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Speed Safety Cameras are Coming to San Francisco with New State Law By Shannon Hake On October 13, 2023, Governor Newsom signed California State Assembly Bill 645 into law, allowing six cities, including San Francisco, to pilot a speed safety camera program. This pilot is an opportunity for San Francisco to employ a powerful traffic safety tool that has been used successfully across the world. More than 200 cities in the United States have implemented speed safety cameras, including New York City which reported 70% fewer traffic deaths and injuries where speed cameras are installed. Portland, Oregon experienced a 46% decrease in traffic deaths and 85% decrease in excessive speeds after implementing an automated speed safety program.   Unsafe speed is the number one factor in fatal traffic crashes in San Francisco, accounting for 20% to 40% of traffic deaths in recent years. For over a decade, San Francisco has been advocating for additional tools, like speed safety cameras, to help

APEC is Coming to SF! What You Need to Know to Get Around By Mariana Maguire Map of the main security zone around the APEC conference at Moscone Center, with vehicle detours. Security zones have been set and are managed by the United States Secret Service. Only conference attendees and those who live or work inside this zone will be allowed to enter following security screening procedures. San Francisco is proud to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference in November, one of the largest gatherings of global leaders in San Francsico. This is an exciting opportunity for San Francisco to shine on the world stage. Most APEC activities will take place in the South of Market and Nob Hill neighborhoods. Due to the scale of the gathering, APEC may have some impacts on travel in other areas of San Francisco as well. The bulk of the travel and transit impacts will take place from Nov. 14-19. More than 20,000 people are expected to attend this historic conference, includ

Lime and Spin Host Adaptive Scooter Event in Golden Gate Park with SFMTA Support By We are proud to support Lime and Spin as the companies host a dedicated adaptive scooter event in front of Peacock Meadow in Golden Gate Park on Oct. 17 from 2:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. The initiative is another step toward ensuring a more inclusive and accessible transportation ecosystem for San Francisco's residents and visitors. Adaptive scooters, equipped with features such as wider bases, seating and additional wheels, are designed to cater to riders with various mobility needs. They may be particularly useful to those who find traditional scooters challenging to ride.  People will have the chance to get hands-on experience with a range of adaptive scooters from both Lime and Spin at this event. There are expected to be at least 10 vehicles for riders to test out and provide feedback.   A two-wheeled adaptive scooter with a seat from Lime (left) and a three-wheeled adaptive scooter with a

Hop on Board: Experience the Magic of Trolley Dances By Jeanne Brophy Are you ready for an unforgettable adventure that combines the beauty of dance with the charm of San Francisco's iconic trolley cars? Mark your calendars for the Epiphany Dance Company’s 20th annual Trolley Dances event on October 21 and 22.   This free event is great fun for all. You’ll be able to explore the city and witness the magic of dance in unexpected places—while taking advantage of San Francisco's efficient and easy to navigate transit system.  What Are Trolley Dances?   Now in its 20th season, SF Trolley Dances is a unique event that brings together seven dance companies and the city's public transit system. It's a rich and different experience that highlights the city's vibrant culture and artistic spirit. It’s free,  however capacity is limited so you will want to reserve a spot now at their website ( epiphanydance.org/san-francisco-trolley-dances/ ). This year’s event will be

Taken with Transportation Podcast: School Days By SFMTA School Crossing Guard Arturo Garcia helps pedestrians across Castro Street outside McKinley Elementary School. A successful school day begins with students getting to class safely, and school crossing guards help San Francisco children and their parents navigate intersections near their campuses. “School Days,” the latest episode of the Taken with Transportation podcast, is focused on our School Crossing Guard program. This is part of the agency's larger effort to create safe and inviting streets. This school year, we have 180 crossing guards serving 106 public and private schools across about 154 intersections in San Francisco.  Host Melissa Culross offers listeners a firsthand look at the program by interviewing school crossing guards Christian Frederick Lauser and Arturo Garcia in action. She also speaks with the School Crossing Guard Program’s acting manager, Karen Wong, and others.  Lauser is a San Francisco native

What’s Next for the Hayes Street Weekend Street Closure By Monica Munowitch San Francisco established the Shared Spaces program during the pandemic to make it possible for restaurants and neighborhood business districts, like Hayes Street, to have additional outdoor space in the form of parklets, sidewalk space and block closures they so desperately needed when it wasn’t safe to operate indoors. In addition to bringing people outdoors, it also brought people together, creating community and delight throughout our city. That’s why the Mayor and Board of Supervisors made Shared Spaces a permanent program to allow for outdoor dining and activations that will continue to support our businesses and commercial corridors and enliven our public spaces.   This Summer, the Hayes Valley Merchant Council applied for a permit to continue their Hayes Street “Shared Street” block closure every weekend, including Fridays 4 to 10 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Whi

SFMTA Projects Honored as Exemplars of Community Engagement By Che Harmon Ambassadors helping people at Union Square Station on opening day of free weekend shuttle service in Central Subway, November 19, 2022. The Central Subway and the Potrero Yard Modernization Project were both nationally recognized by the International Association for Public Participation at the IAP2 USA Core Values Awards in Seattle, Washington this September. Each year, the awards go to projects that demonstrate public engagement best practices and advance the field of public engagement.   Both the Central Subway Project and Potrero Yard Modernization Project are prime examples of the positive effects that community engagement and effective public participation can have on public projects and programs. Both projects embody IAP2’s core values centered on the belief that the people affected by a decision have a right to be involved in decision-making and participate in shaping outcomes.   Central Subway  The

New Rebate Programs Will Help Taxis Go Electric By Asher Eskind We are proud to announce the launch of two groundbreaking rebate programs to spearhead efforts to reduce vehicle emissions in the city's taxi industry. Supported by a generous grant of nearly $350,000 from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District  (BAAQMD) and the San Francisco County Transportation Authority  (TA), these initiatives represent a significant step towards a more environmentally friendly transportation landscape. Clean Air Taxi Rebate: Accelerating the Shift to Electric Taxis Building on its success since the program’s inception in 2012, the Clean Air Taxi Rebate program has been instrumental in reducing emissions from San Francisco's taxi industry. Low-emission vehicles comprise over 90% of the city's taxi fleet, making it one of the cleanest in the nation.  Now, the SFMTA is taking a bold step forward to transition to a completely zero-emission taxi fleet. Under the Clean Air Taxi Reb

Dominica Henderson Appointed to MTA Board of Directors By The SFMTA is thrilled to welcome Dominica Henderson to its Board of Directors. Director Henderson is a longtime public servant who has worked to improve housing policy in the Bayview community and create affordable housing opportunities for those in need. She was appointed in July and sworn in on September 26, 2023.   A lifelong San Franciscan and resident of the Bayview neighborhood, Director Henderson’s goal as a member of the board is to advance a safe and equitable transportation network for all districts and communities in the city. She also shares a surprising connection with the agency, as her grandfather was a Muni and cable car operator for close to 25 years. Henderson considers both her lived experience and 20-year career in housing policy as key attributes in advocating for public transit initiatives and for developing safe, welcoming and sustainable communities.   Director Henderson is the Chief Social Impact Of