Wheel Talk: Navigating the Future of Bay Area Transit

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☀️ Hop Off Here — Summer 2026 Edition

Summer is here, and there's no better time to explore the Bay Area by transit. In this episode of Hop Off Here, we discover how buses, trains, bikes and ferries can help you experience some of the region's best destinations and biggest celebrations—without the hassle of driving.

🚲 Bike + Transit Adventures

Randol speaks with Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition Executive Director Clarrissa Cabansagan to talk about why bikes and transit are the perfect combination. Learn how transit can expand your riding adventures, discover favorite Peninsula routes, and hear about the Silicon Valley Bike Summit.

Learn more about the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition:
https://bikesiliconvalley.org/

🌈 Pride by Transit

Next, Randol welcomes Jamie Vizmanos, Digital Communications Specialist for SamTrans, and Jason Dayvault, Business Operations Project Manager for Caltrain, to discuss Pride celebrations happening across the Bay Area—and how transit makes it easy to experience them.

This year's conversation includes:

• The first-ever regional transit collaboration at the San Francisco Pride Parade
• Caltrain's Pride celebration at San Francisco Station
• SamTrans' Pride-themed bus
• Easy transit connections to Pride events throughout the region

Pride celebrations featured in this episode:

• San Francisco Pride — June 27–28
• Oakland Pride — Sunday, Aug. 16
• Silicon Valley Pride (San Jose) — Aug. 29–30
• Russian River Pride (Guerneville) — Saturday, Sept. 19

🚌 SamTrans Turns 50

Finally, Randol talks with Tasha Bartholomew, Director of Communications for the San Mateo County Transit District about the agency's 50th anniversary celebration.

Learn about:

• Free rides on all SamTrans services on Wednesday, July 1, including fixed-route buses, Ride Plus, Redi-Wheels and RediCoast
• The SamTrans 50th Anniversary Community Celebration on Saturday, Sept. 26, at the new SamTrans headquarters adjacent to the Millbrae Transit Center—easy to reach by SamTrans, Caltrain and BART.

Learn more about SamTrans' 50th Anniversary:
https://www.samtrans.com/50

💬 We'd love to hear from you!

Have a favorite transit-friendly destination, hidden gem, bike ride, festival or question about exploring the Bay Area without a car?

Send us your ideas using the contact information in our show notes—you might hear your suggestion featured on a future episode of Hop Off Here.

Thanks for riding with us!

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Hop Off Here — Spring Adventures by Transit 🚆

Spring is here — and it’s the perfect time to get out and explore the Bay Area by bus and train. In this episode of Hop Off Here, we highlight easy, scenic, and accessible destinations you can reach without a car.

🌿 Hiking by Transit with Evan Tschuy

We kick things off with Evan Tschuy, creator of HikingByTransit.com, who shares why combining transit and hiking creates a more flexible — and often more rewarding — outdoor experience. From ridge hikes between Pacifica and San Bruno to coastal escapes and beach access along the Peninsula, Evan shows how your next trailhead might start with a bus ride.

🔗 Explore Evan’s guides: https://hikingbytransit.com/

🌼 Spring Destinations with Mahmoud Abunie

SamTrans Public Information Specialist Mahmoud Abunie walks us through his spring bucket list — five easy adventures you can take right now using SamTrans. From the SFO Bay Trail to Half Moon Bay and neighborhood parks, these trips are perfect for a quick outing or a full day of exploring.

🔗 Read the full blog:
 https://www.samtrans.com/blog/2026/04/your-spring-bucket-list-starts-here-five-easy-samtrans-adventures

🌆 Destination Downtown with Stephanie T.

We wrap up in downtown Redwood City with Digital Communications Specialist Stephanie T., who shares insights from Caltrain’s Destination Downtown series. Learn how to turn any train trip into a walkable adventure — with dining, local gems, and vibrant downtown experiences just steps from the station.

🔗 Explore the series:
 https://www.caltrain.com/caltrain-destinations

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Wheel Talk Podcast Guests (in order of appearance):  

• Jeneane Crawford, Caltrans Distric 4 PIO for San Mateo County
  • US 101 / SR 92 Interchange Short Term Area Improvements Project
  • Caltrans Quickmap
• Jessica Manzi, San Mateo County Transportation Authority (TA) Director of Project Delivery
  • US 101 / SR 92 Interchange Direct Connector Project  
• Max Mautner, Car-free San Mateo resident
  • 19th Avenue and Fashion Island Boulevard Multimodal Improvements Project 

Episode overview

The Highway 101 and 92 interchange is one of the busiest and most complex transportation hubs in the Bay Area — and it’s also the focus of several major projects that often get confused with one another.

In this episode of Wheel Talk, we break down three distinct transportation efforts connected to the interchange and surrounding communities, each with its own purpose and timeline.

First, we look at a safety and bottleneck improvement project already underway, designed to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow through known trouble spots. Caltrans Public Information Officer Jeneane Crawford explains what drivers can expect during construction and how success will be measured.

Next, we examine a proposed direct connectors project that could link Highway 92 with the 101 express lanes. Still under review, this proposal has raised important community questions. San Mateo County Transportation Authority Director of Project Delivery Jess Manzi responds to public concerns and clarifies where the project stands today.

Finally, we shift the focus from cars to people with a discussion of the Fashion Island Boulevard and 19th Avenue Multimodal Improvements Project. Car-free San Mateo Resident Max Mautner explores how rethinking this vehicle-focused corridor could improve safety and access for people walking, biking, rolling, and using transit.

Three projects. Different goals. One very busy interchange — and a clearer picture of how mobility is evolving along the Peninsula.

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(904) 867-4466 

Send us an email: 
[email protected] 

Hop Off Here: Your ticket to exploring the Bay Area.

Our first stop is on the Coastside to explore Quarry Park in El Granada near Half Moon Bay. This San Mateo County Parks gem offers trails and coastal views. Best of all, SamTrans Ride Plus can take you there with free transfers from routes 117 and 294.

Ranger Tommy Hart shares his insights for exploring this activity-packed destination.

Sports & Concerts

November is packed with games and concerts:

• Football: The 49ers vs. Rams and 49ers vs. Panthers matchups at Levi’s Stadium are easy to reach by Caltrain to Mountain View and a quick hop on VTA Light Rail.
• College Football: Take Caltrain or SamTrans to see the Stanford Cardinal at three home games in November, including the Big Game — Cal vs Stanford — on Saturday, Nov. 22.
• Soccer: The 2025 NWSL Championship comes to PayPal Park on Nov. 22, just a short walk from Santa Clara Station.
• Hockey & Hoops: The San Jose Sharks face off at SAP Center, and the Golden State Warriors light up Chase Center — both an easy Caltrain ride away.

Music fans can look forward to a November with Shane Gillis and Billie Eilish at the Chase Center in SF, and Bryan Adams, Pat Benatar, Christian Nodal, Ramón Ayala, and Banda MS performing at SAP Center in San Jose.

Food and Drink

We roll into Redwood City to speak with Verónica Escámez, founder of Casa Círculo Cultural, about pan de muerto.

Verónica's favorite bakeries (note — slightly different than spoken-word version):

• Panadería Michoacana #2 – 2940 Middlefield Rd.
• Chavez – 775 Arguello St.
• Mi Tienda – 812 Fifth Ave., North Fair Oaks

Visit Redwood City’s Día de Muertos Celebration, Sunday, Nov. 2.

Other Events

• Daly City Veterans Day Celebration
  – Nov. 6, 11 a.m.–1 p.m., War Memorial Community Center (via SamTrans ECR)
• San Francisco Veterans Day Parade
  – Nov. 9, Fisherman’s Wharf (Caltrain + Muni 30-Stockton)
• San Jose Veterans Day Parade
  –  Nov. 11, San Jose (walkable from Diridon Station) 

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Wheel Talk Podcast Guests (in order of appearance):  

• Cassie Halls, SamTrans Major Corridors Manager 
• Patrick Gilster, San Mateo County Transportation Authority (TA) Director of Planning and Fund Management  
• Megan Wooley-Ousdahl, South San Francisco Deputy City Manager  
• Jacob (Jake) Buffenbarger, Caltrans System Planning Branch Chief: Marin, San Francisco and San Mateo Counties 
• Mitch Postel, San Mateo County Historical Association President 

The Grand Boulevard Initiative: Turning El Camino Real into a street for everyone 

This busy highway was once a trade route linking Ohlone villages in what we now call San Mateo County, in the heart of the San Francisco Bay Area. When the Spanish arrived, it became known as El Camino Real — the King’s Highway — carrying travelers between California’s missions. 

Centuries later, this corridor remains a backbone for commerce and travel. But today, it faces modern challenges: congestion, safety concerns, and the need to better serve all who rely on it. 

The Grand Boulevard Initiative (GBI) aims to reimagine this historic roadway as a modern “complete street” designed for everyone—walkers, bikers, transit riders, drivers, and local businesses. 

What Is the Grand Boulevard Initiative? 

The Grand Boulevard Initiative is a collaboration led by SamTrans in partnership with Caltrans, the San Mateo County Transportation Authority (TA), and 15 cities along the Peninsula. The goal is to ensure that El Camino Real is a safe and vibrant street where people of all ages and abilities travel comfortably. Potential improvements include: 

• Wider sidewalks and safer pedestrian crossings 
• Dedicated bus lanes and better transit efficiency through congested areas 
• Bike-friendly design and protected lanes 
• Street trees, landscaping, and placemaking enhancements 

Why El Camino Real Matters to San Mateo County 

El Camino Real is more than just a highway — it connects residents to jobs, health care centers, schools, and civic spaces. In South San Francisco alone, the corridor links the new Library | Parks and Recreation Center (LPR), medical facilities, and BART. A revitalized El Camino Real would not only improve mobility and safety but could also boost economic vitality and quality of life along the Peninsula. 

Learn More About the Grand Boulevard Initiative 

The Grand Boulevard Initiative is a once-in-a-generation chance to transform San Mateo County’s most important streets. To stay updated on workshops, planning milestones, and opportunities to get involved, visit samtrans.com/GBI. 

Contact us: 

• [email protected] 
• [email protected] 
• [email protected]

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Wheel Talk Guests (in order of appearance): 

• Andy Metz, AC Transit Regional Plans Principal Planner 
• Millie Tolleson, SamTrans Director of Planning 
• Ted Burgwyn, Caltrain Director of Rail Network and Operations Planning 
• Adina Levin, Seamless Bay Area Executive Director 

The Big Sync: How SamTrans Is Teaming Up to Improve Transit Transfers on the Peninsula 

SamTrans is partnering with other Bay Area transit agencies to better align bus and rail schedules at major hubs along the Peninsula. The effort is part of a regional initiative known as the Big Sync. 

One element of the Big Sync is the Bay Area TRANSFER Plan — short for Transit Reliability and Accessibility Network Scheduling Framework and Equitable Regional. The goal is to improve the rider experience by reducing transfer wait times and increasing reliability at key multimodal hubs. 

By synchronizing arrivals and departures where services intersect, the plan aims to make transit more seamless, equitable and time-competitive — especially for riders who depend on multiple systems to complete a single trip. 

This August, four major Bay Area transit hubs are seeing improved interagency coordination: Daly City BART and Palo Alto Caltrain — both served by SamTrans — along with Concord BART and Dublin/Pleasanton BART. 

“It really is about how we knit the system together in a way that works for the rider,” said SamTrans Director of Planning Millie Tolleson. “And that’s across agencies.” 

Read more about how this coordination is unfolding along the Peninsula. 

Contact us: 

• [email protected] 
• [email protected] 
• [email protected]

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The first hydrogen fuel cell electric buses (FCEBs) to serve public transit customers along the peninsula are now in service, with many more on the way in the weeks, months and years to come. 

The San Mateo County Transit District, or SamTrans, recently placed an order for 108 additional hydrogen busses, marking the largest order of its kind in North America to date. 

The move toward hydrogen at Sam trans is symbolic of a major shift in the public transportation industry. But why hydrogen? What makes this such an attractive carbon free choice for transit? Where does hydrogen fuel even come from? And is it truly green? 

SamTrans Public Information Officer Randol White asks those questions and more to:

• SamTrans Director of Maintenance David harbor
• Dr. Lewis Fulton, the Director of the Energy Futures Program at the UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies and chair of the Transportation Working Group of the California Hydrogen Hub known as ARCHES. 

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SamTrans' Director of Real Estate and Property Development, Brian Fitzpatrick, offers insight into the District's land use over the years along with Caltrain's new transit-oriented development policy (or as we loving call it, "Tod") and what it means for the agency's future. 

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SamTrans Director of Bus Maintenance Dave Harbour explains what it takes to be a SamTrans bus. We talk about buying new buses and retiring the old, Wi-Fi implementation, the future of SamTrans' electrified fleet and what it takes to keep over 300 buses in working order.

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We continue our conversation about Caltrain's maintenance operations and future improvements coming with electrification from a high level perspective with Chief Operating Officer, Michelle Bouchard.