Connect, Redwood City! Launches Today, Addresses “Last Mile” Travel Solutions

The San Mateo County Transit District and their project partners officially launched Connect, Redwood City! today, highlighting transportation solutions for those who live and work in Redwood City. The program encourages residents, commuters and visitors to take advantage of a variety of options to get around town and to and from their workplaces, homes or entertainment destinations.

Outreach for the program alerts potential motorists to the vanpool, bike share, car share, transit and other options for a stress-free way to get around town. The Connect, Redwood City! pilot program was introduced by SamTrans to test the ability of these transportation alternatives to lure people away from from single-occupancy vehicles, which will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“With these new, connected options for transportation—including bike share, vanpools, car share and access to Caltrain, buses, and shuttles—our residents and visitors have many choices beyond single-occupancy vehicles,” said Redwood City Mayor and MTC Commissioner, Alicia C. Aguirre. “This makes it easier for people to leave their cars at home, while providing a healthier and more active lifestyle.”

For those who live and work in Redwood City, Caltrain and SamTrans are comfortable and cost effective options for traveling up and down the Peninsula. Once in Redwood City, they can easily take advantage of the bike share system or Zipcar, which allow for flexibility when riding transit or when people need an additional vehicle or personal transportation during the day.

Silver Spring Networks, which creates technology platforms, is one of several businesses in Redwood City participating in the vanpool program as part of Connect, Redwood City! They also encourage employees to use a wide mix of transportation alternative programs, recognizing the immediate and direct impact on their daily – and professional – lives.

“Silver Spring's corporate responsibility transportation initiatives emphasize environmental sustainability and support for our community. We offer programs that help our employees commute to and from Redwood City more efficiently and through channels that are environmental friendly, including shuttles and offering EV charging stations,” stated Silver Spring Network Senior Engineering Manager Dalton Victor. “We also support the ‘Connect, Redwood City!' program to expand our vanpool program to help our employees make smarter commute choices.”

Redwood City can also be explored in a new, healthy and fun way using Bay Area Bike Share. Residents, commuters and visitors can rent a bicycle from one of the six local automated stations, ride to the station nearest their destination, and leave the bicycle safely locked for someone else to use.

The program is paid for through a $1.5 million grant from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission through its Climate Initiatives Program. 

“In an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through its Climate Initiatives Program grants, MTC is proud to have funded the Connect, Redwood City! program and provide Peninsula communities with this menu of transportation choices and the opportunity for a lifestyle change,” said San Mateo County Supervisor, SamTrans Board Member and MTC Commissioner Adrienne Tissier. “By offering options that allow people to spend less time in their cars, they will have more time to enjoy a sustainable, vibrant, walkable way of life.”

Learn more at ConnectRedwoodCity.com.

The San Mateo County Transit District operates SamTrans bus and paratransit service, and provides administrative support for Caltrain and the San Mateo County Transportation Authority.

Project partners for this effort include:

• San Mateo County Transit District
• The City of Redwood City
• The County of San Mateo
• Peninsula Traffic Congestion Relief Alliance
• Metropolitan Transportation Commission
• San Mateo County Transportation Authority
• City/County Association of Governments of San Mateo County