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In a co-presentation with the Lane Center, Seamless Bay Area proposes "Swiss-style" public transit in the South Bay

By
Kylie Gordon
A panel of four speakers seated on a stage with one female presenter speaking into a microphone.
Seamless Bay Area’s November 16 panel discussion in San Jose. Pictured (from left to right): Tamara Alvarado, Cindy Chavez, Ian Griffiths, and Michelle Bouchard.

On Nov. 16, 2023, the nonprofit Seamless Bay Area hosted "Transforming Transit: A Swiss-style rider-focused public transit system in the South Bay." The event was co-presented by the Knight Foundation and the Bill Lane Center for the American West. 

During the November panel discussion, transit leaders from the South Bay presented findings from a report they published after spending a week in Switzerland studying the country's famously efficient public transit system. While abroad, these 11 Bay Area transit professionals were particularly impressed by the ways in which the Swiss have seamlessly integrated service and fares across multiple jurisdictions and transit agencies. As a result, urban, suburban, and rural areas are optimally connected for the system's high-frequency ridership. The Bill Lane Center, ever-committed to finding solutions to local problems, was thrilled to co-host the "Transforming Transit" event, as it proposed new priorities to improve public transportation in the Bay Area. These priorities included a Swiss-style integration of schedules and fares, and increasing the frequency of service.

To learn more about Seamless Bay Area's event, readers can check out Kaleo Mark's blog post, "South Bay transit leaders: Prioritize schedule and fare integration." Video of the panel discussion is also available for viewing on our website. 

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