We’re Working to Make Your Trips Safer: Learn about MuniSafe Progress and Next Steps

We’re Working to Make Your Trips Safer: Learn about MuniSafe Progress and Next Steps

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We’re Working to Make Your Trips Safer: Learn about MuniSafe Progress and Next Steps
By Janice Tan

During our MuniSafe Day Out last June, SFMTA staff shared how to report harassment. 

To make our system safer for everyone, we launched MuniSafe and the Safety Equity Initiative in 2022. These programs strengthen our work to prevent and address harassment across Muni vehicles, stops and stations. They also encourage people to report any issues. 

We're excited to share what we’ve been doing to create safer conditions. We’ll cover our everyday efforts in de-escalation and enforcement. We’ll also share how you can take steps today to prevent and report harassment. Lastly, we’ll highlight what's next for MuniSafe.  

De-escalation: hiring more ambassadors to help customers and reduce conflicts  

There are now more staff across our system to provide support. We've hired more transit ambassadors to join our 3,150 employees who interact with customers. Our ambassadors can help stop or calm down conflicts before they get worse. 

Transit ambassadors and other staff are here to help support you in difficult situations. 

Enforcement: partnering with city agencies and capturing video to aid investigations  

We’re also working to make your trips safer through enforcement. We continue to partner closely with the San Francisco Police Department and the District Attorney’s Office to make sure crimes on Muni are investigated and prosecuted.  

Each Muni bus and train has at least 11 cameras that are always recording video and sound. This helps deter crime. It also helps us investigate any incidents that occur, especially when we get reports of serious issues. Our efforts are working: overall crime on Muni is down 48 percent from 2018.  

Education and outreach: sharing resources to support prevention and reporting 

You can access a range of resources to help prevent and report harassment on Muni. You’ll find them on our MuniSafe program webpage (SFMTA.com/MuniSafe). 

We appreciate your efforts to report incidents. The more we know about safety concerns on Muni, the better we can address them. Your reports help us improve our safety responses and staffing. That’s why we’re working to raise awareness about MuniSafe across all our channels.

Our message is simple: We don’t tolerate harassment and you have multiple options to report it.  

We’ve shared this across: 

• 35,000 text messages 

• 30,000 wallet cards and tear sheets 

• 16,000 emails 

We also put up multilingual signs at 1,500 Muni stops and 15 Muni Metro stations. 

An SFMTA staffer teaches a rider how to report harassment and other issues.

Our teams helped businesses promote the message with posters for their front windows. We also raised awareness on our busiest lines through “MuniSafe Day Out.” Last June, about 100 SFMTA staff put up posters and handed out cards about MuniSafe along Muni's seven busiest routes. 

What’s next: using data to improve safety 

Over the past year, we've also been working hard to gather more accurate information about safety and security problems on Muni.  

Our annual community and rider surveys now ask about experiences with harassment on Muni to give us a much clearer picture of safety concerns and how we can address them. Last year, we partnered with UCLA’s Institute of Transportation Studies for an in-depth survey about harassment experiences, and we’re moving forward with data-driven solutions.  

A new state law requires the ten largest transit agencies in California to collect voluntary survey data about harassment. The goal: identify root causes to improve safety. Our work has put us ahead of the game. This year we’ll conduct another in-depth survey to measure our progress, learn from other agencies across the state and continue to shape our work to keep everyone safe on Muni.  

Using this data and other learnings, we’re now drafting a Safety Equity Action Plan. We’re considering various steps to continue making Muni safer. These include:  

• Improving bus stop lighting 

• Working with community partners to address the needs and experiences of our diverse riders 

• Developing new educational campaigns to help people act and get assistance 

• Exploring additional staffing needs 

• Improving incident reporting tools and mechanisms 

• Improving and expanding our data collection 

You can learn more about MuniSafe on our MuniSafe program webpage (SFMTA.com/MuniSafe). 

Published May 03, 2024 at 08:01PM
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SFMTA Board Approves FY 2025 and FY 2026 Budget

SFMTA Board Approves FY 2025 and FY 2026 Budget

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SFMTA Board Approves FY 2025 and FY 2026 Budget
By Andrea Buffa

With our new budget, people can still get where they need to go on more than 70 Muni routes. 

On Tuesday, April 16, the SFMTA Board of Directors unanimously approved the agency’s FY 2025 and FY 2026 SFMTA operating and capital budgets. The consolidated budget has just been sent to the Mayor’s Office for review. Next, it will head to the Board of Supervisors for final review. 

With this budget, we can continue to provide:   

• Transit service on 72 Muni routes  

• Improvement projects that help make Muni safer, cleaner, faster and more reliable  

• Paratransit service for half a million seniors and people with disabilities every year 

• Street safety programs and projects like new street designs that make our roads safer for everyone 

We’ll share how we got to this stage, and the importance of your feedback. We’ll also cover some of the key features of our budget and what you can expect next in the process. 

Reducing our budget gap to preserve critical services 

In December 2022, we projected a $214 million budget gap for the upcoming two-year budget. Our teams worked hard to shrink this gap.  

We reduced the agency’s expenses. We made our processes more efficient. We also limited hiring to key positions. By December 2023, we had reduced the budget gap to $12.7 million.  

To close the remainder of the gap, the Board had to make difficult decisions. Our revenues still haven’t recovered from the economic impacts of the pandemic. So, we have to raise revenues to avoid cutting programs or services San Franciscans need and deserve. 

Incorporating your feedback  

Community input was invaluable as we developed the budget, and it shaped the final version that our Board approved.  

We held two citywide listening sessions and 35 meetings with neighborhood groups, merchant associations and community-based organizations. We also heard from the public at our Board meetings from January through April. 

In response to that input, we modified our original proposal for generating the $12.7 million needed to close our budget gap. The budget now includes modest increases to Muni fares, fees and fines. These increases will protect vulnerable populations and improve fare equity. They will also support the future financial health of the agency. 

The new budget ensures people who pay in cash won’t see fare changes on their Muni rides. 

Muni fare changes 

The cash fare riders pay for Muni will remain the same because that’s how San Franciscans with the lowest incomes pay to ride. We will also continue providing Free Muni for Youth and a 50% discount on monthly passes to riders with low incomes, seniors and riders with disabilities. And we will do more to promote our discount fare programs so that more people who qualify can take advantage of them.  

We originally proposed eliminating the Clipper Card discount over the course of two years. But we heard concerns about how this might impact Muni ridership and changed our proposal. We now plan to reduce the discount but not eliminate it.  

Other changes 

Parking fines will go up in both years of the budget. By the second year, tickets for street cleaning and parking meter violations will have gone up by $15. 

We understand that a lot of you are concerned about people not paying to ride Muni. Fare evasion has gone up since the pandemic. So, we’ve included funding in this budget for 36 additional fare inspectors. The more our fare inspectors are visible on Muni, the more people will pay their fares, so this investment will pay for itself.  

We also heard that you want us to improve street safety. In response, we reallocated resources and will improve our intra-agency collaboration to speed up street design changes that protect people who walk, bike and roll. 

Next steps 

After the Mayor’s Office sends our proposed budget to the Board of Supervisors, the Board may allow it to take effect without any action or it may reject the budget.  

We appreciate the hundreds of people who participated in our budget process. We’re proud that we’ve been able to make Muni faster and more reliable than it’s probably ever been despite our financial challenges. And we all want to do more than that.  

We want Muni to thrive, not just survive. We want it to become the best transit system in the world. We know you share that goal, and we look forward to working together to achieve it. 

For more information on the budget proposal, you can review the April 16 budget presentation we gave to the SFMTA Board.

Published May 02, 2024 at 08:32PM
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New Parking Enforcement Effort to Focus on Safer Sidewalks and Streets

New Parking Enforcement Effort to Focus on Safer Sidewalks and Streets

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New Parking Enforcement Effort to Focus on Safer Sidewalks and Streets
By Madhu Unnikrishnan

Keeping cars off our sidewalks and bikeways will help make it safer for everyone to get around. 

This week, we will begin a focused parking enforcement plan to help make sidewalks and streets safer for all San Franciscans. We’ll carry out this work on a rotating basis in each supervisor’s district. Our goal is to limit violations of existing parking regulations. 

Improving safety for people who walk, bike, roll and drive 

The new Neighborhood Operations Plan will prioritize enforcing safety-related violations. These include parking on the sidewalk, in bike lanes and crosswalks. This way, we can help ensure that people who walk, bike and roll on the city’s sidewalks and streets do not have to enter traffic lanes to get where they need to go.  

Our work will improve safety for people using mobility devices like wheelchairs and crutches. It will also help people pushing children in strollers. People who drive will also find it easier to navigate city streets. The Neighborhood Operations Plan will ensure the traffic lanes for cars are safer.  

Our plan will help make travel safer for people who walk, bike, roll or use mobility devices.  

Working with city partners to create safer conditions 

The plan aligns with Mayor London Breed’s commitments for the next phase of Vision Zero, San Francisco’s policy to prevent traffic fatalities and severe injuries. Visit the Vision Zero program webpage for more information. 

As we reach normal staffing levels for parking control officers, we're in a better position to enforce the city's parking laws. 

Moreover, city leaders with this plan are responding to requests from residents. “I am stepping up enforcement of our laws, because that’s what residents deserve and that’s what our city needs,” Mayor Breed said in her State of the City address earlier this year. 

The operation will deploy parking control officers to each supervisor’s district for one week of enhanced enforcement. These officers will also carry out their regular duties.  

We are in ongoing discussions with the Mayor’s office and each member of the Board of Supervisors on how we will implement the plan for each district. 

Our parking control officers work hard to keep streets and sidewalks safe.

Helping people park safely: key guidelines to follow  

So what does that mean for people who park on the city’s streets?  

In short, if you obey existing laws, there will be no difference. For a guide on parking rules in the city, visit our How to Park Legally in San Francisco webpage. 

As a refresher, here are guidelines for parking in the city:  

• Do not block driveways or crosswalks. A driveway begins at the “curb cut.” That’s where the driveway begins to slope downward toward street level. Residents can park parallel along the street in front of their own driveways if the driveway serves one to two units and the vehicle is registered to the address. 

• Do not park on sidewalks, even if the pedestrian path is partly clear or if a vehicle is parked across a driveway. A sidewalk citation can be given even if the pedestrian travel path is partly clear or if the vehicle is parked across a driveway. For more on the city’s parking regulations, visit the San Francisco Planning Department’s Code Enforcement webpage.  To check your sidewalk’s width, please visit the Department of Public Works’ grade map.  

• Do not obstruct bikeways. 

The goal of the Neighborhood Operations Plan is not to punish. It’s in response to residents’ and city leaders’ desire to enhance the safety of our streets and sidewalks.  

By preventing parking on sidewalks and bikeways, we make it safer for everyone to get where they need to go. People who walk, bike, roll and use mobility devices can stay in the part of the streetscape that’s safest for their use. People who drive can access clear, safe traffic lanes. 

Published April 30, 2024 at 12:29AM
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Potrero Yard Project Reaches Major Milestone – Learn How Your Feedback Helped

Potrero Yard Project Reaches Major Milestone – Learn How Your Feedback Helped

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Potrero Yard Project Reaches Major Milestone – Learn How Your Feedback Helped
By John Angelico

A rendering of the Potrero Yard Modernization Project. Learn more about our plan to replace a 100-year-old bus yard with new transit infrastructure and up to 465 affordable housing units. (Arcadis IBI Group) 

Maintenance and repair work are key to your smooth rides on Muni. That's why we're working hard to improve infrastructure at the Potrero Yard. Recently, we reached a major milestone. 

Mayor London Breed and the Board of Supervisors approved legislation that lets us move forward with the Potrero Yard Modernization Project.  

Learn why the legislation could spell big wins for transit and housing. See how your feedback shaped its success.  

Understanding Entitlements: the path ahead for Potrero 

Potrero Yard was built in 1915 to serve 100 streetcars. The 4.4-acre site is bordered by Bryant, 17th, Hampshire and Mariposa streets.  

We plan to replace it with a new facility to maintain and store our electric trolly buses. The project site could also include up to 465 units of housing above and beside new transit infrastructure. No other development is set to combine a working bus facility with new affordable housing. That makes this initiative the first of its kind in the nation. 

Entitlements are the green light from city lawmakers to proceed with the Project as proposed. To facilitate development of the Project, they include Amendments to the General Plan, the creation of a Special Use District and amendments to the Planning Code and Zoning Map.  

Securing entitlements allows us to continue with the project development. Now, we can move closer to creating final designs. With this legislation, city lawmakers have allowed us to: 

• Build transit infrastructure and housing units in the same space. We’ve created a Special Use District for the project site. It includes public transit infrastructure plus commercial spaces and residential housing units. The entitlements allow the site to expand beyond its current “public” use as a transit facility to also include housing and commercial components. 

• Define structure height and bulk limits for the zone. Before, structures on the site could only be 65 feet tall. Now, with the new Special Use District, we can exceed that limit. The transit facility will reach 75 feet and proposed housing will reach up to 150 feet. Also, the legislation describes the size, shape and placement of buildings on the site, which are the bulk requirements. 

We want to thank Supervisors Hillary Ronen and Shamann Walton, who sponsored the legislation. Each played a leadership role, and we’re grateful for their partnership. 

Rendering of the new bus yard and trolley bus entrance on Mariposa and Hampshire streets. (Arcadis IBI Group)

Community feedback has been essential 

As we celebrate this milestone, we’re grateful for the community feedback that helped make it possible. 

 Since the project started in 2018, our agency and city partners have worked closely with the community. During the approval process for the Entitlements, lawmakers and others noted our extensive outreach efforts. They include: 

• 140 community meetings, tours and events held by our project team and partners over the last six years 

As city leaders reviewed the legislation, individuals and organizations showed their support by submitting letters on behalf of the project to the Recreation & Park and SF Planning commissions. You can read them on this SF.gov repository for letters submitted on behalf of the Potrero Yard Project. We want to thank everyone who wrote in for their support. 

Infrastructure and housing possibilities 

With the green light to continue planning, we’re excited to share more about our vision for Potrero. 

Modern and spacious transit facility 

Public transportation is one of the best tools we have to fight climate change. It's crucial that we replace our outdated facility with one that will make it easier to service and store our electric trolley buses. This work is key to maintaining our fleet, the greenest of any major city in North America. 
 
The new facility is designed to: 

• Have capacity for 54% more electric trolley buses 

• Help crews be more efficient with maintenance and repairs  

• Give more than 800 SFMTA staff the space and tools they need to keep Muni running 

Affordable and workforce housing 

The proposed housing would also add more affordable rental units in the Mission. These units and commercial spaces would sit next to and above the bus facility. You can learn more on our Potrero Yard Modernization Project - Proposed Housing and Commercial Component webpage. 

Area Median Income  (AMI) will determine who is eligible to live in the new housing units.  

• Affordable housing: Households with incomes between 30 and 80 percent of the AMI will be eligible. 

• Workforce housing: Households with incomes ranging from 80 to 120 percent of the AMI will be eligible. 

Many staff at our agency, including operators and maintenance staff, have incomes that would qualify for the workforce housing component. We’re working to create a preference for our staff for the workforce housing units. 

We’re glad to partner with the Potrero Neighborhood Collective (PNC), our developers for the project. The city selected a proposal from this consortium because it offers technical expertise and global experience. The PNC team includes affordable housing developers with local ties.  

We’re thrilled to be part of this unique public private partnership. It allows the city to build the transit infrastructure, while the PNC team finances and constructs housing. 

Illustration shows plans for a protected bike lane along 17th Street and vendor kiosks. (Arcadis IBI Group) 

What’s next: creating designs, preparing for construction 

So far, the modernization project has moved from conceptual design to 100% Final Schematic Design. It also received California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) clearance in March. This step paved the way for the Entitlements stage.  

Now, we are able to move the project through the Design Development phase. Then, we can create construction documents for the bus yard. The housing component will have its own schedule and financing structure. The transportation infrastructure will be funded through transportation dollars.  

As the project moves forward, we continue to welcome feedback. You can contact us by phone or email: 

• 415.646.2223 

• PotreroYard@SFMTA.com 

Visit the Potrero Yard Modernization Project webpage for the latest information and events. 

Published April 23, 2024 at 09:20PM
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Shape Our Vision for a Safer West Portal

Shape Our Vision for a Safer West Portal

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Shape Our Vision for a Safer West Portal
By Brian Haagsman

West Portal Station is a busy transit hub served by three rail lines and two bus routes. 

This week, we’re hosting pop-ups in West Portal and running a survey to seek your feedback on safety improvement proposals we announced for the area on April 16.  

The West Portal Station area includes three Muni rail lines and two bus routes. Together, they serve 50,000 riders per day. It’s also the entrance to a vibrant commercial village where people visit restaurants, shops and offices. Every day, children and families pass through the area to go to local schools, playgrounds or the public library. 

With such a high volume of people traveling through West Portal, it’s critical that the space is safe for everyone who accesses it. That means safe connections to transit. It means safe travel between homes, to businesses and to other West Portal destinations. 

Tragically, a collision killed a family of four near West Portal Station in March. We have been working with Mayor London Breed and District 7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar ever since to make changes in the area.  

We'll share how you can review our safety improvement proposals. We’ll also cover how to connect with our team in person and online to provide feedback about them. 

How to share feedback about safety improvements for West Portal 

Our proposals aim to improve intersection safety and create a more welcoming space for people who access West Portal. You can review these proposals on our West Portal Station Safety and Community Space Improvements - Proposed Design webpage. 

Here’s how to connect with our teams in person and online to share feedback about the proposals. 

Connect with project staff at neighborhood pop-ups  

You can ask our project staff questions and share feedback with them at on-street pop-ups: 

• Tuesday, April 23, 8 – 9:30 a.m. at West Portal Station (northwest corner of West Portal Avenue and Ulloa Street). Chinese and Spanish interpretation will be available. 

• Wednesday, April 24, 4 – 5:45 p.m. outside the West Portal Branch Library (190 Lenox Way). Chinese interpretation will be available. 

Fill out our online survey form 

You can also fill out our online survey to provide feedback on the proposal and offer suggestions on ways to beautify the entrance to the station. 

To complete the form, visit our West Portal Safety and Community Improvements Project  -- Community Survey webpage. 

The deadline to complete the survey is Sunday, April 28, 2024. 

Understanding the proposed designs 

The goal for West Portal is to create a safer and calmer intersection where Ulloa Street crosses West Portal. At the same time, we also want to make sure people can easily get to their West Portal destinations. The proposal aims to more clearly define how people move through the space. This applies to people walking, driving or taking Muni. The design would also reduce vehicle traffic on the train tracks.   

At the heart of the proposal is more dedicated and protected space for people around the station entrance. Originally used for SFMTA operations vehicles, the new space would be an inviting area for people walking. It could include features like murals, seating, planters, bike share stations or other options. These would support the commercial corridor and neighborhood at large – and reflect its unique character.  

Examples of materials that could be used to mark protected space for people walking such as street murals, planters and bollards.   

The proposal also includes safety improvements to reduce conflicts between transit vehicles in the intersection and people walking, biking and driving. They include: 

• Simplified turns  

• A dedicated transit lane 

• Converting one block of nearby Lenox Way to one-way traffic 

What’s next: feedback review and final proposal 

After we carry out this outreach, our project team will review the feedback and consider changes to the proposals. Next, we will bring a final proposal to the SFMTA Board for a public hearing early this summer. 

You can track the project by visiting the West Portal Safety and Community Space Improvements webpage. You can also reach out with questions or feedback to: WestPortalProject@SFMTA.com. 

Published April 23, 2024 at 03:31AM
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Taken with Transportation Podcast: Keeping the Vision

Taken with Transportation Podcast: Keeping the Vision

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Taken with Transportation Podcast: Keeping the Vision
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Street safety advocates and SFMTA staff at an event outside City Hall commemorating the 10th anniversary of Vision Zero.

It’s been a decade since San Francisco adopted Vision Zero. That’s the road safety policy to eliminate traffic deaths and reduce severe injuries in the city. “Keeping the Vision,” the latest episode of our podcast Taken with Transportation, takes listeners from the origins of Vision Zero to the work we are doing today to make our streets safe, joyful and welcoming spaces. 

“There was a cultural change underway locally and nationally with [an] understanding that severe and fatal crashes are preventable, and that there are ways to prevent them and save lives,” Megan Wier tells Taken with Transportation Host Melissa Culross. Wier was the first Vision Zero co-chair in 2014 when she was with the San Francisco Department of Public Health. She now works for the Oakland Department of Transportation. 

The podcast also includes a conversation with former SFMTA Streets Director Tom Maguire. He joined the agency as Vision Zero was getting underway. “I remember 2014 being this really exciting and wide-open time,” Maguire says. “I think a lot of people in the field had been working for years to get away from the idea that blame and personal responsibility were the source of traffic fatalities, and Vision Zero just opened so many people’s minds to that.” 

Even though we have not yet eliminated traffic deaths in San Francisco, the policy has changed the way we think about street design. We have strengthened our resolve to do everything we can to make our streets safe for everybody. From protected bike lanes to car-free spaces like JFK Promenade in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco streets are changing. 

Bicyclists enjoy an afternoon riding along JFK Promenade in Golden Gate Park.

“I want San Francisco to be the kind of place where children can feel safe and comfortable biking to school anywhere in the city,” says SFMTA Director of Transportation Jeff Tumlin as he talks with Culross. “I want San Francisco to be the kind of place where the streets celebrate human connection and joy, not just the efficiency of moving cars.” 

Students at Sunnyside Elementary School help kick off Walk and Roll to School Week in 2022. The event is part of our Safe Routes to School program.

SFMTA City Traffic Engineer Ricardo Olea and Board of Directors Chair Amanda Eaken also are featured in “Keeping the Vision.” You can find it and all the episodes of Taken with Transportation on our podcast page (SFMTA.com/Podcast) and on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen.  

Published April 19, 2024 at 08:11PM
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Celebrate Women in the Trades at Muni and Learn How to Work in their Fields

Celebrate Women in the Trades at Muni and Learn How to Work in their Fields

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Celebrate Women in the Trades at Muni and Learn How to Work in their Fields
By Glennis Markison

Jeena Villamor checks resistance on the contactors for an accelerator drum at the SFMTA.

This Women’s History Month, we’re proud to feature women in the trades and engineering at the SFMTA.  

You’ll hear from contract managers, car cleaners, engineers, machinists, mechanics, parts storekeepers and more. They all help keep our system safe, clean and accessible for everybody. We appreciate their hard work!  

We also want to encourage more women to enter their fields. That’s why we’re celebrating women in a way that helps others take action.  

Below, you can click on a job title to learn about one of our female staffers in the trades and engineering. You’ll see:  

• What jobs they had before their SFMTA role  
• What key skills they need for their current job  
• What their typical workday looks like  
• What they enjoy most about their job  

In each story, you’ll also find relevant courses or apprenticeship programs. 

Check out the video at the end of this blog to hear more from Machinist Apprentice Brittany McMartin. 
 
To learn about open opportunities at our agency, you can visit the SFMTA Career Center.

Automotive Service Worker Meet Nicole Humphrey

Contract Manager Meet Katherine Kwok

Engineer / Project Manager Meet Becky Chen

Machinist Apprentice Meet Brittany McMartin

Mechanic Meet Jeena Villamor

Mechanic Meet Jenny Keosaat

Parts Storekeeper Meet Evelyn Cotton

Parts Storekeeper Supervisor Meet Deneitra Henry

Power System Operator Meet ess Goldsworthy

Transit Car Cleaner Meet Trina Dixon

Editor's note: We want to thank our Transit Division for their partnership on this story. Michael Henry, acting chief mechanical officer for Fleet Maintenance, encouraged us to share the stories of women in the trades.

Published April 16, 2024 at 11:46PM
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Help Us Beautify Geary – and Learn the Latest on the Corridor’s Transit and Safety Upgrades

Help Us Beautify Geary – and Learn the Latest on the Corridor’s Transit and Safety Upgrades

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Help Us Beautify Geary – and Learn the Latest on the Corridor’s Transit and Safety Upgrades
By David Sindel

A 38 Geary bus beats traffic in the new transit lanes installed last fall.

The Geary Boulevard Improvement Project aims to address bus delays and traffic concerns on a high-injury corridor. Community feedback played a major role in the transit and safety improvements we’re bringing to Geary. 

As we share the latest on these upgrades, we invite you to weigh in on a new topic: beautification. 

Join us Wednesday, April 17 for an open house about community enhancement for the Geary Boulevard Improvement Project.  

Date/time: Wednesday, April 17, 2024 from 5 - 7 p.m. 

Location: Presidio Middle School Library – 450 30th Avenue, 2nd floor 

Selecting the best option to beautify Geary 

At the open house, drop in to learn more about seven options to beautify Geary Boulevard. They include:  

• Sidewalk pavers 

• Etched/stamped sidewalk concrete 

• Decorative sidewalk concrete with glass aggregate 

• Street trees 

• Leaning rails at bus stops 

• Large district marker 

• Small neighborhood identity markers 

You can see examples and more information on our Geary Boulevard Improvement Project Community Enhancement webpage. 

Some of these options provide the opportunity to highlight the Richmond District’s rich history and/or culture. Others contribute to neighborhood identity or place-making. For example, decorative sidewalk designs at bus stops could highlight local culture. Or, a large district marker could pay homage to the surrounding architectural styles. New street trees could spruce up the boulevard. Sidewalk pavers could add to its character. 

Photo on left shows an example of a district marker; upper right shows etched concrete; lower right a concrete and glass treatment.

Welcoming feedback online or in person 

You can take the Geary Boulevard Improvement Project Community Enhancement Survey now.

You can also attend the open house on April 17 to learn more, chat with staff and submit your survey in person. We look forward to your feedback! 

We will have a second round of outreach later this year. At that time, we’ll share the favorite treatment(s) and ask for feedback on the details of the design. Crews will install the selected treatment during the construction phase of the project. This stage includes other planned utility, transit, safety and pavement improvements. 

People board at a Geary 38 stop that was relocated to help improve travel times.

Improving bus travel times with Quick-Build work 

As we welcome new ideas for beautification, we’re proud to share an early win for the corridor. 

We recently completed implementation of the “Quick-Build” phase, which included new transit lanes between 15th and 28th avenues. It also included bus stop changes to improve reliability of Muni’s 38 Geary line and safety treatments. Preliminary results already show improved bus travel times for over 40,000 daily riders. Muni operators say the changes are helping. We plan to publish a full evaluation report later this year.

Finding creative ways to support businesses 

We also devoted project funding to support local businesses. Our goal: find creative ways to attract customers to the corridor. 

To make this happen, we're convening a Geary Small Business Working Group. Our project team is working to execute the group's priorities: 

• Wrap Geary Boulevard tree trunks with decorative lighting 

• Create an ad campaign on Muni buses to promote the Central Richmond 

Preparing for the next steps: utility upgrades, then transit and safety work 

Starting in early 2025, SFPUC will begin upgrading the sewer and water lines along Geary. For more information, you can visit the SFPUC’s Geary Boulevard Sewer and Water Improvements project webpage. 

Additional transit and safety improvements will begin in 2026. During this stage, we will install the selected community enhancement. 

This construction phase will also include: 

• Bulb-outs to expand passenger waiting areas 

• Pedestrian bulb-outs and median refuges to make crossing Geary Boulevard safer 

• Upgrades of aging traffic signals 

After the entire project corridor is freshly repaved, crews will also paint transit lanes red. 

You can learn more about the project and subscribe for updates by visiting the Geary Boulevard Improvement Project page (SFMTA.com/Geary). 

Published April 16, 2024 at 12:37AM
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Congratulations to the Safe Driver Award Winners!

Congratulations to the Safe Driver Award Winners!

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Congratulations to the Safe Driver Award Winners!
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Celebrating operators at our 2023 Safe Driver Award dinner.

It’s not easy to drive a cable car, streetcar or 40-foot bus through the streets of San Francisco – maneuvering around construction, parades and protests, rain or shine. And that’s not to mention the possibility that a few of the passengers on board may not be having one of their best days. Now imagine doing all that and doing it safely every single time. 

That’s what our Safe Driver Award winners do, day in and day out.  

Operators who drive at least 1,952 hours without any preventable incidents or collisions during the fiscal year (July – June) earn a safe driving record for that year.  

This weekend, we’ll recognize operators who have met that standard for 15 years or more at our annual Safe Driver Awards dinner. 

Of the 229 operators we are honoring, 85 have between 15 and 19 years of safe driving. One operator, Oliverio Valle, has 49 years of safe driving under his belt! 

This year, nearly a thousand operators met our safe driving standard for at least one year. We thank these 982 operators for their excellent work. 

Our Muni operators keep the city moving through thick and through thin. They got essential workers to their jobs during the most difficult phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. They brave smoke-filled air during wildfire seasons. They face street flooding during heavy rains. At the end of 2023, they navigated traffic delays and transit reroutes when more than 20,000 visitors came to San Francisco for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit. 

The next time you ride Muni, please make an extra effort to appreciate your operators.  

They make sure we get to our destinations safely so we can live our daily lives and enjoy our great city. 

Published April 13, 2024 at 12:05AM
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Central Subway One Year Out: Celebrating the Impact of Community Outreach

Central Subway One Year Out: Celebrating the Impact of Community Outreach

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Central Subway One Year Out: Celebrating the Impact of Community Outreach
By Enrique Aguilar

Muni customers catch the T Third Line at the Union Square/Market Street Station on opening day.

The Central Subway has connected communities from the Bayview to Chinatown for over a year now. As we celebrate this milestone, we’re proud to share why community feedback has been key to its success. 

Meeting feedback drives more transparency 

Our project team held community meetings from project design through activation. We gathered feedback from residents, merchants and other stakeholders. We also shared important project updates.  

These outreach meetings led to constructive conversations between project staff and the community. Early on, people asked for more transparency. We listened and updated our communication strategy. 

Local communities influence station design and safety 

Residents and community groups also shaped design and safety for the new subway. 
 
Rooftop plaza  
Chinatown and the Tenderloin stand out as two neighborhoods with high population density, yet few public spaces. With this in mind, community groups advocated for an upper rooftop plaza at the Chinatown-Rose Pak Station. This idea was not part of the original construction plan. However, advocates reimagined how the new station could better serve the neighborhood. 

Police substation 
After 2020, our project team heard many concerns about the safety of residents, especially Asian seniors, in Chinatown. Community groups asked for a police substation on the fare gate level at Chinatown-Rose Pak Station. Originally, this area was designed to have a concession stand. Our agency and city partners heard their concerns and took action. Now, a plan is in motion to build the police substation to increase safety for all Muni customers. Construction is underway.  

Bilingual ambassador program 
When the project started construction in 2012, we partnered with the Community Youth Center. Our goal: create an ambassador program with bilingual staff to help people navigate construction by Chinatown-Rose Pak Station. For years, ambassadors helped children, families and others get around safely. Now, ambassadors continue to provide support. They help riders understand the Muni Metro map and share any updates to service.

Chinatown residents and visitors celebrated the first day of the 2024 Lunar New Year with a lion dance at the Chinatown-Rose Pak Station Upper Plaza. 

Merchants and locals shape relief programs and new artwork 

We also partnered with city agencies to address concerns from merchants and involve communities in plans for new artwork.  

The Office of Economic and Workforce Development took steps to reduce impacts from construction. It provided support to small businesses near the project site.  

The Arts Commission led a huge effort to bring new artwork to the stations. It used funds from the city’s 2%-for-art program and gathered community feedback. Now, new art in the subway reflects the cultural and historical significance of each neighborhood. 

What’s next: building on the success of community partnerships 

What does the future hold for these new stations? Community partnerships made this project a success, and we’re building on that foundation.  

The Community Youth Center we worked with to provide ambassadors now plays an expanded role. The group was selected as the steward for the upper plaza at Chinatown Rose-Pak Station. Now, they develop weekly programming to activate the space and bring people together. You can check out their events by visiting the Community Youth Center webpage for the plaza.  

Every neighborhood reveals something different about the people living there. When we build new Metro stations, each one becomes more accessible. The SFMTA will continue to work with community partners in the Yerba Buena, Union Square and Chinatown neighborhoods. We’re thrilled to promote their vibrancy, and how easy it is to visit with a ride on the T Third Line. 

Check out this video to hear from SFMTA staff and community partners about how public engagement was pivotal to the project’s success. You’ll learn the details about how it evolved from construction through launch in 2023. 

Published April 11, 2024 at 08:20PM
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Our Vision Goes Beyond Zero

Our Vision Goes Beyond Zero

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Our Vision Goes Beyond Zero
By Amanda Eaken

Ten years ago last month, San Francisco proudly became the second city in the United States to adopt Vision Zero, an ambitious pledge to end all serious and fatal traffic crashes. Since I joined the SFMTA Board of Directors in 2018, I have been laser focused on what it will take to get to zero.

Like many of you, I feel very strongly that this must be a top priority for our city. I see the ability to walk, bike, drive, scoot, roll or take transit safely, without fear of harm, as a basic right and freedom that people should expect in our city. A basic right just like turning on the tap and expecting that the water is safe for you to drink — something you just assume the government will take care of for you. And, as I affirmed at the Mayor’s Vision Zero press conference, I share in the feelings of rage, powerlessness and grief whenever I learn that anyone is injured or killed in traffic violence on our streets.

But it wasn’t until recently, at the SFMTA Board workshop in January, that I realized that Vision Zero is not, actually, our vision. Of course no one should die or be injured in traffic on our streets. Great cities are for people, not cars. But we could reach Vision Zero and still fall far short of the city I think we want to be.

Let me unpack this a bit further. I think safety is actually the floor, it’s the minimum. Safety should be a basic right of people trying to get around the city. But as we’ve seen on Slow Sanchez Street or the Great Highway over the last few years, streets can be so much more than just safe. They can be places that uplift and elevate people. I know on some of my toughest days, a walk on JFK Promenade is pure therapy. More often than not these days I run into someone I know out there, and it warms my heart to see so many people enjoying themselves. I love seeing the irrepressible smiles on parents’ faces as they teach their very small family members to safely ride a bicycle, or hearing friends laughing as they lounge in the yellow Adirondack chairs.

Our streets can be blank canvases for local artists, places for communities to express and celebrate their unique identities and histories. As a member of the NOPA community, I recently learned that the San Francisco Parks Alliance is going to bring art to some of our neighborhood Slow Streets. I was asked to fill out a survey about which elements of our community’s history best express our identity, and should be featured in the artwork. I highlighted the Black churches in our neighborhood, NOPA Corner Market, the Panhandle, the University of San Francisco and Divisadero Street.

The community gathering space of JFK Promenade has a soundtrack of its own with pedestrians passing by live, public music and art. Credit: Paint the Void

Great streets should, in my view, create opportunities for joy and delight. Streets can be places that enable play and silliness like the ping pong table at 8th Avenue or the white wobbly chairs kids love to spin around in. They can be community gathering spaces that help to create the spontaneous moments of connection that are why we all live in a city to begin with.

Whenever I ride my bike down JFK promenade on a Sunday and hear the community sing-along around that wonderful old and warped Rec and Park piano, or stroll down Great Highway, take a seat on one of those orange metal chairs and soak in some live jazz with the spectacular Pacific Ocean behind me, I am so moved. This, I think to myself, THIS is the kind of city I want to live in – where the government partners with communities to create wonderful spaces that provide more opportunities for joy and connection.

COVID changed all of our lives, for some of us permanently. I observe — and have experienced — that some of us are still quite isolated, that people are craving more connection. Streets can be places for community members to come together, to combat what our Surgeon General is calling a national epidemic of loneliness.

So as we look to the next ten years of the essential work of making our streets safe, what some are calling Vision Zero 2.0, I want us to pause and ask ourselves whether Vision Zero is the extent of our vision. Vision Zero means nothing tragic or unacceptable happens. But I want to flip that around. Because every day, in thousands of ways, big and small, I hope our streets can do more than just prevent tragedies. I hope our streets can be places people can experience moments of joy and delight on their commutes. Where they can cross the street with comfort and dignity, rather than feeling that they have no option but to become defensive, anxious pedestrians, constantly on the lookout for cars turning right on red creeping into the crosswalk or drivers looking down at their phones rolling through a stop sign. I want our city to be a place that is safe for children to travel independently. When we make these important policy decisions about whether to restrict certain movements of vehicles, I want us to think about our kids — it’s their city too.

So please: join me in both recommitting to and re-envisioning Vision Zero over these next months.

I created the Vision Zero subcommittee of the SFMTA Board of Directors because I wanted us to have a space where we can sit around a table together, to share ideas, to jointly problem-solve, to co-create the city we all want to live in. Bring your vision, passion, creative thinking, as we embark on the journey to chart a course for the next ten years.

The next meeting is Tuesday June 11th at 1 p.m. at 1 South Van Ness Avenue, or you can always attend my virtual office hours on Mondays at 4 p.m. during the first and third weeks of the month.

Amanda Eaken is the Chair of the SFMTA Board of Directors which provides policy oversight for the safe and efficient movement of people and goods in San Francisco in accordance with the San Francisco Charter and the Transit-First Policy. This includes the San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni), automobiles and trucks, taxis, bicycling and walking. The SFMTA Board of Directors also serves as members of the San Francisco Parking Authority. The SFMTA Board of Directors generally meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 1:00 pm. in Room 400, City Hall unless otherwise noted. Members of the public can attend or view meetings on SFGovTV2.

Published April 09, 2024 at 10:27PM
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What to Expect from Our Onboard Ridership Survey – and How the Data Helps

What to Expect from Our Onboard Ridership Survey – and How the Data Helps

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What to Expect from Our Onboard Ridership Survey – and How the Data Helps
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The next time you take Muni, you might see survey takers for our onboard ridership survey. We’ll share what to expect. 

Recently, you may have seen survey teams wearing blue vests and badges on Muni vehicles. From now through May, these survey teams are working to conduct an onboard survey to collect critical information from our riders.  Our goal is to collect 25,000 entries that represent all modes, routes and times of day on both weekday and weekend service.  

We’re excited to share why we’re doing this, how the process works and how we’ll use the data to improve our system.  

Why we’re surveying riders:  

Having an accurate picture of our ridership demographics helps us make a range of important decisions. We can use this data to improve our system and service. We can also use it to set fares and inform our multilingual communication methods.   

To make improvements, we need adequate funding. The ridership survey is helpful in this way, too. Conducting a demographic analysis of our ridership helps us stay eligible for federal funds from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). 

Survey takers will always wear a blue vest and badge.

What to expect during our survey process: 

• Survey teams always wear a badge and a blue vest (pictured above). 

• They will not monitor participants as they answer questions. Participants will receive a tablet with multiple language options and will have privacy to complete the survey. 

• They cannot accept requests to participate. The survey team uses technology to make sure the selection process for survey participants is not biased. This protects the integrity of the data. 

• They will never ask to see your ID. This ridership survey includes a range of questions involving personal information. However, the survey team will never request to see ID. If you receive a request like this from anyone on a vehicle, please report it. You can call 311 or use our online Muni feedback form. 

The survey covers: 

• Travel patterns: where and how people ride our system 

• Transfer locations: where people go when they switch vehicles 

• Customer demographics: how people identify, including race, primary language spoken, gender and household income 

The questions about household income and how you pay your fare are especially important. They help us provide accessible service for people of all income levels. Answers to all survey questions will be anonymous. 

If you are asked to take part in the survey, please do! It will only take 5-10 minutes of your time. 

How the data helps: 

The more we know about who’s riding Muni, the better we can serve you. We use information from the onboard ridership survey to: 

• Understand the diverse experiences of Muni riders 

We want to ensure we’re meeting the needs of all the communities that count on Muni.  

• Make our service more equitable 

We’re committed to making our service accessible and affordable for all our customers. Our Service Equity Strategy is a critical piece of that work. See our Muni Service Equity Strategy webpage (SFMTA.com/MuniEquity) for more information. 

• Shape service planning efforts 

The more we know about your needs, the better our service plans will be. Your feedback will us allocate limited resources. We'll use what we learn to make the best investments we can for riders. See our SFMTA Budget Planning - Fiscal Years 2023 & 2024 webpage for more information.

•  Keep our riders informed and involved 

We want to keep you updated and make sure your voice is heard in our decision-making. That’s why we need to clearly understand our riders’ language access needs. 
 
A lot has changed in San Francisco since the pandemic. This survey will help us continue to support the needs of people who depend on transit and use our limited resources as effectively as possible.  

Have questions about the survey? Please reach us at: TellMuni@sfmta.com. 

Published April 05, 2024 at 06:46PM
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Introducing Applications for Our Scooter Share Program – and Celebrating Wins Shaped by Your Feedback

Introducing Applications for Our Scooter Share Program – and Celebrating Wins Shaped by Your Feedback

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Introducing Applications for Our Scooter Share Program – and Celebrating Wins Shaped by Your Feedback
By Maddy Ruvolo

Scooters are an important part of San Francisco’s multimodal transportation network.

We’re excited to open applications for the FY2025 – FY2026 Powered Scooter Share Program. This program supports the city’s goal of providing multiple reliable transportation options to get around San Francisco. 

The current permits for scooter share operators expire in June 2024. The next round will go into effect on July 1, 2024.  

For operators who want to apply to the Powered Scooter Share program: 

• See the FY2025 – FY2026 Powered Scooter Share Program webpage for application materials. 

• Check out the bottom of this blog for a section with more details about the process. 

Scooter program successes: how your feedback helped 

Over the past several years, we have reached out to stakeholders in a variety of ways to gather feedback on our shared scooter program.  

There have been concerns about sidewalk riding and improper scooter parking. These included cases where scooters block the path of travel for people walking or using mobility devices. We also heard feedback about the need for better adaptive scooter options.  

We considered this community feedback and have revised our application process. We’ve made improvements in the following areas. 

Scooter safety 

We launched campaigns and changed policies to protect people who walk, roll and take transit. 

• Educational campaign 

Our educational campaign is aimed at people who ride shared scooters and/or privately-owned ones. This campaign includes information about how to ride safely. See our scooter safety campaign blog for details. 

• Safe parking incentive policy  

We also thought deeply about incentives that might inspire safer behavior. We instituted an incentive program that motivates scooter companies to move improperly parked scooters quickly. If scooter companies respond faster to complaints of improperly parked scooters, the fines they face are reduced. This has resulted in huge wins for safety.  

The average response time to complaints of improperly parked devices dropped from six hours to one hour.  

See the Safe Micromobility Parking Policy webpage for more information. 

• Sidewalk detection technology 

Our transportation code now requires that all shared scooter devices have sidewalk detection technology. This technology slows down shared scooters if riders use them on the sidewalk. The scooters emit an audible alert, and the scooter share companies are required to send us a monthly report of sidewalk riding.  

This helps us understand where sidewalk riding happens most frequently, so we can send our enforcement team to those hotspots.  

Students from AccessSFUSD test adaptive scooters in Golden Gate Park.

Scooter accessibility 

We have received extensive feedback on our adaptive scooter programs. We did this by holding events in partnership with AccessSFUSD and scooter share companies and by soliciting feedback from the Multimodal Accessibility Advisory Committee and the Mayor’s Disability Council. 

For more information, see our blog on partnering with AccessSFUSD. You can also check out our blog highlighting an adaptive scooter event with our current permittees. 

• Prioritizing adaptive devices 

We’re prioritizing more seated devices and those with greater stability. This can include devices with larger wheels, backrests, floorboards, and other adaptive features. Continuing a requirement from the current permit cycle, all scooter operators in our program will have to offer seated scooters as part of their on-street fleets.  

We are continuing our separate Adaptive Scooter Program, as well. The program includes new requirements based on community feedback to increase usability, such as extending required rental hours so that adaptive scooters can more easily be used for commuting. 

Scooter affordability 

We’re ensuring that people of all income levels can benefit from our shared scooter program.  

For shared scooter riders with incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines: 

We require all scooter share permittees to offer low-income plans that waive any applicable scooter deposit. They must also offer a minimum of 50% discount off rental fees or unlimited trips under 30 minutes. Additionally, they must provide a cash payment option. 

Want to provide feedback?

We encourage you to tell us what you think of these improvements and continue giving us feedback. To get in touch about the shared scooter program, you can email ScooterShare@SFMTA.com. 

About the Application 

If you’re interested in applying to become an operator in our shared scooter program: 

• See our FY25-FY26 SFMTA Powered Scooter Share Program Permit Application Materials page 

The deadline to apply is April 26, 2024.  

We will hold a Question & Answer session on April 5 at 2p.m. Applicants must submit questions in writing to ScooterShare@SFMTA.com by 12p.m. on April 3. 

Applications will be evaluated against a standardized evaluation scorecard to determine the strongest proposals. We expect to issue new scooter permits to applicants that meet San Francisco’s high standards for safety, equity, accessibility and accountability.  

We anticipate announcing successful applicants later this spring, and the new two-year permits will take effect on July 1, 2024. 

Published March 30, 2024 at 03:20AM
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