Commuters in San Mateo County were caught in a transit hiccup yesterday morning, as a significant portion of SamTrans bus drivers did not show up to work, leading to a notable reduction in bus services. The disruption comes after approximately 30% of bus operators called in sick, which resulted in SamTrans swiftly implementing contingency plans to address the service gaps for its riders today.
According to SamTrans, the transit agency had anticipated a similar situation last Monday and Tuesday, but it didn't occur. The preemptive measures, however, are being utilized yesterday as the sick-out took effect, impacting the daily journeys of thousands. "Our top priority is the transportation needs of the people of San Mateo County," SamTrans General Manager/CEO April Chan noted, as per SamTrans. In it, she encouraged passengers to find alternative means of travel for Thursday and Friday while the agency works through the operator shortage.
Despite the unexpected shortage, SamTrans has managed to maintain school route services without interruption. Moreover, routes 292 and 122 are not affected by today's events as contractors operate them. For those relying on paratransit services, Redi-Wheels and RediCoast are expected to run normally, unsullied by the sick-out. The agency's dedication to resuming full service was echoed through its willingness to engage with the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1574 to iron out contract disagreements following a rejected proposal less than a month ago.
A post from SamTrans_Alerts reaffirmed the latest from the agency. Today's service will again be impacted. However, they underscored that school service will be prioritized while paratransit service will run as usual. The disruptions, while significant, are met head-on with evident planning and a clear focus on maintaining essential transit operations amidst the dialogue with the operators' union. ATU Local 1574, previously voted down the three-year contract proposal, represents close to 400 members across various roles, including bus operators, mechanics, and customer service representatives.
Some service will be impacted again today. School service will be prioritized, paratransit service will be unaffected. https://t.co/3IzRIVCYo1
— SamTrans_Alerts (@SamTrans_Alerts) September 6, 2024
