Revel to Provide New Shared Electric Mopeds To Fill Transportation Gaps

Revel to Provide New Shared Electric Mopeds To Fill Transportation Gaps
By Bradley Dunn

Expanding shared mobility services is an important part of the SFMTA’s goal to provide sustainable mobility options. These programs support our climate change and equity goals by reducing our city’s reliance on single-occupancy vehicles. On August 31, Revel is expected to launch approximately 430 e-mopeds in San Francisco helping fill gaps in our transportation network while transit service is reduced and beyond.

Shared electric mopeds offer a zero-emission choice for getting around San Francisco. Shared e-mopeds help make better use of travel lanes and scarce curb, using little scraps too small to park even the tiniest car. During  COVID-19, shared e-mopeds provide a mobility alternative that doesn’t contribute to traffic congestion and doesn’t burden transit, helping make more room on Muni for essential workers and transit-dependent San Franciscans.

The SFMTA has approved Revel Transit, a New York-based moped operator, as a Shared Electric Moped Organization and has issued Revel 432 parking permit stickers. The permit fees paid by Revel include estimated prepayment for the use of parking meters and Residential Parking Permits of the mopeds.

A Revel user rides a shared electric moped in front of Fort Point

The Shared Electric Moped Parking Permit exempts Revel from certain on-street parking  regulations in exchange for sharing utilization data with the SFMTA. A moped bearing a valid Shared Electric Moped Parking Permit is exempt from:

• Residential Parking Permit (RPP) time limit restrictions;
• meter payment when parked at metered motorcycle stalls; and
• meter payment when parked at the end of a full-size metered parallel stall.

The Shared Electric Moped Parking Permit does not exempt a permitted moped from any other parking restriction.

Revel will launch with a service area that includes the Haight, Tenderloin, Castro, Mission District, Outer Mission, Cow Hollow, Financial District, Dogpatch, Richmond District, Golden Gate Heights, and Pacific Heights. The SFMTA will work with Revel to grow their service area to reach every corner of the city.

Revel will also offer its Access program in San Francisco, allowing riders who are eligible for any local, state, or federal assistance programs to receive a 40 percent discount on rides. Active military and veterans will also be eligible to receive a 20 percent discount on rides.

Each Revel moped is equipped with two U.S. DOT-certified helmets that must be worn at all times. Every San Francisco rider is covered by third-party liability insurance, and all riders are required to abide by all local traffic and parking laws.  

Expanding existing e-moped service to provide people with sustainable travel options is part of the agency’s overall Transportation Recovery Plan. As congestion threatens our economic recovery and climate change is a continuing emergency, shared electric mopeds offer more ways to move around San Francisco without creating congestion and greenhouse gas emissions.

Published September 01, 2020 at 01:22AM
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Reimagine Potrero Yard with Us – Summer Milestones

Reimagine Potrero Yard with Us – Summer Milestones
By Adrienne Heim

A potential rendering of the future modernized Potrero Yard

The Potrero Yard Modernization Project will rebuild the existing Potrero bus yard to ensure we maintain our bus fleet as efficiently as possible and enhance the facility’s resilience to climate change and other natural disasters. The Project will also ensure our staff is able to perform their work in a safe and efficient way and address the City’s broader goals for new housing and affordable housing.  The Project has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ), an important step for modernizing the yard.

The Project Concept

The modern yard will be able to store 213 buses, increasing capacity by approximately 50%.

In addition, the facility will include the following features:

• LEED Gold Certification
• An elevated structural and seismic building standard
• Infrastructure for battery-electric buses
• Centralized location for Street Operations - Muni’s “first responders”
• Centralized, modern space for Muni operator training
• Active ground floor uses on Bryant, and possibly 17th streets

“This exciting project will help fix two of the city's most pressing issues: lack of affordable housing and unreliable transit service,” said Alexander Hirji, Potrero Yard Neighborhood Working Group member and San Francisco Youth Commissioner. “The yard portion of the Project allows the SFMTA to maintain buses effectively, send them out to the riders, and it allows for future bus technology innovations in years to come. Up top, the affordable housing portion allows this city to make strides toward its goals for providing quality affordable housing to residents. This project will shape the Agency for many decades, and in a good, sustainable, and equitable way.”

A modernized Potrero Yard would have multiple uses.

Housing on Top of the Yard

Potrero Yard is home to much of Muni's trolleybus fleet

The SFMTA is proposing up to 575 rental units of housing with an initial affordability target of 50%. The city’s committed to addressing the shortage of affordable housing and is therefore challenging potential developers to seek additional funds to maximize the affordability percentage, up to as much as 100% affordable. Many factors informed the proposed project’s size and unit count, such as building height, massing, financial feasibility and shadows on Franklin Square.

Two months ago, virtual community conversations were hosted to provide a refresher about the project and discuss where we are in the process. If you were unable to attend, please listen to the June 6 conversation to hear the project team and members of the community discuss the project. 

We’re excited to announce that we’ve achieved three major milestones last week:

1. The Project’s Request for Qualifications (RFQ) was issued to begin the developer procurement process followed by a press release. 

The RFQ is the first of a two-step process to bring a developer partner under contract with the city. This stage is to pre-qualify a group of professionals who have the experience and financial backing to successfully complete this project. Ideally, we will end up with three qualified developer teams. 

The second step is to ask those pre-qualified teams for project proposals as part of the Request for Proposal (RFP) stage, which will end up in the selection of a single developer partner.

2. Special legislation was introduced by the Board of Supervisors last Tuesday, August 18, to set rules for a long-term agreement with a developer team that would design, build, finance, operate and maintain the new yard.

The legislation obligates the project to prevailing wages, a Local Business Enterprise (LBE) program, the city’s local hire policy and first source hiring ordinance. The ordinance also allows payment of a design stipend for up to two unsuccessful respondent development teams. This special legislation will first be heard by the Budget and Finance Committee consisting of Supervisors Walton, Fewer and Mandelman.

3. A meeting to introduce all the topic areas that will be covered in the environmental impact document (referred collectively as the “project scope”) will be held by the San Francisco Planning Department on Wednesday, September 2, beginning at 6:00 p.m. 

You may also view a video presentation by SF Planning for the project and provide comments to cpc.PotreroYardEIR@sfgov.org concerning the scope of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) until 5:00 p.m., September 18.

The meeting event will take place on Zoom: https://swca.zoom.us/s/92577630432/ Meeting ID: 925 7763 0432, or join by phone at 1.888.475.4499.

The purpose of the meeting is to collect comments from other regulatory agencies and the public on the draft scope. This is an opportunity for the public to add topic areas that SF Planning may not have included in their initial scoping process. More information can be found at the Planning Environmental Review Documents page under Potrero Yard Modernization Project – 2019-021884ENV.

Community Outreach

We will be tabling on Labor Day weekend, September 5 and 6, from noon to 5:00 p.m. at John O’Connell High School (Harrison Street between 18th and 20th streets) for the Carnaval San Francisco Latino COVID-19 Healing & Recovery – Salud es Poder event hosted by CANA-Carnaval San Francisco in partnership with the San Francisco Latino Task Force, community based organizations, health providers, and San Francisco City Departments.

We’re also planning to host English- and Spanish-language virtual community events to discuss the second step of the developer procurement process, the RFP, which we hope to issue in early 2021.

Learn more about the project by visiting www.sfmta.com/PotreroYard.

For more information, please email PotreroYard@sfmta.com or call us at 415.646.2223.

 

Published August 27, 2020 at 08:23AM
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New Interactive “Shared Spaces” Map and Dashboard Launched

New Interactive “Shared Spaces” Map and Dashboard Launched
By Phillip Pierce

San Francisco’s popular Shared Spaces program, in which the SFMTA is a participating agency, now has an exciting new tool: an interactive map showing the locations and status of all the proposed Shared Spaces locations. The map is designed to make it easier for people to find Shared Spaces, check on permit status or simply track the progress of the program.   

 

Static image of the new “interactive” map showing Shared Spaces locations and stages in the approval process. Click through for a live view and explore in more detail. 

“We are so excited to see the new Shared Spaces Tracker that lets restaurants, businesses and residents see where the sidewalk and parking lane permit applications are located and details the status of each application,” said Laurie Thomas, Executive Director of the Golden Gate Restaurant Association. “The willingness to share this information publicly is a testament to how well the City has been working with businesses during this unprecedented time.”  

Shared Spaces allows merchants to use sidewalks, full or partial streets, and other nearby public spaces like parks, parking lots and plazas for restaurant pick-up and other neighborhood retail activities allowed under San Francisco’s Public Health Orders. The new program is a multiagency collaboration born out of the city’s Economic Recovery Task Force.   

There have been more than a thousand applications for Shared Spaces for uses like outdoor dining in parking spaces or allowing multiple retailers to operate in the open air by repurposing a parking lot. There are important guidelines for the program to ensure accessibility and safety. 

This Shared Space Dashboard is updated daily. Click through for a live view and explore in more detail. 

“The Shared Spaces program is vital to helping businesses like ours survive right now,” said China Live restaurant owners George Chan and Cindy Wong-Chen. “We are grateful for the responsiveness of the city to make this happen in such a short amount of time.”  

Businesses are also applying for temporary full street closures for certain days and hours of the week. The first two successes were Grant Avenue in Chinatown and Valencia Street in the Mission. More recent approvals include Irving Street between 19th and 20th Avenues and Gold Alley in North Beach. Starting later this month, SoMa will have a recurring Shared Space every Sunday on Folsom from 6th to 8th streets. More closures are in the works for the Bayview, Tenderloin, Castro, Excelsior, Marina, Sunset, Richmond and other parts of the city.  

Not every location is a good fit for every type of Shared Space, but the Shared Spaces teams work hard with businesses to find solutions. So far, fewer than 3% of applications were initially ineligible under program guidelines, but most of these were reworked into successful projects.  

 

Seven Stills – Outer Sunset Taproom created a colorful “Shared Space” at 3545 Lawton. Photo via SF Planning. 

Next Steps: Keep Evolving and More Outreach 

The Shared Spaces program will continue to evolve with new health orders and as other types of business reopen. By looking at the data, we also know that there are more Shared Spaces in some neighborhoods than others. While some of that disparity is related to density and location of restaurants, we also know that not everyone has the resources to take advantage of these programs during this challenging time. In the weeks ahead, we are dedicating more resources to targeted outreach in areas that are not already benefiting from the program.  

For more information on the program or to apply, give feedback, report a problem or view the live tracker, visit sf.gov/SharedSpaces. Questions or media inquiries? Please email SharedSpaces@sfgov.org 

 

 

 

Published August 20, 2020 at 08:28AM
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Major Muni Service Expansion August 22

Major Muni Service Expansion August 22
By Mariana Maguire

Map: New Muni service map shows bus and rail routes restored August 22 with existing Muni service. This new map also highlights high-frequency corridors.

On Saturday, August 22, the SFMTA will launch our broadest and most complex service changes since the start of the COVID-19 shelter-in-place order. This includes the restoration or expansion of 11 bus routes, increased frequencies on 13 bus routes and the return of Muni Metro.

These service changes support the city’s essential workers and economic recovery by providing more connections to neighborhood commercial districts. Adding more service on our high ridership lines and upsizing some lines to larger buses will help relieve crowding on those lines.

Service hours will be approximately 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily, unless otherwise noted. Owl network service hours will remain approximately 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. daily unless otherwise noted.

Below is the complete list of service changes. For more information and details on all our active routes, visit our Core Service Plan page. To learn more about Muni Metro, visit our Rail Recovery page. Please note that some details are subject to change. The information will be updated accordingly.

New temporary transfer points for customers traveling downtown on the J Church at Market and Church and LK Taraval-Ingleside at West Portal. These changes will reduce costly delays in the Muni Metro subway.

Muni Metro Rail Recovery

J Church

• New, temporary, surface-only route between Balboa Park and Church at Market
• New, temporary transfer required to and from downtown at Church Station on frequent trains
• Daily frequency: Every 6 to 9 minutes.

LK Taraval-Ingleside

• New, temporary, combined surface-only route between SF Zoo and Balboa Park.
• New, temporary transfer required to and from downtown at West Portal Station on frequent trains
• Daily frequency: Every 6 to 9 minutes.

N Judah

• Full route restored between Ocean Beach (Judah at La Playa) and 4th at King
• Weekday hours of service: 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., every 6 to 9 minutes.
• Weekend hours of service: 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., every 10 to 14 minutes.

S Shuttle

• Subway-only line restored between West Portal and Embarcadero
• Weekday hours of service: 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., every 6 to 9 minutes.
• Weekend hours of service: 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., every 6 to 9 minutes.

TM Third-Oceanview

• Full T Third and M Oceanview routes, temporarily combined to the new TM Third-Ocean View line between West Portal and Embarcadero
• Weekday hours of service: 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., every 10 to 14 minutes.
• Weekend hours of service: 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., every 10 to 14 minutes.

Weekend early morning Muni Metro bus substitution (5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.)

To align with BART’s weekend station opening schedule, Muni Metro will not operate in the subway until 8:00 a.m. on weekends. Instead, buses will substitute service during these hours, operating between approximately 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. on weekends. Please refer to individual route pages for detailed routing and stop locations. Please plan your trip in advance and allow extra time to get to your destination. Some customers may experience additional transfers and longer wait times. Visit our Rail Recovery page to see more details about weekend early morning Metro bus service.

*Be advised, with the restart of Muni Metro rail, Muni Metro buses will no long run along Market Street except as noted.

UPDATE: L Bus Construction Shuttle

Due to the L Taraval Improvement Project construction, an L Bus Construction Shuttle will substitute the LK Taraval-Ingleside train between the SF Zoo and Sunset Boulevard for approximately seven months, until Spring 2021.

• Anticipated frequency: Every 10 to 14 minutes.
• Express Service:
  
  • To minimize transfers for customers, the L Bus Shuttle will operate as an express bus inbound and outbound between Taraval and 32nd Avenue and Ulloa at Wawona (near the accessible ramps for the LK Taraval-Ingleside at West Portal).
  • This service will not have NextBus predictions; third-party trip planners will also not reference this express service.
• Local Stops:
  
  • For service to stops along Taraval heading east toward West Portal, customers must transfer from the L Bus Shuttle at Taraval at 32nd Ave to the LK Taraval-Ingleside train.
  • For service to stops along Taraval heading west toward SF Zoo, customers must transfer from the LK Taraval-Ingleside train to the L Bus Shuttle at Taraval and Sunset.
• 40-foot buses will serve this temporary route through the construction phase of the L Taraval Improvement Project.

Diagram: Temporary L Taraval Construction Shuttle route

Muni Bus Service Changes

7 Haight-Noriega

• Extended to full route between Ortega at 48th Avenue and the Salesforce Transit Center
• 60-foot buses will replace the 40-foot buses, allowing more room for customers to maintain physical distance onboard
• Connections to Inner Sunset, The Haight and Downtown
• Daily frequency: Every 10 to 14 minutes

12 Pacific Community Shuttle

• Temporarily modified route between Jackson and Van Ness to Sansome and Sutter streets to provide connection to Market Street
• Daily frequency: Every 10 to 14 minutes

14 Mission

• Line will be served by 60-foot electric trolley coaches instead of motor coaches
• Daily frequency: Every 6 to 9 minutes

28 19th Avenue

• Weekend service added for modified route between Daly City BART and California and 7th Avenue
• Access to transfer points to UCSF, Kaiser and the California Pacific Medical Center
• Daily frequency: Every 10 to 14 minutes

30 Stockton

• Route extended to The Presidio between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. daily. All other times, the 30 Stockton terminal will be at Divisadero and Chestnut
• 60-foot electric trolley buses will replace the 40-foot buses, allowing more room for customers to maintain physical distance onboard
• Connections to Crissy Field, Chinatown, Downtown, and Caltrain
• Daily frequency: Every 15 to 20 minutes
• Note: Construction will be ongoing in The Presidio for the first few weeks of August through September, so implementation of the extension will be delayed slightly. Please pay attention to posted signage, follow social media, and visit the website for construction updates.

37 Corbett

• Temporarily modified route between Twin Peaks and Market and Van Ness streets via Market Street
• Connections to Castro, Church and Van Ness Muni Metro Stations
• Daily frequency: Every 15 to 20 minutes
• Temporary hours of service: 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on weekdays, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on weekends

38 Geary

• Between 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily, buses will alternately terminate at Geary Boulevard and 32nd Avenue or Fort Miley VA Hospital.
• At all other times, all 38 Geary trips will terminate at 48th Avenue and Point Lobos.
• Buses terminating at Fort Miley VA Hospital will layover then continue on the inbound route to all existing stop locations.
• Weekday frequency: Every 6 to 9 minutes.
• Weekend frequency: Every 10 to 14 minutes.

44 O’Shaughnessy

• Extended to full route between Hunters Point and California and 6th Avenue
• Connections to Bayview, Portola, Glen Park and Forest Hill Stations, Golden Gate Park and Inner Richmond
• Daily frequency: Every 10 to 14 minutes.

45 Union-Stockton

• Full route restored between Townsend at 4th Street and Lyon at Greenwich
• Connections to SoMa, Downtown, Chinatown and Union Street
• Daily frequency: Every 15 to 20 minutes

48 Quintara-24th St

• Temporarily modified route between 20th at 3rd streets and West Portal Station
• Connections to West Portal, 24th Street BART, and Potrero Hill/Dogpatch. Simplified route in Noe Valley
• Daily frequency: Every 10 to 14 minutes

49 Van Ness-Mission

• 60-foot buses will replace the 40-foot buses, allowing more room for customers to maintain physical distance onboard
• Daily frequency: Every 6 to 9 minutes

54 Felton

• Weekend service added and route extended to full route between Daly City BART and Bayview
• Connections to Bayview, Portola, Excelsior, and Balboa Park and Daly City BART Stations
• Daily frequency: Approximately every 20 minutes

67 Bernal Heights

• Full route restored between Ellsworth at Crescent and 24th Street BART Station
• Daily frequency: Approximately every 20 minutes

Improving Frequency

• The following lines will have more frequent service to provide more capacity for physical distancing:
  
  • 8 Bayshore: Daily, every 5 to 6 minutes
  • 9 San Bruno: Daily, every 6 to 9 minutes
  • 9R San Bruno Rapid: Weekday service only, every 6 to 9 minutes
  • 12 Pacific Community Shuttle: Daily, every 10 to 14 minutes
  • 14 Mission: Daily, every 6 to 9 minutes
  • 19 Polk: Daily, every 15 to 20 minutes
  • 22 Fillmore: Daily, every 6 to 9 minutes
  • 24 Divisadero: Daily, every 10 to 14 minutes
  • 25 Treasure Island: Daily, every 15 to 20 minutes
  • 28 19th Ave: Daily, every 10 to 14 minutes
  • 29 Sunset: Weekdays, every 10 to 14 minutes. Weekends, every 20 minutes.
  • 43 Masonic: Weekdays, every 10 to 14 minutes. Weekends, every 20 minutes.
  • 44 O’Shaughnessy: Daily, every 10 to 14 minutes

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Focusing Limited Resources

Our August 22 service changes will put us close to maximizing the number of available operators and vehicles out on the street to serve our customers. Due to the need for physical distancing, it now takes three times as many vehicles to move people as before the COVID emergency. At the same time, our budget shortfalls prevent us from hiring more operators and cleaners or purchasing more vehicles. Given these restrictions, these are likely to be the last major service increases tied to the city’s COVID-19 recovery, with exceptions of minor updates.

Learn more about the impact of the pandemic and the financial crisis on the SFMTA, and our focus on customers, equity and efficiency in restoring Muni service.

To provide our customers with the best service we’ve focused on:

• Temporary changes to reduce costly sources of delay and duplicative service

• Meeting ridership demands during the pandemic

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Customer Reminders

Remember, we still need your help. Help reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission by:

• Continuing to stay at home, except for essential trips. 
• Shopping locally and supporting your neighborhood businesses.
• Wearing a face mask or face covering over your mouth and nose and maintaining physical distance.

Use alternate transportation whenever possible – walk, bike or take a taxi – to save a seat on Muni for those who don’t have other options.

• Our Essential Trips Card program is a cost-effective way for seniors and people with disabilities to use taxis instead of Muni.
• Carshares and micromobility options are also available. Visit our COVID-19 Developments and Response page for more information.

If you do need to travel on Muni:

• Please respect your Muni operator. They are working hard for you and want to stay healthy too.

Face coverings are required on Muni. To avoid getting passed up, cover your nose and mouth with face cover or mask while you are waiting for Muni and on Muni.

• Board by the back door unless you require assistance.
• Give yourself extra time. Your trip may now include transfers and a longer walk. Your fare is good for two hours across multiple routes. 

Visit our COVID-19 Developments and Response page for the latest information about Muni routes in service or to explore alternate ways to get around the city. To provide feedback on any Muni service changes please use our Muni Feedback Form.

Published August 19, 2020 at 04:02AM
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The California Street Safety Project is Complete!

The California Street Safety Project is Complete!
By Erin McMillan

You may have already noticed the fresh paint and new lane configuration on California Street from Arguello Boulevard to Park Presidio. This recently completed ‘road diet’ painted on California Street changed the lane configuration from four lanes to three with a center turn lane to help improve safety along the corridor. 

California Street and 10th Avenue post-construction

This was the final safety element to be implemented as part of the California Street Safety Project, which began earlier this year with “daylighting” to increase visibility at intersections.  

Why a road diet on California? 

California Street is part of the city’s Vision Zero high-injury network -- the 13% of city streets that account for 75% of severe and fatal collisions. 

This section of California had 73 injury collisions in five years with 7 involving pedestrians. In addition, there have been 35 Muni-involved collisions, many due to narrow lanes. 

• Road diets reduce speeding and risk of collision by reducing the number of lanes 
• Wider lanes provide room for safer operation of Muni vehicles 
• A separate turn lane allows turning traffic to be separate from traveling traffic  
• Fulton Street: Road diet reduced collisions by over 40%  
• 25th Avenue: Road diet reduced collisions by 20%   

Earlier this year, several safety elements for pedestrians were installed, including:   

• Daylighting: Red painted curbs at intersection approaches to improve visibility for all road users 
• Higher visibility zebra-striped continental crosswalks 
• Updated pavement markings 

Construction crews working at California Street and Sixth Avenue pre-construction

Starting this fall summer, we’ll begin the evaluation of the project. The evaluation will include traffic and street-level data, such as tracking changes in collisions, traffic volumes on California and side streets, and driving behavior. In addition to traffic and street-level data collection, we’ll be collecting experiential feedback from neighbors via email. Given the impacts of COVID-19, we’ll also be waiting to collect some post-implementation data until the city’s traffic returns to pre-COVID levels. 

We also received extensive feedback during project outreach in 2019 and will be using that input to shape our evaluation and monitoring of the project. Thank you to everyone who chimed in on this important project and we that will improve the area for years to come. 

To learn more, visit www.SFMTA.com/CaliforniaSafety. Want to give your feedback on any element of the California Street Safety Project? Email us at CaliforniaSafety@SFMTA.com. 

 

Published August 14, 2020 at 01:31AM
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Making Accessible Transfers for Muni Metro Beginning August 22

Making Accessible Transfers for Muni Metro Beginning August 22
By Mariana Maguire

Photo: Accessible Muni Metro boarding platform placard

In preparation for new temporary LK Taraval-Ingleside and J Church transfers, we are constructing temporary accessible curbside platforms and temporary transfer zones. These changes will support safe and accessible customer movement between Metro lines when Muni Metro returns on August 22.

These new transfers to and from the subway for customers traveling to or from downtown will be required when the L Taraval and K Ingleside are temporarily combined into a new surface-only LK Taraval-Ingleside route between the SF Zoo and Balboa Park. Similarly, the J Church will become a surface-only route that will turn back at Church and Market streets. While we expect these changes to significantly increase the reliability of rail service, these changes require new infrastructure to make transfers accessible.

Many of our customers with disabilities rely on transit. While the temporary changes to Muni Metro will bring significant benefits to the entire system, especially for customers traveling through the subway, these additional transfers may also present new challenges for some customers. Temporary accessible boarding platforms are critical to supporting our customers with mobility devices, people with strollers, and others who may have difficulty boarding using stairs.

Photo: Example of a temporary accessible boarding ramp

West Portal LK Transfer Project

Diagram: New LK Taraval-Ingleside transfer at West Portal. Note the L Owl and 48 Quintara-24th will share a bus stop near the new train stop.

LK Taraval-Ingleside customers headed downtown will need to transfer at West Portal. The West Portal LK Transfer Project plans to build accessible curbside boarding platforms on Ulloa Street between West Portal Avenue and Wawona Street for the new LK Taraval-Ingleside stops, as well as implement several other street changes near West Portal Station to better accommodate customers transferring to and from West Portal station at these intersections.

LK Taraval-Ingleside trains heading both eastbound toward Balboa Park and westbound toward SF Zoo will stop on Ulloa Street near West Portal Station to let able-bodied customers board or get off. The train will then advance to the new temporary accessible curbside platforms to drop off and pick up customers with mobility devices, strollers, and others who may have difficulty boarding using stairs.

Customers continuing downtown can enter West Portal Station to board the S Shuttle or TM Third-Ocean View. Note that S Shuttle will use the inbound platform for both boarding and alighting.

Click on the animation below to see how this new configuration will work for customers.

Animation: LK Taraval-Ingleside transfer point at West Portal

Another option for customers on the LK Taraval-Ingleside coming from Balboa Park is to transfer to the TM Third-Ocean View using the existing accessible stop at St. Francis Circle and continue downtown on the TM Third-Ocean View line without needing to change trains again at West Portal.

Wayfinding signs will be posted at the new LK stops and at West Portal Station to help customers navigate this change. We will also post Muni Ambassadors in the area for several days to help direct customers.

Image: Artist rendering of new LK Taraval-Ingleside wayfinding signage that will be installed at West Portal

 

J Church Transfer Improvement Project

Diagram: New J Church transfer at Church and Market streets

Starting August 22, the last inbound stop for the J Church will be on Church Street at Market Street, near Church Street Station. J Church customers will need to transfer to Church Street Station for downtown service. These customers can catch the new, subway-only S Shuttles or the new combined TM Third-Oceanview from Church Street Station. Trains will not cross Market street but instead turn back toward Balboa Park Station.

To facilitate the turn-around, we will install a temporary emergency transit zone on Church Street between Market and 15th streets. This allows J Church passengers to use the existing accessible platform to connect with the subway for both inbound and outbound trips. This transit zone limits traffic to ensure a safer boarding process for J Church customers and to limit conflicts with the train turning maneuvers.

For customers heading inbound toward downtown, J Church trains will stop on Church Street at Market Street to let customers with mobility devices, strollers, and others who may have difficulty boarding using stairs board at the existing accessible platform south of Market Street. The train will then pull forward for customers who do not need accessible boarding. This follows the same process as usual at this stop.

Customers continuing downtown who need to use the elevator to access Church Station can cross Church Street heading west and then cross Market Street heading north. The Church Station elevator is located on the northwest corner of Market Street and Church Street. Customers can also access Church Street Station via escalator on either the southwest or northwest side of Market Street.

Click on the animation below to see how this new configuration will work for customers.

Animation: J Church transfer point at Church and Market streets

Just like the new temporary LK Taraval-Ingleside, the temporary J Church will feature wayfinding signage and Ambassadors both at street level and in the subway to guide transferring customers.

Image: Example of new wayfinding signage that to be installed at Church and Market streets

 

Our transfer improvement projects, and service changes teams are conducting robust outreach to community-based organizations, merchants, stakeholders, neighbors and essential businesses and services to inform the public about these important temporary changes. Feedback from these efforts will directly shape the process for evaluating and adjusting the design of these changes. Note that these changes are temporary. Long-term changes will require additional public process.

We want to hear from you and welcome your feedback.

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COVID Rider Reminders

Help the city reduce COVID transmission rate by continuing to stay at home except for essential trips. Shop local and support your neighborhood businesses. Always wear a face covering and maintain physical distance.

Use alternate transportation whenever possible – walk, bike, taxi or drive – to save a seat on Muni for those who don’t have other options. Our subsidized Essential Trips Card program is an alternative for seniors and people with disabilities to use taxis instead of Muni if that better meets their needs. Carshares and micromobility options are also available. Visit our COVID-19 Developments and Response page for more information.

If you do need to travel on Muni:

• Please respect your Muni operator. They are working hard for you.
• Face coverings are required on Muni. To avoid getting passed up, cover your nose and mouth with face cover or mask.
• Board by the back door unless you require assistance.
• Give yourself extra time. Your trip may now include transfers and a longer walk, and your fare is good for two hours across multiple routes. 

Visit our COVID-19 Developments and Response page for the latest information about Muni routes in service or to explore alternate ways to get around the city. To provide feedback on any Muni service changes please use our Muni Feedback Form.

Published August 13, 2020 at 12:58AM
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First phase of 16th Street Improvement Project is complete!

First phase of 16th Street Improvement Project is complete!
By Erin McMillan

A new center-running transit lane with boarding island on 16th Street. Soon, the lane will be upgraded with red paint, and a shelter and railings will be installed on the island to complete the project.

Along 16th Street you may have noticed your ride has gotten a little bit smoother in recent weeks. The first phase of the 16th Street Improvement Project from Potrero to 3rd Street is nearly complete. This means new signalized intersections, new transit islands and transit bulbs for safer and more efficient bus boarding, new pedestrian bulbs to reduce the crossing distance, new ADA ramps at each intersection, new street lights to illuminate the streets, 50 new native trees along 16th street, curb-to curb paving, and new sewer and water pipes. The completion of this phase means a safer and overall more pleasant experience for the community, bus riders, and pedestrians. All completed in less than 18 months. This project made community-informed improvements to address the needs of current and future residents and is part of Muni Forward, an initiative to create a safe, reliable and comfortable experience on and off transit.

Completion of construction of this phase also means that we are one step closer to rerouting 22 Fillmore to serve Mission Bay, traveling east on 16th Street to 3rd Street to utilize the full transit lane and serve Mission Bay medical centers, retail and residences. The timeline for the move is planned for this fall.

The 22 Fillmore typically serves 18,000 daily riders, traveling at less than four miles per hour on parts of 16th Street. In an effort to improve transit reliability and travel times by nearly 25% while addressing safety and accessibility, the 16th Street Improvement Project installed new transit amenities such as new transit islands and transit bulbs that support faster and safer boarding. New traffic signals were installed at Utah, San Bruno, Wisconsin, Connecticut and Missouri streets, in addition to three new traffic signals on 17th Street, that help improve traffic flow and also make it safer for people to cross 16th Street. Soon the transit lane will be painted red and bus shelters will be installed at the new transit boarding islands prior to the 22 Fillmore serving those stops this fall. In addition, completed work includes installation of new sewer and water infrastructure updating an outdated system that now better supports those living and working along 16th Street.

Next up: 16th Street from Church Street to Potrero Avenue

In addition to the eastern section of 16th Street, the west side of 16th Street from Church to Potrero will also undergo construction, including upgrading the sewer line and installing transit amenities like transit bulbs to support more reliable 22 Fillmore service in the Mission. The second phase of the project from Church to Potrero will be delivered through a separate construction project and is anticipated to begin work in early 2021.

As the city gradually reopens, we are moving forward with improvements like the 22 Fillmore project to leverage all of our resources for those who rely on Muni.

For additional information, and to sign up for updates for Phase 2 visit SFMTA.com/16thStreet.

 

Published August 12, 2020 at 03:35AM
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Virtual Public Hearing on the Folsom Quick-Build Project

Virtual Public Hearing on the Folsom Quick-Build Project
By Benjamin Barnett

Existing conditions of the project area that are slated for improvements.

The SFMTA will be holding a Virtual Engineering Public Hearing on the Folsom Quick-Build Project. This project is an effort to improve traffic safety and comfort for all people traveling along Folsom Street between Second and Fifth streets by implementing cost-effective and temporary design treatments that can be installed quickly. At the event you can learn more about the proposed changes, ask questions, or make official public comments.

Virtual Public Hearing Details:  

The interactive, online event can be accessed at any time during the two-week period listed below. Like the SFMTA’s in-person project open houses, when you access the event you will be able to learn more about the project such as the schedule, project background, and other aspects through virtual informational boards. The public will then have an opportunity to see the proposed design, ask questions via email, and leave a public comment about the project. Project staff will respond to questions and comments received and the responses will be posted back to the Virtual Public Hearing web page in a couple of days.

Join us online any time starting 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, August 12 through 11:30 p.m Wednesday, August 26 by visiting SFMTA.com/FolsomQBHearing

Proposed Quick-build Improvements

The Folsom Street Quick-Build project serves as a temporary traffic safety improvement while the longer-term Folsom Howard Streetscape project finishes the detailed design and prepares for construction. The project will implement the following quick-build improvements to improve traffic safety:

• Upgrade the existing bike lane to a parking-protected bikeway in the eastbound direction to provide a more comfortable and separated space for people riding bikes
• Daylighting and modifying or adding advanced limit lines at intersections to improve visibility
• Improve loading conditions for businesses and residents in the area
• Traffic lane reduction to redistribute roadway space for all road users

Existing conditions of the project area that are slated for improvements.

Folsom-Howard Streetscape Project

Since 2016, the SFMTA has been working to improve traffic safety and livability on Folsom Street, as part of the Folsom-Howard Streetscape Project in support of the city’s commitment to Vision Zero. After several years of community engagement, analysis, and conceptual design development, the project was approved by the SFMTA Board of Supervisors in June 2019. The project is now in the detailed design phase and the project team is working on finalizing civil design details, coordinating utility work for the proposed hardscape changes, and developing construction level documents. This project will implement traffic safety improvements to better facilitate interactions of various modes, reduce the potential for conflicts, and increase comfort in bicycling and walking.

Language Assistance:  

For free interpretation services, please submit your request 48 hours in advance of meeting to 415.646.4270 

Para servicios de interpretación gratuitos, por favor haga su petición 48 horas antes de la reunión a 415.646.4270 

如果需要免費口語翻譯，請於會議之前48小時提出要求 415.646.4270 

Para sa libreng serbisyo sa interpretasyon, kailangan mag-request 48 oras bago ang miting 415.646.4270 

Published August 06, 2020 at 02:27AM
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Customer Service Kiosks Provide New Services

Customer Service Kiosks Provide New Services
By Lulu Feliciano

A Customer Service Kiosk at Powell and Market

As the city gradually reopens for business, the SFMTA has moved many of our customer service functions on-line. To support our customers who may need in-person service, we are now using three Muni sales kiosks as alternate locations for services previously only available at the Customer Service Center at 11 South Van Ness.

Doing Business at our Reopened Customer Service Kiosks

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted our city and our agency in countless ways and has required us all to adapt quickly. As an immediate response to the March shelter-in-place public health order and to minimize the risk of exposure for our customers and employees, the SFMTA Customer Service Center located was temporarily closed.

Prior to the closure, the location served approximately 20,000 customers a month for citation payments, low-income fare and citation payment programs, Lifeline monthly pass sales, Clipper card issuance and transactions, and Residential Parking Permits. Over the last few months, we worked to modify program requirements and processes, allowing many functions to be moved online.

Our three currently open sales kiosks are located at Bay & Taylor streets, Powell & Market streets and Presidio Avenue & Geary Boulevard. They operate from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., seven days a week except on holidays and during posted breaks.

Services provided at the kiosks:

• Parking & Transit Citation Payments
• Clipper sales/Youth & Senior Cards (not available at Bay & Taylor Streets)
• Lifeline Monthly Pass sales

Redirecting services such as Lifeline sales and citation payments will eventually allow the Customer Service Center to reopen under a much more limited capacity by redirecting up to 75% of the prior transactions on-line and to these alternate sites to minimize risk for both customers and staff.

Citations and Late Penalties

In response to the health orders and shelter in place, we also temporarily suspended enforcing late penalties on citations. However, the SFMTA’s dire financial situation caused by the pandemic requires us to resume generating revenue. Revenue from citations and late penalties allows us to continue to provide critical transportation services for essential works and transit-dependent customers.

We are now resuming the enforcement of late penalties on parking and transit citations as follows: 

• Deadline for submitting citation protests, payment and community service plans: September 1, 2020 
• For parking or transit citations issued before July 21, 2020, full payment of outstanding amounts due, or protests, must be received on, or before, August 31, 2020.
• Standard timelines apply to all citations issued after July 21, 2020.

Customers are encouraged to pay citations online at www.SFMTA.com/paycitation or visit an SFMTA service booth to pay citations. The SFMTA Customer Service Center remains closed.

Published August 05, 2020 at 07:15AM
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Supporting Community Needs in the Tenderloin

Supporting Community Needs in the Tenderloin
By Chava Kronenberg

In the coming days, the SFMTA will implement a 4-block temporary project on Jones Street, from O’Farrell Street to Golden Gate Avenue for residents to have more pedestrian space in the Tenderloin while maintaining physical distance.  

To accomplish this, parking on the east side of the street as well as one of the three travel lanes on Jones Street will be removed. These four blocks are a small but significant part of city efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic. The effort will support the local businesses by temporarily refashioning San Francisco streets.

COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted people who live and work in the Tenderloin. The SFMTA is working with our sister city agencies and community partners to be part of the solution.

The Tenderloin is a dense neighborhood with a high percentage of low-income people, people of color, seniors and transit-dependent San Franciscans who need more space for physical distancing and making essential trips. The SFMTA will be working on the following efforts within the Tenderloin to address community needs:

• Physical distancing lanes: These lanes will provide an additional 5 to 8 feet of walking space, adjacent to a sidewalk, and protected from moving vehicles with concrete barriers known as k-rail or parked vehicles. On Jones Street, to make this possible, the SFMTA is removing a parking lane and a travel lane on the east side of the street.  
• Play Streets: With the loss of playgrounds and schoolyards, the thousands of children living in the Tenderloin have limited space to play and move around. The Play Streets effort will fully close entire blocks on Saturdays to give kids and adults a safe place to be. 
• Outdoor dining streets: In coordination with the restaurants on blocks, the SFMTA will assist with developing a “Shared Spaces” plan to support the small businesses as identified with the Tenderloin Merchants Association.  

Many people questioned why there are not more Slow Streets in this part of the city and we hear that concern. While Slow Streets have proven successful in creating more pedestrian space and calmer roads in some parts of the city, unfortunately the Tenderloin in general is not a good fit for the program due to its high number of streets with traffic signals, one-way streets, streets serving Muni lines, and emergency service corridors -- all of which limit our ability to implement a Slow Street. In addition, the neighborhood's taller, older buildings create unique conditions for Fire Department ladder trucks on each block. We had to invent an entirely new toolbox and are grateful for creativity of community-based organizations, the Fire Department, and other partners in helping us find creative solutions that work for the unique needs of Tenderloin residents in both the short-term and into the future. 

We will continue to support emerging community needs, such as curb changes needed to support testing sites and, food pantries and other needs that arise. From the beginning of the crisis, we have supported the Tenderloin community through changes such as a parking lane closure at the pop-up test site on Ellis Street, daytime street closure in front of St. Anthony’s at 100 block of Golden Gate, and a parking lane removal for more pedestrian-queuing space at GLIDE on the 300 block of Ellis.  

But as the COVID-19 crisis evolves and the recovery period lengthens, the SFMTA recognizes that we must do more. Every street in the Tenderloin is a high-injury network street, and the city’s Vision Zero plan has always included a specific focus on making it healthier and safer to walk and live in the neighborhood. For more than three years, the SFMTA has partnered with dozens of Tenderloin community groups focused on traffic safety, starting in with our Safer Taylor Street project. We are committed to its partnerships through this crisis and beyond. 

Finally, we want to express sincere appreciation and acknowledge the Tenderloin community groups who have been tenacious in advocating for traffic safety and travel options in their neighborhood - Central City SRO Collaborative, Tenderloin Community Benefit District, Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation, Tenderloin People’s Congress and many others. The SFMTA is committed to being responsive and partnering with the community as we work through this crisis together.  

Published August 01, 2020 at 07:08AM
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Clipper launching START Pilot Discount Program

Clipper launching START Pilot Discount Program
By Sophia Scherr

Clipper is excited to launch the START Pilot Program in collaboration with the SFMTA and other Bay Area transportation agencies (BART, Caltrain and Golden Gate Transit and Ferry). Designed to make transportation more affordable for low-income residents, the Clipper START pilot program moves toward a consistent fare discount standard for the Bay Area region. The discount pilot program will last for 18 months while the program is evaluated. SFMTA has committed to continue to offer the discount after the pilot period ends.

To design, implement and evaluate this pilot program, the SFMTA is working with Clipper, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), BART and Golden Gate Transit—as well as community-based organizations, social services and public health sectors.

Am I eligible for the pilot Clipper START Program? How do I apply?

Adults ages 19 to 64 who have a household income of up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (approximately $50,000 per year for a family of four) can qualify for the Clipper START discount. Applicants will need to provide proof of eligibility in the form of copies of EBT cards, Medi-Cal cards or tax returns. Participants must also live in the 9-county San Francisco Bay Area.  Income levels and eligibility are available online – see www.clipperstartcard.com for details.

Eligible participants will be able to apply online, mail or fax using a paper applicationOnce eligibility is verified, participants will be mailed a special Clipper card to use to receive the discount. This Clipper Card will show the participant’s name and will look like a regular Clipper Card.

What kind of discount will be offered?

Clipper START pilot participants will receive discounts for single rides on participating agencies. Participants riding Muni will receive a 50% discount each single ride purchased. Discounts vary by agency:

• MUNI: 50% discount; single rides
• Caltrain: 50% discount
• BART: 20% discount
• Golden Gate Transit and Ferry: 50% discount

If I am a Lifeline customer, should I get Clipper START?

For Lifeline customers who take fewer than 32 trips per month, this option is costs less than buying a monthly Lifeline pass.

 What if I have a pass given to me by a social service program, such as Lifeline?

The discount will only apply to fares paid on single rides (including transfers). It does not apply to Muni passes. Our pass programs, including our free and reduced pass programs, are still available. However, the discount does not apply to them.

Where can I find more information?

More information is available online at www.clipperstartcard.com. The SFMTA is working with community-based organizations, social services and public health agencies to help sign up customers and spread the word about the program once it becomes available.

Published July 28, 2020 at 07:12AM
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Advocacy works! Recognizing the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act

Advocacy works! Recognizing the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act
By Jonathan Cheng

This week marks the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In 1990, the ADA made clear that public transit must be fully accessible to persons with disabilities. The SFMTA continues its commitment to developing a more comprehensive accessible transportation network including improving accessible bus, rail and paratransit services. As we reflect on thirty years of the ADA creating a more accessible transportation system, we also recognize there are many opportunities that lie ahead.

The ADA clearly mandated that both transit service accessibility and paratransit were an obligation of all transit agencies in the nation and moved the needle forward in terms of accountability. However, Muni’s commitment to providing access for seniors and persons with disabilities accessibility predates the ADA. Muni started to purchase buses with wheelchair lifts and initiated a paratransit van and taxi program to for people not able to use bus and rail service in the late 70’s and early ‘80’s.

The ADA came out of the work of the Disability Rights movement and years of protests

Disabled advocates in the Bay Area have long been on the forefront of demanding civil rights for persons with disabilities. As we celebrate 30 years of the ADA and are in the midst of the Black Lives Matter civil rights movement, it’s important to remember how important advocacy and the participation of people with disabilities was to the, passage and implementation, of the ADA.

Congress passed the Rehabilitation Act in 1973. A section of that law, Section 504, stated that any entity that receives any federal money may not discriminate against persons with disabilities. However, by 1977, the rules and regulations to implement Section 504 had yet to be written, so for all intents and purposes, the law had not taken effect.

In April 1977, advocates with disabilities around the country organized demonstrations in frustration. The largest demonstration in the country occurred at the San Francisco Federal Building, with a sit-in lasting for 28 days. More than 100 people sat in at that demonstration. The success of these protests spurred the federal government to further define the Section 504 requirements.

In the following years, however, there was a lack of progress nationwide to make public transit accessible. During the 1980s, advocacy groups held protests at the American Public Transit Association conventions. This determined advocacy eventually led to the much more comprehensive Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Advocacy and prioritizing mobility and accessibility for those who have the fewest transportation choices has made the San Francisco Bay Area a leader both in advocating for and in delivering comprehensive transportation services for seniors and individuals with disabilities. Some of the accessibility-related projects completed at Muni and the SFMTA include:

• Constructed a network of accessible rail stops on the surface Muni Metro system
• 100% of Muni bus fleet accessible
• Innovative accessibility provided to Historic Streetcars, F and E lines
• First fully accessible T Third Metro line opened
• Accessible ramped taxis made available for wheelchair users
• Paratransit Taxi Debit Card introduced for easier payment
• Shop-a-Round - community grocery, and Van Gogh - cultural activity, Van Services introduced
• Launched Free Muni for Seniors and People with Disabilities who are low/moderate income
• Introduction of the Essential Trip Card to address mobility needs during pandemic for older adults and people with disabilities.

Accessibility and Equity – Striving to Do More for Those Who Need It Most

Photo of the SFMTA Paratransit Coordinating Council, advocates at work. Photo by Roland Wong

Amidst the current COVID-19 pandemic, equity and accessibility remain cornerstones of the SFMTA’s mission and guide the agency through these difficult and uncertain times. The SFMTA has been proactive in implementing and communicating practices and policies that address accessibility.  For example, while we have implemented rear door boarding on Muni buses, we have clearly maintained front door boarding for those with disabilities or seniors needing the lift, ramp or kneeler.  

When Muni bus and rail operations had to reduce service in response to the COVID-19 health crisis, the SFMTA recognized that older adults and those with disabilities would experience greater difficulty getting to the Core Service routes. The Essential Trip Card (ETC) program was developed to provided seniors and persons with disabilities with a subsidized $60 monthly allotment to use taxi service to complete their essential trips. As of July 24, more than 2,250 persons have enrolled.

As we continue through the COVID-19 pandemic, SF Paratransit continues to be fully operational and connect riders to the community, providing transportation to fulfill essential trip needs, such as for dialysis treatments, medical appointments, and grocery shopping. Much like Muni, SF Paratransit quickly implemented key preventative measures, ranging from increased cleaning of vehicles, providing personal protective equipment kits to van drivers, and limiting the number of individuals on an SF Paratransit van to maintain physical distancing. 

SFMTA Taxi Services also worked to ensure taxi drivers were provided with, cleaning supplies, PPE kits, and taxi “bubbles” - a plastic shield between the front and back seat to serve as a physical barrier, to best serve taxi customers during the pandemic. As the current situation continues to evolve, the SFMTA and SF Paratransit will continue to prioritize mobility and accessibility for those with the fewest transportation choices.

As we celebrate the ADA’s 30th anniversary, the spirit of the law remains more important than ever. The current COVID-19 pandemic exemplifies the resilience of San Franciscans to collaborate and develop inventive solutions. The SFMTA continues to work on new projects and technologies, such as integrating the updated Clipper Card program to serve as a form of payment for the SF Paratransit program, improving the accessibility of new emerging mobility technologies such like transportation network companies, autonomous vehicles, and scooters. As we look forward to the future, the SFMTA will continue its mission to connect all San Franciscans through a safe, equitable and sustainable transportation system.

 

 

Published July 25, 2020 at 06:54AM
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