Golden
Gate Transit Responds - Specific Routes Modified
On November 2, 2003, Golden Gate Transit (GGT) bus service hours
were reduced by 25 percent as part of a plan to reduce expenditures
and assist in bringing the $202 million five-year shortfall into
balance. For several weeks immediately following the November
2 implementation, the newly reduced service was closely monitored
and assessed for critical modifications that could be achieved
within the newly established reduced budget. Several critical
hot spots requiring immediate adjustments were identified.
In response, specific limited services were added and select schedules
modified resulting in a 3 percent service add back
with an annualized cost of $1.2 million. To sustain the add
backs, $900,000 will be financed by reducing low ridership
bus trips and reallocating resources to fill the critical, extra
service need. The remaining $300,000 will be drawn from District
reserves to sustain these services through June 30, 2004, while
the District continues to search for ways to offset these extra
costs and, at the same time, seek outside funding.
The following is a summary of route modifications. Because a significant
number of schedule adjustments have been made since the November
2, 2003 Bus and Ferry Transit Guide was released, customers should
confirm current schedule information through www.goldengate.org,
telephone call center at 511 (711 for TDD), and schedule pamphlets
produced for routes with the greatest changes.
November 2003 Schedule Adjustments
· In response to higher than anticipated ridership, additional
peak period trips on Route 70 (San Francisco/Novato) were added;
revised schedules are available at www.goldengate.org or by calling
511 (TDD 711).
· In response to high ridership during commute periods
between the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco Civic Center,
several Route 93 (Golden Gate Bridge/San Francisco Civic Center)
shuttles were added. Route 93 passengers may also use Routes 70,
72, 73, 76, and 80. A revised Route 93 schedule is now available
at www.goldengate.org, or by calling 511 (TDD 711).
· In response to higher than anticipated ridership, service
was added to Routes 35 and 36 serving San Rafael Canal area and
to Route 23 serving Fairfax, San Anselmo, and San Rafael.
December 14, 2003 Schedule Adjustments
On December 14, 2003, minor schedule improvements were made to
Route 2 (Marin City, Sausalito, San Francisco), Route 8 (Tiburon,
San Francisco), Route 9 (Strawberry, Tiburon Ferry), Route 10
(Strawberry, Mill Valley, Marin City, Sausalito, San Francisco),
Route 15 (Tiburon, Strawberry, Marin City), Routes 35/36 (Canal
Area, San Rafael Transit Center), Routes 57/59 (Novato, San Rafael),
Route 70 (Novato, San Francisco) and Route 80 (Santa Rosa, San
Francisco). New schedule pamphlets for Route 10, Routes 35/36,
Routes 53/55/57/59 and Routes 70/80 are now available at www.goldengate.org
or by calling 511 (711 TDD).
January 12, 2004, Schedule Adjustments
The November 2, 2003 restructuring provided select trips on Route
4 (Mill Valley, San Francisco), Route 18 (College of Marin, San
Francisco), Route 26 (San Anselmo, San Francisco), Route 38 (Terra
Linda, San Francisco), and Route 54 (San Marin, San Francisco)
that were extended beyond their previous terminus in the San Francisco
Financial District to the San Francisco Civic Center. Effective
Monday, January 12, because of excess travel times resulting in
low ridership, these select trips will no longer be extended to
serve the San Francisco Civic Center, but will continue to serve
the San Francisco Financial District. Alternatively, customers
can use direct Route 93 shuttles between the San Francisco Civic
Center, Van Ness Ave. and transfer to other routes at the Golden
Gate Bridge Toll Plaza or Richardson Ave. at Francisco St. Information
is posted at appropriate bus stops.
March 14, 2004, Schedule Adjustments
The following schedule adjustments will be available at www.goldengate.org,
by calling 511 (711 TDD) and will be in the new March 2004 edition
of the Golden Gate Transit Bus and Ferry Guide.
· To improve service and transfers, schedules will be modified
on Route 18 (College of Marin, Larkspur, Corte Madera, Sausalito,
San Francisco), Route 22 (San Anselmo, Ross, College of Marin,
Larkspur, Corte Madera, Marin City, Sausalito), and Route 23 (Fairfax,
San Anselmo, San Rafael).
· To improve transfers to Indian Valley College adjustments
will be made to Route 55 (Novato, Indian Valley College, Ignacio),
Routes 57/59 (Novato, San Rafael).
· Due to low ridership, 6 of the 60 combined total daily
trips made by Route 72 (Santa Rosa, San Francisco), Route 74 (W.
Petaluma/San Francisco) and Route 76 (E. Petaluma, San Francisco)
will be eliminated.
June 2004 Schedule Adjustments
Specific trips operating in the evenings on Routes 15, 23, 29,
35, 53, 55, and 57 (all operate within Marin) are underutilized
and as a result 28 weekday and 11 weekend trips are subject to
cancellation pending the ability of the Marin County Transit District
to determine the need for and to identify alternative services.