After more than a quarter-century of providing special service to 49er football games, SamTrans is prohibited from continuing due to recent changes in federal charter service laws. Instead, the service will be provided by Silverado Stages, a private charter company.

The Federal Transit Administration has always prohibited public bus agencies from operating charter bus service with equipment purchased with federal funds because of unfair competition with private bus companies. However, this spring the agency adopted much more stringent regulations that caused transit agencies across the country to reevaluate special service.

The new regulations require public agencies to see if any private charter companies are interested in operating the special service, which Silverado Stages did. SamTrans staff has been working closely with the 49ers and Silverado Stages to make the transition for long-time SamTrans customers smooth. “We have been assured that our customers will continue to receive the same high level of service that SamTrans provided in the past,” said Chief Operating Officer Chuck Harvey. More than 28,000 football fans rode SamTrans to Candlestick Park last year.

The new service will begin with the preseason game on Saturday, Aug. 16 against the Green Bay Packers. Peninsula fans that planned to travel to the stadium by bus should contact Silverado Stages at 1-800-781-4699 or www.49erbus.com for more information about routes, schedules and pricing.

07/22/08 - crd
Media Contact: Christine Dunn, 650-508-6238