A Brief History of the T Third Part 1: 1860-2007

A Brief History of the T Third Part 1: 1860-2007
By Jeremy Menzies

Earlier this month, we launched free weekend shuttle service in the Central Subway. And come January 7th, our 4 new stations will connect directly to the rest of the T line from Sunnydale to Chinatown. Through this two-part blog series, we will look back at some of the history of the T from the 1860s to today!

In Part One, we’ll look over the first 150 years from the 1860s to the 2000s. Next month in Part Two, we will take a closer look at the history of the T and Central Subway projects leading up to today’s service. 

The Horsecar Era: 1860s-1890s 

Starting in the 1860s, transit service along today’s T Line was provided by horsecars. These were small rail cars (that looked much like a cable car) that were pulled along tracks by horses. Two companies, the Omnibus Railroad and the North Beach & Mission Railway, operated horsecar lines on parts of the path of today’s T. These lines were mainly meant to connect North Beach with the 3rd and 4th street corridors as far south as about Townsend Street. 

This photo circa the 1880s shows the busy intersection of Kearny, Geary, 3rd and Market streets, looking south to 3rd.  In the foreground is a horsecar running up Kearny from 3rd. 

Further south on 3rd (then called Kentucky Street), horsecars were operated by the Potrero & Bay View Railroad. Here the route ran over two bridges across Mission Bay and Islais Creek (known as “Longbridge”), ending near today’s 3rd & Gilman. This route served the industrial heart of San Francisco and opened up development in the Bayview but was not very profitable because of its length. 

The Electric Streetcar Era: 1890s-1940s 

The 1890s marked the dawn of the electric streetcar era in San Francisco. A new technology, electric-powered cars could carry more people over longer distances faster than both horse and cable cars. On top of that, they were cheaper to operate and increased profit potential for transit companies. 

This 1911 photo shows two cars passing at 3rd (Kentucky) and 20th streets. On the left is a 16 Line car running to its terminal in the Bayview. At right is a 30 Line car heading north to 8th and Market. 

In 1894, the first electric streetcar line began operating along parts of today’s T Line. Known as the 3rd & Kearny Line, it followed much the same route as the early horsecars from North Beach to the Southern Pacific Railroad Depot on Townsend Street. It was extended into the Bayview to 3rd and Palou and eventually was reformed into the 15, 16, and 29 Lines. Each of these served a different portion of the corridor covering differing needs of riders travelling through downtown or all the way out to the Bayview. 

A Muni F Stockton streetcar passes Vallejo Street in this photo from 1916. 

Muni’s first streetcar line to serve a similar route to the Central Subway portion of the T was the F Stockton, which opened for the 1915 Panama Pacific Exposition. The F Line ran along 4th and Stockton streets to serve South of Market, Union Square, Chinatown and North Beach before heading out to end at Chestnut and Scott streets. 

Buses along the Bay: 1950s-2000s 

Following World War II, the 3rd Street corridor was among the many that saw transit service shift from streetcars to buses. By 1951, the 15 Kearny route served much of the area once covered by the 15, 16, and 29 streetcar lines.  

Buses on the 30, 15 and 42 fight the morning rush northbound on 3rd Street in this 1959 photo. 

Traveling along portions of today’s 8 Bayshore and T Third, the 15 route went from Powell and Jefferson streets all the way to Geneva and Mission. Eventually, it was extended to City College on Ocean Avenue. While not the only route to serve the area, the 15 carried the bulk of the load for people wishing to travel along this corridor. 

On Stockton Street, the 30 Stockton bus took over for the F, following the same route through Chinatown, Union Square, and South of Market to 4th and Townsend streets. 

Many long-time riders will recognize this view of a 15 bus on 3rd & Palou. Discontinued with the opening of the T Line in 2007, the 15 was revived as the 15 Bayview-Hunter’s Point Express in 2021.  

Tune in next month for a closer look at the history of the T Third and Central Subway Projects. 

Published November 30, 2022 at 04:08PM
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Construction Starts on the Battery/Sansome Quick-Build

Construction Starts on the Battery/Sansome Quick-Build
By Eillie Anzilotti

 

Rendered image of the completed Battery/Sansome Quick Build Project

The first-ever protected bike lane in the Financial District is on its way in! 

This week, SFMTA crews are starting work on the Battery/Sansome Quick-Build project. Approved by the SFMTA Board of Directors in September, this project will bring a two-way protected bike lane to Battery Street. The project will also add pedestrian safety improvements on both Battery and Sansome Streets, and some loading changes on Battery.  

This project is a major step forward for cycling in the city. Apart from the Embarcadero, there is no other protected bike lane near the Financial District — even though two out of the 10 most active bike share stations in the city are in the downtown area. With so many people returning to downtown offices after working from home due to the pandemic, this new route will offer a safer option for those looking for a more active commute.  

Over the past year, SFMTA staff have worked with neighborhood stakeholders to come up with a design that meets current needs and supports downtown San Francisco’s future. During the same time, the Downtown SF Partnership — the neighborhood’s nonprofit that supports local businesses — commissioned a plan to imagine how the neighborhood could evolve out of the pandemic. Downtown was hit especially hard by COVID-19 and has been slow to recover. The Downtown SF Public Action Realm Plan makes a number of recommendations for activating the neighborhood, from more greenery to improved public spaces. The plan also calls for creating better bike connections and a safer, more welcoming pedestrian experience throughout the neighborhood. The Battery/Sansome Quick-Build project was named in the plan as an essential part of transforming Downtown SF into a more welcoming space for all. 

During our outreach, we heard a lot of enthusiasm for the idea of a two-way bike lane, which is now being built on Battery Street. But we also heard concerns that removing a vehicle travel lane could worsen congestion in the downtown area, especially during peak commute hours when people head toward the Bay Bridge. To address these concerns, the western side of the street will have commercial loading zones that local businesses will be able to use except for during peak hours, when the zones will need to be cleared. That way, the street will still have three functional vehicle travel lanes during rush hours. This solution was designed with the community to keep traffic flowing while creating a dedicated space for active travel.  

Construction will likely take up to three weeks, and we appreciate your patience as these important street improvements are completed. By early next year, the Battery/Sansome Quick-Build will be open for use to explore all that Downtown SF has to offer. As you’re riding through, make sure you stop to admire the new mural at the Battery Bridge by Peruvian-born, SF-based painter Talavera-Ballón — and share what you think of the new bikeway with our team. 

For more information and updates, please visit Battery/Sansome Quick-Build Project. 

Published November 28, 2022 at 01:48PM
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Your Questions, Answered: Central Subway Special Weekend Service

Your Questions, Answered: Central Subway Special Weekend Service
By Mariana Maguire

Central Subway special weekend service shuttles customer between Chinatown-Rose Pak Station and 4th & Brannan to explore the new stations. And on January 7, T Third service will connect from Chinatown-Rose Pak to Sunnydale.

What has four brand new stations, thousands of curious customers and really long escalators? It’s Central Subway! Special weekend service launched Saturday and Sunday, November 19 and 20 with a steady stream of Muni customers excited to experience the SFMTA’s historic new subway. They were greeted by ambassadors in orange giving out fortune cookies and Muni squishy trains and answering lots of questions. Customers got to see the new Central Subway stations for the first time and start to learn how to navigate new connections with special shuttle service operating between Chinatown-Rose Pak and 4th & Brannan stations.

We know this is a big change for everyone and it will take time to adjust. As we ready for the official launch of the new T Third line from Chinatown-Rose Pak to Sunnydale on January 7, 2023, we are making final preparations, like installing and updating signage and other improvements over the coming weeks. We are also taking steps to respond to customer feedback we heard over the weekend. Here are some of the most common questions we heard.

• What’s the difference between special weekend service and January 7 service?
• Will there be more signage to help customer navigate the new stations and connections?
• How do I get to Chinatown from Powell Station?
• Can I take the T Third from 4th and King to Chinatown?
• What’s the best way to connect to Powell Station from Union Square/Market Street Station?
• How do I know which side of the platform to board on?
• The stairs are long! Is there an alternative?

To get the answers to these and other frequency asked questions, visit our service changes page (SFMTA.com/ServiceChanges) and click on the Central Subway Service FAQs.

And please remember, safety first! Always stay behind the yellow lines on the train platforms.

Published November 23, 2022 at 12:34PM
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The Future of Slow Streets

The Future of Slow Streets
By Eillie Anzilotti

Over the past two years, Slow Streets have shown how simple designs that prioritize people can transform streets. Suddenly, streets across San Francisco filled with the sounds of kids playing and neighbors chatting. They filled with people on bicycles and people rolling in wheelchairs; with joggers and dog-walkers. The streets came to life.

Initially, the SFMTA introduced Slow Streets as an emergency response to COVID-19. People needed space for recreating at a safe distance outdoors. And with Muni service reduced or suspended at the time, people needed ways to travel to essential destinations on foot or bike. To quickly meet these early pandemic needs, we implemented Slow Streets with simple signs and barricades.

Over time, it became clear that Slow Streets served an even larger purpose. They became places for communities to come together. Neighbors organized events like scavenger hunts and Trick or Treat parties around their local Slow Streets. They created art and hosted pop-up musical performances. For many people, Slow Streets encouraged them to shift their lifestyles. Some families sold their cars and began to travel by cargo bike. Older San Franciscans rediscovered the joy of riding bicycles. Fleets of kids gathered to bike to school in organized “bike buses” across the city. Beyond the initial pandemic response, Slow Streets proved critical to meeting some of San Francisco’s most significant goals: Vision Zero and Climate Action.

As the city moves out of the pandemic, it’s clear that Slow Streets have a place in San Francisco. We need to continue to encourage active transportation to meet our goal of 80% low-carbon trips by 2030—and we need to make these trips safe and accessible for people of all ages and abilities. Low-stress streets, like Slow Streets, create transportation choices for a wide range of San Franciscans by making active transportation comfortable, safe, and joyful.

On December 6, our Slow Streets team will bring a proposal for an ongoing Slow Streets program to the SFMTA Board. This post-pandemic program will maintain the same core principles as the pandemic-response Slow Streets. Its goal is to create safe, shared corridors that prioritize people traveling by active modes and making local trips by vehicle. But it will improve on the COVID-response program in some key ways. The proposed program will have a more durable, diverse design toolkit that will include traffic calming features like speed humps, traffic diversion, roadway narrowing, and improved wayfinding signs. And it will use data to make sure that streets are working effectively.

Our goal is for Slow Streets to meet or exceed national standards for low-stress corridors: streets where people of all ages and abilities feel comfortable walking and biking. That means no more than 1,500 vehicles per day, and speeds lower than 20 mph. For each Slow Street, our team will develop a design that reflects specific needs and conditions. We will also gather and analyze data on important safety measures like vehicle volumes and speeds, and adjust designs when needed. We aim to work efficiently and in collaboration with communities to implement these corridors.

Following the meeting on December 6, we will be sharing updated guidelines for using Slow Streets—whether you bike, roll, walk, or drive. These guidelines will create shared understanding for how to behave on Slow Streets to make sure everyone feels safe and welcome. More to come on this soon, but in the meantime, remember: Everyone is welcome, and please go slow!

Initially, we’ll be proposing 15 corridors for inclusion in the program. Most of these streets were COVID-Response Slow Streets that met criteria for continuing them as Slow Streets: high volumes of people walking, biking and rolling, and connections to the citywide active transportation network. Proposed Slow Streets are:

• 12th Avenue
• 22nd Street (proposed as an alternative to 20th Street to align with the citywide bicycle network)
• 23rd Avenue
• Arlington Street
• Cabrillo Street
• Cayuga Avenue (proposed as a new corridor)
• Clay Street 
• Golden Gate Avenue
• Hearst Avenue 
• Lyon Street
• Minnesota Street
• Noe Street
• Sanchez Street
• Shotwell Street
• Somerset Street

Lake Street, which was already approved as a long-term Slow Street by the SFMTA board, will also be discussed by the board at the December 6 meeting. Existing Slow Streets that are not approved by the SFMTA Board will be removed following the meeting.  While the Slow Streets in SoMa are not recommended to continue as a part of the ongoing program, the existing traffic calming and local access restrictions will remain in place to encourage the use of these streets as places for community activation.

This is just the beginning of a program that we intend to grow to meet neighborhood and citywide transportation needs, in partnership with communities. An ongoing Slow Streets program for San Francisco will help our city meet its adopted goals for mobility, safety and climate action—and ensure that San Franciscans can continue to reimagine how their streets can serve them. We look forward to beginning this process and sharing more in the future.

For more information, please see the Slow Streets Fall 2022 Project Update and Frequently Asked Questions.

Published November 21, 2022 at 12:00PM
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Starting Tomorrow! Central Subway Special Service Opens

Starting Tomorrow! Central Subway Special Service Opens
By Mariana Maguire

Central Subway special weekend service starts November 19 with shuttle trains between Chinatown-Rose Pak Station and 4th and Brannan.

Starting tomorrow, November 19, the four new Central Subway stations will open to the public with free special service, Saturdays and Sundays only, from 8 a.m. to 12 a.m. every 12 minutes.

This is a special opportunity for customers to ride between the new stations and get to know them before the service change in January.

To experience Central Subway special service, transfer at Powell Station from Muni Metro and BART by walking underground to the new Union Square/Market Street Station.

SFMTA Ambassadors will be on hand to help customers navigate the new stations. Looks for our bright orange SFMTA Ambassador vests, hoodies and hats!

At Chinatown-Rose Park Station, customers should listen to announcements and watch the displays for incoming train information. Trains may come into the station from either side.

In addition, displays will indicate train departures. This is because Chinatown-Rose Pak Station is the end of the line, and trains may layover for a few minutes for operators to take relief breaks.

From everyone at SFMTA, we are excited to share these new stations with you as we continue to prepare to link T Third Metro service between Sunnydale and Chinatown in January!

Published November 18, 2022 at 05:04PM
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Taximeter Rate Increase

Taximeter Rate Increase
By

Today, our new taxi meter rates go into effect, providing a much-needed increase for taxi drivers. After extensive outreach, the SFMTA board passed an 18% increase in the taximeter rates – the first increase in 11 years. During this time, the cost of living in the Bay Area has risen considerably.

•  45% increase in the cost of everyday items
• 50% increase in the cost of transportation
•  82% peak increase in the cost of gasoline.

The new rates listed below will support an industry that is an integral part of  our transportation system, especially for SF’s paratransit program.

The new rates go into effect beginning Thursday, November 17:

• First one-fifth mile of flag rate is $4.15
• Each additional one-fifth mile or fraction thereof is $0.65

• Each minute of waiting or traffic time delay is $0.65
• SFO pick-up fee is unchanged at $5.50

For more information on the current structure of taxi fares, please visit Taxi Fares.

To get a sense of what this increase will mean for an average rider, we show an estimate for a typical taxi trip.

Under the old rate structure, the average cost for a taxi ride was $16.04, which includes a 15% tip. Under the new approved structure, the average cost, including tip will be $18.98, or a $2.94 increase per trip. This increase goes directly to taxi drivers.

Impact on Paratransit Taxi Riders

Taxis have been an integral part of the SFMTA’s paratransit program since the 1980’s, and they provide an important mobility option for people with disabilities who are unable to use Muni. The SFMTA subsidizes 80% of the cost of paratransit taxi trips, and the paratransit taxi rider pays the remaining 20%. Paratransit taxi riders will see an increase of approximately $0.50 for an average paratransit taxi trip under the new meter rates. Paratransit taxi trips accounted for roughly 13% of all taxi trips in the last fiscal year.

Please contact SFTaxi@sfmta.com with any questions you may have about the new rates.

Published November 17, 2022 at 10:06AM
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Explore Yerba Buena with New Central Subway Connections

Explore Yerba Buena with New Central Subway Connections
By Christopher Ward

Starting November 19, Central Subway opens for special service, allowing customers to experience the new Yerba Buena/Moscone Station.

The new Yerba Buena/Moscone Station at 4th and Folsom streets along the Central Subway connects Muni customers with the communities and attractions in San Francisco’s South of Market district. The new station is located across the street from Yerba Buena Square and the Moscone Convention Center and steps away from hotels, museums, shopping and restaurants. However, you choose to spend your time in Yerba Buena, you’ll have no shortage of things to do.

Interested in the arts and culture? Yerba Buena/Moscone Station is your stop! Explore the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), the Contemporary Jewish Museum, the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, the Museum of the African Diaspora (MOAD), the American Bookbinder’s Museum or the Children’s Creativity Museum, all within a couple blocks.

Smartphone users can also take the Yerba Buena Public Art Audio Walking Tour – a self-guided experience curated by the Yerba Buena Community Benefit District that explores the diverse public art in the area. Or visit the California Historical Society to learn more about our great state.

Forgot what it’s like to go to the movies? Catch a new film – maybe in 3D – at the Metreon, just blocks from the new Yerba Buena/Moscone Station. Or gather friends for a more active experience at the Yerba Buena Ice Skating and Bowling Center.

Casual and fine dining restaurants, hip coffee shops and both trendy and classic bars abound throughout the area around the Yerba Buena/Moscone Station. Or opt for a picnic at the Yerba Buena Gardens.

San Francisco City College students and faculty will also be able to take the T Third and get off at Yerba Buena/Moscone Station to get to the downtown center campus on 4th and Mission.

Going shopping? The Yerba Buena/Moscone Station puts Muni customers close to the Westfield Shopping Centre, big box stores like Target and the Container Store on 4th Street, and food hubs like Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods.

The Yerba Buena area of SoMa is also the thriving cultural hub of the Filipino community in San Francisco. For a unique experience, visit Arkipelago Books – a cornerstone of the Filipino community in SoMA for 20 years. Follow the Public Art Walking Tour to Lapu Lapu and learn more about Filipino history and key figures of the community.

At the Yerba Buena/Moscone Station, Muni riders can easily transfer to several nearby Muni lines to get around the city!

Connect to these SoMa destinations when you hop on Central Subway’s special weekend service starting Saturdays and Sundays, November 19, from 8 a.m.-12 a.m.

For those who wish to connect from Yerba Buena/Moscone Station to other locations around the city, several bus routes that are within walking distance of the new station including the 8 Bayshore, 8AX Bayshore Express A, 8BX Bayshore Express B, 15 Bayview Hunters Point Express, 30 Stockton, 45 Union, 91 3rd Street and 12 Folsom.

Get to know the new Central Subway destinations with special weekend service through the end of year. Then, on Saturday, January 7, kick off the new year with new T-Third service via Central Subway between Chinatown and Sunnydale. Fall in love with San Francisco all over again!

Published November 17, 2022 at 09:51AM
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SFMTA Upgrades Predictions Software This Weekend!

SFMTA Upgrades Predictions Software This Weekend!
By Mariana Maguire

SFMTA will switch over to a new, upgraded software system on Sunday, November 13,  as part of our Next Generation Customer Information System (CIS) project. The new software was developed to improve the way our different information systems communicate with each other and share data to and from multiple sources. This will provide customers more accurate, timely, reliable Muni service predictions. This is one more important step in the overhaul of our CIS that will enable us to provide better service to Muni customers.

SFMTA’s Next Generation CIS software has been in preliminary testing for months, and if all works well, Muni customers should not notice any change. But anyone who’s had to help loved ones with computer or smartphone troubles knows that software updates aren’t always smooth. Unanticipated challenges may arise. Customers should expect some glitches as we make the software switch and work out issues on the back end.

To reduce impacts to customers, we are gradually connecting new screens to the new software system. This should help isolate any issues to troubleshoot more effectively. Our Customer Information System staff and software contractors will be keeping a close eye on system performance and working quickly to resolve issues.

This upgrade to a new, more efficient software system is a crucial milestone toward providing many new features over the coming months, including:

• Dynamic maps
• Real-time service changes
• Short-term route changes
• Terminal departure predictions
• Transfer connection predictions
• Regional connections
• Alternative routes
• Accessibility information​
• Vehicle crowding predictions

Third Party Apps

SFMTA provides open-source transit data that third party transit apps use on their platforms. Each app has its own way of processing that information, which can vary and may lead to differences or inconsistencies in transit information. SFMTA is in touch with known third party apps to help them troubleshoot issues.

We appreciate Muni riders’ patience as we continue our Next Generation CIS upgrades to improve Muni service long-term.

Learn more about what’s next for our Next Generation upgrades and the many new features rolling out soon.

Published November 10, 2022 at 01:59PM
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Taxi Upfront Pricing Pilot Begins

Taxi Upfront Pricing Pilot Begins
By

The Taxi Upfront Fare Pilot Program began on November 9, 2022! 

In September 2021, the SFMTA Board authorized the creation of a one-year Taxi Upfront Fare Pilot Program. The pilot will give taxi customers the ability to book a taxi trip through a taxi e-hail app and pay a flat-rate, upfront fare. It will also allow customers to request a taxi through approved third-party apps.

Our hope is that the pilot benefits taxi users by providing them with upfront information about their fares, relieving meter anxiety, and allowing customers to price shop for similar on-demand services. We believe this will bring taxi services in line with what customers expect on similar services. We also believe it will increase business for the local taxi industry, especially the drivers. A successful pilot would increase overall taxi trips, encourage more people to become taxi drivers, and maintain or improve taxi services for all passengers. 

Beginning November 9, taxi customers have the ability to book a taxi trip through three approved taxi E-hail apps: Arro, Flywheel, and YoTaxi*. The approved E-hail apps will give taxi customers the option of choosing an upfront fare through the app, or they may choose to request a cab through traditional phone dispatch or street hail and simply pay for the trip based on the taximeter amount. The upfront fare offered to taxi customers will closely match the cost to the customer of a fare based on the Taximeter rate.

The pilot program will also allow customers to request or to be matched with a taxi through third-party apps. Uber is the first third-party app to participate in the pilot, which will lay the groundwork for other apps (including Muni Mobile) to refer trips to local taxis. Trips originated from a third-Party app will offer upfront fares that are not based on Taximeter rates. 

The Upfront Fare Pilot allows two types of trips:

1. Taxi Pilot Trips:

• Originate with a customer ride request through an approved taxi E-Hail app
• Dispatched by a taxi E-Hail app
• Provided by a permitted San Francisco taxi driver in a permitted SF taxi vehicle
• Upfront fare is based on the estimated taximeter amount 

2. Third-Party Pilot Trips:

• Originate with a customer ride request through a third-party app
• Provided by a permitted San Francisco taxi driver in a permitted SF taxi vehicle
• Upfront fare is not required to be based on the estimated taximeter amount

Requesting a Taxi through a permitted Taxi E-Hail App

Taxi customers may request taxi rides through three permitted apps: Arro, Flywheel, and YoTaxi*. 

To request a ride, customers can open the app of their choice and input a payment method. After inputting a payment method, customers can request a ride within the app and will be provided with an upfront fare based on the estimated taximeter amount. 

Upon completion of the trip, the payment will be processed by the E-Hail app. No separate payment to the driver will be needed at the end of the trip.

*Currently, Arro and Flywheel are approved, while YoTaxi is eligible to participate and is conditionally approved.

Receiving a Taxi through Uber

Third-party pilot trips will allow San Francisco taxicabs to be matched with Uber customers. Currently, Flywheel is the only Taxi E-Hail App approved to provide Third-party trips.

Customers can request a ride through Uber as normal, but in some instances may be matched with a taxi. Customers will still receive an upfront fare, but the fare will not be based on the estimated taximeter amount. Uber customers will always be notified if they’re matched with a taxi, and if they prefer, can choose to get re-matched. 

Upon completion of the trip, the payment will be processed by Uber. No separate payment to the driver will be needed at the end of the trip.

SF Paratransit Customers

Currently, both YoTaxi and Arro are unable to book paratransit customers as a part of this pilot, and Flywheel will only provide a fare estimate. SFMTA plans on working with the Taxi E-Hail apps to allow for this in the future.

SF Paratransit riders can continue to request rides through the regular process.

Next Steps and Comments 

The SFMTA will report quarterly on the results of the pilot to the taxi industry, our board, and to other stakeholders. We will be having quarterly taxi outreach meetings about this pilot and other topics affecting the industry. 

If you have comments about the pilot, we are taking written feedback.

Published November 09, 2022 at 05:09PM
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New Muni Metro Station Opens in the Heart of Union Square

New Muni Metro Station Opens in the Heart of Union Square
By Mariana Maguire

Central Subway special weekend service will be running just in time for the holiday lights at Union Square

The new Central Subway Union Square/Market Street Station puts Muni customers in the heart of historic San Francisco, beneath Union Square Plaza at Geary and Stockton streets – open just in time to enjoy Macy’s famous holiday window displays and ice skating on the plaza.

Surrounding the Square, visitors can access world-class shopping from some of the most coveted names in fashion and jewelry. Travelers will be steps away from several big-name and boutique hotels. Quaint locally owned cafes, delis, restaurants and bars nearby offer a wide variety of cuisine from Asian to French to Irish, and beyond!

Barbary Coast Trail markers on the sidewalk will lead you on an odyssey through old San Francisco. Maiden Lane – a polite reference to the activities that once took place in the early days of the city – is now a stylish pedestrian promenade only half a block north of the new station entrance. Take a stroll and you’ll even see one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s buildings there.

Architecture buffs will find even more to explore around Union Square, where the skyline is sprinkled with Beaux-Arts, Chicago style, Art Deco, Futurist, modern and contemporary construction.

A short walk further north leads to the famous Chinatown Dragon Gates on Grant Street, marking the entrance to the neighborhood where San Francisco’s growth from tiny outpost to booming city began. Learn more about the destinations near Chinatown-Rose Pak Station..

Head to Powell Street, one block west of the Union Square/Market Street Station entrance and catch the Powell/Hyde or Powell/Mason Cable Car lines to ride America’s only moving National Monument! Read more about San Francisco’s cable cars and their unique history.

Historic cable cars run along Powell Street, next to Union Square.

Connect to Union Square when you hop on Central Subway’s special weekend service starting Saturdays and Sundays, November 19, from 8 a.m.-12 a.m.

T Third service between Chinatown-Rose Pak Station and Sunnydale starts January 7, 2023. Read more details on our service changes page.

Published November 09, 2022 at 12:32PM
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Five Years of Data Show: Our Street Safety Projects are Making a Difference

Five Years of Data Show: Our Street Safety Projects are Making a Difference
By Julia Malmo

Ever wonder about the effectiveness of projects after they go into the ground? Us, too!  

That’s why, in 2017, we launched the Safe Streets Evaluation Program to help project teams understand whether a transportation safety project’s design is effective, and where there might be opportunities to adjust the design if not. Project evaluation data can also be combined across projects to help the SFMTA track the effectiveness of a certain type of safety improvement, which can in turn streamline the design of future projects. The Safe Streets Evaluation Program helps us work towards achieving Vision Zero, an initiative to prioritize street safety and eliminate traffic deaths in San Francisco.  

This week, we’re looking back on five years of data gathered through our Safe Streets Evaluation Program with the “2022 Safe Streets Evaluation Summary,” an interactive website summarizing the results of 18 bicycle, pedestrian and traffic safety projects implemented since 2017. 

Each of the 18 projects evaluated in the summary report added significant safety upgrades to the streets. Some introduced vehicle travel lane removals (road diets), separated bikeways, separated bike signals, or left-turn traffic calming devices. Others brought general improvements for pedestrians at intersections including pedestrian signal improvements, daylighting (red zones at intersections) and upgraded crosswalks. For every project, the SFMTA drew on a wide range of data—from project-specific observations, to police reports, to speed data—to create a comprehensive view into its’ effectiveness. 

The evaluation report indicates that the SFMTA’s safety tools are working together to create safer environments for all modes of transportation on city streets. 

You can dig into the whole set of outcomes on the website, but here are some highlights:  

• Within the projects evaluated, annual collision rates decreased by 18%  

• Bicycle-related collision rates decreased by 33% and pedestrian-related collision rates decreased by 32%   

• Bicycle volumes on streets that received bicycle improvements increased up to 75% in the morning peak (8 AM to 10 AM) commute times, with similar growth in the afternoon/evening peak (4 PM to 6 PM) commute times.   

• Thanks to protected bikeways, the rate of incidents of vehicles blocking the bike lane decreased by 90%.   

• Close calls or near misses between pedestrians and drivers decreased across evaluated projects by 38%.  

• Several projects in under-served communities such as the Bayview and Tenderloin are helping to address historic inequities and under-investment in these neighborhoods.   

The Safe Streets Evaluation team will continue to think creatively about how to build on the evaluation work and use it to inform our current and future projects, programs, and practices through developing a publicly accessible database of all Safe Streets Evaluation data and finding better ways to evaluate project outreach efforts. 

View the 2022 Safe Streets Evaluation Summary 

Learn more about the SFMTA Safe Streets Evaluation Program: SFMTA.com\safestreetsevaluation 

 

Published November 07, 2022 at 02:56PM
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The Good Times are Rolling on the Embarcadero Bikeway!

The Good Times are Rolling on the Embarcadero Bikeway!
By Eillie Anzilotti

If you build it, they will ride. 

That’s the main takeaway from the new two-way bikeway along the Embarcadero, which opened earlier this year. The Embarcadero is one of the most vibrant and well-visited public spaces in San Francisco: people flock to the waterfront for Bay views, excellent food, and the popular farmers’ market. With more and more people traveling along the Embarcadero by bike and scooter, the shared-use promenade was, quite simply, getting too crowded. As part of the larger Embarcadero Enhancement Program to improve transportation along the waterfront, the SFMTA’s Vision Zero Quick-Build team recently extended the two-way bikeway between Mission and Howard all the way up to Broadway to provide more space for people traveling by bike and scooter. 

Six months after the new bikeway was completed, the main question is: is it working? The answer is a resounding yes. After the bikeway was installed, most bike and scooter riders opted to ride in the on-street (protected) bikeway instead of along the promenade, according to the recently published project evaluation. Those that continued to use the promenade, the report found, rode at slow speeds. After courtesy signs were added in the area in August to encourage users to use the new on-street bikeway, usage jumped even higher—to 94% of all wheeled users using the bikeway during the weekend lunch rush!  

Signs posted throughout the project area direct people on scooters and bikes into the new bikeway to keep the promenade clear for people on foot and wheelchairs.

Promenade v. bikeway use for all wheeled users, pre and post implementation: 

	AM peak (8am-9am)		PM peak (5pm-6pm)		Weekend peak (Sat 11:15am-12:15pm)
	Promenade	Bikeway	Promenade	Bikeway	Promenade	Bikeway
October 2021 (before)	47%	53%	43%	57%	23%	77%
August 2022 (after)	14%	86%	22%	78%	6%	94%

Overall, the Embarcadero promenade is now less crowded and stressful for visitors; people passing through on bikes and scooters have a calmer, more straightforward experience now that they have a safe, dedicated space to travel. There is still room for improvement when it comes to people on bikes yielding to people in crosswalks, and the project team looks forward to continuing to explore solutions with the community as part of a future phase of the project.  

Speaking of community: a large part of this project’s success is due to ongoing collaboration with local stakeholders, including the farmers’ market hosted at the Ferry Building three times a week. While adding the new bikeway has required farmers’ market staff to adapt, they’ve been extremely helpful in providing feedback and working with the project team to identify solutions to vendor loading in the area. Additionally, the Ferry Building team is coordinating with project staff to identify spaces for new bike parking hubs, which will be installed in 2023 to expand parking availability in the area. For scooter riders, new regulations that took effect on November 1st limit scooter parking along portions of the Embarcadero waterfront and other popular areas, so be mindful of this guidance when planning your trip along this route. 

Clear markings along the new protected two-way bikeway indicate safe places for pedestrians to cross.

Now that the bikeway has been in the ground for six months, the project team is focused on ensuring everyone can experience a smooth trip through the area. The evaluation highlighted issues with vehicle traffic backing up near the Broadway intersection, as the project reduced the number of left-turn lanes from two to one. The community supports studying an alternative approach that would re-establish two left-turn lanes onto Broadway, and the project team aims to field test the alternative layout in early 2023 pending approval by the Port of San Francisco. The team will also use the evaluation results to help inform the Central Embarcadero Safety Project capital phase, which will extend the bikeway south for two additional blocks while making targeted upgrades to the quick-build portion of the corridor.  

For now, you can find the whole evaluation report at SFMTA.com/Embarcadero--and if you’ve tried out the new bikeway in the last year, reach out to the project team [mailto:Embarcadero@sfmta.com link] to share feedback!

Published November 04, 2022 at 02:31PM
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Chinatown Connects to Muni Metro

Chinatown Connects to Muni Metro
By Deanna Leo

With the completion of Central Subway, customers will be able to ride the T Third Muni Metro all the way from Visitacion Valley to Chinatown.

Starting November 19, when Muni Metro riders can first take Central Subway's special weekend service to Chinatown, prepare to spend the day in Chinatown enjoying all its sights, sounds and flavors. There is so much to explore in the largest Chinatown outside Asia!

Tourist attractions include the Dragon’s Gate, Old St. Mary’s Cathedral and Portsmouth Square, the site of San Francisco’s original customs house where today, members of the Chinese community spend the days singing or playing mahjong, a traditional and very popular tile-based game.

Fans of Amy Tan’s novel, The Joy Luck Club, can meander the streets of Chinatown searching for the places where her story unfolds. On Wavery Place you can visit the First Baptist Church where the four mothers in the story meet to play mahjong.

Muni Metro customers will find a seemingly endless array of Chinese grocery stores along Stockton Street, with staples like dried fish, assorted teas and unique fresh fruits and vegetables. Dine-in and take-out dim sum restaurants are also abundant, offering sweet and savory treats like dumplings, custard cakes, assorted bao and sesame balls. Don’t forget to stop by Chinatown’s famous Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory!

Traditional tea tastings at the local tea houses, nail spas and cocktail lounges invite visitors to stay a while longer.

Along Grant Street, where traditional red lanterns hang above the street, souvenir shops abound for visitors to take home a little bit of the Chinatown experience. Connect to Chinatown when you hop on Central Subway’s special weekend service starting Saturdays and Sundays, November 19, from 8 a.m.-12 a.m. 

Traditional Chinese red lanterns decorate Grant Avenue in Chinatown, The heart of San Francisco’s vibrant Chinese community.

Chinatown is a very popular place to visit in San Francisco and nearby Muni routes include:

• 1 California, 2 Sutter, 5 Fulton, 5R Fulton Rapid, 6 Haight/Parnassus, 7 Haight/Noriega, 8 Bayshore, 8AX Bayshore A Express, 8BX Bayshore B Express, 9 San Bruno, 9R San Bruno Rapid, 12 Folsom/Pacific, 21 Hayes, 30 Stockton, 31 Balboa, 38 Geary, 38R Geary Rapid, 39 Coit, 45 Union/Stockton, and 91 3rd Street / 19th Avenue Owl. These bus routes are free for all youth under 18 and $2.50 for adults for a single ride using MuniMobile or your Clipper card.
• California Cable Car, Powell/Hyde Cable Car, and Powell/Mason Cable Car. Cable Cars run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Daily, for Adults and Youth from ages 5-18 it is $8.00 for a single ride, seniors or people with disabilities ride for $4.00, and youth 4 and under ride for free.

Published November 04, 2022 at 12:09PM
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Over Half Next Generation Muni Shelter Displays Installed with More Upgrades Coming

Over Half Next Generation Muni Shelter Displays Installed with More Upgrades Coming
By Kharima Mohamed

New Muni service information displays are going into Muni shelters throughout San Francisco with updated features as part of SFMTA’s Next Generation Customer Information System upgrades.

As part of our Next Generation Customer Information System (CIS) project, we are installing over 800 new, larger Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) at Muni shelters and stations, replacing existing NextBus signs and expanding real-time information coverage. So far, we are over halfway to completion, with over 435 new displays installed in shelters. New screens show real-time multilingual information including graphics, maps and destinations.

New LCD displays (left) are replacing the previous Muni information displays (right).

Beginning this fall, Muni predictions on our new and improved Next Generation screens will include:

• Crowding. On vehicles equipped with automatic passenger counters, displays will show how crowded they are.
• Short-term route changes. We’ll be able to show planned short-term route changes, such as routing around special events. 

We are aiming to replace the remaining displays by the end of 2023. Additionally, we are working on new display locations with an emphasis on underserved neighborhoods, such as those identified by the Bayview Community Based Transportation Plan.

Learn more about the remaining display installation work, what’s next for our Next Generation upgrades and the many new features rolling out soon.

Get Real-Time Stop Information When Predictions Are Unavailable

Due to the nationwide AT&T 3G shutdown on June 8, NextMuni displays that use 3G modems no longer show information. We have been upgrading to 4G modems to continue to provide predictions while we roll out the new LCD display and prepare more significant system software upgrades.

For display locations remain impacted by the 3G shutdown, riders can obtain real-time stop information by using the stop ID number posted at the bus stop:

• Online enter SFMTA.com/ followed by the stop ID number (no spaces). The stop at Market and 11th streets with stop ID 13245 can be found at SFMTA.com/13245
• Text “NextMuni” and the stop ID number to 41411. For the stop at Market and 11th with stop ID 13245, send the text “NextMuni 13245” to 41411.
• Call 511 and say “Departure Times” and the stop ID. For the stop at Market and 11th with stop ID 13245, say “Departure times 13245.”

Published November 02, 2022 at 02:51PM
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Potrero Yard Modernization Project Reaches Milestone

Potrero Yard Modernization Project Reaches Milestone
By John Angelico

The Potrero Yard Modernization Project has reached a key milestone to replace the obsolete, 107-year-old Potrero Bus Yard with the nation’s first joint development of a bus facility with housing constructed on top. Today, the SFMTA Board of Directors approved awarding the project’s predevelopment agreement (PDA) to Potrero Neighborhood Collective, LLC (PNC) as lead developer (LD). This milestone serves as a starting point for Potrero Neighborhood Collective to work together with the City and project stakeholders to further develop the current concept design and start the process that will produce the final project and housing agreements. 

The successful proposal’s conceptual design is for a modern, three-story bus storage and maintenance transit facility and approximately 575 affordable rental units for those with low or moderate incomes. This unique use of a public resource to advance the City’s housing goals while improving desperately needed transit infrastructure would make the facility the first of its kind in the nation.  

Approximately half of the units are planned for low-income seniors, families and single-occupant households. The “low-income” designation is based on earning levels of 80% or below of the Area Media Income (AMI). The remaining units will be available to “moderate income” households earning between 80% and 120% of the AMI. Many SFMTA staff, including bus operators and maintenance staff, fall within this income bracket. 

The ambitious affordability goals for the housing component are reliant on competitive non-City sources, and should the project not secure these sources on a schedule that can accommodate the construction of the bus yard facility, the housing program may need to be amended  

Planning for the project included multiple outreach events with community members and organizations, as well as the formulation of the Potrero Yard Neighborhood Working Group, an advisory panel made of community stakeholders, housing advocates, nearby neighbors and transit operators. The successful proposal includes input received from the community and is consistent with City policies on anti-displacement, inclusive communities and creating stable housing for vulnerable populations.  

  

A conceptual rendering of the multi-use Potrero Yard Modernization Project design. This view looks at the SW corner of Bryant and Mariposa streets, and shows how housing elements might be situated atop a three-story, all-electric bus facility. The concept design includes commercial space fronting Bryant Street with ground floor spaces that anticipate uses by community-based organizations and small businesses, that would complement the existing neighborhood-serving commercial presence there. The concept design showcases a commitment to being a good neighbor to the community. For example, the building massing is oriented to minimize shadowing on Franklin Square Park with a design strategy that steps down the building height as it ranges from the highest point at Mariposa Street towards lower heights at 17th Street adjacent to the park.  

The Potrero Neighborhood Collective (PNC) team is led by its sole equity member, Plenary Americas US Holdings Inc. (Plenary). An investor and developer of public infrastructure, Plenary has a long track record of delivering complex infrastructure, project finance and public private partnership (P3) projects. PNC also includes veteran San Francisco affordable housing and housing developers Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA), Young Community Developers (YCD), Tabernacle Community Development Corporation (TCDC), and Presidio Development Partners. Rounding out the team are design consultants IBI Group and Y.A. studio; providing preconstruction services from the general contracting and construction management perspective are Plant Construction Company and The Allen Group; and infrastructure facility management consultant WT Partnership.  

When the SFMTA launched the Building Progress Program in 2017 — a $2.3 billion multi-year effort to repair, renovate, and modernize the Agency's aging facilities —the first facility to be prioritized for an overhaul was Potrero Yard. Potrero Yard houses bus routes that service neighborhoods across the city, including many communities that are heavily reliant on transit. Routes include the 5 Fulton, 5R Fulton Rapid, 6 Haight/Parnassus, 14 Mission, 22 Fillmore and 30 Stockton.  

The current yard does not meet up-to-date seismic safety standards and is unable to adequately support modern maintenance and cleaning. The design of the new bus facility would provide adequate space and operational flow for bus maintenance, parking and circulation of the bus fleet. A modernized facility will create better working conditions for the frontline workforce entrusted with keeping the buses in safe operation and reduce downtime for buses for both scheduled and ad-hoc repairs. A new facility would make possible Muni’s transition to an all-electric fleet that uses trolley and battery electric buses (BEBs), a critical component in the City’s efforts to address climate change. The new facility is planned to have a fleet capacity of 213 buses, an increase of over 50% from current levels.   

  

The Potrero Division Building and Yard seen from the intersection of Mariposa and Hampshire streets.

Addressing the City’s affordable housing goal while creating a transit facility – one that will prepare the Agency for another century – demonstrates SFMTA’s continued national leadership in delivering sustainable transit and shows a capacity for creative thinking to address San Francisco’s housing goals. Check out the project presentation online, which provides information about this milestone and the successful proposal for the project. For additional information, visit the Potrero Yard Modernization Project website or SFMTA.com/PotreroYard.  

Published November 01, 2022 at 04:47PM
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Central Subway Opens November 19 with Special Weekend Service

Central Subway Opens November 19 with Special Weekend Service
By Mariana Maguire

Central Subway special weekend service starts November 19 with service to Chinatown-Rose Pak Station, Union Square/Market Street Station, Yerba Buena/Moscone Station and 4th and Brannan.

On Saturday, November 19, the Central Subway makes its historic debut with special weekend service, Saturdays and Sundays, from 8 a.m. to 12 a.m. with trains every 12 minutes. During this special weekend service, customers will have a chance to ride through the new Central Subway for free and get to know the four new stations: Chinatown-Rose Pak at Stockton and Clay streets, Union Square/Market Street Station at Geary and Stockton streets, Yerba Buena/Moscone Station at 4th and Folsom and the new 4th & Brannan stop at 4th and Brannan streets.

During the special weekend service, customers can transfer to the new Central Subway service at Powell Station from Muni Metro and BART by walking underground to the new Union Square/Market Street Station.

The new Central Subway connects communities to destinations including Chinatown, Union Square, Yerba Buena Gardens, the Moscone Convention Centre, the Metreon and SFMOMA, just in time for the holidays.

Wayfinding Guidance

SFMTA ambassadors will provide wayfinding guidance online and in-person during special weekend service to help customers learn to navigate the new Central Subway stations and Muni Metro connections.

Online guidance will include a video that will be available on our website. Visit our Service Changes webpage (SFMTA.com/ServiceChanges) to learn more and sign up for a tour.

New T Third service in Central Subway is planned to start January 7

Beginning Saturday, January 7, SFMTA is planning to run the new T Third line service via Central Subway seven days a week, providing a direct connection from Chinatown-Rose Pak Station to Sunnydale. Weekday service will run from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m.. and weekend service will run from 8 a.m. to 12 a.m.. Stay tuned for more details!

Published November 01, 2022 at 11:38AM
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