This Weekend: Women's March and Martin Luther King March

This Weekend: Women's March and Martin Luther King March
By Schad Dalton

Holiday Muni Schedule and Parking Enforcement Reminder: Monday, January 20, 2020 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day), Muni will operate on a regular weekday schedule. Parking meters and seven-day street sweeping will be enforced citywide on the holiday. Residential parking permits and Monday-Friday daytime street sweeping and commuter towaway will not be enforced. Check out our full Holiday Parking Enforcement Schedule for more details.

Events: This weekend, along with being a three-day weekend for many, will also feature two prominent marches. On Saturday, women and their allies will gather in the Civic Center for the fourth annual Women's March that will step off from City Hall and proceed along Market to the Embarcadero. On Monday, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the annual MLK Commemorative March will take place in SoMa from CalTrain to Yerba Buena Gardens. Also taking place Saturday as well as Sunday is the Chinese New Year Flower Fair in Chinatown where there will be fresh flowers, candies, fruits and much more to help folks stock up for the coming Lunar New Year. Read more about our featured events below.

Saturday will play host to the fourth annual Women's March from City Hall to the Embarcadero. Photo: Fabrice Florin/Flickr

Women's March 2019

Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Civic Center

This Saturday, Women's March San Francisco will return for its fourth annual event to reaffirm its commitment to supporting human rights, civil liberties, and social justice for all. The rally will be held in concert with similar rallies all across the country in the spirit of solidarity. The march will begin at the Civic Center and travel down Market Street to the Embarcadero. 

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How to Get There on Muni: Riders may take any Muni Metro line to Civic Center station, the F Market and Wharves Line, as well as the 5 Fulton, 6 Haight/Parnassus, 7 Haight/Noriega, 9 San Bruno, 14 Mission, 14R Mission Rapid, 19 Polk, 21 Hayes, 31 Balboa, 47 Van Ness or the 49 Van Ness/Mission routes to near the Civic Center. 

Muni Service Notes: The F, 2 Clement, 5, 6, 7, 8 Bayshore, 9, 10 Townsend, 12 Folsom/Pacific, 14, 14R, 19, 21, 27 Bryant, 30 Stockton, 31, 38 Geary, 38R Geary Rapid, and 45 Union/Stockton routes will have reroutes during this event. Routes to and from the event may also experience minor delays and overcrowding due to increased ridership.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. March and Parade

Monday, 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
SoMa (CalTrain to Yerba Buena Gardens)

Celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by joining in honoring the 1965 Selma to Montgomery, Alabama marches at the MLK2020 Commemorative March/Parade from San Francisco’s CalTrain Station at Fourth and King streets to Yerba Buena Gardens in the South of Market neighborhood. Upon reaching Yerba Buena Gardens an interfaith commemoration will commemorate Dr. King.

How to Get There on Muni: Riders may take the E Embarcadero Line, the K Ingleside/T Third Street or N Judah Muni Metro lines, as well as the 8 Bayshore, 10 Townsend, 12 Folsom/Pacific, 30 Stockton, 45 Union/Stockton or the 47 Van Ness routes to near the start of the event. 

Muni Service Notes: There are no planned service changes for this event, however, routes in the area of the event may experience increased ridership or minor delays.

Remember that you can take Muni for the entire day for a single $5 fare. The new $5 Day Pass, available on MuniMobile®, is part of Muni’s recent fare changes. The pass is intended to encourage a safe, convenient way to pay your fare and quickly board Muni vehicles, which reduces overall travel time for everyone. The $5 Day Pass is Muni bus, rail and historic streetcars only.

“On Tap” gives you a heads up about the big events in town and what Muni routes and lines will get you to the party. Look for this feature to be posted usually on Thursdays for a look ahead to the weekend. Check out our Weekend Traffic & Transit Advisory for more details.

Published January 15, 2020 at 12:24PM
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The Time for Justice

The Time for Justice
By Lori Phelan

During the week of Jan. 13 to 20, residents of the Bay Area will come together to honor the legacy of Nobel Peace Prize recipient Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a week of community and service. The weeklong celebration will culminate with a march and faith lectures Monday, Jan. 20. For a complete listing of free activities and programs taking place at venues throughout San Francisco, please visit MLK2020 Schedule.

This year’s 1.5-mile march begins at 11 a.m. and crosses the Lefty O'Doul Bridge, stopping at the Willie Mays Plaza at Oracle Arena to commemorate the crossing of the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma – a symbol of the civil rights movement. SFMTA participants are encouraged to walk together as a team and arrive early at the Caltrain Station, 700 4th Street.

At the conclusion of the march, the San Francisco Interfaith Council will bring together the region’s faith leaders to commemorate Dr. King and to lead a spiritual reflection of his message.

Other celebratory events include MLK King and Faith Lectures, Black & Brown Comix Arts Festival, and the Health & Wellness Festival. For the complete listing of event times and locations, visit the NorcalMLK Foundation website.

The Time for Justice

On March 18, 1956, the day before he was to stand trial over breaking the state of Alabama's anti-boycott law over the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a then 27-year-old Baptist minister Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke about an 'obnoxious' peace during a sermon – the basis for this year’s theme, The Time for Justice. More information about that historical event can be found at Norcal MLK2020.

Getting there

Each year SFMTA plays the vital role in connecting the public to San Francisco’s MLK events, signaling a strong commitment to the principles and legacy of Dr. King. On Monday, Jan. 20, the SFMTA will be partnering with the Northern California Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Foundation to provide free commemorative MLK passes, complimentary shuttle service to events and support staff for the march/parade.

You can register for the MUNI passes for the march and interfaith commemoration address at the Yerba Buena Gardens Esplanade Stage through MLK2020 Muni Commemorative Passes. Reserve your complimentary tickets now and pick them up at San Francisco's Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services at City Hall by Friday, Jan. 17. Cable Car service is not included.

For those residing on the peninsula, consider catching the Caltrain NorcalMLK Celebration Train into the city in honor of the legacy begun by the late Coretta Scott King.

Live in North Bay? Take the MLK2020 Golden Gate Freedom Ferry courtesy of the Golden Gate Transit system who has provided the commemorative service since 2004.

And check BART for special service that day as well.

Published January 10, 2020 at 04:29PM
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Director of Transportation Report: January 7, 2020

Director of Transportation Report: January 7, 2020
By

In this week’s Director’s Report from the SFMTA Board of Directors meeting, Jeffrey Tumlin gave updates on the following topics:

Vision Zero

• It was a challenging year, with an increase in fatalities as compared to the two previous years.
• 29 fatalities were accounted for on city streets in 2019, with pedestrians and seniors disproportionately represented.
• In 2020, the SFMTA will continue our commitment to quick-build projects, including the upcoming Market Street vehicle prohibitions in January.

Transit Update

• Muni experienced major subway disruptions Dec. 7 as a result of surface street flooding from intense rainfall which in turn caused significant subway flooding.
• During this time there was only J and N line service between the Church/Duboce and Embarcadero Station with trains bypassing the Van Ness Station due to standing water on the platforms.
• Bus shuttles were employed while stationary engineers cleared standing water. Normal service resumed by the following morning.

Parking Meter Response

• There was a recent media report about parking meters being out of service in North Beach due to coin blockage. There is merit to the report that is due to two separate ongoing concerns that we are working to resolve.
• We have significant staffing vacancies in the Parking Meter Repair Shop to keep our current inventory in good working order. The good news is that we are in the process of filling staff positions from an eligibility list approved last week.

Muni Art Project

• We’re pleased to be supporting local artists through the Muni Art program for a fifth consecutive year in conjunction with San Francisco Beautiful and the Poetry Society of America.
• Images from local artists who participated in a Muni Art contest earlier in the fall will be displayed in 100 buses around the city beginning next week through April; for the enjoyment of 750,000 Muni riders.
• This year we have five winners who were selected through online voting in August out of a field of 47 entries.

Our Board of Directors meeting is usually held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. To watch the meeting in full, go to SFGovTV.

Published January 10, 2020 at 02:13PM
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This Weekend: Garden Party and Hot Chocolate Run

This Weekend: Garden Party and Hot Chocolate Run
By Schad Dalton

Get in a good run then fill up on delicious hot chocolate at the finish line during Sunday's Hot Chocolate 5k/15k Run. Photo: Nicki Dugan Pogue/Flickr

Garden Party

Saturday, 12 to 5 p.m.
Hunters Point

Enjoy live music, free locally sourced food and drink and even a free plant during this month's Garden Party event in Hunters Point. This event, hosted by Bay Natives Nursery, happens every second Saturday of the month and is open to the public. 

How to Get There on Muni: The 19 Polk and 44 O'Shaughnessy routes will take riders to within a short walk of the event.

Muni Service Notes: There are no planned service changes for this event.

Hot Chocolate Run

Sunday, 5k at 7:20 a.m. and 15k at 8:10 a.m.
Golden Gate Park

Dubbed “America’s Sweetest Race,” the Hot Chocolate 15k/5k is the country’s fastest-growing race with more than 200,000 participants since its first race in 2008. The event features two courses for runners to choose from – a 15k (9.3 miles) or a 5k (3.1 miles). The 5k course will stay within Golden Gate Park near Stow Lake while the 15k will take runners through the park and out along the Pacific Ocean, down Great Highway, and then back into the park for the finish. Once the races conclude, the fun really starts at the post-race party with music, chocolate fondue, family-friendly fun and of course hot chocolate!

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How to Get There on Muni: To arrive near the starting line in Golden Gate Park, riders may take the N Judah Line, as well as the 5 Fulton, 6 Haight/Parnassus, 7 Haight/Noriega, 21 Hayes, 28 19th Avenue, 29 Sunset, 33 Ashbury/18th Street, 43 Masonic, or 44 O'Shaughnessy routes. Riders may also take the L Taraval Line, 18 46th Avenue, 23 Monterey, or 48 Quintara/24th Street routes to points along the Great Highway segment of the 15k.

Muni Service Notes: The 18 and 44 routes will have reroutes in the area of the event while other routes may see minor delays due to increased ridership.

Remember that you can take Muni for the entire day for a single $5 fare. The new $5 Day Pass, available on MuniMobile®, is part of Muni’s recent fare changes. The pass is intended to encourage a safe, convenient way to pay your fare and quickly board Muni vehicles, which reduces overall travel time for everyone. The $5 Day Pass is Muni bus, rail and historic streetcars only.

“On Tap” gives you a heads up about the big events in town and what Muni routes and lines will get you to the party. Look for this feature to be posted usually on Thursdays for a look ahead to the weekend. Check out our Weekend Traffic & Transit Advisory for more details.

Published January 08, 2020 at 01:11PM
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Vision Zero: Monthly Highlights

Vision Zero: Monthly Highlights
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Vision Zero SF is the City’s road safety policy that will build safety and livability into our streets, protecting the one million people who move about the City every day.

From education to traffic engineering, from enforcing traffic laws to changing public policy, Vision Zero SF is driving an agenda to change the way we think and act on San Francisco streets.

This month, we’re featuring some improvements to benefit motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians. Here is a list of what we’ve been working on this past month:

• Better Market Street Project
• Brannan Street Safety Project
• 5th Street bike lanes and painted safety zones
• World Day of Remembrance for Traffic Victims

Published January 07, 2020 at 01:00PM
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SFMTA Public Meetings January 6 - January 20

SFMTA Public Meetings January 6 - January 20
By

Board of Directors Meeting

Tuesday, January 7, 1 p.m.
City Hall, Room 400
Nearby Muni Routes: 5, 19, 21, 47, 49, F Market, Civic Center Station

The SFMTA Board of Directors provides policy oversight for the safe and efficient transportation of goods and services in San Francisco. This includes the San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni), automobiles and trucks, taxis, bicycling and walking. The SFMTA Board of Directors also serves as members of the San Francisco Parking Authority.

Our board of directors meetings are usually held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. The agenda for Tuesday's meeting includes presentations regarding the Municipal Transportation Quality Review of transit operations and performance for Fiscal Years 2017 and 2018 and approving parking time limits and transit improvements, including bus stop consolidation and the extension of tow-away zone hours associated with the Inner Sunset Curb Management Project

L Taraval Segment B Open House

Thursday, January 9, 5:30 p.m.
1444 Taraval Street
Nearby Muni Routes: L Taraval, 28 19th Avenue, 48 Quintara 48th St, 66 Quintara 

Please join us to learn more about staging location options and considerations for the L Taraval Improvement Project Segment B's work (Sunset Boulevard to West Portal). We look forward to seeing you there.

Van Ness Business Advisory Committee Meeting

Thursday, January 16, 3 p.m.
Civic Center Conference Room, Floor 3
Nearby Muni Routes: 5, 6, 7, 9, 19, 47, 49, Van Ness Station

The Van Ness Business Advisory Committee is made up of representatives from a diverse cross-section of Van Ness Project Corridor businesses. Members act as the voice of the community and provide recommendations and advice on how staff can best work with local businesses during construction of the Van Ness Corridor Transit Improvement Project to bring out the character that has made this vital thoroughfare one of the city’s grand avenues. Members of the public may address the Van Ness Business Advisory Committee on matters that are within its jurisdiction and are not on today’s calendar.

Our Meeting Round-Up feature highlights different SFMTA public meetings that will be held within the coming two weeks. These meetings give you the chance to share your ideas and provide us with helpful feedback. Join us at our next meeting to learn more about SF's changing and complex transportation system.

Those listed above are just a few highlights. You can find a full list of upcoming meetings to keep up to date on your favorite SFMTA committees.

Published January 06, 2020 at 12:42PM
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New Leadership For the CTA

New Leadership For the CTA
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Kate Breen, who has served the SFMTA in a Government Affairs role since 2001, was recently elected to serve a two-year term (2019-2021) as Chair of the California Transit Association (CTA) Executive Committee. As a member of the SFMTA executive leadership team, Breen oversees government and regulatory affairs at the local, state and federal levels. Before joining the agency, Breen honed her skills in the legislative affairs department at the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.

Many members of the SFMTA staff serve in leadership roles with other organizations in the transportation industry. This is a central component of our strategy to advance the state of practice for planning, engineering and operations as well as influence public policy efforts related to safety and sustainable transportation across the state and both nationally and internationally. 

A longtime, active member of the CTA Executive Committee, Breen served as Vice Chair from 2017-2019 and has previously led the Association's State Legislative, and Finance and Management committees. She is also a member of the CTA Emerging Mobility Task Force, the California Zero Traffic Fatalities Task Force, and leads the SFMTA's engagement with the California City Transportation Officials (CaCTI) collaborative, in partnership with the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO).  

The California Transit Association brings together key leaders from around the State to set the foundation for a more effective dialogue about public transit. The Association connects riders to destinations, communities to economic progress, Association members to lawmakers and industry professionals to other like-minded individuals who are working toward the same goals. With over 250 member organizations, including all of California's largest urban transit operators, the CTA is the leading advocate on behalf of public transit in the state.

We couldn't be more thrilled to have Kate Breen represent us and share San Francisco's values and priorities with the rest of the state!​ 

Published January 03, 2020 at 12:30PM
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