New Muni Service Changes Start Saturday, August 19

New Muni Service Changes Start Saturday, August 19
By Clive Tsuma

28R 19th Avenue will run on weekdays between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. starting Monday, August 21. 

Back to School 

With SFUSD students returning to school August 16, many families who rely on Muni to get to school will see service increase after school as part of the new schedule. Because Muni vehicles often become crowded during morning peak hours and sometimes pass up stops when there is not enough room for more riders, families are encouraged to plan their trips ahead of time and hop on Muni early to make sure students get to school on time. 

With every public school in the San Francisco Unified School District being served by at least one Muni route, students can expect extra Muni service on the first day of the school this fall and continue providing service throughout the school year. While the Muni service changes won’t be implemented until August 19, school tripper service will be offered starting August 16, the first day of school for SFUSD. To view which Muni lines, serve each school, visit SFMTA.com/Muni2School. 

28R 19th Avenue Rapid Service  

The return of the 28R 19th Avenue and the stop changes on the 29 Sunset is another highlight of the upcoming August 19 Muni service changes.  Muni will make changes to its service to address crowding and improve travel times. School tripper service will start on August 16 to coincide with the first day of school for SFUSD.  

The restoration of the 28R 19th Avenue Rapid line will address crowding that riders on the 28 19th Avenue bus currently experience. The 28R 19th Avenue Rapid will run every 12 minutes on weekdays between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Combined with the 28 19th Avenue, service on the corridor will be every six minutes.  

The 28R 19th Avenue Rapid will run on a modified route that ends at the Daly City BART station, rather than at the Balboa Park BART station as it used to. The new route will include the same 28R 19th Avenue stops from 19th Avenue at Holloway Ave north, but after serving the 19th & Holloway stop, the bus will go directly to the Daly City BART.  While the new 28R 19th Avenue will not provide service to stops on Arch or Alemany, it will provide a more direct route to BART for people along the 19th Avenue corridor. Riders along the Alemany corridor going to the Balboa Park BART station can continue to use the 54 Felton.  

Highlights for the August 19 Service Changes 

• As part of the 29 Sunset Improvement Project, 11 stops will be removed in each direction on the 29 Sunset to improve reliability and make the 29 quicker. The 29 Sunset’s northern terminal will also change from Baker Beach to 25th Avenue and California Street after 10 p.m. Though some customers may need to start using a different stop, the route will be faster, more reliable and less crowded. The new night-time terminal will affect the following stops: Bowley Street at Lincoln Boulevard, Bowley Street at Gibson Road, Lincoln Boulevard at Bowley Street and 25th Avenue at El Camino Del Mar. Riders boarding at these stops and traveling south will need to wait for the operator’s layover at California. 

• With the return of the 28R 19th Avenue Rapid, the 28 19th Avenue will see a decrease in weekday frequency from every 10 minutes during morning and evening peaks to 12 minutes all day. However, combined weekday frequency with the 28R 19th Avenue Rapid will be every six minutes on shared stops along the corridor. 

• To address crowding on the 14R Mission Rapid during the early morning and afternoon school hours, more frequent morning service will start at 6 a.m. and service for students departing schools will ramp up around 2 p.m. 

• The 31 Balboa will extend to Townsend and 4th (Caltrain) serving eight (8) new stops on weekdays only. 

• The 38 Geary service to Geary and 32nd Avenue will increase from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. on weekends to address evening crowding. The frequency 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. on weekends will decrease from 10 minutes to 20 minutes. 

• The southern terminal for the 19 Polk in the Hunters Point Shipyard will change to Donahue & Innes, from Galvez Avenue at Hill Drive. All current stops on the line will continue to be served. The terminal has been moved to a location with better lighting to prioritize operator and passenger safety. 

• The 30 Stockton will terminate at Sports Basement (Crissy Field) until 8 p.m. The northern terminal after 8 p.m. will be on Divisadero at Chestnut. 

• Inbound (16448) and outbound (16449) Inbound stops on Sloat at 43rd Avenue served by the 18 46th Avenue and 23 Monterey will be discontinued as part of the Sloat Quick Build Project. 

• The 6 Parnassus and 43 Masonic inbound stop at Parnassus at Hillway (15892) will go out of service due to long-term construction. 

• The 28 19th Avenue, 30 Stockton and 91 3rd Street-19th Avenue Owl eastbound stop at North Point and Larkin (15465) will be removed due to long-term construction. 

• The 48 Quintara-24th Street pilot reroute and eastern terminal change to 22nd at Iowa will be made permanent and will also apply to the 48 Owl. One weekday bus will be added to the 48 Quintara-24th Street to address crowding. 

• To improve reliability without sacrificing frequency on the 57 Parkmerced we are adding a bus on weekdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. This will allow the line to continue providing service every 20 minutes while contending with severe traffic congestion along the route. Weekend frequencies will change to 25 minutes from 20 minutes to account for more running time due to congestion. 

• The 55 Dogpatch will decrease in frequency from 15 minutes to 20 minutes to account for additional running time due to due to congestion and construction on 16th Street. 

We’re also prioritizing safety on Muni. If you experience or witness customer or operator harassment on Muni, report it directly to the SFMTA by calling 311 or using the 311 mobile app or the Muni Feedback form (SFMTA.com/MuniFeedback). 

Published August 14, 2023 at 01:59PM
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Track Replacement on the L Taraval Line

Track Replacement on the L Taraval Line
By Sevilla Mann

If you’ve traveled through the Sunset or Parkside neighborhoods recently, you may have seen a lot of construction activity on Taraval Street. Major construction projects are an inconvenience, and the impacts seem to be never ending. You may wonder, why does it take so long? 

We would like to thank everyone for your ongoing patience and understanding as the L Taraval Improvement Project to replace aging infrastructure continues. Since we announced the beginning of the second segment of improvements on Taraval Street in January 2022, we’ve been busy wrapping up upgrades to the sewer and water lines, underground conduits and new pole foundations for the Overhead Contact System (OCS) that powers our Muni trains. We have also installed the necessary infrastructure to upgrade existing electrical for the trains, current and future streetlights and light poles.

We’ve now begun work on some of the above-ground improvements that you’ll be soon able to experience for yourself when the project is completed next year. To improve safety and accessibility, we’re upgrading existing boarding islands and adding additional islands that are ADA compliant. We are also making curb ramp upgrades, adding pedestrian bulbs and paving streets. To beautify the street, new trees and landscaping will be planted. We’re completely replacing the worn tracks that were initially installed in 1975. This will make your ride smoother and more reliable. You can learn more about 100 years of rail on Taraval.  

 

Track installation between 28th and 31st avenues in 2023.

Track Replacement Work

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see the tracks replaced in the City’s 150 rail infrastructure. San Francisco’s unique rail system dates back 150 years and ties together our cable cars, historic electric street cars and today’s modern Muni light rail service. Over the years, our rail maintenance team has been vigilant in keeping the rails in good working condition for as long as possible. Now the tracks are at the end of their useful life, and we are replacing the rails and upgrading our rail system to keep our trains operating smoothly well into the 21st century. 

Track work between 16th and 19th avenues has begun, and the middle of Taraval Street will be closed to traffic traveling north- and southbound on 17th and 18th Avenues across Taraval Street for excavation work. East- and westbound lanes will remain open and traffic approaching Taraval Street will be allowed right turns only. 

Note: that some L Taraval Bus stops may be temporarily relocated in active construction areas; please look for signs posted at bus stops.  

Track excavation between 28th and 31st avenues in 2023.

On Monday, August 14, we will do a “rail pull” -- literally pulling the rails from the current staging location on Wawona Street and 20th Avenue for installation on Taraval Street between 16th and 19th avenues. The rails have been assembled from 100-yard rods into 400-yard “strings” ready for installation. We will use two loaders to push and pull the rails from storage, guide the strings down 21st Avenue and turn onto Taraval Street. Each rail segment is over a block long, so moving them to their new home will be quite a feat.  

There will be intermittent temporary traffic delays along the pull route and at the intersection of 19th and Taraval Street. So, if you’re in the neighborhood on Monday, August 14, please try to avoid driving along the rail pull route. Or better yet, grab a bite to eat from one of Taraval’s excellent restaurants and watch history being made from the sidelines! If you miss this rail pull, stay tuned for the next one by signing up for project updates.  

Published August 11, 2023 at 02:34PM
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Making Special Events Possible

Making Special Events Possible
By Michael Delia

 

Outdoor festivals like Sunday Streets Phoenix Day celebrate the spirit of San Francisco. Such special events rely on the cooperation of many city departments. 

San Francisco is a city that loves its outdoor events. Whether it’s a cultural heritage or holiday festival, farmers market, street fair, dance party, road race or even just a neighborhood block party, what often gets overlooked is the intricate collaboration and planning across city departments to make these events a success. 

Nick Chapman is one of the people behind the scenes at the SFMTA who helps make them a reality. For seven years, he has worked to manage the permitting process that’s required for any special event. As a native San Franciscan who knows many corners of the city, Chapman has an appreciation for the public’s requests and finds the work to be fascinating. 

“Every project is a little different. Every event, every location is a new situation with different stakeholders. Working with other city departments makes it fun and interesting,” he says. 

Chapman is the manager of ISCOTT, or the Interdepartmental Staff Committee on Traffic and Transportation. The board is made up of representatives from seven city agencies, including the SFMTA, Public Works, Police, Fire, the Entertainment Commission, Public Health and Planning. ISCOTT is responsible for approving or denying any event permit that requires a street closure on a roadway managed by the SFMTA. Certain exceptions outside of its jurisdiction include requests for street closures within parks managed by Recreation and Park, the National Parks Service and the Presidio Trust. 

ISCOTT convenes for public hearings twice a month, except in November when it meets once. There are many considerations that go into any event request. 

The first step is to submit an application. There are two types, one for Neighborhood Block Parties and one for all other Special Events. Applicants are encouraged to provide as much detail as possible about their event, including a site plan of any streets requiring closure. 

Chapman reviews each application for possible issues. If an event falls on a particularly busy date, he may contact other city departments to determine resource availability and suggest alternatives to the applicant. He ultimately wants events to be approved and tries to caution applicants before they submit the non-refundable fee. 

The minimum deadline to submit an application is 30 days before the event date, but applicants are encouraged to send in proposals as much as four to six months in advance. This allows time to secure any additional resources, such as food, alcohol or vendor permits, insurance, a medical plan or restrooms. It also provides flexibility if a certain date is unavailable. In recent years, the SFMTA has tried to improve the process by moving applications online, offering increased transparency about permitting and working to reduce fees, especially for small scale block parties and non-profits. 

When ISCOTT approves a request and the date is set, we coordinate resources to determine next steps. Several agency groups work together to prepare an array of services for upcoming street closures. Parking Control Officers might be required to direct traffic around the area. Reroutes of Muni lines need to be planned and communicated to the public and operational staff. Transit stops need to be moved with new temporary signs posted. Taxi stands, paratransit pick-up and drop-off zones or areas for car and bike shares might need to be defined. For the largest events, the signal timing of traffic lights may even be modified. Thought also goes into notifying Google Maps, Waze and autonomous vehicle services about street closures, so they show up on maps on the day of the event. 

The contributions from the Streets, Meter Shop, Temporary Sign Shop, Transit and Communications divisions are small but vital parts that make these events a success. The interagency work that goes on between the SFMTA and other city departments is also key. 

Special events help to stimulate the economy, strengthen social ties within the community and encourage civic pride. Every planned event requires resources so that they can be held safely, and it’s important that different city departments are aware of them. ISCOTT helps to serve that need so that these events continue year after year. 

For more information about applying for a special event street closure, please visit our website (SFMTA.com/StreetClosures). 

Published August 10, 2023 at 03:49PM
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How to Pay for Parking at The City's New Multi-Space Paystations

How to Pay for Parking at The City's New Multi-Space Paystations
By Pamela Johnson

One of San Francisco's new paystations as the city moves away from its aging parking meters.

How drivers pay for street parking in San Francisco continues to evolve. In March 2022, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) began the Citywide Parking Meter Replacement Project to replace San Francisco's aging 27,000 parking meters. Half of the parking meters will be replaced with new single-space meters and the other half with multi-space paystations that use a brand-new pay-by-license-plate system. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2024. 

San Francisco uses paid parking to create curb availability in commercial districts and high-demand neighborhoods. When parking meters are in operation, drivers spend less time circling the block looking for a space. Less circling means less congestion and fewer greenhouse gas emissions.  

To help drivers use the new multi-space paystations and pay-by-license-plate parking system, we’ve collaborated with SFGovTV to produce the instructional videos “How to Pay for Parking by License Plate” and “How to Pay for Parking with a Smartphone.” These videos are available in English, Spanish, Chinese and Filipino. The new paystations feature larger multilingual instruction panels in English, Spanish and simplified Chinese.  

The multi-space paystations replace outdated parking meters that relied on 3G communications technology phased out by wireless companies. They use state-of-the-art technology to validate parking payments and automatically transmit this information to our enforcement staff. Drivers no longer need to remember the space number where they parked, as the vehicle’s license plate number is used to verify that parking fees have been paid on a pay-by-license plate block. Payments can be made at paystations, on the pay-by-phone mobile app or by phone call. For more information on how to pay using each method, see the Ways to Pay section on our Parking Meters webpage. 

Benefits of the New Multi-space Paystations

• More resistant to vandalism     

• No need to display a parking receipt on the dashboard. 

• No need to return to your car to feed the meter.

• Payment can be made from any kiosk on the block where you are parked. 

• You can print a receipt from a kiosk or get a digital receipt if paying by mobile device. 

• You can leave and repark on the same block and not pay again if time remains from the original payment. 

• Find instructions and follow prompts on larger, more legible full-color touch screens in multiple languages (simplified Chinese, English and Spanish)

• More powerful batteries will increase reliability and reduce maintenance visits. 

Visit Citywide Parking Meter Replacement Project for more details including the locations of the multi-space paystations. 

Visit  Parking Meters | SFMTA to learn more about parking meters in San Francisco.  

Visit  Demand-Responsive Parking Pricing to view current parking meter rates and learn how to save money by finding cheaper parking a few blocks from your destination.  

Published August 08, 2023 at 10:07AM
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150 Years Ago Today – The Cable Car is Born

150 Years Ago Today – The Cable Car is Born
By Kelley Trahan

August 2, 2023, marks the 150th anniversary of the world’s first successful cable railway, born right here in San Francisco. To celebrate the occasion, we bring you the story of Andrew Hallidie and the very first cable car company, the Clay Street Hill Railroad. 

Andrew Hallidie (1834-1900) was a pioneering inventor and entrepreneur who changed urban transportation. In 1852, at the age of 18, Hallidie emigrated with his father from the United Kingdom to San Francisco during the California Gold Rush. His father, an engineer and inventor, had a wire rope patent that played a crucial role in his son's future success.  

Portrait of Andrew Smith Hallidie in 1890.

Inspired by his father's wire rope business, Hallidie developed a steel cable mineral mine hauling system in 1857. About a decade later, he designed a wire rope aerial tramway for transporting materials over mountainous terrain. Then, after a stint in bridge construction across California, he returned to San Francisco. 

Legend has it that the idea to build a cable car came to Hallidie one foggy, wet San Francisco evening in 1869 when he witnessed a tragic accident. A team of horses pulling a streetcar up a steep cobblestone hill slipped, causing the streetcar and horses to slide down the hill into a heap of wreckage. Drawing on his mining experience, Hallidie believed he could come up with a better way to transport people up and over San Francisco’s many hills.

Transfer from the Clay Street Hill Railroad Company used until early 1875.

Hallidie chose Clay Street between Kearny and Jones as the first route and raised $118,000, including significant investments from the residents of Clay Street. With engineering design work by William Eppelsheimer, construction began in early 1873. By mid-summer, the double-track line, powerhouse, cable and cars were completed at a total cost of $85,150. The first test run took place in the pre-dawn hours of August 2, 1873, and proved to be a tremendous success. One month later, on September 1, 1873, the Clay Street Hill Railroad Company began regular passenger service with a fare of five cents.  

Clay St. Hill Railroad Co. Dummy 7 and Trailer on Clay and Jones Streets in 1873.

Hallidie's historic efforts not only revolutionized transportation but also yielded profitable returns for his investors. His invention provided a safe and efficient means of travel up and down the city's hills and spurred the expansion and development of San Francisco's neighborhoods and businesses. The Clay Street Hill Railroad marked the beginning of many cable car railways in San Francisco and around the world. Within just two decades, eight different companies operated cable cars on 54 miles of track around the city. 

Throughout his life, Hallidie remained active in various engineering ventures and played a vital role in founding the San Francisco Mechanics' Institute, promoting scientific and technological education. Hallidie Plaza, near the Powell and Market Street cable car turntable, and the Hallidie Building in the city's Financial District are named after him. 

Dedication Ceremony for Hallidie Plaza at Market and Powell Street on March 14, 1973

Although none of the original Clay Street Hill Railroad line remains today, its legacy lives on. Muni’s 1 California bus route traverses the same path over Nob Hill and two cable cars that once served the line survive to this day. An original 1870s grip car, number 8, is on display in the San Francisco Cable Car Museum, and “Big” Cable Car 19, one of the last cable cars to run on Clay Street, is back in limited service through the fall in honor of the 150th anniversary. 

150th Anniversary of the cable cars kickoff event with "Big 19,” on July 10, 2023

Celebrate the 150-year legacy by hopping on San Francisco’s iconic cable cars or catching a special anniversary event. Find more information at SFMTA.com/CableCars150 and https://sfcablecars.org. 

Published August 02, 2023 at 12:03PM
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