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This is an opportunity for public transportation

Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, May 03, 2006 - 01:36:20 pm PDT

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Dear editor:

SamTrans is responsible for public transportation in our county. The Coastside’s fair share of SamTrans’ annual total revenue of $126 million comes to more than $6 million. I do not believe that the very limited Coastside bus service costs $6 million per year.

My point is that the Coastside is not being treated fairly in allocation of financial income vs service. Yes, we contribute to BART and Caltrain, but if we can’t get to BART and Caltrain, we get little effective service for our money.

If the Coastside had feeder buses to BART and Caltrain, they would be used. Before the latest Devil’s Slide closure, Coastsiders could catch an express bus to BART from Linda Mar in Pacifica. Now what can they do? With current bus schedules, they’re forced into their cars. And there has never been adequate transportation from Half Moon Bay to either BART or Caltrain.

We have a unique opportunity with the temporary Highway 1 closure to offer feeder buses to BART and Caltrain and get folks accustomed to using public transportation. Once people get used to reliable public transportation, many will stick with it. And of course it would be helpful if SamTrans could contribute permanently to Cabrillo Unified School District student transportation.

Jo Chamberlain

Lobitos Canyon

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