekday eastbound trip at 7:25 p.m. and westbound
trips at 5:53 a.m. and 7:22 p.m. are proposed to be deleted.
Line 37* (Bascom & Camden. to Monterey & Senter)--Weekday service
would operate until approximately 7:00 p.m. and the weekend
service hours would be adjusted to operate between 8:30 a.m. and
6:00 p.m.
Line 38* (Winchester & Knowles to Monterey & Senter)--Weekday
service would operate until approximately 7:00 p.m., and the
weekend service hours would be adjusted to operate between 8:30
a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
*
*
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Line 42 (Santa Clara Industrial Park from Lawrence CalTrain
Depot)--The 2:40 p.m. and 6:20 p.m. trips are proposed to be
deleted.
Line 50* (El Camino Hospital to San Antonio Shopping Center via
CalTrain Depot)--The weekday southbound trip leaving San Antonio
Shopping Center at 5:51 a.m., and the northbound trip departing
EI Camino Hospital at 8:15 a.m. on weekends, would be deleted.
Line 51* (Moffett/Ames to Vallco Fashion Park)--The weekday
schedule is proposed to be modified with the last northbound bus
departing Vallco at 7:09 p.m. and the last southbound bus
departing Moffett at 6:32 p.m.
Line 52* (Foothill College to Mountain View CalTrain
Depot)--Weekday schedule adjustments would result in the last
northbound bus leaving Foothill College at 6:55 p.m., and the
last southbound bus leaving the Mountain View CalTrain depot at
6:39 p.m.
Line 54* (Sunnyvale CalTrain Depot to Westgate)--The weekday
morning schedule would be modified slightly to reduce service
frequency and improve route efficiency. These modifications
would include discontinuing the southbound 6:06 a.m. trip and the
northbound 6:26 a.m. trip.
Line 56 (Fair Oaks & El Camino to Milpitas via Arques)--Schedule
modifications are proposed to provide peak commute hour service
only. Eastbound trips departing Fair Oaks & El Camino from 8:45
a.m. to 2:08 p.m., and westbound trips departing weller & Main
between 9:21 a.m. and 1:50 p.m. would be deleted. Additionally,
the last westbound trip departing Milpitas at 6:16 p.m., would be
deleted.
Line 59* (East San Jose to Great America)--The eastbound trips
departing Great America at 5:37 a.m., 8:28 p.m. and 9:19 p.m., as
well as the westbound trips departing Morrill & Cropley at 7:25
p.m., 8:22 p.m. and 9:12 p.m., are proposed to be deleted. The
midday service would be modified to operate every 45 minutes on
weekdays. Saturday and Sunday service would be discontinued.
Line 61 (Camden & Branham to Lockheed via Scott)--The southbound
schedule would be modified to delete the 2:10 p.m. trip departing
from Lockheed.
Line 64* (Alum Rock & Miguelita to Almaden Valley via Downtown
San Jose)--Schedule and route modifications for Line 64 are
proposed in conjunction with those proposed for Line 13. The
southern terminus for Line 64 would be relocated to the Almaden
LRT station from its present location at Almaden Expressway and
via Valiente. Service enhancements are proposed for Line 13 to
maintain an acceptable level of service into the Almaden Valley.
Additional schedule modifications would include deleting the
first weekday southbound trip leaving Alum Rock and White at 5:09
a.m., and deleting the last southbound trip on weekdays and
weekends that leaves First & Santa Clara at 12:29 a.m.
Line 65* (Gish & First to Almaden Valley via Leigh)--The weekday
evening schedule would be modified to operate hourly after
approximately 7:30 p.m. This would require deleting the
northbound 6:51 p.m., 7:51 p.m. and 9:21 p.m. trips, as well as
the 8:09 p.m. southbound trip. Weekend evenip-g hours would be
cut back to approximately 7:00 p.m. The last northbound bus
would depart the Almaden LRT station at 7:19 p.m., with the last
southbound departing First & Gish at 6:56 p.m.
Line 66* (Milpitas to Santa Teresa Hospital via Downtown San
Jose)--The last southbound trip departing Milpitas at 12:28 a.m.
would be deleted.
Line 67 (Monterey Highway & Ford Road to Almaden Expressway &
Foxworthy)--The weekday and weekend. service hours would be cut
back to approximately 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. respectively. On
weekdays, the last eastbound trip would depart Almaden and
Foxworthy at 8:09 p.m., and the last westbound trip would depart
Monterey & Ford at 7:55 p.m. The last trips on weekends would
depart at 7:22 p.m. in the eastbound direction and 7:19 p.m. in
the westbound direction. In addition, the 5:42 a.m. eastbound
morning trip would also be deleted. A minor routing change by
Oakridge Mall would be implemented to operate on Winfield to
Blossom Hill, continuing to Santa Teresa and regular route. This
modification would improve connections with Line 27 on Blossom
Hill Road.
Line 70* (Milpitas to Capitol LRT Station)--The proposed service
modifications would include eliminating the first northbound trip
departing Jackson & Alum Rock at 5:11 a.m., .and increasing the
weekday level of service to operate every 20 minutes before 6:00
a.m.
Line 71* (Mi1pitas to Evergreen)--The weekday 5:15 a.m.
southbound trip is proposed to be deleted.
Line 72* (Downtown San Jose to Monterey & Sent~r)--The first
three weekday southbound trips are proposed to be deleted. The
first southbound trip departing downtown would be at 5:21 a.m.
The first southbound trip on weekends, at 6:28 a.m., would also
be eliminated.
Line 73* (Downtown San Jose to Snell & Capitol)--Schedule
modifications are being proposed for weekday service. The
southbound trip departing downtown at 5:24 a.m. would be modified
to start the trip from the Senter & Tully timepoint at 5:39 a.m.
The last northbound trip departing Snell & Capitol at 8:31 p.m.
would be deleted.
Line 74* (Milpitas to Eastridge)--The level of service would be
reduced to operate every 30 minutes during the peak commute
hours.
Line 76* (Los Gatos to Summit Road)--The last trip departing
downtown Los Gatos at 6:55 p.m. would be deleted.
Line 77* (Milpitas to Evergreen College)--Weekday service
modifications would include a midday turnback of northbound trips
between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. at Old Oakland Road
& Brokaw. Passengers wishing to continue north into Milpitas
during these times could transfer to Line 66 on Old Oakland Road.
Also, the 5:30 a.m. southbound trip departing Milpitas is
proposed to be deleted.
Line 81* (East San Jose to Vallco Fashion Park via Downtown San
Jose)--Midday service would be improved to operate every 15
minutes between McKee & White and Park & Almaden on weekdays.
Line 82* (Hedding & 17th to westgate)--The weekday evening
schedule would be modified to operate hourly after approximately
7:30 p.m. This would require deleting the 8:17 p.m. northbound
and 8:13 p.m. southbound trips. The weekend evening service
hours would be cut back with the last northbound trip departing
westgate at 6:37 p.m. and the last southbound trip departing 19th
& Mission at 6:43 p.m.
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*
*
Line 83* (Downtown San Jose to Good Samaritan Hospital)--The
northern portion of the route, between the Curtner LRT station
and downtown San Jose, duplicates much of light rail and is
consequently proposed to be eliminated. The retained portion of
the route would be between Good Samaritan Hospital and the
Curtner LRT station. Evening service would be cut back to
approximately 7:00 p.m. on weekdays and 6:00 p.m. on weekends.
Line 84* (Palo Alto CalTrain Depot to San Antonio Shopping
Center)--Weekday service is proposed to operate between the
approximate hours of 9:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Saturday service
is proposed to be discontinued.
Line 85* (Tenth & Hedding to Lawrence & Moorpark)--Proposed
weekday schedule modifications would delete the first eastbound
trip leaving Tenth & Hedding at 5:07 a.m., and the first
westbound trip leaving Lawrence & Moorpark at 5:22 a.m. Evening
service would also be modified by deleting the eastbound 8:55
p.m. and 10:25 p.m. trips, along with the westbound 11:17 p.m.
trip.
Line 86* (Stanford Shopping Center to San Antonio Shopping
Center)--The weekday evening service hours would be shortened
with the last northbound trip departing San Antonio Shopping
Center at 6:30 p.m. and the last southbound trip departing
Stanford Shopping Center at 7:16 p.m. The first northbound
trip departing San Antonio Shopping Center at 5:28 a.m. would be
eliminated.
Line 88* (Veterans Hospital to California CalTrain
Depot)--Schedule changes are being proposed that would impact
service hours, days and frequency. The last weekday trip in each
direction, 7:18 p.m. clockwise and 7:35 p.m. counterclockwise,
would be deleted; midday service would be modified to operate
every 45 minutes from the current 30 minute schedule; and weekend
service would be discontinued.
Line 104 (Piedmont Hills to Palo Alto)--The last evening trip
departing the Palo Alto Veterans Hospital at 5:51 p.m. would be
discontinued. The morning and afternoon deviation into
Moffett/Ames would also be eliminated.
Line 117 (Camden & Branham to Moffett/Ames)--The morning trip
departing Camden & Branham at 6:50 a.m., and the corresponding
evening trip departing the NASA/AMES Research Center at 4:45
p.m., are proposed to be discontinued.
;'
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Line 126 (Winchester & Latimer to Lockheed/Moffett Industrial
Park)--This line is proposed for deletion. The service is
duplicated by local transit services resulting in low patronage.
Line 127 (Almaden Expressway & Camden to Lockheed/Moffett
Industrial Park)--This express line duplicates much of the
routing covered by Line 128. Therefore, it is being proposed to
terminate the line in the Great America Industrial Park and
modify the northern end of the route to serve businesses on
Patrick Henry, Old Mountain View-Alviso Road and Great America
Parkway. Service to the Lockheed/Moffett Industrial Park would
continue to be provided by Line 128.
Line 140* (Fremont BART to Mountain View)--The southern terminus
for this line is proposed to be relocated to the Mountain View
CalTrain depot on Castro street. The line would no longer
provide service between the train depot and the San Antonio
Shopping Center.
Line 145 (Eastridge to Mountain View Industrial Area)--The last
eastbound trip departing the Mountain View CalTrain depot at 5:59
p.m. would be deleted. The remaining trips would be rescheduled
to better meet shift times in the industrial parks.
Line 180* (San Jose CalTrain Depot to Fremont BART)--The last
weekday northbound trip leaving San Jose at 12:08 a.m., along
with the last southbound trip from BART at 1:03 a.m., are
proposed to be deleted.
Line 304/304A* (Palo Alto/Mountain View to South San
Jose)--Service modifications are proposed that would eliminate
the reverse commute trips operating southbound in the mornings
and northbound in the afternoons. The trips operating in the
peak commute direction would only operate between the Santa
Teresa LRT station and the Mountain View CalTrain depot (Central
Expressway and Moffett/Castro). Service would no longer be
provided on the portion of the route between the Mountain View
CalTrain depot and Palo Alto.
COUNCIL TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 16, 1991
Commi ttee
Members Present:
Councilmember Pat Figueroa, Chairperson;
Mayor Art Takahara and Councilmember Dena Bonnell
(alternate)
Staff Present:
Kevin Duggan, City Manager; Larry Janda, Public
Works Director; Walter Cohen, Planning and
Community Development Director; Lynnie Melena,
Senior Urban Planner; Tim Ko, Deputy Public Works
Director; Dennis Belluomini, Traffic Engineer.
Public Present:
Mr. John Nimmo and two other members of the public.
The meeting was called to order at 7:35 p.m. by Chairperson Figueroa. Mayor
Takahara had notified Chairperson Figueroa that he would be a little late.
Item 2. Bus route and schedule modifications proposed by the Santa Clara
County Transit District.
Ms. Melena explained that the County is being requested to reconsider two
changes to the bus routes. The first is Line 35M that runs up Middlefield
Road from Mountain View to Menlo Park and the other is an express bus
service to the NASAl Ames area. The changes being proposed are the
cancellation of line 35M and the elimination of service to NASAl Ames on
Line 104. There is a letter from Mr. John Nimmo, chair of the Menlo-
Middlefield Commuter Committee to the City Council opposing the
changes to Line 35M proposed by the County.
Councilmember Bonnell asked where the County is proposing a reduction
of service, is there an alternative being suggested for the bus riders and if we
know how many people these changes are affecting. Ms. Melena responded
that she is not certain how many people will be affected by the changes, but
the County was able to provide information on the number of riders of
specific routes and the reason for reducing the service. With respect to
alternatives, in many cases, bus riders could take an earlier or later bus as
there are other buses on the same route. In addition, there are few bus
route segments that would be eliminated, such as a line that runs from the
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Castro Street area to the San Antonio Center. However, there are several
others bus lines making the same runs so there are alternative buses.
Councilmember Bonnell commented that it doesn't appear that the
proposed changes would leave whole groups of people without bus service.
However, riders may have to modify their schedule. Ms. Melena
responded that based on the analysis by the County, this is generally true.
However, the alternatives do not hold true for two changes that staff is
recommending the County to reconsider.
For example, to use Line 35 to get to destinations that were previously
served by Line 35M, riders would have to transfer twice going up
Middlefield, then to downtown Palo Alto to EI Camino Real then back to
Middlefield on three different buses.
Councilmember Bonnell ask what are the chances the County will accept
our request to reconsider. Ms Melena responded that it is uncertain.
However, the staff report has been sent to the County and County staff will
include the City's comments in their staff report.
Mr. John Nimmo commented that he and another member of the public
present, are regular bus commuters and occasional riders may not be aware
that the line is being considered for cancellation. Mayor Takahara
explained that when he had talked to Mr. Nimmo on the phone that Mr.
Nimmo had indicated there were not many riders on line 35M. Mr.
Nimmo agreed and stated that the ridership had been disappointing. The
run in the morning usually has about 10 to 12 riders, and at the most 15
riders. Many times, it is less than that. He indicated that his committee of
commuters to Menlo Park has been trying to increase ridership but this
effort has been difficult and understands why the route is being proposed
for cancellation. His hope is that the County would perhaps reduce the
number of runs but to keep the line to allow ridership to build up.
Chairperson Figueroa commented that the recommendation by staff
appears to be the best that could be hoped for given the very low ridership
on Line 35M. Mr. Nimmo concurred with this. This item will be
considered by the County Transportation Commission on October 9, 1991.
Chairperson Figueroa encouraged Mr. Nimmo and other members of the
public to attend that meeting to comment on the proposed changes.
Ms. Melena explained that changes are also proposed for line 104.
Councilmember Bonnell asked if we had received any comments from
NASA/ Ames about the changes. Ms. Melena responded that she had a
discussion with their transit coordinator about this two week ago and that
they intend to go the the hearings to speak against it.
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Councilmember Bonnell asked if this item will go before the City Council
with a recommendation. Mr. Duggan responded that the item will go
before the Council next Tuesday as a consent item recommending that
staff's comments be forwarded on to the County.
Mayor Takahara commented that the staff report stated a recommendation
that the County reconsider the service reduction to give NASA the
opportunity to increase ridership through TDM. Although this may be
desirable, it does not seem to be a strong enough reason to retain the
service. There are only 4 riders. Ms. Melena responded that she had hope
to hear from NASA about what they plan to do to increase ridership and
include their comments in the staff report for the Council meeting.
Chairperson Bonnell suggested that the staff report to Council should
include a statement that the service reduction on Line 117 is acceptable so
that it won't appear that the City is against any change being proposed in
Mountain View.
Chairperson Figueroa made a motion to approved staff's recommendations
with changes as discussed, seconded by Councilmember Bonnell. The
motion passed unanimously.
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339 Nita Ave.
Mountain View, CA 94043
September 12, 1991
Mountain View City Council
Mountain View, CA 94025
Council Members:
The Menlo-Middlefield Commuters Commitee (MMCC) , a group of
concerned citizens who work near Middlefield Road in Menlo Park, is
extremely concerned about the proposal by Santa Clara County
Transporation Agency (SCCTA) to discontinue Route 35M. I discussed
this issue by phone with Mayor Takahara and am writing this letter to
express this concern. We are also circulating a petition, currently
with about 40 signatures of Route 35M riders, requesting SCCTA not to
cancel this service.
Route 35M starts in Mountain View and runs along Middlefie1d Road
in Palo Alto and Menlo Park to the Menlo Park Caltrain Station. About
one-third of the riders, including myself, are Mountain View residents
The route is especially good as a commuters' route because it goes in
essentially a straight line through major residential areas and ends in
a major commercial/industrial area in Menlo Park
SCCTA began the original Route 35, with service nearly equivalent
to the present 35M, in 1981. In a major reorganization of SCCTA
routes, it was proposed in 1987 that the Menlo Park portion of this
service be deleted. That proposal was the start of a long series of
hearings and official meetings during which many concerned citizens.
organizations (including MMCC) , and city officials offered criticisms
and suggestions. The end result was that Santa Clara County recognized
the need for mass transit to the Menlo-Middlefield area. To continue
meeting this need, Route 35M was started in 1989 as a peak-commute-hour
replacement for the Menlo Park portion of the original Route 35.
The current proposal calls for cancellation of this route without
substitute service. The only available public transit alternative
would be a long and indirect trip requiring multiple transfers,
impossible for regular commuters
The number of riders on this route is significant, though
admittedly less than desired. To increase the ridership, on this route
as on others, has been difficult in an era of cheap gasoline and free
parking. Yet 35M still is a fast, straight route, potentially
attractive to commuters who work in Menlo Park Several groups,
including MMCC and the Menlo Park Transportation Systems Management
program, have been trying to promote mass transit in this area. Until
the ridership can be built up. it would make much more sense to keep
the route in place, on a reduced schedule if necessary
This proposed cancellation also raises the broader issue of
adequate mass transit across the county line Route 35M i~ one of only
two SCCTA routes that cross into San Mateo County, so its loss would
leave very little bus transportation into that county from the south.
In contrast, SAHTRANS has ten routes that go into Santa Clara County.
Our committee urges the City of Mountain View to oppose this
service cancellation. Please let me know if we can be of help WiLh
these matters.
Sincerely.
r- j 1f~'r
John R. Nimmo
Chair, Menlo-Middlefie1d
Commuters Committee
(415) 329-4537 (work)
(415) 969-5295 (home)