Transit District Celebrates 'Communities in Motion'

The San Mateo County Transit District is dedicating the month of October to raising awareness on public transportation issues with a series of SamTrans and Caltrain promotions. The transit district, in partnership with the Peninsula Traffic Congestion Relief Alliance, is participating in the American Public Transportation Association's Communities in Motion campaign.

Communities in Motion will consist of promotions within San Mateo County with the themes "Mobility, Access and Freedom" throughout the month of October.

"Traffic congestion relief is a major issue for the resident's of San Mateo County," said Jerry Hill, chair of the SamTrans board of directors. "The transit district not only offers access and mobility to the transit-dependent but it takes nearly 100,000 drivers off the roads each weekday."

Caltrain Board Chair, Michael Nevin noted, "Public transportation offers a high return-over-investment for sales and productivity for local businesses."

An APTA study shows that local businesses gain $30 million in sales for every $10 million in area public transportation investment.

The celebration is geared towards increasing awareness of how public transportation improves quality of life by providing opportunity, freedom, mobility and access for all citizens. It is meant to increase appreciation for public transportation's contributions to communities and the nearly 100,000 riders using the transit district's network of SamTrans buses, Caltrain, Redi-Wheels and shuttles each day.

SamTrans buses will display the Communities in Motion message and bookmarks with transportation information will be distributed throughout the county. The bookmarks also will be available on buses, trains and at staffed Caltrain stations and Colma BART.