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This Weekend: Charity Marathons By Schad Dalton Events:  The winter rains have subsided, the holidays are a distant speck in the rearview mirror and it's now the time of year when events around the city become more prevalent. This weekend is a prime example as multiple events are scheduled, including the return of bonfire season at Ocean Beach from March 1 to October 31. Head to Union Square on Saturday for a free pick-your-own tulips event during American Tulip Day . On Sunday, the Hot Air Music Festival celebrates its 11th year with a celebration of contemporary music at the San Francisco  For those looking to support a good cause as well as dive into the frigid waters of the Bay, head up to Aquatic Park for the 2020 Dash and Splash. On Sunday, the 42nd annual Chinese New Year YMCA Run will take place, benefiting the Chinatown YMCA Community Center. Be sure to check out all of the city's free monthly museum days , too, as each weekend presents new opportunities to visit o

Muni's Unsung Heroes of Black History By Jeremy Menzies Black History Month is a great opportunity to tell big important stories, but also to highlight the smaller, less noted stories of everyday people. This week, we're looking back through Muni history at a few people whose day-to-day achievements may not have made headlines but whose contributions nonetheless made a difference to breaking down racial barriers in San Francisco's transit industry. In September 1950, Muni started the "Courtesy Citation" program to honor the hard work of Muni operators. Operators who received commendations from the public would be recognized in the railway's newsletter and entered into the running for "Muni Man of the Month", an award that brought greater recognition in the form of a $50 check and a special card featuring the winner's photo inside Muni vehicles. Lilburn Delaney, conductor on the H Potrero streetcar, leans out the back platform of a car in t

Results Are In – How Should We Explore Extending The Central Subway? By Phillip Pierce The Central Subway is set to open in summer 2021 and will connect some of the city’s densest neighborhoods and job centers. It is expected to carry tens of thousands of riders everyday from Chinatown, through Union Square and SoMa before linking up with the current above-ground T Third line near the 4th/King Caltrain Station and on to Mission Bay, the Bayview, and Visitacion Valley. While this new line will be vital for San Francisco’s growing population and workforce, we know that now is the time to continue planning for the future.  In order to better understand the needs and goals of the community, we held open house meetings and developed an online survey to gauge interest and explore potential ways to extend the Central Subway. This online survey built on the prior 2015 feasibility study results and previous community meetings on the topic. This interactive survey was given in English, Spa

Reminder: Service Changes Now in Effect By Enrique Aguilar This past Saturday, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) made several changes to improve Muni service. These changes will improve reliability and connections, reduce crowding and provide one-seat rides for weekend early morning Metro service with bus substitutions. Affected routes include the J, KT, L, M and N Metro lines, 7 Haight-Noriega, 23 Monterey, 1AX, 1BX, 31AX, 31BX, 38AX, and 38BX. Weekend Early Morning Metro Bus Service To reduce the need for transfers during early weekend morning service, all metro lines will be served by bus after the end of Owl service and before Metro stations open. Metro stations open at 6 a.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m. on Sundays. The new early morning metro bus will be a one-seat ride to your destination. To reduce overcrowding and increase transit reliability on weekdays, the 7 Haight/Noriega will begin running 60-foot buses.  Adding bigger buses to weekday service will

Director of Transportation Report: February 18, 2020 By In this week’s Director’s Report from the SFMTA Board of Directors meeting, Jeffrey Tumlin gave updates on the following topics: Washington, DC Visit House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on “Autonomous Vehicles: Promises and Challenges of Evolving Automotive Technologies” held last week in Washington, D.C. Testified, providing city perspective on what we believe federal AV legislation should include ensuring safety and accountability . Urged the Committee members NOT to preempt state and local authority to take measures we think are necessary to protect the public as the technology is tested on public roads during the many years we expect before the federal government adopts AV minimum safety standards. Muni Service Change Starting Saturday (Feb. 22) numerous service changes go into effect to improve reliability, connections and reduce crowding. Affected routes include the Metro lines, 7 Haight-Noriega, 23 Monterey

This Weekend: Russian Festival and Pop Art Show By Schad Dalton Service Change Reminder:  Starting February 22, 2020, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) is making service changes to improve Muni service. These changes will improve reliability and connections, reduce crowding and provide one-seat rides for weekend early morning Metro service with bus substitutions. Affected routes include the J, KT, L, M and N Metro lines, 7 Haight-Noriega, 23 Monterey, 1AX, 1BX, 31AX, 31BX, 38AX, and 38BX. For more details, visit  https://www.sfmta.com/servicechanges. Events:  There are a plethora of events, large and small, taking place throughout this coming weekend. Take in a free show by the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra at the Herbst Theater on Friday evening, February 21, Take the family out for an education fix on Saturday during the weekly free de Young Museum Day for Bay Area residents or the Cal Academy of Science's Neighborhood Free Days . Be sure to visit t

Safe Streets in the Year of the Rat! By Uyen Ngo Happy Lunar New Year! Celebrated by many in the Asian community, the Lunar New Year follows the cycles of the moon and the beginning of its calendar year is usually in late January or early February. For many, the beginning of the year brings a fresh mindset and resolutions for a happy and healthy new year. Each year is represented by one of 12 zodiac animals who are associated with certain characteristics. 2020 is the Year of the Rat, the rat is considered a clever and resourceful character. Safe Streets in the Year of the Rat launched last week and is an educational traffic safety campaign reinforcing one of Vision Zero’s main messages of slowing driver speeds for everyone’s safety. In the zodiac, rats are seen as savvy, quick thinkers. They’re not the fastest, instead they use their smarts to get ahead. This new Chinese-language campaign references these zodiac qualities and encourages people to plan ahead for their trips throu

SFMTA Public Meetings February 18 - March 2 By Board of Directors Meeting Tuesday, February 18, 1 p.m. City Hall, Room 400 Nearby Muni Routes: 5, 19, 21, 47, 49, F Market, Civic Center Station The SFMTA Board of Directors provides policy oversight for the safe and efficient transportation of goods and services in San Francisco. 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. Our board of directors meetings are usually held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. The agenda includes presentations and discussions on a dopting the Bayview Community Based Transportation Plan, the Fiscal Year 2021 and FY 2022 operating budget and the Curb Management Strategy. Valencia Bikeway Improvements Open House Monday, February 24, 6 p.m. City College San Francisco Mission Campus Nearby Muni Routes: 9, 9R, 14 Mission, 24, 49, 67,

Curb Management Strategy By Tom Maguire When people talk about transportation, we usually focus on traditional traffic engineering tools like traffic signals and bike lanes that can move people through the city. However, what happens at the curb can be just as important to the safe operation of our streets and the health of small businesses in our city. San Francisco has long been at the forefront of managing our curbs, but we have traditionally focused on parking. Our residential permit parking program, established in the 1970s, was one of the country’s first, and in 2011 we implemented the ground-breaking demand-responsive meter pricing program, helping people find a space near their destination. Both of these programs have been adopted by other cities across the country to help manage demand for parking. However, vehicle parking is just one use of the curb, and it’s not always the most efficient or effective at achieving our larger goals. For decades, the SFMTA Color Curb Progr

H. Welton Flynn: A Pioneer in Public Service By Jeremy Menzies This February for Black History Month we're highlighting one of San Francisco's most important figures in transportation, H. Welton Flynn. Flynn is best known for his key leadership at the SF Public Utilities Commission and as the inaugural chairman of the SFMTA Board of Directors. Mr. Flynn was the first African American appointed to a city commission and served the longest term of any commissioner in San Francisco’s history. He served under six different mayors, being elected to the office of President or Chairman more than a dozen times. Welton Flynn in 1978 during the inaugural run of Muni light rail in the Market Street Subway. Flynn’s leadership on the Public Utilities Commission was crucial during this era of change and adoption of new technology in San Francisco transit. Flynn's long tenure in transit began with his appointment to the Public Utilities Commission, which oversaw Muni operations, in 19

This Weekend: Tulipmania at the Wharf and Goats in North Beach By Schad Dalton Pier 39 comes alive with color during the annual Tulipmania event taking place this month. Photo: Ed and Eddie/Flickr Valentine's Tulipmania Feb. 8-17, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily Pier 39 Spring is nearly here and that means Tulipmania returns to Pier 39 with daily guided tours of the thousands of tulips brought in for the occasion. Lasting from February 8th through 17th, this Valentine's weekend is a perfect time to experience the vibrant colors and delightful scents of the tulips dispersed around Pier 39. Learn more about the flowers, receive helpful gardening tips and more with one of the guided tours or stop by for a self-guided tour any time during before the event concludes. How to Get There on Muni:  Head up to Fisherman's Wharf via the E Embarcadero or F Market streetcar lines, as well as the 8 Bayshore, 39 Coit, or 47 Van Ness routes. Muni Service Notes:  There are no planned ser

Transportation is For All By Lori Phelan Like many cities across the United States, San Francisco's history of racial segregation and discrimination also runs deep. Nowhere is it more omnipresent than in the story of our City's own transportation history. A century before Rosa Parks took a stand, others did here as well. Charlotte Brown was one such woman. She was en route to a doctor's appointment. Mary Ellen Pleasant was another. These two women had the courage and fortitude to stand up for their human rights and helped to lead the way for others to follow. Sadly, there's little historical background on their lives more than documented here, including photographs accurately identifying the women. Charlotte L. Brown  Charlotte Brown challenged racial segregation in the early 1860s when she filed a lawsuit against a streetcar company in San Francisco after being forcibly removed from a horse-drawn streetcar because of her race. She sued the Omnibus Railroad and Ca

Service Changes Coming February 22 By Enrique Aguilar Starting February 22, 2020, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) is making service changes to improve Muni service. These changes will improve reliability and connections, reduce crowding and provide one-seat rides for weekend early morning Metro service with bus substitutions. Affected routes include the J, KT, L, M and N Metro lines, 7 Haight-Noriega, 23 Monterey, 1AX, 1BX, 31AX, 31BX, 38AX, and 38BX. To reduce the need for transfers during early weekend morning service, all metro lines will be served by bus after the end of OWL service and before Metro stations open. Metro stations open at 6 a.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m. on Sundays. The new early morning metro bus will be a one-seat ride to your destination. To reduce overcrowding and increase transit reliability on weekdays, the 7 Haight/Noriega will begin running 60-foot buses.  Adding bigger buses to weekday service will provide Muni customers more seats

Leading with Success: the January Board Workshop By Bradley Dunn Last Tuesday the SFMTA Board of Directors held their annual workshop, a special meeting that allows staff and the board to work together on larger issues. This year the workshop focused on our upcoming two-year budget. Our budget reflects the values of the agency, prioritizes investments in our transportation system and helps define our work over the next two years. The city's booming economy and housing policies have created challenges for our transportation sector. Those challenges are reflected in the SFMTA's failure to meet safety, ridership and congestion goals. The good news is we also know that where we invest, we see safer streets and higher bike and transit use. For the years ahead, we have ambitious plans to keep investing, innovating, and meeting these challenges. You can watch the board workshop to see how the agency plans for the future and incorporates policy guidance from our board and the pub

Director of Transportation Report: February 4, 2020 By In this week’s Director’s Report from the SFMTA Board of Directors meeting, Jeffrey Tumlin gave updates on the following topics: Vision Zero Unfortunately, there has been one fatality since the last report; a collision involving a motorcycle and private vehicle on January 26th near 14th and Mission. The collision resulted in the death of the motorcyclist. The incident is under investigation. The Rapid Response Team has no recommendations at this time. Culture Change Met with divisional leadership to reinforce awareness regarding Mayor Breed’s directive to track outcomes by race. Ongoing meetings with ChangeSFMTA and the Black and African American Affinity Group (BAAAG), engaging both groups and individuals within the groups in support of the larger agency context. Proposing a new Office of Race, Equity and Inclusion. Bus Acceptance The arrival of this trolley bus marks the conclusion of a historic rubber tire fleet

This Weekend: Lunar New Year Parade and Giants FanFest By Schad Dalton Dragons, firecrackers, food, music and so much more await those attending this weekend's Lunar New Year Street Fair and Parade. Photo: Carnival.com Studios/Flickr Lunar New Year Street Fair and Parade Saturday and Sunday, various times Chinatown The Year of the Rat is upon us and there will be no shortage of celebration of the Lunar New Year this weekend in Chinatown. The annual Lunar New Year Community Street Fair , now in its 29th year, will immerse visitors in the sights, sounds and scents of dancing, live music, delicious food and much more. Along with the shops and restaurants of the neighborhood, there will also be over 120 booths and concessions stands to ensure that there's a little something for everyone. The celebration takes place Saturday and Sunday, but be sure not to miss the grand parade on Saturday evening which will feature floats, costumes, and a 288-foot Golden Dragon that requires

What Will Transportation Look Like In 30 Years? By Bradley Dunn What will transportation look like in 30 years? Give us your thoughts at a hands-on workshop for ConnectSF , San Francisco’s multi-agency long-range transportation planning effort.  Many of the transportation challenges of today are rooted in the long-term planning decisions of the past.  As we plan for the future, we need your help to identify project and policy ideas as we look to build a transportation system that will serve San Francisco best. ConnectSF is a multi-agency collaborative process to build an effective, equitable, and sustainable transportation system for San Francisco’s future. ConnectSF will identify policies and major transportation investments that will help us reach our priorities, goals, and aspirations as a city. In the previous phase of work, the ConnectSF program established a 50-year vision for San Francisco. Collaboratively developed with the community, the program’s Futures Task Force and

Commemorating Rosa Parks Day By Jeanne Brophy “I do the very best I can to look upon life with optimism and hope and looking forward to a better day, but I don’t think there is any such thing as complete happiness.” ~ Rosa Parks on optimism Today marks the 20th anniversary of Rosa Parks Day as legislated by the California State Legislature.  Known as the mother of the civil rights movement Rosa Parks ignited a civil rights movement with her refusal to move from her seat. It all began   sixty-five years ago, on December 5, 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama , Rosa Parks was jailed and fined $10 for refusing to give up her seat on a public bus to a white man, a violation of the city’s racial segregation laws. This act of civil disobedience, organized by a young Baptist minister named Martin Luther King, Jr., launched the Montgomery Bus Boycott.  The series of events that followed her arrest changed the course of American history.  In commemoration of the start of Black History Month an

SFMTA Public Meetings February 3 - February 17 By Board of Directors Meeting Tuesday, February 4, 1 p.m. City Hall, Room 400 Nearby Muni Routes: 5, 19, 21, 47, 49, F Market, Civic Center Station The SFMTA Board of Directors provides policy oversight for the safe and efficient transportation of goods and services in San Francisco. 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. Our board of directors meetings are usually held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. The  agenda  for Tuesday's meeting includes presentations regarding the Embarcadero traffic safety. ConnectSF Public Workshop Saturday, February 8, 6 p.m. Park Branch Library Meeting Room Nearby Muni Routes: 5, 19, 21, 47, 49, F Market, Civic Center Station What should transportation in San Francisco look like in 30 years?   Join  ConnectSF  at one

Vision Zero: Monthly Highlights By Vision Zero SF is the City’s road safety policy that will build safety and livability into our streets, protecting the one million people who move about the City every day. From education to traffic engineering, from enforcing traffic laws to changing public policy, Vision Zero SF is driving an agenda to change the way we think and act on San Francisco streets. This month, we’re featuring some improvements to benefit motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians. Here is a list of what we’ve been working on this past month: New daylighting treatments Speed enforcements on the High Injury Network New bike lanes for the Indiana Street Bikeway Project Published February 01, 2020 at 12:24AM https://ift.tt/2S9KS43