Foster City to Discontinue Connections Shuttles

The budgetary belt was tightened just a bit more in Foster City this week, as city staff announced the Connections Shuttles is the latest service to be cut.

In a press release issued Tuesday morning, city staff announced that, due to budget constraints, the Connections Red and Blue Line shuttles will be discontinued.

The final day of service for the shuttles will be June 29.

"Riders are encouraged to purchase shuttle passes with this end date in mind," the statement read. 

Passes will continue to be sold through June 28.

The Connections Shuttle, which began as a free city-provided service in 2003, shuttles people within the city limits on weekdays along two routes - the Blue Line and the Red line. Prior to 2003, shuttle services were provided under the name Sunshine Shuttles.

In July of last year, budget constraints led Foster City to begin charging $1 per ride. Single-day rides and punchcards have been offered since.

However, it appears even the revenue earned from charging the nominal ticket price wasn't enough to save the Connections Shuttles.

The city decided to keep the shuttles running through the end of June in order to give riders enough notice to make other arrangements for transportation. The press release pointed toward SamTrans, Redi-Wheels, the Senior Express Door-to-Door, and the 's Get-Up-and-Go service as possible alternatives.

Local ride shares, carpools and vanpools are also available; information can be found online at www.commute.org or www.511.org.

Those who wish to purchase punchcards for less than five rides can do so within the month of June at , 610 Foster City Blvd.

For more information on the end of Connections Shuttles service, contact 650-286-3215 or e-mail alorenz@fostercity.org.

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