WITH a single, brusque voice-mail message, he was out of our lives forever: "Stop. Listen to this message. If you are trying to reach Jonah Weinberg, he is no longer with the San Mateo County Transit District. Instead, please call ..." We didn't hear the rest. Our head was awash in confusion.

By John Horgan HIGH-speed electrified rail. The subject hasn't generated much interest from the general public in San Mateo County. However, as plans proceed to institute such a system along what is now the Caltrain line, significant changes would be forthcoming.

By Will OremusSTAFF San Mateo County's Coastside has always been tough terrain for public transit, but two bus routes appear to be gaining traction there in the wake of a recent schedule shake-up.

By Will OremusSTAFF Following in the tracks of Caltrain, the SamTrans bus service is plotting a "reinvention" designed to attract more riders. New buses, bus shelters, fareboxes and stoplight signal technologies are among the improvements in store.

Peninsula commuters rode Caltrain nearly 11 million times during the fiscal year that ended June 30, smashing the Gilroy-to-San Francisco commuter rail line's ridership record while raking in a record $34.9 million in revenue.