San Joaquin County Commuter Transportation

WESTWARD COMMUTE FACILITATED BY RAIL, BUS AND VANPOOL
San Joaquin region commuters make 120,000 daily trips west over the Altamont Pass to jobs located primarily in the Silicon Valley region. To reduce traffic congestion and pollution caused by auto emissions, San Joaquin County implemented several transportation facilitation programs. Measure K, a half cent sales tax for transportation, was approved by voters in 1990. While some funds were earmarked for highway improvements, the number one project is Altamont passenger rail service. Through Measure K the taxpayers of San Joaquin County have contributed more than $53 million in funding for the commuter rail service which has received national acclaim. In 2006, $62 million of Measure K funds will be loaned to the State of California to be used for the widening of I-205.

ALTAMONT COMMUTER EXPRESS
The Altamont Commuter Express (ACE), is owned and operated by the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission, a Joint Powers Authority including San Joaquin County and the cities of Escalon, Lathrop, Lodi, Manteca, Ripon, Stockton and Tracy. ACE began operating commuter train service from San Joaquin County to Alameda and Santa Clara counties in October, 1998. It operates three daily round-trip trains from the Stockton, Lathrop/Manteca and Tracy stations to stations in Livermore, Pleasanton, Fremont, Great America and San Jose.

In the morning, ACE trains leave the Stockton station at 4:20, 5:35, and 6:40 a.m.; the Manteca-Lathrop station at 4:38, 5:53 and 6:58 a.m., departing from Tracy at 4:52, 6:07 and 7:12 a.m. In the evening, the trains return to the Tracy station at 5:07, 6:07 and 7:07p.m., to the Lathrop/Manteca station at 5:21, 6:21, and 7:21p.m. and to the Stockton station at 5:45, 6:45, and 7:45p.m. Shuttle services are available to and from the stations. Complete details are available at: www.acerail.com.

RATES
One-way, roundtrip, 20-trip and monthly rates are available ranging from $3.50 one-way to a monthly rate of $282. Discounts are available for senior citizens, disabled persons and children.

COMMUTE TAX BENEFITS
The transit commuter benefit allows employers to give their workers up to $100 per month to cover transit costs as a tax-free benefit. More information is available on the Transportation Equity Act at www.commutercheck.com or www.wageworks.com.

SAN JOAQUIN REGIONAL TRANSIT DISTRICT
A specialized service for commuters who travel greater than 50 miles one way is available through the San Joaquin Regional Transit District (SJRTD). It is a subscription service requiring advance reservations. Passengers meet the bus at Park-n-ride lots located in Stockton, Lodi, Manteca, Lathrop, Escalon, Ripon and Tracy. Service goes to Livermore, Dublin, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Pleasanton, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, San Jose and Sacramento with feeder service to the Bay Area Rapid Transit system (BART) for people working in San Francisco and the East Bay. For more iformation please visit www.sanjoaquinRTD.com.

RATES
Monthly subscription fares range from $102 - $159, determined by mileage. Daily fares are $10-$11.

INTER-CITY
Intercity fixed routes through the RTD connect Stockton with Lodi, Lathrop, Manteca and Tracy.

HOPPER
The RTD Hopper is a deviated fixed route bus service connecting Ripon, Escalon, Manteca, Lathrop, Thornton, Woodbridge, Acampo, Victor, Lockeford, Morada, and Linden to Stockton, Tracy and Lodi. Most RTD Hopper routes will deviate up to 3/4 of a mile for a ADA-certified Elderly and Disabled passengers not able to reach the fixed route stops. Reservations are required 1-2 days in advance for all Hopper deviations.

COMMUTE CONNECTION
This is a free one-stop commuter information service provided by the San Joaquin County Council of Governments. They maintain a database with thousands of commuters who are interested in sharing the ride to and from work. Additionally, it has listings of vanpools searching for riders. Commute Connection also provides information on connections to transit such as SJRTD, ACE, and BART. They will also work with employers in arranging ridesharing programs at the jobsite as well as programs to assist with employee retention during business relocation..

For more information, please call 1-800-527-4273 or visit www.commuteconnection.com.

San Joaquin Partnership
A Private Non-Profit Economic Development Corporation Serving San Joaquin County
sjp@sjpnet.org
© San Joaquin Partnership