SamTrans Recognizes Hispanic Heritage Month

The SamTrans Board of Directors passed a resolution honoring Hispanic Heritage Month at its October meeting.

“The Hispanic/Latinx community has long been an integral part of American life and that’s even more true here in San Mateo County,” said SamTrans Board Chair Charles Stone. “SamTrans is proud to recognize Hispanic Heritage Month in honor of this community’s many contributions to our culture, our history and our shared future.”

“As the first Hispanic to sit on this Board of Directors, it’s my pleasure to support this resolution which honors and recognizes the contributions of the Latino community,” said SamTrans Board Member Rose Guilbault. “It’s no small thing that 32% of our riders are of Latino descent, so many of them support us, and during the pandemic so many of those riders continued riding and kept this agency running through that time.”

Hispanic Americans are well represented among SamTrans riders, with a survey from 2018 showing 32% of SamTrans riders are of Hispanic origin. 26% of SamTrans riders speak Spanish in the home.

Additionally, Reimagine SamTrans, the ongoing comprehensive operational analysis of SamTrans’ bus routes has identified route adjustments that could improve service into Hispanic communities in Redwood City and East Palo Alto. Improving service into equity priority areas was one of the goals identified through earlier outreach conducted as a part of Reimagine SamTrans.

SamTrans’ vision is to be a mobility leader, providing transportation choices and sustainable future that meets the needs of our diverse communities.

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