Updating Parking Meter Pricing and Reprioritizing Enforcement

Updating Parking Meter Pricing and Reprioritizing Enforcement
By Phillip Pierce

As the Bay Area enters the next phases of reopening, demand for on-street parking is continuing to increase, especially while transit service is limited under the Core Muni Service Plan and with physical distancing transit vehicle capacity restrictions in place. Parking meters are a key tool for making sure San Franciscans have access to our commercial corridors by making finding parking easier. For that reason, after temporarily suspending time limits and lowering meter prices at meters in response to the shelter-in-place order, starting on Monday, July 6 we will be restoring meter prices close to normal levels and reprioritizing enforcement. 

Deep Cleaning Parking Meters – Our parking meter crews now deep cleans each meter when they are out for collection or routine maintenance. 

Our data shows that in San Francisco, most people get to our commercial corridors by walking, biking, taking Muni, or getting dropped off. For those that chose to drive, it is important that parking is available, and that people stay only as long as they need to -- opening spots up for the next customer. Without priced parking and enforcement, folks who live or work in a neighborhood will park and leave their car all day, taking up space that could have been used by a customer of neighborhood businesses. This is what is happening now with the extremely low meter rates and limited enforcement. With many local businesses struggling due to the pandemic, we need to do all we can to support them. 

In response to the decrease of most economic activity and travel demand, on April 1, the SFMTA set all meter rates at $0.50/hour, down from an average of about $2.50/hour, and removed all meter time limits. In addition, many of our Parking Control Officers were reassigned to COVID-19-related emergency work like directing traffic near hospitals and COVID-19 testing sites. Now, we need to restore our meter programs and prioritize enforcement to keep San Francisco moving. 

Meter Policy Starting Monday, July 6 

• Restore Meter Rates with a $0.50 discount. Meter rates vary throughout San Francisco, based on the demand for parking on the block and the time of day. We plan to restore meter prices back to pre-COVID-19 levels with a $0.50/hour decrease. The lowest any meter will be set is at $0.50 per hour. Motorcycle meters will be fully restored. 

• Restore pre-COVID parking meter time limits. This ensures that people don’t leave their vehicles in one space all day, preventing others from accessing commercial corridors.  

• Accelerate the demand-responsive pricing process. We typically adjust meter prices (up, down or stay flat) based on demand data every 3 months. These increases or decreases are in $0.25 increments to make sure our policy is reflective of how many people are using an area. With so many unknowns during the health crisis, we will look to adjust rates every 6 weeks so we can better reflect San Francisco’s changing needs. 

• Reprioritize meter enforcement. SFMTA Parking Control Officers will begin regular enforcement on Monday, July 13th. 

As a reminder, we recently started enforcing street cleaning to help Public Works street sweepers get better access to the curb and keep our city clean. Residential Parking Permits and neighborhood time limits will not be enforced at this time to reduce the frequency with which residents need to move their cars. We will communicate any additional parking changes on our website via the comprehensive COVID-19 Responses page . Please refer to our holiday enforcement plans for information on the 4th of July weekend and other holidays.

Published June 30, 2020 at 03:13PM
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Leading with Pride

Leading with Pride
By

Jeffrey Tumlin addresses participants and attendees, including Mayor London Breed, at the Better Market Street opening day ceremony on Jan. 29.

This week we are profiling several agency leaders, including Director of Transportation Jeffrey Tumlin, on their thoughts about this month’s Pride celebrations and their experience with equity and transit in San Francisco.

Our agency has participated as a sponsor and with a parade contingent in San Francisco’s world-renown Pride celebration for many years. Last week Director of Transportation Jeffrey Tumlin logged in with our communications team to share some of his background and perspective on the 50th anniversary of Pride.

The questions and answers have been edited for length.

Q: What does the 50th anniversary of Pride mean to you?

A: I think the 50th anniversary of Pride is interesting in the context of the George Floyd anti-police brutality protests that are happening in San Francisco. Pride started as a riot. We celebrate the Stonewall uprising, but we forget that years before that the Compton’s Cafeteria Riot happened right here in San Francisco. This was also a bunch of courageous, angry transgender people who felt so hopeless about not being respected and loved in society and so hated by the establishment, that they had nothing to lose and fought back against police brutality. We need to remember that, and we need to take the lessons of our fight for gay equality and understand our responsibility to join our brothers and sisters in fighting for equality and racial equality.

Q: In what ways do you feel the equity work at our agency serves those who identify as LGBTQ+ colleagues?

A: Our equity work at the SFMTA has both an internal focus and an external focus. All our equity work is a call to action. It recognizes our history of not only not valuing certain types of people but also actually undermining their rights and opportunities to serve. So, equity work is not only about treating people equally, it’s about correcting for past injustice. It’s remarkable that even here in San Francisco there’s still so much work we need to do.

Q: In what ways can or does transit in general serve or strengthen the LGBTQ+ community?

A: Transit is very gendered. Transportation is very gendered. If we design our mobility system to serve cisgender young white men, we serve cisgender young white men. If we design our mobility spaces to serve women, people with disabilities and people of color, we end up serving everyone. The design of mobility systems can make us all feel like we are welcome and that we also have responsibilities to uphold in public to make everyone else feel welcome. So, a question that I always ask myself is, “Would my trans friends feel safe here?”

Q: And in answering that, what looks different? How do you recognize that?

A: That’s something I try to ask other people questions about. I’m queer, but I’m also an affluent middle-aged white guy. There are perspectives where I always need to go talk to other people in order to better understand. That’s part of why equity work inside the agency is important for us to deliver quality service to our customers outside the agency.

I know a bit about how to design spaces that are welcoming for women and children. I know a bit about how to design services that are inclusive of transgendered people, but I always need to check with the experts. “Hey, I think I’ve got this right. Is this?” And often I’ve missed some critical detail because it’s not part of my lived experience.

The factors that make a space trans-friendly or queer-friendly or welcoming to women and children are very complex. There aren’t simple rules, but studies have shown if a few younger women start biking, particularly women of color, that tells others that this is an appropriate activity for everyone. And suddenly it changes attitudes.

Q: You’ve mentioned that you see a strong connection between the AIDS and the COVID-19 public health crises. Can you discuss how those are related?

A: It’s been strange having a seat at the table, as the head of a city department, quietly listening to conversations about how the city is responding to COVID-19. I’ve been able to observe that all the institutional mechanisms set up by the Bay Area county health directors back in the 80s to respond to the AIDS health crisis were still there. It’s why the county health directors made the decisions they did and Mayor Breed acted as quickly as she did. Those decisions saved thousands of lives, particularly compared to regions that waited just a couple of weeks longer.

Published June 28, 2020 at 08:49PM
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Fast-Tracking Transit Lanes to Help the City's Recovery

Fast-Tracking Transit Lanes to Help the City's Recovery
By Amy Fowler

Map of temporary emergency transit lanes being proposed at the June 30 SFMTA Board of Directors meeting

We don’t have a crystal ball to see into San Francisco’s future, but one thing is clear: a citywide economic recovery is dependent in large part on a transportation recovery. And while we work to come back from one crisis, we’re looking to avert another—traffic gridlock.

With hundreds of thousands of people dependent on transit to get around before COVID-19, our city is uniquely vulnerable to increased congestion. Congestion is already on the rise, and some studies are predicting that people may turn increasingly to private vehicles, turning the streets into a “Carmageddon” for both cars and transit. Our city’s streets simply don’t have room for more vehicles.

At the same time, COVID-19 has impacted our ability to provide Muni service. Service levels depend on the availability of operators, car cleaners, maintenance staff and other personnel to operate the system and support expanded cleaning protocols. To support physical distancing, our buses can only carry one-third of the number of passengers as they could before the pandemic. And, severe revenue cuts are also taking a toll. We estimate that we may only be able to provide 70% of pre-COVID-19 Muni service hours next year. If buses get stuck in traffic, that number could be even lower.

We need to ensure that transportation works for those who don’t have the privilege of working from home or using a private vehicle. Now more than ever, Muni is serving those riders who have no other options and are more likely to be people of color or from low-income households. In order to protect people who rely on transit from increased exposure to COVID-19 on slow or crowded buses, we need to act quickly to move more people with fewer resources.

One of the most effective tools we have to improve Muni travel time and reliability are transit lanes. Dedicated transit lanes allow buses to complete trips in less time and return into service more quickly, increasing vehicle frequency and moving more people with more space to physically distance. Emergency vehicles are also able to use the lanes to bypass traffic congestion.

The benefits these transit lanes bring are critically needed for Muni customers who have no other options during this public health emergency. We recently implemented a new transit lane on 4th Street and on June 16 the SFMTA Board of Directors approved new transit lanes as part of the Active Beale Street Project.

At a special meeting on Tuesday, June 30, the SFMTA Board will consider fast-tracking temporary emergency transit lanes that would benefit five Muni routes:

• 14 Mission and 14R Mission Rapid: Mission Street in SoMa
• 19 Polk: 7th and 8th Streets in SoMa
• 43 Masonic and 44 O’Shaughnessy: Locations on Presidio, Masonic, Laguna Honda, Woodside, and Bosworth streets

If approved, these temporary emergency transit lanes would be installed in late summer and striped only with white paint, “Bus/Taxi Only” stenciling and signage. Lanes will automatically be removed within 120 days after the emergency order is lifted, unless there is a public process to make a lane permanent.

These locations were chosen based on where the benefits are greatest, based on current ridership, travel time data and to prioritize routes that serve neighborhoods with high percentages of people of color and low-income households, including Ingleside, Outer Mission, Excelsior, Visitacion Valley, Bayview, Mission, SoMa and the Tenderloin.

On June 30, the Board will also consider delegating authority to the City Traffic Engineer’s Office to streamline the approval process for any future temporary emergency transit lanes. A public hearing would also be required for each corridor. The SFMTA is using travel time data to evaluate additional locations where adding temporary emergency transit lanes would achieve the biggest time savings and provide the greatest benefit. We will work with the community to evaluate and make any adjustments that are needed to the temporary transit lanes in real time based on public feedback and data monitoring.

At the beginning of the shelter-in-place, we saw massive time savings on several streets that don’t currently have transit lanes (see map), including the streets where temporary emergency transit lanes are proposed. Those are gains we’ll need to maintain to protect essential workers and our future economic recovery. Meanwhile, on most streets that already have transit lanes, there was no or very little improvement with the decreased traffic—demonstrating just how effective those lanes have been.  

Delivering the city we want in the future, with a transit network that seamlessly connects people to jobs and neighborhoods to neighborhoods won’t come without tradeoffs. Temporary transit lanes will require removing some general-purpose lanes or parking in some places. As lanes are implemented we will be closely evaluating and gathering public feedback, and are prepared to make adjustments as we go—or even remove lanes—to ensure we meet the needs of the community and Muni customers. 

Learn more about temporary emergency transit lanes.

Published June 26, 2020 at 04:38PM
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The SFMTA celebrates 50 Years of Pride

The SFMTA celebrates 50 Years of Pride
By Sophia Scherr

As we celebrate 50 years of Pride, we continue to stand with the LGBTQ+ community, by proudly honoring our core values of inclusion, diversity, equality, and respect for all. To commemorate this monumental month, we’re highlighting some of our amazing staff, their work, and what being part of the LGBTQ+ community means to them. We've also created “line pride” phone and video conferencing wallpapers for you to download and show off proudly. 

Moving SF with Pride

Travis Fox

 

Travis Fox (right, pictured at his first Pride celebration) has been with the SFMTA since 2003 and is the agency’s chief performance officer. He oversees strategic planning, performance measurement, capital project controls for the agency and the MuniMobile fare payment app. Currently, his team is supporting the COVID-19 response and Transportation Recovery Plan, as well as shaping our new strategic plan.

Reflecting on what 50 years of Pride means to him Travis is proud to celebrate the progress that’s been made, “But it’s also a time to reflect on the obstacles we still face, what we can do to advance change, and how we must stand up for each other along the way.”

Giving back to his community is important to Travis, who supports the LYRIC Center for LGBTQQ Youth, CUAV (Community United Against Violence), and the Fundo Brasil de Direitos Humanos. “I want to contribute to smaller organizations’ efforts to build the power and strength of our community locally, but also to help advance greater respect for human rights across the globe.”

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Grace Kong

Grace Kong is the performance and analytics manager for the Finance and Information Technology division. Beginning her position shortly before the COVID-19 Pandemic began, her team primarily works on data related to the impacts of COVID-19 to the agency. Grace was born in the Khao-I-Dang Refugee Camp after her parents survived the Killing Fields in Cambodia. A nonprofit organization sponsored her family’s move and eventual resettlement in the south end of Seattle, Washington.

Grace sees the beauty and diversity within her LGBTQ+ community while acknowledging the hardships that come with being part of her community, “I’ve had some hard conversations with family and lost a lot of friends when I first came out. I’ve met many LGBTQ+ people that have had similar challenges, but who also have very different lived experiences and identities from me.” Grace also gives back to her community by volunteering and financially supporting the Asian Pacific Islander Queer Women and Transgender Communities (APIQWTC, pronounced API) and API Equality – Northern California (APIENC), both local grassroots organizations. Not only has she made friends through these organizations but supports them because they conduct critical political organizing and advocacy. 

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Corbin Skerrit

Photo credit: Teason Miao, SF Department of Public Works

Corbin Skerrit is an associate transportation engineer with the Signal Projects team in the Sustainable Streets Division. He has worked on the Gough Street Signal Upgrade Project, Noma/SoMa Signal Retiming, and is currently designing new traffic signals. 

Calling the Bay Area home after traveling across the country as a self-proclaimed "military brat", Corbin has found an extended family in the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom band, using music to communicate a message and represent the community. For Corbin, the band embodies support, acceptance and personal freedom, “It has exposed me to so many concepts that live “outside of the box” when it comes to how we view, interact with, and allow ourselves to be influenced by the world around us. Corbin has hope for the future, saying “I have confidence that growing pains are sometimes necessary to learn and mature, even as a society.”  

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Jesse Schofield

Jesse Schofield is a transportation planner with the SFMTA’s Public Outreach and Engagement Team who works to ensure that our rider's web experience as seamless as possible. He helps make information regarding Muni service easily accessible and ensures critical information on our webpage is translated into several languages. His role at the SFMTA allows Jesse to merge two things that I’m passionate about – public transportation and making transportation jargon easy to understand.

When asked about what celebrating 50 years of Pride means to him, Jesse recognizes this landmark year as a reflection of both how far we’ve come, and also the amount of progress still needed. “We must remember that the origins of Pride were born out of protests against police brutality toward LGBTQ+ members in New York City. It is timely that we are amid another fight for change and reform through the Black Lives Matter movement. I am hopeful that this long and overdue movement and moment in history will bring about change”.

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Steph Nelson

Steph Nelson began her career with the SFMTA in 2012 as a contractor for SFpark, where she managed extensive data collection and oversaw the analysis of a $40 million federal pilot that evaluated the demand-responsive parking pricing. She is now the GIS developer and administrator and spent the last five years building out the SFMTA's GIS infrastructure with the dynamic GIS coordination project team. 

Before moving to the Bay Area nine years ago, Steph was an organizer of the Philadelphia Dyke March for several years. As she reflects on what 50 years of Pride means to her, Steph recognizes what Pride truly celebrates, “It is about living expansively, authentically and connecting with each other in that space of honesty and love. Taking a stand, having each other’s backs, expecting more out of society, ferocity, and love.” Being part of the LGBTQ+ community for Steph means that she has a family of people not only understand her, but also understand and recognize the struggles that she has been through, “They understand the clarity of purpose in life: figuring out exactly who I am, living that authentically to the best of my ability, and valuing the various forms of authentic connection with other people.”

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Cody Hicks

Cody Hicks is the acting Manager of Budget and Capital Planning for our Transit Division and has been with the SFMTA working in various divisions within the agency since 2014. He is currently working on the procurement of our agency’s fleet of the future – LRV4s and the replacement of 151 legacy vehicles. “I see transportation as a way to improve cities and address what is causing climate change, which are emissions from transit.”

Cody has put in a lot of thought about what being LGBTQ+ community means to him, tying the Black Lives Matter movement and LGBTQ+ rights together, “It brings additional awareness and promising traction to important issues, such as black queer and trans people’s rights, who are more likely to be marginalized or murdered.” Regarding his open-mindedness, Cody adds, “It has been a privilege for me to grow and learn from my friends in recent years and hear different perspectives and experiences.” Finding hope for the future in the recent Supreme Court ruling on LGBTQ+ rights in the workplace, “It was an anxiety for almost all of the community with this case ruling on our protections in the workplace on the federal level. I can’t think of a better decision for June as it is Pride month.” He also finds hope in the surge in LGBTQ+ members running for office within the past five-years and their involvement in political advocacy, “Many are the first to represent our community. Representation is so important and is necessary for many aspects of our lives.”

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Line Pride Phone and Video Wallpapers

We've also created phone and video conferencing wallpapers comprised of Muni Metro lines for you to download, save, and show showoff proudly.

Phone Wallpaper

Video Conferencing Wallpaper

 

Published June 26, 2020 at 04:03PM
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Taxi Taxi

Taxi Taxi
By Benjamin Barnett

During this time of physical distancing and temporarily reduced Muni service, our Taxi program continues to provide essential trips around the City. A number of changes have been made to meet the challenges of this crisis and instill confidence in drivers and passengers during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

To start with, taxi company representatives have been trained, including with an SFMTA training video on proper cleaning procedures. Taxis are now required to be sanitized after each passenger trip and the SFMTA follows up with enforcement activities to ensure compliance.  

In addition to making personal protective equipment (PPE) kits available to all taxi companies for distribution to drivers, the SFMTA has procured and distributed clear plastic shields for vehicles. These plastic shields are easily installed inside the vehicle, separating the rear and front seats, adding a layer of protection for both the driver and passenger. The SFMTA has provided these plastic shields to all taxi companies at no charge.  

SFMTA provided plastic “bubbles” to all taxi companies that add a layer of protection for Taxi drivers and passengers alike. 

We are also committed to helping the taxi industry as a whole. Here are some things that the SFMTA is doing to boost the Taxi industry during these trying times: 

• Increased the SFMTA’s Clean Air Taxi program per vehicle rebate up to $7,700 and used vehicles are now able to qualify.  
• Support the Department of Environment’s Essential Worker Ride Home program that provides subsidized taxi trips for essential workers.  
• Meet weekly with taxi companies to share information and get updates from company managers 
• Provided a list of financial resources and other support programs, including unemployment assistance and paycheck protection program, to the taxi industry 
• Ensured that SFPD is aware that taxis are considered essential during the shelter-in-place order and are able to continue operating 
• Route industry requests through the SFMTA’s Incident Command System and continue to seek additional resources for taxis 
• Meet weekly with taxi regulators across the country to share best practices to support taxi industry 

Taxis deliver critical service as part of the Essential Trip Program

With a shortage of operators, car cleaners and other key personnel, Muni has implemented significant reductions to Muni service. For many older adults and people with disabilities, walking farther to an alternate bus or paying for other transportation simply isn’t possible. To address this need, SFMTA’s Essential Trip Card (ETC) helps older adults and people with disabilities pay for essential trips in taxis. We are thankful that taxis have stepped up to serve this critical need.  

The ETC provides two to three round trips per month at 20 percent of the cost of a regular cab fare.  All taxis in San Francisco will accept the card to pay for essential trips like going to the grocery store or the doctor during the shelter-in-place period.  Customers who pay $6 will receive $30 value or $12 for $60 value for taxi trips on a debit card. Cards can be re-filled once a month for each month of this special temporary program until the SFMTA announces its end.  

The taxi industry is an essential part of our transportation system. Taxis have been instrumental in our city’s efforts to effectively serve people with disabilities and older adults before and during this crisis. Since the early 1980s, taxis have been an integral part of Paratransit and San Francisco has had wheelchair-accessible ramp taxi service since the early 1990s. The SFMTA is thankful that taxis continue to deliver these critical services to our most vulnerable citizens during these challenging times.  

Published June 24, 2020 at 04:05PM
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Big Changes Ahead when Muni Rail Returns in August

Big Changes Ahead when Muni Rail Returns in August
By Mariana Maguire

Photo: Muni Metro rail train at a subway platform.

Get ready for a big addition to our COVID-19 Core Service Network:  Muni Metro rail is scheduled to return in August to coincide with San Francisco schools welcoming teachers and students back into their classrooms, and more businesses reopening.

But the new Metro rail service will look different when it comes back: Some Muni Metro lines could be taken out of the subway to cut severe pre-COVID-19 delays and backups in the tunnels. This would also allow us to add more cars to our Metro trains to increase capacity.

Putting Metro rail back in service frees up buses currently in use for the L, M, N and T to serve additional routes and improve frequencies systemwide. A high-frequency shuttle in the subway would replace the Metro lines that we take out of the subway. Devoting the tunnels to the higher capacity routes would use the space in our subway much more efficiently. These changes will support more essential trips, physical distancing, and our city’s economic recovery.

Closing the Muni Metro subway in March allowed us to minimize risk to our front-line staff and the community and redirect custodial resources to other facilities. While the rail system was closed to customers, Muni was able to complete critical maintenance work to our vehicles and infrastructure.  

All our service changes are possible because of the City’s efforts, the cooperation of our customers, and the steps we have taken as an agency to decrease the risk of transmission of COVID-19. As more of our operators and other staff are gradually able to return to work, we can offer more service.

We’re able to restart Metro rail with the implementation of a mobile cleaning program that allows us to clean buses and trains in the field rather than only at bus and rail yards. This new program helps to expand service levels by keeping more buses on the street. The more vehicles we have in circulation, the easier it is for customers to maintain physical distance onboard.

 

Highlights of the service changes for rail that are planned for August are below:

Subway Metro Rail:

• All metro buses currently running will be suspended with the return of metro service. This includes the N Bus, L Bus and T Bus. The N Owl and L Owl bus service will continue.
• The N Judah will return with two-car trains.
• More frequent S Shuttles will return between West Portal and Embarcadero stations with two-car trains. These shuttles will run exclusively inside the subway.
• The M Oceanview will return and be combined with the T Third – a practice known as “interlining.” This means we will be able to use two-car trains on both these lines when service returns.

Surface Metro Rail:

Metro rail service will return on the following routes, but will no longer use the subway in order to significantly cut down delays and congestion in the tunnels:

• The L Taraval and K Ingleside will be combined (interlined) and will no longer enter the subway at West Portal Station. This new interlined route will run from the SF Zoo to City College at Balboa Park Station. West Portal will be a transfer point to either the M/T line or S Shuttles for riders who need to continue to downtown.
• The J Church will no longer enter the subway. It will terminate at Market. To continue downtown customers can transfer to the M/T line or S Shuttle at Market and Church, or the N Judah at Duboce and Church.

Here is a map of the new Muni Metro rail configuration:

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Making Metro More Reliable

We are all too familiar with the routine backups that occurred in the Metro rail tunnels before COVID-19. Trains would be stuck outside the tunnels, between stations and on the platforms for long periods, often unable to let customers on or off. For years J Church and N Judah customers have experienced delays waiting to enter the tunnel at Duboce. Customers have similar experiences waiting to exit the tunnel at West Portal Station. A major cause is structural – we move all seven of our Muni Metro lines through a single subway tunnel. Like a backed-up freeway, trains get stuck in traffic, causing unacceptable slowdowns and unreliable service across the system.

Graphic: Muni Metro lines converging into a single tunnel.

Change has been needed for a long time, but now, more than ever, we must get people to their jobs and activities reliably and reduce delays that could increase risk of exposure to COVID-19. As we emerge from shelter-in-place, it’s imperative that we take the opportunity to improve our rail service so that we can deliver people to and from school and work reliably. We don’t want our customers stuck on trains in between stations or crowding on station platforms. By limiting the number of lines that go into the subway, we can meet both of those goals.

This will be a big change to our previous Muni Metro rail service and a big adjustment for all of us. Customers would need to adapt some of their commute habits, so we are also working to ensure transfers are convenient for people to easily make their connections, particularly for seniors and people with disabilities.

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Addressing Demand for Rail

Our subway system moves our highest volumes of customers, cumulatively, through the core of the city. Reliability is imperative for our customers and operators. Yet over the years as our service has grown, we have placed too much demand on our subway tunnels without improving tunnel capacity.

Before the COVID-19 emergency, we had been running more trains per hour in subway than we can process, roughly 40 trains per hour. Often, however, we’re only able to get 35 of trains through. This makes our service inconsistent and leaves our customers frustrated. To improve reliability and efficiency we need to reduce the number of trains per hour to around 25 to 30 and run higher capacity trains through the subway.

Graphic: Line graphs depicting the disparity between number of trains scheduled to run through the subway and actual number of trains that get from end to end. The difference represents backups and delays that make the current configuration unreliable.

The J Church and K Ingleside lines can only support one-car trains due to surface-level constraints, while the N Judah, M Ocean View, T Third and S Shuttle can accommodate two-car trains. One-car trains take up the same “slot” in the subway as a two-car train. By devoting the tunnels to the higher capacity routes, we could be using the space in our subway much more efficiently. And with ridership volumes, it currently makes the most sense to combine the K Ingleside and L Taraval lines.

The shorter running times means the J Church, K Ingleside, and L Taraval lines will be more frequent along their new surface-only routes. Combined with a more reliable frequent shuttle service, trips downtown will be more dependable and quicker.

We know customers will have questions about these changes. More details on these and other service changes, including detailed maps, will be coming soon.

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The modified COVID-19 Core Service Plan  supports essential trips that cannot be made in other ways. All San Franciscans are helping us maintain adequate space on Muni for physical distancing by continuing to stay at home except for essential trips. If you need to make an essential trip, please use an alternate form of transportation whenever possible – walking, biking, taxi or driving – to save a seat on Muni for those who don’t have other options.

When you must use Muni for your essential trips, please allow space to physically distance and give yourself extra time. You may need to wait longer for a vehicle with available space. Remember, your trip may now include transfers and a longer walk, and your fare is good for two hours across multiple buses. 

We know that for many people with disabilities and seniors, walking farther — or paying for other transportation — isn’t possible. To serve this need, the SFMTA has introduced the Essential Trip Card (ETC) – a discount program to help seniors and people with disabilities make essential trips in taxis during this crisis.  

Visit SFMTA.com/COVID-19 for the latest information about Muni routes in service or to explore alternate ways to get around the city. 

Published June 18, 2020 at 01:19PM
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We want to hear from you! Participate in the Muni Customer Survey

We want to hear from you! Participate in the Muni Customer Survey
By Sophia Scherr

The SFMTA hopes that you and your family have been staying well during these challenging and uncertain times. As San Francisco and the SFMTA begins the transit recovery planning process, we are seeking input to help inform a Transportation Recovery Plan. This plan will include service and operational strategies, such as expansion of Muni service, frequency and operation, leading to a broader reopening in line with public health guidelines.

We invite you to participate by taking the survey below. This survey is also available in Spanish, Chinese and Filipino and takes approximately 15 minutes to complete.
 

Take the Survey!

 

We appreciate your participation and taking the time out of your day to provide this valuable information.

 

 

Published June 15, 2020 at 01:04PM
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Adapting Our Public Process to Meet the Moment

Adapting Our Public Process to Meet the Moment
By Sophia Scherr

The SFMTA has quickly adapted our in-person public process to meet the moment and ensure that San Franciscans can still provide input and participate. Through our partnership with the SFGovTV, we were able to adapt open houses, Townhall, and board meetings from a face-to-face format to an interactive, multilingual, online platform that is accessible to all.

As developments surrounding COVID-19 accelerated throughout March, the SFMTA was one of the first city entities to begin hosting public meetings remotely with our online budget town hall. Originally planned to be held in-person at City Hall, our team quickly created a multilingual video series in which our Director of Transportation took members of the public through the proposed budget. We leveraged this townhall our social media channels, included information on our webpage and streamed it on the SFGovTV webpage and cable access channel.

Once the city mandated shelter-in--place-orders were in effect with requirements of physical distancing and a prohibition on large gatherings, we went 100% virtual with our online budget conversation. Members of the public were able to provide valuable feedback and ask questions via a dial-in hotline, email, and by Twitter using #SFMTABudget. This major outreach effort allowed us to collect valuable feedback and information that was used in shaping our future budget.  

In addition to our online town halls, the SFMTA adjusted Community Advisory Committee meeting to a video conferencing platform and SFMTA Board hearing to be held remotely. This SFMTA Board hearing was the first San Francisco board or commission - aside from the Board of Supervisors’ meetings, that was available for online engagement. Our team shifted from our regular in-person participation to live audio participation, where members of the public called in to provide input and comments to Board members. Testing new technologies and techniques comes with its own sets of challenges, but we made the necessary improvements so that our  SFMTA Board of Directors meeting was able to proceed without a (virtual) hitch.

Upcoming Public Meetings

June 11	ISCOTT Meeting
June 12	Engineering Public Hearing
June 26	Color Curb Hearing

 

Visit our event calendar page for future public meetings.

 

Published June 09, 2020 at 01:25PM
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Muni Service Changes Starting June 13

Muni Service Changes Starting June 13
By Mariana Maguire

Beginning Saturday, June 13, the SFMTA will increase Muni service and frequency, add select routes into service and extend some current routes to continue to support essential trips. A key goal of these service increases is to support the community’s economic recovery by providing more connections to neighborhood commercial districts as businesses begin to reopen. We are also adding more frequent service on targeted routes to help address crowding and improve onboard physical distancing.

These service changes will improve transit access through Chinatown, SoMa and the Excelsior neighborhoods, identified by the Muni’s Service Equity Strategy as neighborhoods that rely on transit service the most based on the percentage of households with low incomes, private vehicle ownership and race and ethnicity demographics.

Although Muni continues to be for essential trips only, many people have no choice but to use transit to return to work or perform essential trips. We must do everything we can to protect our operators and these customers from risk. We are able to deliver these changes to Muni’s COVID-19 Core Service Network through expanded staffing availability and enhanced bus cleaning programs. We also rolled out a successful training program to certify more of our available operators to operate 60-foot vehicles, allowing us to put more of these larger vehicles into service.

Below are details of the service changes starting Saturday, June 13:

N Judah Bus

• On weekdays, 60-foot buses will be replacing 40-foot buses for the N Judah Bus, allowing more room for passengers to maintain physical distance on board and reduce crowding.
• Daily frequency will remain at 10 minutes or better.

5 Fulton

• Service will be extended west to Ocean Beach to include the full route between Downtown and La Playa and will serve all local stops.
• By extending service to include the full route, we are addressing a customer priority and providing connections to additional grocery stores and essential businesses in the Outer Richmond.
• Daily frequency will remain at 10-20 minutes.

7 Noriega Community Shuttle

• Service to a portion of the 7 Noriega line will return as a shortened, Community Shuttle route between Ocean Beach and Inner Sunset (Funston & Irving) in order to better connect Sunset residents to commercial districts on Noriega, grocery stores and other essential services.
• The route will also provide connections to the N Bus (transfer at Judah) and the 28 19th Avenue (transfer at Lincoln).
• Daily frequency will be approximately every 20 minutes.

28 19th Avenue

• Service will be extended north to California and 7th Avenue in order to provide connections to the 1 California and 38 Geary and establish a terminal location for operators.
• Access to transfer points will help connect essential workers to UCSF, Kaiser and the California Pacific Medical Center.
• Frequency will remain at approximately every 20 minutes, weekdays only.

30 Stockton

• This route will be restored in full to expand service in Chinatown and SoMa and provide access to commercial districts in the Marina. This additional service will also help alleviate crowding and support physical distancing on the 8 Bayshore line.
• The 30 Stockton is one of our customers’ top priorities for expanded service.
• Daily frequency will be every 10-20 minutes.

38 Geary

• In response to customer feedback, the 38 Geary will begin using a modified route to Geary at 32nd Avenue instead of 48th Avenue at Point Lobos.
• From approximately 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily, the outbound 38 Geary will go to Fort Miley Hospital. At Fort Miley, buses will drop off and pick up customers, but will only be dropping off customers between the hospital and the Geary at 32nd Avenue terminal. 
• For morning service between 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. to Downtown, please board the 38R Geary Rapid at inbound stops on Geary between 42nd and 33rd avenues. Board the 38 Geary at the Geary & 32nd Avenue terminal for local service.

43 Masonic

• In response to feedback from Muni customers identifying the 43 Masonic as a priority, the 43 Masonic will provide a modified route between the Crocker-Amazon and Excelsior neighborhoods, and Masonic and Geary.
• This route connects to hospitals, including UCSF, St. Mary’s, Kaiser, California Pacific Medical Center and Laguna Honda, as well as grocery stores and other essential businesses.
• Daily frequency will be every 10-20 minutes.

Improving Frequency

• Weekday service frequencies will improve by 1-2 minutes on the following lines to help address crowding and allow for better physical distancing:
  
  • L Bus
  • T Bus
  • 14R Mission Rapid
• The L Owl service frequency will operate approximately every 20 minutes from 10:00 pm to 5:00 a.m., improving service frequency 10 minutes for both weekday and weekend service.

Service changes are responsive to operator, facilities and cleaning staff availability, ridership data and customer input. We are focused on serving areas and connecting customers to essential businesses that are high priorities for our customers.

Map of Core Service that will be in effect as of Saturday, June 13: 

Access a larger map of service in effect June 13 that also displays regional transit connections and can be downloaded.

The modified COVID-19 Core Service Plan  supports essential trips that cannot be made in other ways. All San Franciscans are helping us maintain adequate space on buses for physical distancing by continuing to stay at home except for essential trips. If you need to make an essential trip, please use an alternate form of transportation whenever possible – walking, biking or driving – to save a seat on Muni for those who don’t have other options.   By having buses arrive more frequently on routes experiencing higher passenger volumes and by running larger buses on the N Bus, we can provide customers more room to physically distance on Muni.

If you do need to travel on Muni, give yourself extra time. You may need to wait longer for a bus with available space and avoid riding buses that are half full or more for physical distancing.

Please continue to choose alternatives to Muni such as walking and bicycling whenever possible. When you must use Muni for your essential trips, please allow space to physically distance

Masks or face coverings are required on Muni. To avoid getting passed up, cover your nose and mouth with a mask or other facial covering and give the operator a friendly wave to be sure they see you. Remember, your trip may now include transfers and a longer walk, and your fare is good for two hours across multiple buses. 

Visit SFMTA.com/COVID-19 for the latest information about Muni routes in service or to explore alternate ways to get around the city. 

Published June 09, 2020 at 11:03AM
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4th Street Transit Lane Offers Muni a Path Forward

4th Street Transit Lane Offers Muni a Path Forward
By Bonnie Jean von Krogh

A new transit lane was installed last week on 4th Street in SoMA as part of the previously approved 4th Street Transit Improvement Project. As the first transit lane put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic, this change will help protect Muni passengers as congestion returns to city streets.

Transit lanes allow buses to complete trips in less time and turn around back into service more quickly. That means with our limited resources, we can provide more Muni service with the same number of buses, reducing crowding and maintaining better physical distancing onboard.

The benefits that transit lanes provide – saving time and avoiding congestion – have become critically important during COVID-19 to protect the health of Muni passengers. Physical distancing requirements mean that Muni’s passenger capacity is cut in a third from pre-COVID levels. When buses take longer to complete their routes, customers increase their possible exposure to COVID-19.

The 4th Street transit lane can be used as a model for how this proven tool can benefit Muni customers throughout the city. The SFMTA is using travel time data to evaluate additional locations where adding new transit lanes would achieve the biggest time savings and provide the greatest benefit.

4th Street Transit Lane: A Model for a Broader Return of Muni Service

The new transit lane is the primary feature of the 4th Street Transit Improvement Project approved in October 2019 following months of community engagement. Other key elements of the project include additional passenger and commercial loading, as well as improved safety for people walking. The dedicated transit lane runs from Market to Folsom streets. It is currently identified with white “Bus/Taxi Only” stenciling and will later be painted red. The 4th Street lane complements the recently updated transit lane on 3rd Street as part of the 3rd Street Transit and Safety Project. Taken together, these transit lanes can substantially reduce transit delay, minimizing health risks for Muni passengers.

See the diagram below for the new design of 4th Street approaching Howard.

The 4th Street corridor is a major transit and traffic corridor, providing connections to Caltrain, 101 South and the Bay Bridge and is anticipated to have high levels of traffic congestion moving forward. Typically, it is used by five of Muni’s busiest bus lines, including the 8 Bayshore, 8AX and 8BX Bayshore Expresses, 30 Stockton, 45 Union/Stockton and 91 OWL lines. During COVID Core Muni service, it supports the 8 Bayshore and 91 Owl lines.

As economic activity gradually resumes, we know that if just a fraction of the people riding Muni before the crisis switch to driving, congestion will be so severe that it will cripple San Francisco’s economic recovery. Simply put, without transit there is no recovery. Transit lanes are a proven success that allow Muni to avoid traffic congestion, improve travel times and increase frequency. If buses are less frequent, customers will have to wait longer and more people will need to use the same bus, increasing crowding or pass-ups when buses are full.

SFMTA has the task of meeting changing mobility needs in real time. But our challenge is that much greater with the immense loss of revenues the SFMTA is experiencing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With limited resources, Muni’s number one goal is to keep transit moving while protecting the health and safety of our passengers and operators as we recover.

The 4th Street transit lane can help reduce the current crowding on the 8 Bayshore and ensure that when additional Muni routes return, they too can avoid traffic congestion. Given the critical importance of this corridor to local and regional transit, it will serve as an example to look to for similar treatments on other corridors.

Published June 08, 2020 at 05:33PM
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We're In This Together: The Taraval Community Spirit

We're In This Together: The Taraval Community Spirit
By

As we continue to respond to COVID-19, signs and images of support are sprouting across the city. Images include lighted windows forming the shape of hearts on high rise buildings, posters of encouraging words on residential properties and even local art. These are reminders that we are all in this together.

Bright and colorful art donated from local community members fill the window of Far Out Gallery, adoringly called by the acronym FOG, located in the Sunset Parkside District at Taraval and 40th Avenue.

Located along the L Taraval Improvement Project corridor, Anne Herbst and Peter Munks of the Far Out Gallery are a member of its working group that is making efforts to support the Taraval community and its vibrant neighborhood during construction. As both a resident and small business owner in the Taraval neighborhood, Anne and Peter are advocates of inspiring creativity through art and keeping Taraval’s vibrancy alive as we navigate through this difficult time.

When Anne made the call for local artwork to be displayed in the storefront’s window, the Taraval community responded and donated an influx of self-made, local art pieces.

Every art piece is as unique as the next and with words of encouragement that uplifts spirits, even in the current challenging times: “Be Kind. Be Safe. Be Well,” “We Shall Overcome,” and a list of “Suggested songs for the Big Shelter-in-Place,” cheer on onlookers and neighbors as they grab their morning coffee and pick up delicious take-outs nearby. The art-filled window highlights local artists in the area, while showcasing the fighting spirit of the tight-knit Taraval community. For those who would like to contribute, Far Out Gallery is continuing to accept art pieces through their mail slot.

Thanks to San Francisco businesses like Far Out Gallery for bringing the community together as we get through this difficult time together.

 

Published June 08, 2020 at 02:04PM
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Central Subway Update – Projected to be Open for Service by the End of 2021

Central Subway Update – Projected to be Open for Service by the End of 2021
By

A worker pauses on one of the massive escalators leading down to Rose Pak Chinatown Station's future lobby and fare gate area.

The Central Subway project remains a key priority for the SFMTA, even during the current health crisis. Workers from the contractor and project staff continue to work every day while taking precautions and following best practices for physical distancing.

Important progress was made over the last few months, but there were also challenges resulting in revisions to our target dates for the completion of construction. Heavy construction on stations was scheduled to finish this Summer, but now will continue into the Fall and finish by the end of the year. The date for revenue service when we can welcome our first customers is now the end of 2021.

The opening of the subway will follow an extensive testing period because our number one goal is to open a service that is reliable and safe on day one of operation.

Although construction will continue a little longer into the year than expected, most of the impactful work is behind us. All but one street or sidewalk adjacent to worksite is now open. The remaining closed block of Washington Street in Chinatown will reopen once construction is complete later this year as it is a key access point for materials.

Lastly, we want to share a major project milestone was completed: Finishing an emergency exit for the Chinatown Rose Pak Station on Stockton near Jackson Street. This new exit was a massive endeavor that began in 2015 by excavating down over 95 feet. Once the soil was removed, the equivalent of a 9-story building was constructed underground -- surrounded by reinforced concrete, waterproofed and then capped with a pneumatic roof hatch.

During Construction: Cement casing was built down approximately 200 feet after excavation.

During Construction: Stairs leading up to the surface with the construction fencing that once adorned the corner.

Today after Construction Finished: Competed Emergency Exit at Stockton and Jackson street with the grates closed and locked from the inside.

We know that construction of this vital project is disruptive to the community, so are deeply grateful for everyone’s patience. Once operational, the Central Subway will provide key connections to some of our city’s most densely populated and growing areas -- linking Chinatown, Union Square and SoMa to Mission Bay and the southeastern neighborhoods of San Francisco.

For more project information: SFMTA.com/CentralSubway

Information on our response to the current health crisis including Muni service, parking and more: SFMTA.com/COVID19

Published June 05, 2020 at 05:07PM
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Improving The Embarcadero

Improving The Embarcadero
By

Traveling along The Embarcadero can be challenging at peak times. With bicyclists, pedestrians, scooterists and drivers all competing for the same space, conflicts arise regularly. The Embarcadero is also a prominent portion of the Vision Zero High Injury Network, something we would like to change. The community has voiced numerous safety concerns. SFMTA and the Port of San Francisco are listening.

In partnership with the Port of San Francisco, we will begin construction of The Embarcadero Quick Build projects in mid-June. These projects will change the way people travel on the waterfront and mark a pivotal starting point in creating a safer environment for all. Most notably, bicyclists will be able to travel seamlessly into more areas of the City freeing up space for pedestrians on the Prominade.

Quick Build projects can be built and evaluated within months, as opposed to years of planning and design. This allows SFMTA to achieve safety goals in the near-term, while preparing for longer-term capital improvement projects on the Vision Zero High Injury Network.

These projects also allow greater personal distancing by separating transportation methods, which will be critical to combatting COVID-19. These projects will offer sustainable choices as transportation is reimagined and improved throughout the City. Investment in this important infrastructure supports the City's renewal and recovery while promoting public health--SFMTA's top priority.

The Embarcadero Quick Build projects will be built in three key areas: Pier 35, Ferry Terminal, and Rincon Restaurant Zone

The Pier 35 Quick Build between Bay and North Point streets will establish a new protected bikeway to reduce conflicts between bikes and passenger loading activities at the Pier 35 Cruise Terminal. The flexible design will also accommodate the unique loading demands for cruise calls and other large-scale events that are major components of the Pier's maritime activities.

From Mission to Folsom streets, the Ferry Terminal Quick Build will construct a water-side, two-way protected bikeway to improve safety for all users and enhance connections to the ferry terminal from the South of Market (SOMA) neighborhood. This two-way protected bikeway will be a preview of the Embarcadero Enhancement Project's planned safety improvements for the remainder of the corridor.

The Rincon Restaurant Zone Quick Build, from Harrison Street to Folsom Street, will establish a protected bikeway for northbound bicyclists and expand capacity for commercial and passenger loading. The protected bikeway will also reduce potential conflicts between all forms of transportation on the Promenade.

This construction is a great starting point, but The Embarcadero has more work planned. We will continue to partner with the Port of San Francisco and community stakeholders to ensure that The Embarcadero continues to be a vibrant gateway to our world-class City.

What is next?

Construction is currently planned for a period of three months. During this time, construction crews will be repaving roadways, adding new paint to the road and curbs, removing and installing metered parking, and installing pedestrian/bicycle waiting areas and protected bikeways. For more Information, please visit The Embarcadero Quick Build project website.

Published June 05, 2020 at 03:01PM
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As the city gradually reopens, mechanical street sweeping enforcement is set to resume

As the city gradually reopens, mechanical street sweeping enforcement is set to resume
By

Mayor London N. Breed and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) today announced that the City will resume enforcement for parking violations related to street sweeping beginning on Monday, June 15.

Mayor Breed had announced on March 17 that SFMTA would not ticket for street sweeping following the Stay Home Order for COVID-19 in order to allow people to stay home without worrying about receiving a parking ticket. While the City had still encouraged people to move their vehicles if they could, street sweeping crews from San Francisco Public Works continue to see a large number of vehicles failing to do so, as many as 18,000 per day. Resuming enforcement for mechanical street sweeping is necessary to ensure that streets remain clean as the City begins to allow more businesses and activities to resume.

“At the beginning of the Stay Home Order we wanted to ensure that people who were sick were able to isolate themselves without needing to leave to move their vehicles,” said Mayor Breed. “Now as we’re reopening, we’ve reached the point where we must resume parking enforcement so that we can clean our streets. We’ll of course continue waiving tickets for people who face issues related to COVID-19.”

“Our agency’s main objective during our COVID-19 response was to promote safety and minimize risk to San Franciscans,” said Jeffrey Tumlin, SFMTA Director of Transportation. “As more businesses open up and more residents return to work, now is the right time to ensure our streets are clean and ready to support economic activity.”

“We certainly understand the needed pause on street cleaning enforcement during the early months of shelter in place, but there have been consequences. Our mechanical sweeping crews have not been able to do as thorough a job cleaning, resulting in more litter and leaves on the streets,” said Acting Public Works Director Alaric Degrafinried. “As the City is slowly starting to reopen, we once again can provide the service San Franciscans expect and deserve.”

Published June 05, 2020 at 02:18PM
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Biking by the Numbers: San Francisco’s 2019 Biking Statistics

Biking by the Numbers: San Francisco’s 2019 Biking Statistics
By Bradley Dunn

Bicycling moves people around San Francisco using less space per person than when people go by driving. The SFMTA encourages bicycling and makes yearly ridership and trend data public. While Bike-to-Work day has moved to September this year due to the ongoing pandemic, we are excited to share San Francisco’s 2019 citywide bicycling data that we usually release in May.

The SFMTA uses a variety of bicycle infrastructure and data metrics as indicators of a healthy and growing bicycle network. In 2019, the Agency prioritized the development of a robust data management system, improving high-quality bikeway infrastructure to make bicycling less stressful and more appealing, and expanding access to bikeshare services across the city. As in past years, 2019 data is pulled from the SFMTA’s automated bike counters, annual manual count data, operator-provided bikeshare data, and the US Census. Here are some key findings from 2019 bike data:

1. STREETS MADE FOR BIKING: 9 miles of new bikeways were added to the citywide network and 57 intersections were upgraded or added to the citywide bike network.
2. PIECE OF THE PIE: Approximately 22,000, or 4.2% of commute trips by city residents, were bike trips in 2018.
3. AUTOMATED COUNTS: In 2019 our 39 automated counters clocked over 10.8 million bikes - 3.1% more bikes than 2018.
4. MANUAL BIKE COUNTS: In 2019, about 52,000 cyclists were observed at 37 locations during AM and PM peak periods, a 14% increase from 2018.
5. LEARNING TO SHARE: Over 1.8 million trips were made on bikeshare in 2019, with the fleet expanding to 3,000 bikes by the end of the year.
6. BIKE PARKING: 670 bike racks were installed in 2019.
7. MEGA MONTH: August was the busiest month with 1,146,365 bikes counted at 39 counters— 27% greater than the 2019 monthly average.
8. MOST POPULAR BI-DIRECTIONAL COUNTER: Marina Bike Path kept its spot as the most popular bi-directional counter in 2019 with over 1 million cyclists counted at Baker.
9. MOST POPULAR SINGLE-DIRECTION COUNTER Market St Eastbound Totem between 9th and 10th is the most popular single direction counter. Over 680,000 cyclists counted passed it in 2019.

 

A notable change in 2019 includes reprioritizing the locations of our automated counter network. Since 2016, the SFMTA managed over 70 automated counter locations. This extensive network of sensitive technology embedded in the road makes it difficult to maintain and vulnerable to damage partially from normal wear-and-tear as well as on-going construction, weather, and other conditions. Reducing the network down to 39 strategic locations along the city’s bikeway network helps ensure reliable and consistent data with fewer maintenance issues or infrastructure problems. Similarly, we prioritized improving our on-line automated counter data dashboards, with expanded quality assurance processing of incoming data and faster reporting times. Moving forward in 2020, ridership data will be updated monthly Together, these improvements will make our citywide biking data more accessible to the public and help our planning efforts.

While this summary presents data from 2019 alone, looking ahead to 2020, this year’s significant events have already shaped citywide mobility trends. This includes the current shelter-in-place order which has changed daily routines, with new trends emerging from altered travel and traffic patterns. We also saw an increase in bicycling trips on Market Street shortly after the implementation of car-free Better Market Street. The quick-build treatments installed in January 2020 elevated safety and comfort for bicyclists by restricting private automobile through-traffic.

The SFMTA’s bike count summary provides insight into San Francisco’s shifting travel patterns. Releasing this annual data is one way we aim to keep the public informed about our projects and programs. As 2020 data becomes available, we look forward to sharing how our changing world has impacted this important mode of travel.

Published June 02, 2020 at 10:45AM
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Biking by the Numbers: San Francisco’s 2019 Biking Statistics

Biking by the Numbers: San Francisco’s 2019 Biking Statistics
By Maia Moran

Bicycling moves people around San Francisco using less space per person than when people go by driving. The SFMTA encourages bicycling and makes yearly ridership and trend data public. While Bike-to-Work day has moved to September this year due to the ongoing pandemic, we are excited to share San Francisco’s 2019 citywide bicycling data that we usually release in May.

The SFMTA uses a variety of bicycle infrastructure and data metrics as indicators of a healthy and growing bicycle network. In 2019, the Agency prioritized the development of a robust data management system, improving high-quality bikeway infrastructure to make bicycling less stressful and more appealing, and expanding access to bikeshare services across the city. As in past years, 2019 data is pulled from the SFMTA’s automated bike counters, annual manual count data, operator-provided bikeshare data, and the US Census. Here are some key findings from 2019 bike data:

1. STREETS MADE FOR BIKING: 9 miles of new bikeways were added to the citywide network and 57 intersections were upgraded or added to the citywide bike network.
2. PIECE OF THE PIE: Approximately 22,000, or 4.2% of commute trips by city residents, were bike trips in 2018.
3. AUTOMATED COUNTS: In 2019 our 39 automated counters clocked over 10.8 million bikes - 3.1% more bikes than 2018.
4. MANUAL BIKE COUNTS: In 2019, about 52,000 cyclists were observed at 37 locations during AM and PM peak periods, a 14% increase from 2018.
5. LEARNING TO SHARE: Over 1.8 million trips were made on bikeshare in 2019, with the fleet expanding to 3,000 bikes by the end of the year.
6. BIKE PARKING: 670 bike racks were installed in 2019.
7. MEGA MONTH: August was the busiest month with 1,146,365 bikes counted at 39 counters— 27% greater than the 2019 monthly average.
8. MOST POPULAR BI-DIRECTIONAL COUNTER: Marina Bike Path kept its spot as the most popular bi-directional counter in 2019 with over 1 million cyclists counted at Baker.
9. MOST POPULAR SINGLE-DIRECTION COUNTER Market St Eastbound Totem between 9th and 10th is the most popular single direction counter. Over 680,000 cyclists counted passed it in 2019.

 

A notable change in 2019 includes reprioritizing the locations of our automated counter network. Since 2016, the SFMTA managed over 70 automated counter locations. This extensive network of sensitive technology embedded in the road makes it difficult to maintain and vulnerable to damage partially from normal wear-and-tear as well as on-going construction, weather, and other conditions. Reducing the network down to 39 strategic locations along the city’s bikeway network helps ensure reliable and consistent data with fewer maintenance issues or infrastructure problems. Similarly, we prioritized improving our on-line automated counter data dashboards, with expanded quality assurance processing of incoming data and faster reporting times. Moving forward in 2020, ridership data will be updated monthly Together, these improvements will make our citywide biking data more accessible to the public and help our planning efforts.

While this summary presents data from 2019 alone, looking ahead to 2020, this year’s significant events have already shaped citywide mobility trends. This includes the current shelter-in-place order which has changed daily routines, with new trends emerging from altered travel and traffic patterns. We also saw an increase in bicycling trips on Market Street shortly after the implementation of car-free Better Market Street. The quick-build treatments installed in January 2020 elevated safety and comfort for bicyclists by restricting private automobile through-traffic.

The SFMTA’s bike count summary provides insight into San Francisco’s shifting travel patterns. Releasing this annual data is one way we aim to keep the public informed about our projects and programs. As 2020 data becomes available, we look forward to sharing how our changing world has impacted this important mode of travel.

Published June 02, 2020 at 10:45AM
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