SamTrans fleet explained

The San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans) fleet of buses has operated throughout San Mateo County since 1976, after county voters approved the formation of samTrans in 1974 to merge 11 predecessor municipal bus systems.

Summary

, SamTrans operates a total of 379 vehicles in revenue service.[1] SamTrans has two maintenance facilities for its fixed-route bus fleet. SamTrans headquarters are in San Carlos, California, one block southwest from the Caltrain station. In addition, two facilities are used by its paratransit operator, MV Transportation: one at Brewster Depot in Redwood City, and another facility in Half Moon Bay.

Livery

The samTrans livery is predominantly white with red and blue stripes. Early buses featured linear horizontal stripes, and starting with the 2009 Gillig BRTs, the stripes are curved along the sides. A new variant of the livery was introduced later; the base color is silver, instead of white, and the blue stripe extends from below the front door to the beltline at the rear, with a red stripe starting from the headlight and flowing up to the roof.

Fixed-route fleet

Under the California Air Resources Board Innovative Clean Transit regulation adopted in December 2018, public transit agencies in California will gradually transition to a zero-emission bus fleet by 2040.[2] SamTrans has set a goal of transitioning to an all-electric fleet by 2032.[3] SamTrans considers fixed-route vehicles to have a service lifetime of 12 years.[4]

Current

Mfr & ModelTypeFleet NumbersYear BuiltQtyImage Notes
Gillig BRT40-ft400-490200991
  • 450-490 are assigned to contract runs, operated by MV Transportation.
  • Standard rear styling
600-649201750Standard rear styling
40-ft Hybrid700-724201325
40-ft900-920201421
35-ft500-539201040535-539 are assigned to contract runs, operated by MV Transportation
Gillig Low Floor29-ft2910-291320134No rear door
2950-2961201412
New Flyer XD6060-ft artic.800-854201955
  • Intended to be the last purchase of diesel buses.[5] Pilot bus 800 delivered April 2019.[6]
  • Full-roof spec

On order

Mfr & ModelTypeFleet NumbersYear BuiltQtyImage Notes
New Flyer XE40 (NG)40-ft1000+2022[7] Currently has 16, more to comeCurrently mainly running on routes 120 & 130. Also running on several other routes, like the ECR, 112, 121, or EPX
New Flyer XHE403000+2023[8] 10To begin service in 2023
Gillig Low Floor (battery-electric)?2023?20To begin service in 2023

Retired

Mfr & Model Type data-sort-type="number" Fleet Numbers data-sort-type="number" Year Built data-sort-type="number" Qty Preserved Unit(s) data-sort-type="number" Last Retired Image Notes
General Motors Old Look35-ft200-213; 215-218194718TDH-4507 models acquired from various transit operators in 1976.
37' 9"214, 2192TDH-4801 models acquired from various transit operators in 1976.
30-ft2421TDH-3501 model acquired from Northgate Transit in 1976.
28-ft2431TGH-3102 model acquired from Northgate Transit in 1976.
General Motors New Look35-ft100-137; 175-1871960-67511985TDH-4517, -4518, and -4519; T6H-4523N models acquired from various transit operators in 1976; replaced in 1985.
40-ft151-167; 9801-98491960-63171985TDH-5301 and -5303; TDM-5303 models acquired from various transit operators in 1976; replaced in 1985.
Flxible New Look40-ft150196311983Acquired from Seattle Metro (ex-778).
AM General Metropolitan35-ft coach400-443197744EQ1 (439), EQ2 (440)1990"Earthquake buses" EQ1 and EQ2 were retained in the contingency fleet,[9] replaced by 2017.
40-ft coach500-52930
Crown-Ikarus 28660-ft articulated700–7091980101992?Placed in reserve fleet by 1985.
Flyer D90035-ft coach300-3591980601994Some were transferred to Muni to serve in the reserve fleet. They retained the samTrans fleet number with an "R" appended.
40-ft coach600-65253
Gillig Phantom40-ft coach400-4371990382004
600-665; 667-672199872635, DR1 (651), DR2 (637)2015635, 637 (DR2), and 651 (DR1) retained in contingency fleet for marketing & outreach, replacing AM General EQ1/EQ2 (1977) and Gillig 852 (1984).[10]
800-8211983221998
850-8991984508522003852 replaced as marketing/outreach bus by 635.
900-9721993732010[11] Overhauled and life extended to 2008/10.[12]
9890-9895198862006Initially designated for training service.
35-ft coach700-7631993642010Overhauled and life extended to 2008/10.
40-ft suburban800-8102003112008Ordered without rear doors; originally intended for route REX (Regional EXpress).
Volvo B10M60-ft articulated100-1141985152002-03Scrapped
Neoplan USA AN460A60-ft articulated116-1301985152002Assigned to contract runs originally operated by Greyhound Peninsula Lines until 1990, Grosvenor Bus Lines until the early 2000's and finally MV Transportation. They sported "9" in front of their fleet numbers.(9)129 was totaled in an accident in 1995 and was scrapped.[2][3]Retired circa 2002-2003.All units were scrapped.
NFI D6060-ft articulated500-5391990402004500-529 were originally assigned to contract runs, operated by Grosvenor Bus Lines until the early 2000's and later MV Transportation. They sported "9" in front of their fleet numbers. Most units ranging from 509-529 returned to the district shortly before retirement.Retired in 2003-2004.Equipped with Detroit Diesel Series 92 (6V92) engines.
Gillig Low Floor40-ft coach300-3592003-04602017300-359 equipped with Detroit Diesel Series 50 engines.[13] Currently used for training duty.
NABI 436 (60-SFW)60 ft. High-floor Articulated bus100–154 (0200-0254)2002552020[14] Last NABI 436 buses built.First units entered service on 11/4/2002 and the last units entered service in January 2003.147-154 were operated by MV Transportation for contracted routes.Later 141-146 were assigned to contracted routes.137-140 were temporarily assigned to contracted runs, but later returned to the district.
Gillig Low Floor29-ft2900-2903200942022Currently used for training duty.
Proterra Catalyst40-ft, E2 battery725–734[15] 2018-20102020First battery electric buses for samTrans.[16] Replica #750 exhibited in Oct 2018.[17] 2 of 2 "Lot 1" (400V) buses accepted, then retired due to technical issues;[18] 6 of 8 "Lot 2" (800V) buses delivered, then returned due to door issues. Remainder of order canceled.[19]
Notes

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bus Fleet . 20 March 2018 . samTrans . 13 July 2018.
  2. California transitioning to all-electric public bus fleet by 2040 . December 14, 2018 . California Air Resources Board . 3 January 2019.
  3. Caltrain, SamTrans Recognized for Achievements in Sustainability . April 16, 2018 . samTrans . 3 January 2019.
  4. Web site: Building a SamTrans Bus . Community Relations Committee . November 2, 2016 . samTrans . 3 January 2019.
  5. SamTrans to Purchase 55 Clean Diesel Articulated Buses . 9 February 2018 . samTrans . 13 July 2018.
  6. Web site: End-of-Year Performance Report FY 2018 . Community Relations Committee . December 5, 2018 . samTrans . 3 January 2019.
  7. NFI receives order from SamTrans in California for seven battery-electric Xcelsior CHARGE NG buses . October 29, 2021 . NFI Group, Inc. . 2 January 2022.
  8. SamTrans to Purchase 30 Zero-Emission Buses . June 7, 2022 . San Mateo County Transit District . 18 January 2023.
  9. SamTrans Short Range Transit Plan 2014-2023 . Table 16: Revenue Vehicle Inventory . December 29, 2014 . samTrans . 3 January 2019.
  10. SamTrans Short Range Transit Plan 2017-2026 . Table 21: Revenue Vehicle Inventory . May 3, 2017 . samTrans . 3 January 2019.
  11. News: SamTrans rolls out new buses with sleeker look, more features . Rosenberg, Mike . December 28, 2009 . San Jose Mercury News . 17 January 2019.
  12. SamTrans Short Range Transit Plan 2009-2018 . Table 4-1: FY2009-FY2018 Capital Improvement Program . May 3, 2017 . samTrans . 3 January 2019.
  13. SamTrans Interim Short Range Transit Plan 2004-2013 . Appendix H: Revenue Equipment Inventory . September 8, 2004 . samTrans . https://web.archive.org/web/20041013115938/http://samtrans.com:80/pdf/ISRTP_FY_04_13.pdf . October 13, 2004 . dead.
  14. Web site: jaime espitia on Instagram: “as much as it pains my heart as of today the last nabi artic in service retired today so as of March 24th 2020 no more nabis to see or ride…”. Instagram. en. 2020-03-24.
  15. 1083114065889701888 . SamTrans . January 9, 2019 . The Debut of the First Completed #SamTrans Electric Bus ⚡️ Environmentally Friendly ⚡️ Improved Safety + Performance ⚡️ USB charging ports Buses can carry up to 38 seated + 18 standing passengers and exterior bike racks can accommodate up to 3 bikes. #PlugIntoSamTrans.
  16. SamTrans to Purchase 10 Electric Buses . 7 March 2018 . samTrans . 17 October 2019.
  17. News: SamTrans prepares to roll out 10 electric buses in fleet-replacement program . Swan, Rachel . October 15, 2018 . San Francisco Chronicle . 3 January 2019.
  18. Capital Projects Quarterly Status Report, 1st Quarter FY2021: July 01 – September 30, 2020 . December 2, 2020 . San Mateo County Transit District . 3 March 2022.
  19. Web site: Contract No. 18-S-M-002 (Purchase and Delivery of 10 Battery Electric Buses and Charging Stations (the 'Contract') . Joyce, Gareth . February 25, 2022 . San Mateo County Transit District . 3 March 2022.