Main campus parking enforcement includes nights and weekends; Courtesy 'After-Hours' permits available for Stanford affiliates

To support campus health and safety and more effectively manage external visitors, as of Nov. 2, parking enforcement on Stanford’s main campus was extended to include nights and weekends. Stanford affiliates can continue to park after hours at no additional charge, either with an existing permit or by registering their vehicle for a Courtesy ‘After-Hours’ permit. Read our article to learn more.

COVID-19: Public transit and pre-tax transit purchases updates

[Published: March 31, 2020; Updated March 29, 2021]

The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published guidance on how you can protect yourself and others to slow the spread of COVID-19 when using transportation, including public transit.

We have also created a graphical representation of some of those tips for easy reference.

Please refer to our Public Transit Service Changes: COVID-19 page for a table summarizing public transit service changes related to COVID-19. For other COVID-19-related updates for the Stanford community, visit healthalerts.stanford.edu.

The following are links to COVID-19 information centers for Bay Area transit agencies, which include information about their service modifications, cleaning procedures, and more:

If you would like updates about other Stanford Transportation programs and services, please visit our featured topics page. We have also created a Program and Service Changes: COVID-19 page to outline the current status of our operations.

Is VTA collecting fares at this time? What about passenger limits and schedule adjustments? (Mar. 29, 2021)

As of Thursday, April 1, VTA will resume fare collection, front-door boarding.

VTA limits bus capacity as follows. Actual capacity may vary depending how many people are riding in groups:

11-20 passengers on extra-long buses
8-15 passengers on 40-foot buses (most routes)
7-13 passengers on 35-foot buses

Operators may need to turn on a "drop off only" sign and pass up customers if these limits are reached.

Visit VTA's COVID-19 Information Center for the latest updates.

Has Caltrain made any service adjustments or changes to its cleaning procedures? (March 26, 2021)

Caltrain's schedule was adjusted on March 22 to maintain BART connections at the Millbrae Transit Center, increase weekday service from 68 to 70 trains, improve weekday schedule reliability, and meet weekend ridership demand at Tamien Station.

Additionally, as of May 16, 2020, Caltrain’s Hillsdale Station was temporarily closed. Caltrain service continues during the closure, and trains that currently stop at the Hillsdale Station will serve the Belmont Station instead.

Caltrain cleans and sanitizes its fleet and stations daily using hospital-grade disinfectant products. Station touchpoints are wiped down multiple times each day and cleaning crews use spray foggers on trains overnight and midday at the San Francisco Station.

Have there been changes to the shuttles connecting Stanford Redwood City with the Redwood City Caltrain Station? (March 26, 2021)

Line RWC and Commute.org's Redwood City-Midpoint Caltrain shuttle were adjusted to sync with Caltrain’s new departure and arrival times at the Redwood City Transit Center.

Is Line U operating currently? What are the latest updates on AC Transit service? (Mar. 24, 2021)

Yes, Line U service resumed as of Aug. 10. Beginning March 28, AC Transit will revise its bus schedules to optimize its service delivery.

As of Monday, Oct. 19, AC Transit resumed fare collection and front door boarding. Please note that Line U is free for those with a valid university ID card, hospital ID badge, or SLAC ID badge.

AC Transit began offering free facemasks and hand sanitizer for passengers as part of the agency's reNEW Plan on Sept. 15. As of August 9, the agency started its multi-phase reopening to restore service to 75% of pre-pandemic levels.

Visit AC Transit's COVID-19 Information Center for the latest updates.

What are the latest updates on Muni service? (March 2, 2021)

On Saturday, Dec. 19, the SFMTA gradually started to bring back Muni Metro service by rail and increase bus service.

In May, SFMTA is planning to restart more Muni Metro rail service by extending the T Third Metro rail route between Sunnydale and West Portal and bringing the full N Judah Metro rail route back into service.

For route-specific details on all Muni lines that are currently in service, please refer to the COVID-19 Muni Core Service Plan.

Are face coverings required on Marguerite shuttles or public transit services? (Feb. 3, 2021)

Yes. As of Wednesday, April 22, and to comply with county health orders in San Mateo, San Francisco, Alameda and Contra Costa, passengers and transit operators on Caltrain, BART, SamTrans, Muni, AC Transit, Marguerite Line RWC, and the Commute.org Redwood City-Midpoint Caltrain shuttle were required to wear face coverings while on board.

As of Monday, May 4, and to comply with guidance in the Santa Clara County Health Officer’s extension of the shelter-in-place order, passengers on VTA and all Marguerite routes are required to wear face coverings while on board. Marguerite drivers have been required to wear face coverings since April 13.

As of Feb. 1, 2021, CDC's guidelines require that passengers and employees wear a mask when on public transit and in transportation hubs.

Our Marguerite Safety Updates: COVID-19 page includes the steps we have taken to protect the health and well-being of Marguerite passengers and drivers in response to COVID-19.

Are my university-provided transit passes still valid? (Jan. 5, 2021)

University-provided Caltrain Go Passes, VTA SmartPasses, and AC Transit EasyPasses remain valid. Current pass holders, or those eligible, can continue to enjoy free, unlimited travel on Caltrain, VTA, and/or AC Transit. To request a Go Pass, SmartPass, and/or EasyPass, visit our Transit Pass Request Form.

There have been a number of updates to the programs and services we offer as a result of COVID-19. Visit our Program and Service Changes: COVID-19 page for the latest updates on our operations.

What changes has SamTrans implemented? Are fares being collected? (Jan. 5, 2021)

As of Jan. 17, SamTrans will adjust schedules on several of its routes to pre-COVID levels and improve connections.

On Aug. 16, fare collection and front-door boarding resumed with the installation of protective barriers that allow customers to pay their fare while avoiding contact with bus operators.

With the resumption of fare payment and front-door boarding, customers are encouraged to use contactless payment methods like Clipper or the SamTrans Mobile app. Exact fare is required for cash payment as change cards are no longer issued onboard.

I have read that financial challenges may affect the future of Caltrain's service. What is happening? (Dec. 11, 2020)

Some Stanford commuters have expressed concern about whether or not Caltrain will continue to operate given the financial challenges caused by ridership decreases due to COVID-19. We have developed a Caltrain Updates: COVID-19 page to help provide context about Caltrain’s current situation and the passage of Measure RR, the eighth-cent sales tax measure that will provide the agency with a dedicated funding source.

What are BART's service hours? (Sept. 15, 2020)

On Monday Sept. 14, BART’s schedule was updated to add more frequency during peak commute times on several lines. Commute trains at 15-minute frequencies were added to most lines as well as other adjustments to the schedule, including 30-minute frequencies on Saturday and Sunday.

BART service hours continue to be 5 a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Visit BART's page of updates related to the coronavirus for the latest information.

What is the Bay Area Healthy Transit Plan? (Aug. 20, 2020)

On Aug. 19, the region's public transit agencies announced the Bay Area Healthy Transit Plan, which creates a framework of health and safety standards to be implemented by public transit operators in the nine Bay Area counties. While county-specific guidance may vary, the standards are meant to provide consistency across Bay Area public transportation operations and identify mitigations for public transportation providers and employees regarding workplace health and safety.

I have not used my Go Pass since March. Is it still active? (July 6, 2020)

Yes. If you have a Clipper card with a Stanford-issued Go Pass that was active in March 2020, but has not been used since, don't worry. The Go Pass is still active and no action is required beyond tagging on and off for each ride.

How do I cancel my pre-tax transit purchase(s)? (June 26, 2020)

Cancellation requests for pre-tax commuter purchases must be made in the Pre-Tax Transit Portal by the 9th of the month for the next month's order to be cancelled. For example, you would have to cancel your order by July 9th to stop an order for August. Please note that it is too late to request a cancellation for July orders and that pre-tax purchases are non-refundable and non-reimbursable based on federal tax law. Visit Edenred's COVID-19 Policies and Updates page for more information.

Has the Dumbarton Express changed any of its schedules or routes? (June 9, 2020)

The Dumbarton Express announced that, effective June 14, the DB and DB1 will be adjusting their schedules in response to COVID-19.

Effective June 1, the westbound DB departing Union City BART at 1:40 p.m. and the eastbound DB departing Deer Creek Road at 2:40 p.m. have been canceled.

Visit Dumbarton Express' Service Alerts for updates.

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