Layoffs coming at SamTrans

Six SamTrans routes were cut and fares were increased in a unanimous vote by the SamTrans board of directors last month in the wake of a $28.4 million operational budget deficit for the 2010 fiscal year.

In relation to those cuts, the transit district will have to eliminate anywhere from 40 to 60 positions.

Some layoffs to the administration have already taken place, said SamTrans spokesman Mark Simon. Bus drivers with seniority will have the opportunity to bid on new routes since the transit agency has had to change its map and schedules. The changes to the system take effect Dec. 20, meaning it is not yet clear how many drivers will be out of a job.

Five of the discontinued routes, MX, NX, PX/RX, DX and FX are express routes. Route 342, which was also cut, serves areas of Millbrae including the Millbrae BART and Caltrain station and downtown.

The KX route from Palo Alto to San Francisco and Palo Alto Route 280 will increase wait times to 60 minutes between buses. Route 141 in San Bruno also increases to 60-minute wait times and 30 minutes during school hours. Route 390/391, which services multiple cities, increases to 40 minutes. Route 14 on the coast becomes a single loop route.