SamTrans
SamTrans is the San Mateo County Transit District's public bus agency, operating 50+ fixed routes plus paratransit and microtransit service for general public riders, commuters, students, seniors, and persons with disabilities across the County and into parts of San Francisco and Palo Alto.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1976
- HeadquartersSan Carlos, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What SamTrans does
SamTrans is the public bus transit service operated by the San Mateo County Transit District (SMCTD), a California public agency created by voters in 1976 to provide bus service across San Mateo County, with extensions into parts of San Francisco and Palo Alto. The agency runs 50-plus fixed bus routes spanning express, local, Coastside, school, and commuter shuttle categories, with intermodal connections to BART, Caltrain, SFO Airport, and South San Francisco ferries. Adjacent service lines include the Ride Plus on-demand microtransit product in East Palo Alto/Belle Haven and Half Moon Bay/El Granada, the Redi-Wheels (bayside) and RediCoast (coastside) paratransit programs for riders with disabilities, and a Same-Day Paratransit option priced at $10 per one-way trip.
The underlying technology stack combines a real-time bus tracking platform, the SamTrans Mobile app (powered by Bytemark Inc.) for trip planning and mobile ticketing, Google Maps for end-to-end trip planning, and the regional Clipper card for fare payment. Commuter shuttles are operated in partnership with Commute.org, and online store/payment functions are supported by Shift4Shop, PayPal, and Stripe. The Reimagine SamTrans comprehensive operational analysis, completed in August 2024, constitutes the agency's most significant network redesign since founding, supported by a data-driven service planning framework.
Revenue is generated through passenger fares (cash, mobile, Clipper, and subscription products such as the $40 Summer Youth Pass) supplemented by government funding under Measure W, a dedicated local sales tax, and governed by a Board-adopted Local Transit Investment Plan. As a public agency, SamTrans has no parent company, external shareholders, or private equity exposure. The agency is marking its 50th anniversary in 2026 with a community celebration and relocated its headquarters to Gateway at Millbrae Station on May 18, 2026.
SamTrans firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SamTrans
- Legal name
- San Mateo County Transit District
- Website
- https://samtrans.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1976
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- SamTrans is the San Mateo County Transit District's public bus agency, operating 50+ fixed routes plus paratransit and microtransit service for general public riders, commuters, students, seniors, and persons with disabilities across the County and into parts of San Francisco and Palo Alto.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SamTrans industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Transit Services
- NAICS
- Bus and Other Motor Vehicle Transit Systems (485113), Special Needs Transportation (485991)
- SIC
- Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100)
- akta.pro primary industry
- ADA/Accessible Paratransit (Complementary to Fixed-Route Transit) (THAIAHAA)
Keywords
Where SamTrans is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Carlos
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
SamTrans business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Passenger Fare Revenue: SamTrans generates revenue through passenger fares including cash payments on buses, pre-paid tickets, mobile app payments, and Clipper card transactions. Various fare types exist including standard adult fares, reduced fares for youth, seniors, and persons with disabilities.
- Government Funding and Subsidies: As a public transit agency (San Mateo County Transit District), SamTrans receives government funding including Measure W tax revenue and operates under a Local Transit Investment Plan adopted by the Board of Directors.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Same-Day Paratransit Standard Fare |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Same-Day Paratransit Fare Assistance |
| Subscription | Annual | Summer Youth Pass 2026 |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
SamTrans product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SamTrans operates fixed-route public bus transit service throughout San Mateo County, parts of San Francisco, and Palo Alto, running 50+ routes including express, local, SFO airport, and Coastside services. The agency also delivers complementary paratransit (Redi-Wheels, RediCoast) for riders with disabilities and Ride Plus on-demand microtransit in Half Moon Bay/El Granada and East Palo Alto/Belle Haven. Fares are collected through cash, Clipper card, and the SamTrans Mobile app powered by Bytemark.
Product overview
SamTrans is the public bus transit service operated by the San Mateo County Transit District, providing fixed-route bus service throughout San Mateo County including the Coastside, parts of San Francisco, and Palo Alto. The core offering is fixed-route bus service with over 50 routes including express routes (ECR, EPX, FCX), SFO airport connections (Routes 713, ECRO, 397), and Coastside services. Adjacent services include Ride Plus on-demand microtransit serving East Palo Alto/Belle Haven and Half Moon Bay/El Granada; paratransit services Redi-Wheels (bayside) and RediCoast (coastside) for riders with disabilities; and Clipper START fare card integration. Supporting products include SamTrans Mobile app for trip planning and ticketing, an online Trip Planner integrated with Google Maps, printable system maps, and commuter shuttles operated in partnership with Commute.org connecting transit stations to employment centers. The Reimagine SamTrans comprehensive operational analysis project, completed in August 2024, modernized the entire bus network. Special offerings include Summer Youth Pass and same-day paratransit options.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Redi-Wheels: Paratransit service for persons with disabilities on the bayside of San Mateo County.
- RediCoast
- Ride Plus
- SamTrans Mobile
- Emission Zero
Products and services
- SamTrans Fixed-Route Bus Service
Quantifiable outcome
- Full implementation of Reimagine SamTrans new network completed August 4, 2024
Companies that use SamTrans
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
SamTrans technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration8 records
Feature3 records
SamTrans partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Bytemark Inc.coreBytemark provides trip planning and mobile ticketing services through its mobility app. SamTrans riders can purchase and validate tickets through the Mobility App, with SamTrans accessing ticket information to accept purchases on its transit services.
- San Mateo County Office of EducationminorPartnership for the 'Art Takes a Bus Ride' program bringing student artwork to SamTrans buses, promoting youth engagement and community arts.
- Bay Area Transit AgenciesminorSamTrans participates in unprecedented regional collaboration with other Bay Area transit agencies for the San Francisco Pride Parade, demonstrating cross-agency coordination.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights5 records
SamTrans competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA): VTA operates bus and light rail service across neighboring Santa Clara County with a comparable mix of fixed-route, express, paratransit, and shuttle services, and a similar Measure-style sales tax funding model. It is the closest direct comparable in scale and charter to SamTrans within the Bay Area.
- AC Transit: AC Transit operates fixed-route bus and paratransit across Alameda and Contra Costa counties. It is a directly comparable urban bus transit district with similar fixed-route, paratransit, and intermodal connection structures to SamTrans.
- Golden Gate Transit: Golden Gate Transit operates regional bus service across Marin and Sonoma counties into San Francisco. It shares SamTrans's structure of fixed-route, commute-oriented service feeding into SF via bridges and transit hubs, plus paratransit for seniors and riders with disabilities.
- Marin Transit: Marin Transit provides local and paratransit bus service in Marin County. It is a smaller-scale but structurally similar transit district to SamTrans, with fixed-route service, paratransit, and intermodal connections to regional rail and ferry.
Broad incumbents
- San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA / Muni): SFMTA operates Muni buses, light rail, and paratransit within San Francisco. It is a much larger incumbent transit operator whose routes and paratransit (e.g., SF Paratransit) overlap and connect with SamTrans service in the parts of SF that SamTrans serves.
- Caltrain (Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board): Caltrain operates commuter rail along the San Francisco Peninsula with multiple stations that SamTrans shuttle routes connect to. It is a regional incumbent rail operator that depends on SamTrans for last-mile feeder service.
- Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART): BART operates regional heavy rail across the Bay Area. SamTrans express routes and shuttles connect to BART at Millbrae and Daly City, making BART a structural partner and a broader incumbent whose regional reach complements SamTrans's local coverage.
Regional players
- Solano County Transit (SolTrans): SolTrans operates fixed-route and paratransit bus service in Solano County, northeast of SamTrans's territory. It is a comparable California county-level transit agency with a similar fixed-route plus paratransit mix, serving a different geography.
- Sacramento Regional Transit (SacRT): SacRT operates bus and light rail service across the Sacramento region. As a California municipal/regional transit agency, it offers a comparable mix of fixed-route, paratransit, and microtransit-style services in a different but structurally similar metro context.
Emerging players
- Via Transportation: Via operates on-demand microtransit and paratransit software platforms used by public transit agencies. SamTrans's Ride Plus and same-day paratransit offerings use technology and operational patterns pioneered by companies like Via, making it the closest emerging-tech peer for SamTrans's on-demand services.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SamTrans social profiles
Digital presenceSamTrans financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SamTrans leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
SamTrans funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SamTrans M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SamTrans
What does SamTrans do?
SamTrans operates fixed-route public bus transit service throughout San Mateo County, parts of San Francisco, and Palo Alto, running 50+ routes including express, local, SFO airport, and Coastside services. The agency also delivers complementary paratransit (Redi-Wheels, RediCoast) for riders with disabilities and Ride Plus on-demand microtransit in Half Moon Bay/El Granada and East Palo Alto/Belle Haven. Fares are collected through cash, Clipper card, and the SamTrans Mobile app powered by Bytemark.
Is SamTrans a public or private company?
SamTrans is a private company. It is currently operating.
When was SamTrans founded?
SamTrans was founded in 1976. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is SamTrans based?
SamTrans is headquartered in San Carlos, United States, in the North America region.
How does SamTrans make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Passenger Fare Revenue is the primary driver. The others are government Funding and Subsidies.
Who are SamTrans's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), AC Transit, Golden Gate Transit and Marin Transit. Broad incumbents are San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA / Muni), Caltrain (Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board) and Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART). Regional players are Solano County Transit (SolTrans) and Sacramento Regional Transit (SacRT). Via Transportation is listed as an emerging player.
Does SamTrans have an API?
No public API is recorded for SamTrans.
What industry is SamTrans in?
SamTrans's product category is Public Transit Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAIAHAA, ADA/Accessible Paratransit (Complementary to Fixed-Route Transit). Its NAICS code is 485113 and its SIC code is 4100.