Free Muni for New Year’s Eve

Free Muni for New Year’s Eve
By Stephen Chun

For the 23rd consecutive year, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) will offer free rides on New Year’s Eve from 8 p.m. on Saturday, December 31 through 5 a.m. on Sunday, January 1. Extra Muni Metro Subway Service will be provided from 8 p.m. Saturday to 2:15 a.m. Sunday. Extra Owl Service will be provided from 10 p.m. Saturday to 5 a.m. Sunday

This program supports San Francisco’s Vision Zero goal to eliminate traffic fatalities.

Ride Muni Free New Year’s Eve includes all Muni lines and routes. Clipper Card customers should NOT tap their cards to make sure they don’t get charged a fare. Muni Mobile passes will not be necessary. Metro fare gates will be open that night. All information, including schedules and stops, will be posted on New Year's Eve Free Muni and Extra Service or SFMTA.com/NYE. Clipper Card customers should NOT tap their cards to make sure they don’t get charged a fare.

Don’t drink and drive, let Muni do the driving.

New Year's Eve Muni Service

• Complimentary Muni service from 8 p.m. Saturday, December 31 to 5 a.m. Sunday, January 1.
• Please do not tag your Clipper® card. If you tag it, you will be charged.
• Please do not activate a MuniMobile ticket. Metro fare gates will be open.
• Extra Muni Metro service:
  
  • Trains between West Portal Station and 4th & King from 8 p.m. to 2:15 a.m.
  • Additional trains between West Portal and Embarcadero Station from 8 p.m. to 2:15 a.m.
  • Transfer at West Portal Station to OWL bus lines.
• Extra service on the OWL Network, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.:
  
  • 5 Fulton
  • 7 Haight/Noriega
  • 22 Fillmore
  • 24 Divisadero
  • 25 Treasure Island
  • 38 Geary
  • 44 O’Shaughnessy
  • 48 Quintara/24th 
  • 90 Owl
  • 91 Owl
  • N Owl

At midnight on New Year’s Eve, a city-sponsored fireworks show from a barge off The Embarcadero, south of the Ferry Building, will take place. Motorists should anticipate delays in the area from approximately 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. and pedestrians are advised to use caution when traveling.

Note: Central Subway will provide free rail shuttle service from Chinatown Rose-Pak to 4th / Brannan St on Saturday, December 31st and Sunday, January 1st from 8 am to 5 pm, instead of midnight. We encourage those planning to use the Central Subway after 5 p.m. this weekend to use the 30 Stockton and 45 Union/Stockton which are scheduled to come every 15-20 minutes. For further information on our staffing & service plans, please visit Central Subway Will Close Early On The Holiday Weekends.

Regional Transit Connections for New Year's Eve

• BART will provide additional service on January 1.
  
  • Full fare pricing will be in effect.
  • The last East Bay bound train running through Downtown San Francisco will be at around 1:30am and the last Southbound train heading toward Millbrae will run through Downtown San Francisco at 2:10am.
  • For more details & trip times, please visit BART’s New Year’s Eve service article.
• Caltrain service will be running on a Weekend Schedule. For more details, please visit https://www.caltrain.com
• SamTrans service will be from 8 p.m. on December 31 until 3:30 am on January 1. For more details, please visit http://www.samtrans.com 

Published December 28, 2022 at 12:33PM
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Upcoming Capacity Indicators

Upcoming Capacity Indicators
By Christopher Ward

Next Generation Customer Information displays will show capacity indicators: One figure means there are many seats available. Two figures indicates that there are likely a few empty seats available. Three figures tell you that there’s likely only standing room available.

The SFMTA continues expanding trip planning and accessibility features and improving Muni predictions. This is part of the ongoing Next Generation Customer Information System (CIS) project. One of the newest features is a capacity indicator.

A capacity indicator helps customers understand how much space is available on vehicles. Customers can see the indicator on our Next Generation displays in the bus shelters and on train platforms. Customers may use this information to make travel choices. For example, customers can choose to wait for a less full vehicle or take an alternative route.

As of November 2022, Muni vehicles equipped with automatic onboard passenger counters send capacity information to our Next Generation CIS. This information is now shown symbolically with stick figures. One figure means there are many seats available. Two figures indicates that there are likely a few empty seats available. Three figures tell you that there’s likely only standing room available.

Customers should always yield the priority seating area for people with disabilities, older adults, and pregnant persons.

We’re excited to finally bring these features to our customers and build a system that will help make Muni travel even more efficient, reliable and enjoyable.

Published December 19, 2022 at 03:08PM
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A Brief History of the T Third Part 2: 1980s-2023

A Brief History of the T Third Part 2: 1980s-2023
By Jeremy Menzies

Beginning in January 2023 full service on the new T Third extension 2023 will run from Sunnydale to Chinatown every day. In this two-part blog series, we will look back at some of the history of the T Third Street line. Part 1, published last month goes through the first 100+ years. In Part 2, we look at the recent history of the T Third and Central Subway projects from the 1980s to today. 

The Call for Better Transit: 1980s-90s 

In the decades following World War II, the neighborhoods along the southern end of 3rd Street became more economically depressed and transit service declined.  Residents felt cut off from the rest of the city as bus service did not meet their needs. 

People boarding a 15 Route bus on 3rd Street near Market in 1983. Bus service on the 15 provided critical north-south service through the City’s busiest areas. 

In the late 1980s, the city was looking to revitalize the Mission Bay, Dogpatch, and Bayview and reliable transit was critical to this goal. Early outreach and research resulted in the 1993 Bayshore Transit Study. This initial plan solicited community input on several possible solutions on how to improve transit to these neighborhoods. Two years later in 1995, the Four Corridor Plan built upon the Bayshore Transit Study and elevated 3rd street as the top priority for San Francisco’s long-range transit plan. It was clear that residents, particularly in Bayview, wanted rail service to return to 3rd Street. 

T Third Phase 1: 1990s-2007 

These reports and outreach formed the backbone of the Third Street Light Rail Project, which would be built in two initial Phases. Phase 1 involved extending Muni Metro service from 4th and King to Bayshore Boulevard along 3rd Street. Phase 2 would focus on the 4th and Stockton corridors to extend the service into Chinatown and possibly North Beach. 

By the end of the ‘90s, funding was coming in to make Phase 1 a reality. Early plans for the T also included a new rail maintenance facility, Muni Metro East, as well as a turnback loop in Mission Bay and a direct connection to the Bayshore Caltrain Station. Due to various factors during preconstruction planning, the Mission Bay Loop and Bayshore Caltrain connection were dropped from the T Line plan. 

A groundbreaking ceremony for T Third construction was held on May 28, 2002 at the 4th and King Caltrain Station.  

Construction of 5.1 miles of new tracks, overhead power lines, lighting, stations, and a variety of other improvements took five years to complete. On January 13, 2007, free weekend shuttle service commenced on the new line and full weekday service started on April 7. Just one year later in 2008, the Muni Metro East rail yard opened, boosting Muni’s ability to serve the new line. For the first time in 50 years, rail service returned to the eastern waterfront. 

View north along 3rd Street at Jamestown Avenue during construction in 2004. 

T Third Phase 2: Central Subway 

Planning and outreach for Phase 2 of the T Line had already begun when the line opened in 2007. The Central Subway Project was created to address the transit needs of Chinatown, Union Square and South of Market. Construction would extend the T nearly two miles and build the first new subway in the city since the 1970s.

This 2016 photo, taken inside the excavation for Chinatown Station shows the massive scale of the Central Subway Project. 

Early proposals showed the Central Subway traveling north on 3rd Street and along Geary where it would turn up Stockton to end in Chinatown. Going south, the line would branch and exit the tunnel on 4th Street. The challenges of construction along 3rd and at Market Street resulted in a plan to run the line on 4th and Stockton streets. It was also decided to tunnel underneath the Market Street Subway/BART tunnels using special tunnel boring machines instead of more conventional construction methods. 

The official groundbreaking ceremony took place on February 9, 2010. The arduous process of building a subway with four stations through San Francisco’s densest neighborhoods began soon after. Despite an intensive construction period with project delays and cost increases, the Central Subway opened for service on November 19, 2022.  

Opening day of the Central Subway on November 19, 2022. Thousands of people came out to see and ride in the long-awaited subway. 

Over 30 years in the making, the T Third line follows in the footsteps of the first horsecars that ran over 160 years ago. However, this is not the end of the line for the T. Planning is already underway on the T Third Phase 3 extension. Aimed at expanding service beyond 3rd Street, this extension will mark yet another chapter in San Francisco’s transportation history. 

Published December 15, 2022 at 11:22AM
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Central Subway Brings More Art to Union Square

Central Subway Brings More Art to Union Square
By Enrique Aguilar

Main entrance to Union Square/Market Street Station during special weekend service 

The Union Square/Market Street Station is centered in the heart of the Union Square neighborhood, known for world-class shopping and notable art galleries. With the opening of the Central Subway, a new public art collection arrived, with color schemes complementing the station’s modern architectural design. Collaborations between artists reign at this station, allowing a blend of different artistic concepts. 

• Erwin Redl titled his piece Lucy in the Sky. It is an illuminated installation comprised of hundreds of translucent 10 x 10 inch light panels, each containing an array of color LEDs. A diamond-shaped pattern is formed by suspended light panels along the entire length of the concourse level corridor’s ceiling. They are computer programmed to slowly change color and display simple patterns, creating an immersive and kaleidoscopic experience.  

• Jim Campbell and Werner Klotz created a site-specific stainless-steel sculpture called Silent Stream, located on the station’s platform level. Comprised of highly polished steel disks, the overhead installation loops its way through the struts along the length of the platform and reflects the passengers and trains passing below.  

• Amanda Hughen and Jennifer Starkweather integrated a design into the glass deck and the front faces of the glass elevator enclosures. Titled Convergence: Commute Patterns, the artwork is based on the dynamic and diverse pathways, commute patterns and arterial structures above and below the streets of the Bay Area. The artwork’s visual impact on the station’s exterior alternates from being subtle during the day to backlit at night.  

Watch an interview video with comments from Amanda Hughen, Jennifer Starkweather, Erwin Redel, Jim Campbell and Werner Klotz. Get to know the artists and learn directly from them about their work at the new Union Square/Market Street Station. A special thank you to the San Francisco Arts Commission for making public art possible at the four new stations. 

Special Weekend Service started on Nov. 19 and will last through the end of the year, Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. to midnight. Full revenue service will begin January 7, Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to midnight and Saturdays and Sundays, 8 a.m. to midnight. 

For more artist information: 

• Hughen/Starkweather: 
  • https://www.hughenstarkweather.com/ 
  • https://www.instagram.com/hughen_starkweather/ 
  • https://twitter.com/hughenstarkw 
• Erwin Redl: 
  • http://www.paramedia.net/ 
  • https://www.instagram.com/erwinredl/ 
  • https://www.facebook.com/erwin.redl.3/ 
•  Jim Campbell  and  Werner Klotz: 
  • https://new.jimcampbell.tv/about/ 
  • http://werner-klotz.de/ 
  • https://www.instagram.com/jimcampbellstudio/ 
  • https://www.instagram.com/werner_klotz/ 

Published December 14, 2022 at 04:24PM
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New T Third Route in Central Subway Starting January 7

New T Third Route in Central Subway Starting January 7
By Mariana Maguire

New T Third service via Central Subway starts January 7 with service between Sunnydale and Chinatown-Rose Pak Station.

On Saturday, January 7, the T Third starts its historic new route, providing a direct Metro connection between Sunnydale and Chinatown-Rose Pak Station. Service runs Mondays through Fridays, 6 a.m. to midnight. every 10 minutes and Saturdays and Sundays, 8 a.m. to midnight every 12 minutes. The new T Third line vastly improves transportation to and from some of San Francisco’s most densely populated areas and major shopping corridors, expanding transit options and new connections.

The new T Third route will travel north to the new Central Subway from 4th & King platform. It will no longer turn onto King Street or run along the Embarcadero and the Market Street subway. Also, the K Ingleside will now travel between Balboa Park and Embarcadero Station.

New Connections

Customers traveling to stops along the Embarcadero, the baseball stadium at 2nd and King streets should transfer to the N Judah. Customers should transfer at Powell Station to Union Square/Market Street Station for the T Third going to Sunnydale.

To transfer to the new T Third at Union Square/Market Street Station from the J Church, K Ingleside, M Ocean View, N Judah or BART at Powell Station, you can connect entirely underground. From the Powell Station platforms, take the elevator or follow signs to concourse level, then follow signs to Union Square/Market Street Station.  

Customers on the T Third connecting to other Muni Metro routes or BART should follow signs on the Union Square/Market Street Station platform toward Stockton/Ellis streets.

Navigating the Union Square/Market Street Station

The new Central Subway stations have many new features, including long escalators – the longest in the United States west of the Mississippi – and two glass elevators at every level for more accessibility.

Customers who need to use the elevators to the platform should bypass the fare gates near the street entrances at Union Square/Market Street Station. Instead, use the fare gates in the center of the concourse.

MuniMobile and Lifeline customers may use any fare gate at the Union Square/Market Street Station.

Special Chase Center Event Service

During events at Chase Center, the SFMTA will run special event service about every 10 minutes in addition to normal T Third service. The additional special event trains – with “S Chase Center” head signs – will serve all stops between Chinatown-Rose Pak Station and UCSF/Chase Center. From end to end the ride takes only 20 minutes. Best of all, your event ticket is your Muni fare. No additional Muni fare needed!

Customers traveling past Chase Center during this special event service should check train head signs and only board “T Third” trains for a one-seat ride to their destination.

We know new T Third service in the new Central Subway is a big change that will take time to get used to. We’re here to help! Stay tuned for helpful wayfinding guidance and orientations, and check out our Frequently Asked Questions for helpful commuting tips.

Send us your questions at TellMuni@SFMTA.com so we can help you navigate better and become a Muni Metro pro!

Published December 13, 2022 at 12:29PM
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Public Artwork Unveiled Inside New Station in Yerba Buena

Public Artwork Unveiled Inside New Station in Yerba Buena
By Enrique Aguilar

Have you had a chance to explore the Central Subway's new stations? Special weekend service is Saturdays and Sundays, from 8 a.m. to 12 a.m. midnight, through the end of the year. Ride the trains and be mesmerized by beautiful artwork at each new station. 

Muni customers will encounter public art when using the four new Central Subway stations to reach their destinations. The art was commissioned by the San Francisco Arts Commission and funded by the City’s Art Enrichment Ordinance, which allocates 2% of the total eligible costs of public works projects for public art. Public art helps draw out the identity of a space, aids in understanding a neighborhood's historical or cultural significance, and builds a connection between the visitor and surrounding community. 

The Yerba Buena/Moscone Station includes artwork by Catherine Wagner, Leslie Shows and Roxy Paine. The installations can be found on the station's surface and concourse levels. 

• Catherine Wagner transformed photographs she took in the late 1970s that document the monumental construction of the George Moscone Convention Center, and focus on ideas of transformation. Titled Arc Cycle, the artwork reproduces several iconic images from this photographic series, translating them into laser-etched granite at the concourse level, and art glass at the station’s entry.  

• Leslie Shows created Face C/Z, installed in the ticketing hall on the concourse level. Based on an image of iron pyrite made with a consumer grade scanner, the artwork was hand fabricated in a unique style combining mirrored, fused, painted, and engraved glass, sheet metal, and other permanent materials The pyrite (or "fool's gold") image speaks to ever-shifting notions of value in industry and aesthetics, the many historical "gold rushes" of California, and the idea that anything might be made valuable under the right circumstances.  

• Roxy Paine created a monumental, 110 feet tall sculpture for the public plaza at 4th and Clementina streets outside of the station. Titled Node, the artwork is conceived to emerge from the complex manmade structures existing beneath the sidewalk, including the subway, communication networks, electrical and water supply, and waste systems that are all lifelines of a functioning city. According to Paine, the sculpture is "an elegant line connecting earth to sky, people to underground systems, and sculpture to city." Node is expected to be installed in early 2023. 

Mockup of art installation on the station's plaza

Watch an interview video with artists Leslie Shows and Catherine Wagner to learn more about their inspiration for their work on display at the new Yerba Buena/Moscone station. A special thank you to the San Francisco Arts Commission for making public art possible at the four new stations. 

Full revenue service will begin January 7, Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to midnight and Saturdays and Sundays, 8 a.m. to midnight. 

Stay tuned for additional blogs showcasing public art at the other new Central Subway stations. 

For more artist information:

• Roxy Paine:  
  • http://roxypaine.com/ 
  • https://www.instagram.com/roxypaine/   
• Leslie Shows: 
  • https://www.leslieshows.com/ 
  • https://www.instagram.com/peepshows/ 
• Catherine Wagner: 
  • http://www.catherinewagner.org/ 
  • https://www.instagram.com/catherine_wagner_studio/ 
• Moto Ohtake:  
  • http://www.motoohtake.com/ 
  • https://www.facebook.com/moto.ohtake 

Published December 09, 2022 at 03:35PM
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Hop Onboard Muni and Enjoy Downtown Union Square

Hop Onboard Muni and Enjoy Downtown Union Square
By Pamela Johnson

The iconic Cable Cars are just one of the many options to get you to all the holiday festivities in Downtown Union Square!

The SFMTA would like to wish you a Happy Holidays! With festivities, dining, shopping and all the many holiday activities to choose from, Downtown Union Square, much like the rest of the city is making optimistic strides in the city’s economic recovery. Catching Muni, paratransit or a taxi to downtown supports small businesses and is a big boost to our transit goals. Below is a comprehensive list of transit and parking options to head into the heart of the downtown shopping and festivities this holiday season.  

Central Subway Special Weekend Shuttle 

• The Central Subway’s Special Weekend Shuttle has got you covered on Saturday and Sunday’s every 12 minutes from 8 am to 12 am. Deboard at our new Union Square/Market Street Station. From here, you can also transfer to BART’s Powell Station, our regional transit partners.  

Muni Metro Light Rail  

• J Church  

• KT: K Ingleside-T Third Street 

• M Oceanview 

Muni Bus Lines 

• F Market and Wharves 

• N Judah Shuttle (S) 

• 6 Haight/Parnassus 

• 8 Bayshore 

• 9 San Bruno 

• 9 R San Bruno Rapid 

• 30 Stockton 

• 38  Geary 

• 38 R Geary Rapid 

• For more information, please visit SFMTA Trip Planner. 

Cable Cars 

• Invented here nearly 150 years ago and named a National Historic Landmark in 1964, hop on any of our beloved world famous Cable Cars this season. Be sure to lookout for several Cable Cars decorated in the spirit of the holidays by our dedicated and talented staff. Passengers will travel up and down the hills of San Francisco in this annual holiday tradition.  

Additional Services  

• Free One-Hour Parking at Union Square Garage - the Mayor will be providing one-hour of free parking at our Union Square garage through the end of the year, regular posted rates apply thereafter. All facilities have increased staffing and security, restriped its parking spaces, and upgraded much of its overhead lighting, to make parking easier and safer this holiday.   

• Additional SFMTA parking garages - Ellis O’Farrell, Sutter-Stockton and Fifth & Mission / Yerba Buena 

• If you drive, parking in a city-owned garage may be the way to go. And parking rates at city-owned garages are typically 40% less expensive than parking prices in privately-owned garages.  

• Visit the general holiday parking advisories to learn more about holiday parking rules.   

• Visit the SFMTA’s list of city-owned parking facilities for a list of public parking garages and lots.   

• Taxi - with knowledgeable and trustworthy drivers, save some gas and catch a taxi. You’ll not only ride in a clean and safe vehicle, your taxi can use our red transit-only lanes to get to your destination quicker. And since November 9, the Taxi Upfront Fare Pilot Program has been helping customers book a taxi trip through a taxi e-hail app and pay a flat-rate, upfront fare.  Being able to request a taxi through approved third-party apps provided customers with upfront information about their fares, relieve meter anxiety and allow customers to price shop for similar on-demand services.

• Essential Trip Card - older adults, people with disabilities and other eligible participants can benefit from this discount program paying 20% of the cost of a regular cab. Don’t forget our Shop-a-Round program, a convenient, low-cost shuttle that makes it easier to go grocery shopping for all your holiday meals. The shuttle takes groups of riders to grocery stores or supermarkets in San Francisco where they want to shop. The service offers registered older adults and people with disabilities personalized assistance that is not available on Muni bus and rail lines. 

• SF Paratransit - is a van and taxi program for people unable to independently use or access public transit because of a disability or disabling health condition. Participants may also use their Essential Trip Card for this service.  

For real-time updates, follow us on https://twitter.com/sfmta_muni or visit SFMTA.com/EmailText to sign up for real-time text messages or email alerts. 

For details of Muni re-routes, visit SFMTA.com/Updates. This website will be updated when it is closer to the event date. 

For additional notifications and agency updates, subscribe to our blogs, daily or weekly updates. 

Published December 09, 2022 at 10:20AM
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Riders are Feeling the Difference on Geary

Riders are Feeling the Difference on Geary
By

The results are in: the Geary Rapid Project has delivered a faster, more reliable bus trip and a safer street, according to the SFMTA’s recently published evaluation report for the project.  

A faster, more reliable bus ride 

One out of every ten passengers stepping onto a Muni vehicle will ride on Geary Blvd., which makes reducing travel time on the corridor a key piece of improving transit in the city. The transit lanes installed as part of the Geary Rapid Project protect buses from traffic congestion, while smarter traffic signals allow buses to get green lights more often. Similar transit upgrades have been made across the city as part of the Muni Forward program, making your next San Francisco destination closer than ever. 

Transit travel time improved after the quick-build phase of the Geary Rapid Project in late 2018 and early 2019, and again after the full project was completed in 2021 — with savings as great as 18%. Westbound travel times generally improved the most — up to 3.6 minutes during the PM peak — providing a daily 38R Geary Rapid rider 18 hours of savings per year. Although the biggest time savings were seen during commute hours, with 36,000 riders traveling on Geary around the clock each day, even smaller gains outside of peak hours adds up to major travel time savings for all Geary riders combined.  Travel time reliability also improved up to 37%, which means that the time spent waiting for the next bus is more consistent. 

A safer street  

Reducing Muni-involved collisions is critical to protect our passengers and operators. It also keeps Muni service running smoothly; even non-injury collisions cause buses to be taken out of service. Adding dedicated transit lanes on Geary Boulevard has substantially reduced the rate of Muni-involved collisions on the corridor. The collision rate of 38/38R buses decreased by two-thirds and is now about half that of the current citywide Muni bus collision rate. Several years of data will be necessary to fully evaluate the project’s impacts on reducing traffic collisions in general. But one promising indicator is that there was a 70-80% reduction in vehicles traveling over 40 mph (more than 5 mph over the speed limit). A suite of improvements to calm the “expressway” section of the corridor, including a reduction in general-purpose travel lanes to two per direction, new crosswalks, narrower travel lanes and bulb-outs (sidewalk extensions) were implemented to encourage people driving to slow down. 

Comparison graph of 40 mph travel speeds before and after the Geary Rapid Project. 

 

Keeping transit lanes clear 

One of the final portions of the project was painting the transit lanes red. This “red carpet” treatment makes it easier for drivers to know where they’re allowed to drive. When we make transit lanes extra clear with red paint, drivers are less likely to get a citation for unintentionally driving in a transit lane. Previous SFMTA studies showed that the number of private vehicles illegally using transit lanes declines about 50% when the lanes are painted red. Sure enough, the number of vehicles entering the lanes on Geary dropped by 47% from 2019 to 2022, even as traffic congestion returned after COVID restrictions eased (vehicles driving legally in the transit lane to turn right or access curbside parking or driveways were not included). 

The full evaluation report is available on the SFMTA website and covers several additional metrics, including street space allocation, Muni customer experience and parking availability. 

The success of the Geary Rapid Project has informed the final design for the second phase of upgrades, the Geary Boulevard Improvement Project, which proposes to expand these improvements west into the Richmond District.  

A photo is worth a thousand words to show the improvements made on Geary Boulevard. These birds-eye shots provide representative examples of the street design on Geary before (August 2018) and after implementation (February 2022) of the Geary Rapid Project.

Published December 08, 2022 at 02:02PM
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Shared Spaces are Here to Stay. Permit Renewals are Due January 15, 2023.

Shared Spaces are Here to Stay. Permit Renewals are Due January 15, 2023.
By Anne Yalon

Shared Spaces, amongst many other benefits, allows our residents and families to enjoy safe and social outdoor dining. Seen here are the the owners of Tio Chilo’s Grill and their children in the restaurant’s parklet on 24th Street in the Mission. 

San Francisco’s popular Shared Spaces program allows merchants, restaurants and arts and culture organizations to use the curbside, sidewalk and other public spaces to conduct local business activities and stay afloat. What emerged as an economic lifeline during the pandemic is making San Francisco’s streets more energized, engaged and activated.

Many of the Shared Spaces parklets have become central gathering places for the local community. “Our parklet makes me feel like when I go to Mexico, where outdoor seating is everywhere. People end up joining their friends in our parklet. It is a space for our customers and our community," said Liz Vazquez, owner of Tio Chilos Grill. Ray Bair, owner of Cheese Plus, said, "My Shared Space has been a community gathering space. It's an ideal location because we are on a corner. I go out to it every afternoon and see so many people from the neighborhood sitting and enjoying the space. It's so satisfying to see people using the space for what the Shared Spaces program was intended for."

Now, Shared Spaces is transitioning from an emergency initiative to a permanent program. In July 2021, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously passed legislation introduced by Mayor London Breed to make the Shared Spaces Program permanent. Permits from the pandemic-era Shared Spaces Program were extended to June 30, 2022 and then later to March 31, 2023. Parklet owners have until January 15, 2023 to renew their permits which, once approved, will go into effect on April 1, 2023.

The extension has allowed additional time for small businesses to make any necessary modifications to their shared spaces as they transition into a longer-term permit. Because many of the Shared Spaces were built very quickly, some of them need to be modified to meet the most up-to-date guidelines for safety and accessibility.

So far, 450 permit applications have been submitted for the long-term Shared Spaces program. San Francisco operators who want to keep their existing outdoor Shared Space beyond March 2023 need to renew their permits by January15, 2023. Permit holders wishing to end their existing Shared Space also need to notify Shared Spaces.

Parklet owners who are still deciding if a Shared Spaces permit will work for their business or need to modify their Shared Space to fit the city’s design guidelines can watch the 2-minute design guidelines videos. These videos explain how to make Shared Space safe and accessible for all. They focus on intersection safety and visibility, and emergency access for the fire department. Another video about disability access is in the works.

More information for parklet owners is available at these upcoming events:

Application and site plan workshop

When: Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m

Where: The Crossing, 200 Folsom St. San Francisco. Register here.   

Who: Current parklet operators wishing to apply for a permit.

This interactive, in-person training will ensure that parklet operators and professionals designing and building parklets understand how to create a site plan and an application. Have a question? Bring your application and site plan with you and have our team of experts review it and provide feedback.  Please RSVP and submit your questions in advance here. The training will be 1 hour and 30 minutes in length, including a 45-minute Q & A.   

Parklet Design Training 

When: Thursday, Dec. 15, 9:30 a.m-11 a.m.  

Where: 49 South Van Ness, Room 136.egister here  
Who: Designers, builders and contractors of parklets.
This interactive, in-person training will ensure that professionals designing and building parklets understand design requirements and best practices for safety and accessibility at Shared Spaces parklets. Attendees will receive a certificate of attendance and will be listed on the program website as having attended the City’s training. Please RSVP and submit your questions in advance here. The training will be 1 hour and 30 minutes in length, including a 30-minute Q & A.  

Roadway Closure application and site plan workshop

When: January (check the Shared Spaces website for updates)

More information is available on the Shared Spaces website. To see photos of parklets and featured parklet owners, check out Shared Spaces on Instagram and Twitter.

The SFMTA is proud to help operate the program in partnership with the Mayor’s Office, Department of Planning, Department of Public Works, Digital Services, Entertainment Commission, Office of Economic and Workforce Development, Mayor’s Office on Disability, 311, Department of Technology, Public Utilities Commission and Fire Department.

Published December 08, 2022 at 12:06PM
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Slow Streets are Here to Stay—Here's How to Use Them

Slow Streets are Here to Stay—Here's How to Use Them
By Eillie Anzilotti

Slow Streets provide safe travel for children, families, wheel users, older adults, persons with disabilities and the entire community

The success of Slow Streets depends on everyone working together to keep these spaces safe and joyful. 

On Tuesday, December 6 the SFMTA Board of Directors approved an ongoing, post-pandemic Slow Streets program for San Francisco. That means that Slow Streets are here to stay!  

We recognize that there are a lot of questions about how to use Slow Streets. To answer them, we created a fact sheet in English, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, and Filipino. You can find that fact sheet linked here. 

The main thing to remember is: Everybody is welcome, and please go slow! 

Slow Streets create safe corridors for people who prefer not to drive, while preserving parallel arterial streets for vehicles. On Slow Streets, kids can walk and bike themselves safely to school, families can run errands together by bike, and people with disabilities can find safe spaces to navigate their communities.  

Whether you are walking, rolling, riding a bicycle, or driving, please watch out for and be kind to your fellow Slow Street users. These streets are community spaces, and basic decency and consideration will go a long way. 

In general, we ask that communities make sure Slow Streets can still function as active roadways. That means keeping decorations out of travel lanes, and not adding any hard-to-move items, like furniture, to the streets. If you want to host an event that requires the full use of a street, the Slow Streets and the SFMTA Special Events teams are happy to help. Our program team is always available to discuss and respond to any of your questions. 

Since Slow Streets were first introduced at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, they have created safe, shared community spaces on residential streets across San Francisco. Slow Streets are an essential part of how San Francisco will meet its Vision Zero and Climate Action goals. SFMTA data shows a drop in collisions on Slow Streets, which means they’re safer for all users. And having safer streets means more people are encouraged to bike, walk, and roll to get around.  

The program will be able to expand to meet community needs and contribute to a growing network of streets that are safe and welcoming to people of all ages and abilities. While the Board initially approved 16 corridors for inclusion, more will be added in the future. 

We look forward to expanding the program and offering more ways for communities to activate their Slow Streets. Keep an eye out for news and opportunities by subscribing for updates at SFMTA.com/SlowStreets! 

Published December 07, 2022 at 12:09PM
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