Changes Coming to NextMuni

Changes Coming to NextMuni
By Mariana Maguire

When the SFMTA first partnered with NextBus more than twenty years ago to create NextMuni, the real-time transit vehicle arrival predictions system was state-of-the-art and revolutionary for its time. As technology has advanced and our transit system has grown, we are moving to a new system that will best meet the needs of our customers.

Last year, the SFMTA Board of Directors and the Board of Supervisors approved a contract for the Next Generation Customer Information System to replace NextMuni.  Set to debut in 2022, the new Customer Information System will focus on improving predictions accuracy, particularly near the beginning of routes, along with several other customer-friendly upgrades. New, larger graphical signs in transit shelters will also feature maps showing the real-time positions of vehicles. These enhancements will help improve the customer experience and make riding transit easier.

While the SFMTA has been working on the Customer Information System initiative, we are still providing customers with the best information possible within the existing NextMuni system's technical limitations.  This week, we've made some interim upgrades that will make it easier for customers to navigate around the system and learn about the August 14 service changes. 

New NextMuni Improvements

We have optimized NextMuni for the SFMTA website, which means some new conveniences for customers navigating Muni, and important, customer-tested accessibility features:

• Customers can now stay on the SFMTA website for NextMuni predictions
• Arrival predictions are integrated with stop information rather than being in two different places
• For Muni stop information and self-updating predictions, typing SFMTA.com/ followed by the 5-or-6-digit Muni stop ID number takes customers directly to the Muni stop web page with details
• Muni stop pages provide both a vehicle-tracking map and a vicinity map integrated with the predictions and stop information
• Muni stop pages link to nearby transit stops so customers can consider alternative routes

What to Expect During August 14 Service Changes

Whenever the SFMTA implements a large service change, we usually receive many questions about NextMuni. In fact, you may see some lag in NextMuni updates when our next round of service changes goes into effect on August 14.  To help explain, here are some answers to frequently asked questions:

Why are predictions sometimes inaccurate after a service change?

For new and restored routes, it usually takes a few days after the service starts for accurate arrival time predictions to begin appearing. This is because the NextMuni software generates predictions based on the vehicle travel times it learns over time. When a line is new or restored, there are no travel time records. Since it's starting from scratch, the software needs a few days’ worth of data to learn travel times and generate more accurate predictions.   

Why are arrival time predictions not showing on the NextMuni displays?  

Stops near the beginning of routes may not show arrival time predictions. For high-frequency routes, the SFMTA operates "headway-managed" service by maintaining even spacing between vehicles rather than following set time schedules. Stops near the beginning of these routes will not show arrival time predictions unless a vehicle is already on its way. This helps reduce the “ghost bus” phenomenon where the NextMuni sign counts down the time a vehicle arrival but the vehicle never arrives.

 Why aren't new or restored routes showing on the NextMuni displays? 

New and restored routes must be in service before their information can be loaded into the sign display system. As soon as service starts, NextMuni personnel begin the process of adding routes to the appropriate signs. Once sign configuration is complete, which typically takes a few hours, the NextMuni system is restarted and signs should show the new and restored routes. If you believe a sign is not displaying the correct route, please let us know by contacting 311 or Muni Customer Service at 415.701.2311.

 

 

Published August 12, 2021 at 01:35PM
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Transit Access to Jobs Surged with May 2021 Muni Changes

Transit Access to Jobs Surged with May 2021 Muni Changes
By Tracey Lin

Side by side Graphics from the SFMTA Equity Toolkit showing an increase in job access from January service changes and May service changes for the Excelsior/Ocean View neighborhood.

With the implementation of Muni’s service changes May 15, 2021, and service adjustments made since by regional transit agencies, access to essential jobs via transit has gone up since January 2021, including some significant increases, in all nine neighborhoods identified in the Muni Service Equity Strategy. The Muni Service Equity Strategy focuses on improving transit performance in San Francisco neighborhoods that were selected based on the percentage of households with low incomes (below 200% of the federal poverty level), private vehicle ownership and race and ethnicity demographics.

The Muni service in effect as of May 15, 2021 is the most robust since the Shelter-in-Place order took effect in March of 2020. The reopening of all subway stations improved job access for Muni customers. And, the F Market & Wharves historic streetcar line also returned to service in May, bringing connections to Fisherman’s Wharf, a large employment center.

Over the course of the pandemic, equity neighborhoods overall performed better than more affluent areas in terms of access to jobs via transit. This was the result of deliberate SFMTA planning work to ensure that residents living in equity areas have consistent and improved access to jobs and other critical resources even with significant constraints due to the pandemic.

From January to May 2021, all service equity neighborhoods experienced increases in job access – some by small amounts and some by significant leaps. Here are a few neighborhood snapshots:

Bayview Hunters Point

Commute Time	Access via Transit to Essential Jobs Compared to Pre-Pandemic Service
	Pre-COVID	Jan 2021	May 2021
30 mins	100%	154%	229%
45 mins	100%	126%	127%
60 mins	100%	100%	100%

Increases in Bayview-Hunter’s Point to above pre-pandemic levels can be traced to the addition of the community-driven 15 Bayview-Hunters Point Express in January 2021, which connects to downtown. Also, the T Third Street Metro returned to provide rail service to Embarcadero in January. And once the T Third was interlined with the K Ingleside Metro in May, Muni access was expanded even further.

Excelsior and Outer Mission

Commute Time	Access via Transit to Essential Jobs Compared to Pre-Pandemic Service
	Pre-COVID	Jan 2021	May 2021
30 mins	100%	30%	83%
45 mins	100%	62%	86%
60 mins	100%	90%	95%

As service has increased, more connections from routes like the 14 Mission, 14R Mission Rapid and 49 Van Ness to downtown likely helped boost job access via transit. With the return of the M Ocean View Metro to Embarcadero and multiple bus routes in August 2021, we expect to see job access further increase.

Oceanview and Ingleside

Commute Time	Access via Transit to Essential Jobs Compared to Pre-Pandemic Service
	Pre-COVID	Jan 2021	May 2021
30 mins	100%	64%	97%
45 mins	100%	22%	71%
60 mins	100%	58%	95%

As mentioned above, in May, the K Ingleside and T Third lines were interlined into the KT Ingleside-Third, which allows for increased service between Balboa Park and Sunnydale.

Other neighborhoods experienced more modest, but still consistent, increases in job access. Neighborhoods like Western Addition and the Tenderloin are more centrally located near several key routes that were part of Muni’s original 17-route COVID-19 Muni Core Service Network, like the 5 Fulton, 22 Fillmore, 38 Geary and 38R Geary Rapid, as well as cross-town and connector routes that were steadily added back into service.

Western Addition

Commute Time	Access via Transit to Essential Jobs Compared to Pre-Pandemic Service
	Pre-COVID	Jan 2021	May 2021
30 mins	100%	94%	94%
45 mins	100%	94%	96%
60 mins	100%	94%	95%

 

Tenderloin

Commute Time	Access via Transit to Essential Jobs Compared to Pre-Pandemic Service
	Pre-COVID	Jan 2021	May 2021
30 mins	100%	91%	94%
45 mins	100%	94%	95%
60 mins	100%	96%	96%

Learn more about the SFMTA’s Equity Toolkit and explore the Toolkit in ArcGIS. We are encouraged to see how service changes have made a difference for our customers and recognize that there are still more improvements to be made to increase job access via Muni from service equity neighborhoods. Additional service changes are coming August 14, which are anticipated to further expand access to essential jobs. Stay tuned for our next analysis!

 

Published August 10, 2021 at 03:43PM
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New Transit Lanes for Muni’s 1 California Customers

New Transit Lanes for Muni’s 1 California Customers
By Jonathan Streeter

Muni’s 1 California travels the new transit lane on Sacramento Street

You may have seen SFMTA’s Paint, Sign or Meter shops putting the finishing touches on almost three miles of new and expanded transit lanes serving the 1 California. These transit improvements are part of the 1 California Temporary Emergency Transit Lanes project that was approved last April to help maintain travel time and reliability for the over 10,000 daily customers who depend on this vital east-west connector.  

In April 2020, when traffic levels were reduced during the shelter-in-place, we saved so much time on the 1 California that we were able to provide the same service frequency while reducing the number of buses on the line—requiring two to three fewer buses per day. Nearly two-thirds of households along the 1 California route in Chinatown and Nob Hill do not own cars, and prioritizing transit is critical to their daily transportation needs.

The new temporary emergency transit lanes on Clay and Sacramento streets downtown and on California Street west of Steiner help lock these service improvements in place by protecting the bus from delays as the city reaches pre-pandemic traffic congestion levels. Ridership on the 1 California has begun to increase as public health orders ease and we move into greater levels of economic reopening. This makes it all the more important to continue assisting those customers whose primary mode of transportation is Muni.

On Clay and Sacramento streets, we made part-time transit lane hours more consistent and focused on expanding lanes at locations where the data has demonstrated the greatest potential benefit. We also implemented transit lanes on California Street from Steiner to Presidio without removing parking.

And remember: please observe parking signs on Clay and Sacramento streets where transit lanes are located, as tow-away restrictions are now being enforced.

We want to hear from you

Earlier this winter and spring, we conducted extensive outreach and revised the final project design based on what we heard. Now that the transit improvements are in place, we are reaching back out to the community for feedback on their direct experience with the new transit lanes. Public input, along with our technical analysis of traffic patterns, Muni performance and other factors will help determine whether transit lanes for the 1 California should be kept in place once the final public health restrictions are lifted.

What do you think about the new transit lanes? Take the 1 California transit lane survey now.

 

Published August 05, 2021 at 11:00AM
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Muni Ambassadors Walk, Bike and Ride the Extra Mile

Muni Ambassadors Walk, Bike and Ride the Extra Mile
By Mariana Maguire

Each time Muni makes service changes, SFMTA staff from across the agency help to fill hundreds of support shifts to ensure Muni customers easily navigate the changes by dropping off informational materials at community-based organizations in our nine Muni Service Equity Strategy neighborhoods, posting new service signage at Muni stops along affected routes, and helping customers navigate changes with wayfinding assistance. SFMTA staff go the extra mile to make sure this important work gets done, often stepping outside of their normal job roles to help customers out.

We caught up with one of our staff ambassadors, Kate McCarthy, a public outreach and engagement manager, after her shift during the May 15, 2021, service changes for a snapshot of her day as she walked, biked and rode Muni along her way.

Kate started her shift at SFMTA headquarters stocking up on newly updated handouts for the 36/52 Special. She delivered the handouts via the KT Ingleside-Third light rail to the Forest Hill Station agent and other staff ambassadors assisting customers there.

Kate then rode the 36/52 Special to Glen Park Station where she delivered more handouts, hopping on the J Church light rail to Market and Church streets-- alerting staff to missing or outdated signage along the way.

 

Photo: Kate, enjoying a hot coffee mid-shift while on Ambassador duty during Muni’s May service changes.

From there, Kate boarded the N Judah to Golden Gate Park to check on signage and wayfinding ambassadors at the former N Bus bus stops helping redirect customers to the newly restored Metro stops. Kate reposted missing signs, made sure ambassadors had Metro map handouts, answered questions and noted the feedback from customers.

As she walked back toward Market Street, she saw ambassadors talking to customers and providing information, and made notes about how to improve the customer experience. Kate then hopped on the F Market & Wharves, checking on signage along Market Street.

Kate hopped off to walk up Kearny, checking on ambassadors and making field observations to report to Service Planning staff. Finally, Kate took a bikeshare e-bike back to Market Street to repost missing signs. Whether on bus, bike or foot, our staff is willing to go the extra mile to make sure Muni customers are able to get where they need to go when service has changed.

During Muni’s next service changes, beginning August 14, dozens of SFMTA staff will join Kate out around town posting signs and helping customers. The SFMTA staff ambassadors are ready to assist you getting where you need to go. Look for their orange or yellow vests and say hello!

 

Published August 04, 2021 at 01:40PM
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Central Subway Testing Anticipates 2022 Start of Service

Central Subway Testing Anticipates 2022 Start of Service
By Enrique Aguilar

 

Light rail vehicle entering Union Square station during testing 

The Central Subway Project is moving toward our goal of “substantial completion,” paving the way for the start of critical testing and certification of project elements such as station escalators, elevators, trackwork and radio communications.  

The next project stage will include rail activation to begin testing train operations, train control and other integral systems. The project team is identifying and resolving the outstanding issues with the contractor that will lead to recognition work performed on infrastructure elements as complete. Once this step is achieved, we will begin the rail activation process that will ensure the automatic train control and other systems are ready for the start of revenue service in 2022, approximately one year from now. 

The project has reached a number of significant milestones, including the laying of track along the route, the completion of train stations, public art installations and the reopening of streets closed to vehicle traffic, including Washington Street near San Francisco’s Chinatown, reopened for westbound traffic in April.  

 Restoration of access to streets has come at a critical time, alleviating congestion as the city continues to open up and more people are visiting and travelling through the neighborhood. With students returning to in-person learning, we also deployed community ambassadors to strategic locations along Washington Street to assist school staff, parents and children navigate to Gordon J. Lau Elementary School.  

 The Testing Phase 

The process of testing complex systems and training personnel to operate and maintain them typically takes around a year for transit projects of this magnitude. This phase will include synchronizing the automatic train control systems, testing radio and data communication systems, and evaluating customer information systems. Experience with previous major construction projects has allowed us to apply lessons learned to the project’s testing phase, which will ensure successful project delivery and start of service next year. These steps will also complete the new rail line’s integration with the overall Muni network.

The next phase will assess the following systems. 

Life Safety Systems: The installation and proper performance of safety equipment are critical to mitigate the impact of incidents inside Muni stations and subway tunnels. Fire sprinklers installed in the tunnels will be tested to ensure they respond when fire alarms are activated. Adequate tunnel ventilation is important during an incident where the ventilation system must flush toxic fumes out of the tunnels. 

 

Emergency ventilation fans at Yerba Buena Moscone Station 

The Transportation Management Center will conduct safety drills and develop contingency plans for emergency passenger evacuation and to provide for first responder access to any incident that might arise in the tunnel. To ensure operators, passengers and emergency services can exit or safely access the tunnel during an emergency, handrails, lighting, walkways and safety signage in the tunnels must all meet local and federal safety requirements. 

Automatic Train Control: When light rail vehicles (LRVs) enter the Central Subway, they will utilize an automatic train control system known as ATCS. Testing will verify that the ATCS guides the automatic movement of LRVs through the tunnels and carries out minimum safety separation between trains based on safe braking distances from the last verified position of the rear of a preceding train. Proper functioning of the ATCS also allows vehicles to move through the tunnel faster than possible when vehicle controls are performed manually by train operators.  

Radio Communication and Customer Information: Radio equipment includes a computer-aided dispatch and automatic vehicle location system to improve management of Muni service from the Transportation Management Center. Delivery of data from trains helps analyze how service is delivered and how to respond to issues with trains. The customer information system improves communications system-wide by expanding audio and visual “next stop” announcements on Muni trains in the subway and on the surface. These announcements are helpful to customers and particularly useful for people with hearing and vision disabilities.  

Customers rely on Muni’s customer information system to plan trips or receive real-time service alerts. Testing of this system will include verifying that Metro station audio announcements and displays are working properly.  

  

Workers testing customer information displays at Union Square/Market Street Station 

Once in operation, the Central Subway will connect directly to some of San Francisco’s most densely populated communities, including Visitacion Valley in the southeast, the Bayview and Dogpatch neighborhoods, and the city’s center. We thank our community partners in the Chinatown, Union Square, Yerba Buena and SoMA neighborhoods for their patience and understanding during the project’s construction phase.  

Published August 03, 2021 at 06:13PM
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What to Expect When Muni Service is Expanded on August 14

What to Expect When Muni Service is Expanded on August 14
By Angela Genochio

Effective August 14, 2021, bus and rail routes will serve 98% of San Francisco within 2 or 3 blocks of a stop.

On Saturday, August 14, the SFMTA will launch another COVID-19 Muni Service Change, adding several connector routes and bridging service gaps in hill neighborhoods. 18 routes will be restored, expanded or modified, including the M Ocean View Metro rail, 28 19th Avenue, 31 Balboa, 52 Excelsior and 66 Quintara.

These service changes continue to support the city’s economic recovery by ensuring that 98% of San Franciscans have access to Muni transit service within two to three blocks of their home or work. The next Muni service change is anticipated for winter, when the Muni service plan is expected to begin to normalize post-pandemic.

Service hours will be extended from approximately 5 a.m. to midnight daily on select routes. All other routes will generally have service hours of 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, but may vary between weekday and weekend. Please refer to specific route pages for more details. Owl network service hours will change to approximately midnight to 5 a.m. daily except on the L Owl. The L Owl to Fisherman’s Wharf will begin at 10 p.m. and end at 5 a.m. daily.

In September, once testing is complete, scheduled cable car service will return on all three lines --the Powell-Hyde, the Powell-Mason and the California-- from 7:30 a.m. until 10 p.m. 

Per federal law, customers still required to wear face masks when riding Muni and using Muni facilities.

Below is the complete list of service changes. Please note that details are subject to change. For the most up to date information with free language assistance and accessibility, please call 311 or (415) 701-4311 or visit the COVID-19 Muni Core Service Network webpage.

August 14 Muni Service Changes

M Ocean View: Rail service will resume for the entire route replacing Metro buses between Balboa Park BART Station and Embarcadero Station. Daily frequency, 10-12minutes.

5R Fulton Rapid: Full route from La Playa Street to the Transit Center Bus Plaza. Weekday only service every 10 minutes.

9R San Bruno Rapid: For weekday only service vehicles will be upsized to 60-foot articulated coaches to provide more capacity. Daily frequency, 8-10 minutes.

12 Folsom Long: Full route with extension to Rincon Hill, SoMa and the Mission District. The extended route will run between Van Ness Avenue and Cesar Chavez and Mission Street. Daily frequency, 20 minutes.

12 Folsom Short: New short route will travel between Van Ness Avenue and Main and Howard streets in SoMa to provide extra capacity in the east-west direction on Pacific Ave and Broadway. Daily frequency, 20 minutes.

18 46th Avenue: Full route from 19th Avenue and Buckingham Way to the Legion of Honor. Daily frequency, 20 minutes.

23 Monterey: Modified route will run daily from Bayview and terminate at West Portal Station The 23 Monterey will no longer travel on the Sloat Boulevard segment of the route, but the new 58 Lake Merced will provide service on Sloat Boulevard instead. The modified route will provide connections to Stonestown, Daly City BART, Lakeshore and John Daly Boulevard. Weekday frequency, 20 minutes. Weekend frequency, 30 minutes.

28 19th Avenue: Full route between Daly City BART Station and Van Ness Avenue and North Point Street will provide access to transfer points at UCSF, Kaiser Permanente and the California Pacific Medical Center and serve the Golden Gate Bridge Toll Plaza. Weekday frequency, 12 minutes. Weekend frequency, 15 minutes.

31 Balboa: Restored modified route from Cabrillo and La Playa to 5th Street and Market. Daily frequency, 20 minutes.

35 Eureka: Restored route from Diamond and Bosworth streets to Market and Castro streets with modifications to travel on Douglass and Hoffman will provide additional access in hilltop districts. Daily frequency, 30 minutes.

36 Teresita: Full route between Forest Hill Station and Valencia and Cesar Chavez streets. 36/52 Special service will be discontinued. Daily frequency, 30 minutes.

39 Coit: Full route between Coit Tower/Telegraph Hill to North Point and Stockton streets. Direct connections to North Beach and Fisherman’s Wharf providing daily service every 20 minutes.

48 Quintara/24th Street: Extended route from West Portal to Ocean Beach via Quintara Street. Weekday frequency, 15 minutes. Weekend frequency, 20 minutes.

52 Excelsior: Full route between Quintara Street and 14th Avenue and La Grande and Persia avenues with an extension to include part of the 6 Parnassus along 9th Avenue and Quintara Street in Golden Gate Heights. 36/52 Special service will be discontinued. Weekday frequency, 20 minutes. Weekend frequency, 30 minutes.

56 Rutland: Full route between 150 Executive Park and Visitation Valley Middle School with a new connection to the 29 Sunset. Weekday frequency, 20 minutes. Weekend frequency, 30 minutes.

57 Parkmerced and 58 Lake Merced: The pre-pandemic route will be split into two routes – the 57 Parkmerced and the new 58 Lake Merced.

• The 57 Parkmerced will be modified to provide service between Eucalyptus Drive and Junipero Serra Boulevard and Daly City BART, connecting Stonestown and Parkmerced.. The 57 will connect to the M Ocean View Bus on Junipero Serra. Daily frequency, every 20 minutes.
• The new 58 Lake Merced will run between 19th Ave and Buckhingham Way and Mission and Flournoy streets, serving the John Muir Drive portion of the former 57 Parkmerced route and the Sloat section of the 23 Monterey. The 58 will also connect to frequent Mission corridor routes. Daily frequency, every 20 minutes.

66 Quintara: Modified route between Haight and Stanyan streets and Vicente Street and 30th Avenue with an extension to include part of the 6 Parnassus between 9th Avenue and Cole Street. Daily frequency, every 20 minutes. Will provide access to UCSF Medical Center, Kezar Stadium and Mount Sutro.

Frequency Adjustments: The 9 San Bruno/9R San Bruno Rapid, 14 Mission/14R Mission Rapid, 19 Polk, and 38R Geary Rapid: Effective August 14, service will return to frequencies of approximately 8-10 minutes.

School Trippers: Most pre-pandemic school trippers – such as the 8, 23, 29 and 44 – will return to service in time for the start of the 2021 academic year. This service provides extra afternoon buses on existing high demand routes that serve San Francisco public schools. School trippers begin their route at a school site, pick up students and continue as normal, providing added capacity and reducing crowding. See the full list of schools with trippers here.

Late Night Service: Service hours will be extended from 5 a.m. to midnight daily (instead of 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.) on the following routes:

• 1 California, 5 Fulton, 8 Bayshore, 9 San Bruno, 14 Mission, 22 Fillmore, 24 Divisadero, 25 Treasure Island, 28 19th Ave, 29 Sunset, 30 Stockton, 38 Geary, 43 Masonic, 44 O’Shaughnessy, 48 Quintara-24th St, 49 Van Ness/Mission
• K Bus, N Bus and T Bus service will also extend from 9 p.m. to midnight (instead of 9 p.m. to 10 p.m.) between the end of Muni Metro service and the start of Owl service.

Owl Service:

• The 5 Owl (between La Playa Street and McAllister and Jones streets) and 48 Owl (between Castro Street and 20th and 3rd Streets) will return to service, bringing back the full pre-pandemic Owl network.
• Owl service hours will shift to midnight to 5 a.m. daily at a 30 minute frequency (instead of 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily) on all Owl routes except the L Owl. The 14 Owl will continue to run at 15 minute frequency.
• L Owl service will continue to operate from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. at approximately a 20 minute frequency.

Published August 03, 2021 at 08:01AM
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From Market Street to Fisherman’s Wharf, Cable Cars Return

From Market Street to Fisherman’s Wharf, Cable Cars Return
By Lolita Sweet

Starting today, August 2nd, San Francisco’s historic cable car service is returning after a 16-month shut-down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Because this unique transportation system requires a high level of skill and operational maintenance, we will be operating a limited, free schedule on all three cable car lines during the month of August. Hours of operations will be 7am until approximately 10:30pm, seven days a week. We appreciate your patience as service could be irregular as we roll out the soft-launch of the system.

Please join us in celebrating the cable car return with our world-class operators, mechanics and carpenters.  

And remember, facemasks are still required while waiting for, boarding, and riding all Muni vehicles, including cable cars. We hope you will enjoy the ride. 

Published August 02, 2021 at 01:22PM
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