Caltrain Baby Bullets win state award Caltrain Baby Bullets win state award (June 08, 2005)

The Baby Bullet express trains that Caltrain hopes will boost its ridership and help close its budget gap have already collected two major awards.

With its Tranny Award, the California Transportation Foundation named the popular Baby Bullet service its 2004 program of the year. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission also recently honored the Baby Bullets with its Grand Award.

Rolled out just a year ago, the Baby Bullets have proved so successful that two more were added last month; another 10 will start on August 1. At that point Caltrain will have gone from 76 to 96 weekend trains within 14 months, said spokeswoman Jayme Kunz.

The sleek express trains carry passengers between San Francisco and San Jose in less than an hour, with stops at Millbrae, Hillsdale, Palo Alto and Mountain View. They bring in $2 in revenue for every $1 that local trains bring in, Ms. Kunz said.

State Sen. Jackie Speier, D-Hillsborough, also received a Tranny Award as Legislator of the Year for her role in helping to create the Baby Bullet service, and securing $127 million in state money for it. This was shared by Howard Goode, SamTrans' retired chief development officer, and current Executive Director Michael Scanlon.

For more information, visit the California Transportation Foundation at transportationfoundation.org.
Ride free on bad-air days

Now that the bad-air season is upon us, SamTrans and Caltrain are offering free rides on buses and trains for the morning commute to help alleviate smog on official "Spare-the-Air Days."

Until October 14, passengers can ride free for up to five "Spare the Air Days" on Caltrain, SamTrans, and 19 other regional transit systems. The program is available on non-holiday weekdays, and between the start of service and 9 a.m.

The estimated $3.9 million cost of the program will be covered by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, using federal transportation dollars allocated to the Bay Area.

The air district declares a "Spare the Air" day when it expects air pollution to reach unhealthful levels -- typically on hot windless days. Advisories are issued the afternoon before and widely publicized. Individuals can get notices by registering for an AirAlert at sparetheair.org.

For more information, visit 511.org.
Summer youth passes

Kids under 18 might think about getting a summer youth pass for SamTrans buses now that the school year is nearing its end. For $25, a kid can travel anywhere SamTrans goes through August 31. The colorful plastic flash-pass can go in a wallet or backpack; or it can be attached to the SamTrans skateboard key ring that comes with every purchase.

Summer youth passes will be on sale until July 15 at SamTrans' headquarters, 1250 San Carlos Ave., in San Carlos, and at nearly 100 SamTrans pass sales outlets, located throughout San Mateo County. That includes all Safeway stores.

For an order form, or information on pass sales locations, call SamTrans at 1-800-660-4287.

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