Parking & Transportation Services
eUpdate
July 2013 edition

Labor contracts for both BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) and AC Transit expired on June 30. BART’s unions implemented a work stoppage today, affecting an estimated 400,000 daily BART commuters. As BART riders turned to other transportation options, commuters throughout the Bay Area, especially the East Bay, were impacted by increased traffic and higher demand on other transit services. At this time, AC Transit is operating its normal service while their contract negotiations continue.

For updates and information, please use these resources:

• 511.org’s strike information page
• BART: Web and Twitter
• AC Transit: Web and Twitter
• Caltrain: Web and Twitter

For assistance, please contact commuteclub@stanford.edu or 650.736.9923.

All commuters are encouraged to consider these options during the BART strike and in advance of a potential AC Transit strike:

• Telecommute or use flexible work options. If possible and with approval in advance from your supervisor, avoid commute trips by telecommuting or using flexible work options (reference for university employees).
   
• If you plan to drive, consider the following:
   
  • Find or form a carpool or vanpool with others at Stanford. Carpools and vanpools use carpool (high occupancy vehicle) lanes for a potentially faster commute. During the strike, refer to alert.511.org for details about expanded carpool lane hours and access. In addition, take advantage of free parking at BART stations and Park & Ride lots.
    
    Free carpool ridematching for Stanford affiliates
    
    Existing Stanford vanpools
    
    Regional vanpools 
     
  • Travel during off-peak times (Stanford peak times are weekday arrivals between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. and departures between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.)
     
  • Consider transit and/or bicycle alternatives. P&TS offers free commute planning assistance: do-it-yourself or custom (we do it for you) commute planning services. For custom commute planning requests, please specify “BART strike” in the comments.
     
  • Consider free offsite parking at the Palo Alto Tech Center (1830 and 1850 Embarcadero Road), with free Marguerite TECH shuttle service to Stanford Medical Center. Please check shuttle schedule daily. Hours of service are subject to change based on ridership.
     
  • Visit traffic/511.org for current traffic conditions and driving times and 511.org’s strike information page for updates and resources.
     
  • Get a FasTrak tag if you don’t already have one and will be crossing bridges.
     
• If you currently take BART or AC Transit (including the Line U East Bay express bus), consider the following:
   
  • Explore the preceding suggestions for drivers. Options include telecommuting and flexible work options, transit or bicycle commute alternatives, carpool or vanpools, traveling during off-peak times, free off-site parking and free BART parking.
     
  • Explore alternative transportation options. 511.org provides a list of regular and special transit services during the strike.
     
  • Consider whether the Berkeley vanpool could work for you. The Berkeley vanpool sometimes has open seats for occasional or one-time riders.
     
  • Consider Ardenwood Express. The Marguerite Ardenwood Express shuttle provides limited service between the Ardenwood Park & Ride and Stanford. Seats on the Ardenwood Express are first come, first served, and no standees will be allowed as the bus travels across the bay. Please note: For the duration of the strike, a new run has been added departing at 6:22 a.m. from Ardenwood Park & Ride to campus.
     
  • Drive to Caltrain or BART parking lots. Take Caltrain or the Dumbarton Express to Stanford. Parking information is available on the Caltrain and BART websites. 

For assistance, please contact commuteclub@stanford.edu or 650.736.9923.

Whether you try alternative transportation in response to the BART strike or in advance of a potential AC Transit strike, you may discover the many rewards for leaving a solo commute behind.

• Free and discounted Stanford transportation programs
• Stanford Commute Club for eligible commuters
• Stanford’s Permit-Return Promotion
• Regional transit and carpool incentives
• County incentives
• Commute Cost and Carbon Emissions Calculator
• Fitness through your commute
• Find out how thousands of Stanford commuters benefit from sustainable commuting

Contact us at commuteclub@stanford.edu or 650.736.9923. We’ll be glad to help you discover a better commute and the rewards available to you.

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