By Will Reisman, @WillReisman 
The most extensive overhaul of Peninsula bus operations in a decade will continue on Jan. 26, when the second phase of the SamTrans Service Plan (SSP) is implemented. The SSP, the result of a two-year planning process, is aimed at doing more of what works, less of what doesn't and trying new things at SamTrans. Every single bus line will be tweaked in some way as part of the second phase of the SSP, all in an effort to make SamTrans service more efficient, cost-effective and reliable. The second phase will include a re-alignment of Route 140 so that it connects to the San Francisco airport, and the introduction of two new Flex lines in San Carlos and Pacifica, which will incorporate on-call service elements with fixed-route scheduling. Other bus lines will be modified to increase service and efficiency. Route 130, which travels between Colma and Daly City, will now run every 15 minutes for most of the day. Service on Route 131 will be extended to the Serramonte Center, and it will also operate every 15 minutes. Additionally, Route 133 will run more frequently and the coverage area of Route 281 in Palo Alto and Menlo Park will be adjusted to improve its on-time performance. The second phase of the SSP will introduce several new bus lines as well. Route 252 is set to replace the former Route 250 and will operate in new areas in San Mateo. Another line, Route 286, will improve service efficiency between the Menlo Park Caltrain Station and Sharon Park. The first phase of the SSP came in August, when SamTrans' launched its new Route ECR service on El Camino Real. The ECR combined portions of SamTrans' old 390 and 391 bus lines. Passengers are taking advantage of the more-streamlined Route ECR service. In December 2013, Route ECR recorded an eight percent increase from the ridership totals on the 390 and 391 from the prior year. To find out more information about the SSP, including scheduling and route details, visit here.
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