The El Camino Real Bus Speed and Reliability Study (ECR Study) analyzes the impact of slowdowns on SamTrans bus service on El Camino Real and identifies potential changes to achieve faster and more reliable service.  

The ECR Study and its final report was adopted by the SamTrans Board of Directors at its December 7, 2022. The final project report  and other project materials can be found below under Presentations and Materials.

Project Factsheet: English Factsheet | Hoja informativa | 情况介绍

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Details

Bus Speed and Reliability

  • Increase bus speed, reducing travel time for riders
  • Improve reliability, on-time bus arrivals and departures
  • Support ridership recovery and attract new riders
  • Improve efficiency of operations and driving experience for bus operators 

Transit Signal Priority

  • TSP hardware has been installed at nearly every signal on the El Camino Real corridor all buses used to operate Route ECR
  • Allows for extended green light when the bus is approaching an intersection
  • Live as of January 2021

As the backbone of the SamTrans network, Route ECR serves 13 cities across 25 miles.

Route ECR accounts for one quarter of SamTrans’ bus ridership – with the majority of riders being lower income. The ECR Study envisions faster and more reliable Route ECR service through specific improvements focused on enhancing the rider experience.

In 2020, SamTrans was awarded funding through the Caltrans Sustainable Communities Grant Program for this study. The ECR Study kicked off in January 2021 and complete its work in fall 2022.

The study aims to:

  • Increase bus speed, reducing travel time for riders
  • Improve reliability, on-time bus arrivals and departures
  • Support ridership recovery and attract new riders
  • Improve efficiency of operations and driving experience for bus operators 

  • Bus stop balancing and relocation removes bus stops that are too close together and relocates bus stops to the far-side of the intersection to help buses travel faster and more reliably.

  • Bus bulbs are curb extensions that allow buses to stop in the lane of traffic. Bus bulbs improve speed and reliability by reducing the amount of time lost when merging in and out of traffic, while also reducing pedestrian crossing distances.

  • Queue jumps allow buses to enter traffic flow from a dedicated bus lane or right-turn only lane and reduce delay for buses merging back into traffic.

  • Bus-only lanes help buses bypass traffic congestion to achieve faster and more reliable service. 

 

Click here to download the final set of recommended transit and transit access capital improvements for El Camino Real.

The public comment period for the ECR Study was held from April 11th through May 20th and is now concluded. We held a public meeting, collected online feedback via an interactive map, and talked to riders at stops. Materials from public outreach are linked in the "Presentations and Materials" section below. 

Community Meeting on Draft Recommendations 5/19/22:

Board of Directors Presentations:

Final Study:

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