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This Day in History: McAllister Street 1909 By Jeremy Menzies Here’s a look back to April 29,1909 with two photos showing an important change to McAllister Street in the Western Addition. McAllister has been served by a transit line since at least the 1880s. Beginning with a cable car run by the Market Street Cable Railway, McAllister served as an important part of the city’s east-west transit system.  These two photos show construction work to remove the old cable car tracks and replace them with electric streetcar rails: Laborers dig cable car “yokes” out of the street on McAllister between Scott and Pierce streets. Yokes are heavy steel frames that support both the rails and the cable channel on a cable car trackway. Prior to the 1906 Earthquake and Fires, San Francisco’s transit system was largely made up of cable car lines, which made navigating the steep hills easy. However, the cable cars were slow and costly to operate compared to newer electric streetcars.  Following the

SFMTA Recently Approved Budget Serves San Francisco By Stephen Chun Delivering on Your Service Priorities  The Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 & 2024 SFMTA Budget was passed by the SFMTA Board of Directors last week. It will be submitted to the Mayor’s Office by May 1, and the mayor will then send the budget to the Board of Supervisors on June 1.   This budget cycle, we approached outreach as a city-wide listening session. Rather than presenting a pre-set budget to our stakeholders, customers and the wider community for feedback, we focused on soliciting feedback and then crafted our budget to address the top community priorities.  Community Survey Highlights  Surveys were offered in English, Chinese, Spanish and Filipino both online and in print. They included an open-ended question to ensure San Franciscans had a real opportunity to provide specific feedback about service priorities.  1,295 responses from online and paper surveys in four languages   917 additional comments from

Bikeshare Pricing Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) By Adrian Leung With Spring in the air and a recent expansion of up to 275 stations in SF, more people are riding bikeshare. Our major goal is to make bicycling easy by making bikes available while simultaneously reducing the burden of ownership (e.g. theft, storage, maintenance).  We’ll see discount codes for new members in Bike Month May. And Lyft is providing ride credit for anyone riding a regular pedal bike in the last 30-days, who’ve never tried the e-Bikes.  We get a lot of questions about pricing—How does pricing work? Who sets it? Is this Private or Public? We figured a dedicated FAQ could help to cover the basics.  How much does bikeshare cost? Bikeshare is the most affordable mobility option in San Francisco and the Bay Area. An annual bikeshare membership costs about $14/month, which includes unlimited 45-minute trips on regular pedal bikes with no additional fees anywhere in the five-city service area.   Why do e-b

SFMTA Announces New Initiative to Address Safety By Kimberly Burrus SFMTA staff celebrating women’s history Safety is an absolute priority for the SFMTA. We’ve heard loud and clear that personal safety is a growing concern for the public and staff and we’ve taken a lot of steps to increase safety across our system. We also know there is much work to do to address some of the most pervasive ways harassment and violence show up in public transportation.   This April as we observe Sexual Harassment Awareness Month, the SFMTA is proud to announce that we are developing a new Safety Equity Initiative. The goal of the initiative is to reduce and eventually eliminate gender-based harassment and violence on Muni.  Gender-based harassment is one of the most widespread and persistent forms of violence. It impacts women, girls and gender-expansive people — people who don’t conform to traditional gender roles — of all ages, abilities, races, ethnicities, and cultural and language groups. Wom

Muni Earth Day By Andrea Buffa Every day, we are confronted with the impacts of climate change: Fires, flooding, heat waves, poor air quality; threats to the health of human beings and the planet. It all can feel so overwhelming when considering what actions you can take that will actually make a big difference for Earth Day. But one of the easiest and most convenient ways that you can make Earth Day every day is to make more of your trips by Muni, walking or bicycling.   Making these efforts now truly will make a difference: Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in San Francisco—almost half of all GHG emissions. A whopping three-quarters of those emissions come from driving personal vehicles. While climate emissions from other sectors have declined significantly over the last 30 years (commercial building emissions declined 67% and residential building emissions by 57%), transportation emissions have been stubbornly hard to bring down. They’ve drop

How People Traveled Through San Francisco in 2021 By Maia Moran Earth Day is April 22 and a great time to think about changes we can make in our own lives to support the health of our planet. When it comes to climate change, one of the most meaningful actions we can take is to drive less and get around more by biking, walking and taking forms of public transportation like Muni. Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in San Francisco, with personal driving accounting for 72% of the sector’s emissions. By comparison, Muni accounts for about 1% of GHG emissions in and out of the city.  But when it comes to driving less, the San Francisco Bay Area is going in the wrong direction. Public transit use fell by 11% between 2019 and 2021 and private automobile use increased by 13%, according to the results of the 2021 Travel Decision Survey. That’s why we’ve been working so hard to make transit, walking and biking more appealing and convenient with new transit

Celebrate Earth Day on San Francisco Streets! By If you want a glimpse into how our city can become more resilient, sustainable, and connected, head out to San Francisco streets on Earth Day 2022! Across the city, San Francisco city leaders and residents are taking to the streets to chart a new future for the city—one that’s lighter on cars, and more invested in transit, active transportation, and community connections. All are welcome to join—here are a few ways to get involved:  Plan to bike, walk, or roll to school : The week leading up to Earth Day—April 18-21st—is Bike & Roll to School week ! SF Bicycle Coalition has created a range of opportunities for schools that serve anyone from Kindergarten through 12th grade to get involved. Visit their website to learn more about becoming a Bike & Roll Champion and to pledge to participate in any of the events happening this week across San Francisco. It’s a great way to highlight safe, low-carbon, and fun ways to get to school

Fix It! Week Closes Muni Metro Early Starting Thursday, April 14   By Jessie Liang Every night after Muni Metro subway service hours, SFMTA maintenance crews work to maintain the tracks and equipment underground. On most nights, this gives them only about two hours to get work done. To complete critical maintenance tasks that cannot be completed during normal windows, we are planning Fix It! Week from Thursday, April 14, through Sunday, April 24, so the crews have more hours each night to do this vital work.  During Fix It! Week, the subway between Embarcadero and West Portal will close early at 9:30 p.m. Buses will run above ground to connect all stops, beginning at 9:30 p.m. through the normal end of train service at 12 a.m. while the subway is closed for maintenance. Owl service will remain unchanged.  Trains will start regular morning service each day. To accommodate those attending NBA playoffs at Chase Center, subway service will remain in place on evenings with games at Chas

In-Person Bike and Roll Returns By Christine Osorio The SFMTA is pleased to announce that for the first time since 2019, the San Francisco Safe Routes to School program’s annual Bike & Roll to School Week is back as an in-person event! Whether they’re on a bike, scooter, wheelchair, or skateboard, Bike & Roll to School Week (or BR2SW) celebrates all students using healthy, sustainable transportation to get to school. This year’s celebration is April 18-22, at schools citywide. Biking, rolling, and walking provides people of all ages with a sense of freedom and connection to their city. BR2SW encourages SF students to experience that through sustainable and joyful ways of getting around. With more people walking, biking, and rolling to school, pick-up and drop-off times are less congested with car traffic, and therefore safer and easier for everyone. San Francisco Safe Routes to School is a partnership of city agencies and nonprofits, led by the SFMTA, that helps make wal

April 2022 Service Change Details By Mariana Maguire The SFMTA is restoring the 8AX Bayshore Express and 8BX Bayshore Express buses on weekdays mornings and evenings, starting April 18, 2022, to provide quicker trips from Visitacion Valley to downtown and stronger connections between Visitacion Valley, Outer Mission, Ingleside, City College and Chinatown. Additional Muni service changes, beginning Saturday, April 16, 2022, include: Extending the 56 Rutland to provide a more direct connection to Burton High School Supplementing the 30 Stockton, with additional buses on a 30 Stockton “short” route to reduce crowding and wait times from about 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays and about 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends Changing the frequency of the 9R San Bruno Rapid from 10 to 12 minutes These April service changes mark the second phase of implementation of the 2022 Muni Service Network plan. In summer we expect to bring back additional routes that have been temporarily suspended since

Exciting Changes Coming to San Francisco Taxis! By Exciting Changes Coming to San Francisco Taxis!  A new way to hail a taxi is coming soon, San Francisco! Yesterday, our MTA Board of Directors approved an amendment to the pilot program to test upfront fares, which was approved back in September 2021. This amendment will now allow Taxi E-Hail app providers to dispatch trips that originate with third-party entities, which may offer upfront fares that are not based on taximeter rates. In other words, you’ll soon be able to pick up your smartphone and check the cost to your destination and book a ride via taxi with a few swipes.   Allowing taxi customers to select a flat rate advance fare is intended to improve customer service, enable customers to price shop among similar services and minimize meter anxiety that occurs when customers feel that the Taximeter rate is increasing beyond their expectation. The price flexibility is intended to increase the number of taxi trips and allow

Sunday Streets 2022 Season Returns By Pamela Johnson In San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood , the Sunday Streets SF season returns on April 10th, 2022. It will take place on Larkin Street, Golden Gate Avenue, and Ellis Street from 11 A.M. to 4 P.M. The 2022 Sunday Streets season happens between April and September in six of the city’s neighborhoods. The Second Annual Phoenix Day event, which calls for a simultaneous "Sunday Streets Event Celebration" in all districts, will be celebrated on October 16, 2022.  The historic Sunday Streets annual season of events reclaims car-congested streets for community health. The affair transforms streets into car-free spaces for all to enjoy— neighbors to gather, kids to play, and organizations and businesses to connect. Sunday Streets combines public health, community-building, economic recovery, and good old-fashioned fun, allowing residents to gather in an authentic setting.  Local nonprofits and community groups will host e

BRT Service on Van Ness to Begin Tomorrow By Jiaying Yu Tomorrow, April 1, we will cut the ribbon on San Francisco’s first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor on Van Ness Avenue. The public is invited to join and celebrate this historic moment in front of the War Memorial. The ribbon-cutting will include speeches from local and state leaders, performances from local musicians and giveaways. After the ribbon is cut, there will be an inaugural ride on the new Van Ness BRT corridor to North Point where the celebration continues with live music.    BRT service on Van Ness is part of Muni’s Rapid Network, which prioritizes frequency and reliability for customers. Muni and Golden Gate Transit customers are expected to experience 32% shorter travel times. With dedicated transit lanes in the middle of the road, enhanced traffic signals with Transit Signal Priority and new platforms and shelters, the Van Ness BRT corridor will be the fastest way to travel north-south in this part of San Fran

Exciting Changes Coming to San Francisco Taxis! By Exciting Changes Coming to San Francisco Taxis!  A new way to hail a taxi is coming soon, San Francisco! Yesterday, our MTA Board of Directors approved an amendment to the pilot program to test upfront fares, which was approved back in September 2021. This amendment will now allow Taxi E-Hail app providers to dispatch trips that originate with third-party entities, which may offer upfront fares that are not based on taximeter rates. In other words, you’ll soon be able to pick up your smartphone and check the cost to your destination and book a ride via taxi with a few swipes.   Allowing taxi customers to select a flat rate advance fare is intended to improve customer service, enable customers to price shop among similar services and minimize meter anxiety that occurs when customers feel that the Taximeter rate is increasing beyond their expectation. The price flexibility is intended to increase the number of taxi trips and allow

Sunday Streets 2022 Season Returns By Pamela Johnson In San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood , the Sunday Streets SF season returns on April 10th, 2022. It will take place on Larkin Street, Golden Gate Avenue, and Ellis Street from 11 A.M. to 4 P.M. The 2022 Sunday Streets season happens between April and September in six of the city’s neighborhoods. The Second Annual Phoenix Day event, which calls for a simultaneous "Sunday Streets Event Celebration" in all districts, will be celebrated on October 16, 2022.  The historic Sunday Streets annual season of events reclaims car-congested streets for community health. The affair transforms streets into car-free spaces for all to enjoy— neighbors to gather, kids to play, and organizations and businesses to connect. Sunday Streets combines public health, community-building, economic recovery, and good old-fashioned fun, allowing residents to gather in an authentic setting.  Local nonprofits and community groups will host e

BRT Service on Van Ness to Begin Tomorrow By Jiaying Yu Tomorrow, April 1, we will cut the ribbon on San Francisco’s first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor on Van Ness Avenue. The public is invited to join and celebrate this historic moment in front of the War Memorial. The ribbon-cutting will include speeches from local and state leaders, performances from local musicians and giveaways. After the ribbon is cut, there will be an inaugural ride on the new Van Ness BRT corridor to North Point where the celebration continues with live music.    BRT service on Van Ness is part of Muni’s Rapid Network, which prioritizes frequency and reliability for customers. Muni and Golden Gate Transit customers are expected to experience 32% shorter travel times. With dedicated transit lanes in the middle of the road, enhanced traffic signals with Transit Signal Priority and new platforms and shelters, the Van Ness BRT corridor will be the fastest way to travel north-south in this part of San Fran