Upcoming Muni Service Expansions Phase-in Rail Service, Add Bus Service

Upcoming Muni Service Expansions Phase-in Rail Service, Add Bus Service
By Mariana Maguire

Graphic: Updated core service map, effective December 19, showing the temporary J Church surface rail route.

On Saturday, December 19, the SFMTA will gradually start to bring back Muni Metro service by rail and increase bus service, including resuming several routes based on community feedback.

Muni Metro begins resuming rail service on December 19 with the J Church between Balboa Park Station and Church and Duboce streets. On January 23, the T Third resumes rail service between Sunnydale and Embarcadero Station once safety and operational improvements are finished at Embarcadero Station.

These two rail changes will put more operators back on Muni and free up to 20 buses, allowing us to extend routes, increase frequencies, resume service like the 27 Bryant, and bring two new lines into service: the 55 Dogpatch and the 15 Bayview-Hunters Point Express. The full 33 Ashbury-18th Street will also return to service to provide another cross-town connection.

In February and March 2021, we will aim to bring back the N Judah Metro by rail between La Playa and 6th and King streets, and a shuttle train between Embarcadero and West Portal. We expect the K Ingleside, L Taraval and M Ocean View to remain as bus routes through the spring as subway repairs continue, particularly in the Eureka Curve near Castro Station.

These service changes focus on providing access to essential destinations and services to support San Francisco’s essential workers and economic recovery, especially for communities that depend on transit the most. The 15 Bayview-Hunters Point, 27 Bryant, and 55 Dogpatch are examples of service for these populations and are the result of community engagement and feedback. We continue to work on adding more service on our high-ridership lines and using available vehicles and operators to help relieve crowding.

Service hours will remain approximately 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily unless otherwise noted. Owl network service hours will remain approximately 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. daily. Subway maintenance will be conducted evenings starting at 8:00 p.m. daily. Bus substitutions will run on Metro lines that enter the subway starting at 8:00 p.m., shifting to Owl service at 10:00 p.m.

Below is the complete list of service changes. Please note that some details are subject to change. The information will be updated accordingly. For the most up to date information with free language assistance and accessibility please call 311.

December 19 Muni Service Changes

J Church Metro Rail

• Service between Balboa Park and Church and Duboce streets
• Daily frequency: Every 12 minutes

 

January 23 Muni Service Changes

T Third Metro Rail

• Service between Sunnydale and Embarcadero Station.
• Service will be mostly surface-only on 3rd Street. Vehicles will enter Embarcadero Station, service the station, then turn back. This allows us to provide connections to downtown and Market Street.
• Starting at 8:00 p.m. daily for evening subway maintenance, bus substitutions will provide Muni Metro service and Owl service at 10:00 p.m..
• On weekends, buses will serve the T Third from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. between Sunnydale and Steuart Street. Embarcadero Station opens at 8:00 a.m.

1 California (short): Additional service between California and Presidio streets and Clay and Drumm streets, where ridership is highest.

5 Fulton (short): Additional service between Fulton and 8th Avenue and the Salesforce Transit Center, where ridership is highest.

7 Haight-Noriega:

• Due to limited numbers of 60-foot motor coaches, shorter 40-foot coaches will serve the 7 Haight-Noriega on weekends. 60-foot coaches will continue to provide weekday service.
• 60-foot coaches will serve the N Judah Bus daily, which overlaps with the 7 Haight-Noriega on Haight Street.

8AX Bayshore “A” Express (weekdays only): Additional service on the 8AX Bayshore between Kearny Street and Pacific Avenue and Bayshore Boulevard and Visitacion Avenue, where ridership is highest. Instead of peak hour service only, the 8AX Bayshore will be in service all day and in both directions.

12 Pacific: Adjusted headways to provide consistent service during the midday hours when ridership is high.

14 Mission: Additional service and frequency to address crowding.

14R Mission Rapid: Some 14R buses will go to Mission & Lowell streets to relieve terminal congestion due to high frequency at Daly City BART Station. 

14 Mission Owl: Longer 60-foot coaches and frequency increase to address crowding.

15 Bayview-Hunters Point Express (BHPX): Community members directly shaped the design and planning of this new line to provide a faster trip between Bayview-Hunters Point and downtown. The route between Palou and 3rd streets to Market and 3rd streets via Hunters Point reflects the community’s travel patterns and priorities. See more information about this new line.

22 Fillmore:

• Additional service to address crowding.
• As part of the completion of the first phase of the 16th Street Improvement Project, the new modified route will travel east on 16th Street and north on 3rd Street to the new terminal on Mission Bay Boulevard North.
• Once the 22 Fillmore moves to serve Mission Bay, the new 55 Dogpatch will begin service to continue to provide bus connectivity for the Dogpatch and Potrero Hill neighborhoods. See more about the 55 Dogpatch below.

27 Bryant:

• The full route will go back into service in response to community feedback and engagement.  
• To improve reliability by using temporary emergency transit lanes, the route will be modified to travel southbound on 8th Street between Market and Harrison streets and northbound on 7th Street between Market and Folsom streets. The temporary emergency transit lanes are restricted for Muni service only, so they can keep buses moving even if there is traffic congestion, which helps manage crowding.
• The reroute will maintain access to BART and Muni Metro and will provide a connection to new destinations like FoodsCo on Folsom at 14th Street.
• Over the next few months, SFMTA staff will ask for feedback from community members and evaluate the performance of the 27 Bryant on this modified route.

30 Stockton (short):

• A short line between Caltrain and Van Ness Avenue at North Point Street will add service in segments of the route that consistently experience crowding.
• The 30 Stockton will travel south on 4th Street, west on Harrison Street, south on 5th Street, then east on Townsend Street to its terminal.

30 Stockton (long):

• The extension to Crissy Field and the Presidio connects residents and visitors of San Francisco to an outdoor recreational area via public transit.
• The relocation of the daytime terminal to Crissy Field (at the Sports Basement parking lot) provides enough space for longer 60-foot coaches. These larger coaches have helped alleviate crowding on routes with high ridership.

33 Ashbury:

• The full route will return to service in response to customer feedback about cross-town connections that the route provides to a number of medical facilities.
• During street closure event hours Friday through Sunday on 18th Street between Collingwood and Hartford streets, the 33 Ashbury will use a special event reroute. Check the route page for special event route details.

37 Corbett: The regular route will come back between Parkridge Drive and Burnett Avenue, and Masonic Avenue and Haight Street.

38 Geary: Increased frequency on weekdays and weekends to address crowding. 

43 Masonic: The route will be extended slightly to connect to the 1 California at California Street and Masonic Avenue while maintaining the same number of bus resources.

55 Dogpatch: A new route will be added between 16th and Mission streets and 20th and 3rd streets to replace the eastern segment of the 22 Fillmore modified route to Mission Bay. This route was developed with community members from the Dogpatch and Potrero Hill neighborhoods. See more information about this new line.

 

Published December 08, 2020 at 07:01PM
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Community Meetings About Rebuilding Potrero Yard

Community Meetings About Rebuilding Potrero Yard
By Adrienne Heim

Potrero Yard Modernization Project - Upcoming Community Conversations

Conceptual design sketch of Potrero Yard at Mariposa and Hampshire streets.

This has been an unprecedented year for so many families, small businesses and the SFMTA. We are working to move San Franciscans around the city safely and quickly during the pandemic. At the same time, the SFMTA faces tough choices with immense revenue losses caused by the pandemic.

The Potrero Yard Modernization Project is essential to providing Muni service for some of our busiest bus routes like the 14 Mission, 22 Fillmore, and 30 Stockton, among others. This 105-year-old trolley bus facility does not meet modern seismic safety and maintenance standards and urgently needs to be rebuilt to continue to be able to support Muni service. The Potrero Yard Modernization Project will make the yard seismically stable and better able to support Muni operations, maintenance and cleaning and would ensure that staff is able to safely and effectively conduct their jobs. The project will be hosting two virtual community conversations about the long-overdue renovations needed for this bus yard. On December 5 and 12 from 11 a.m. to noon, we will have two virtual community conversations to provide a brief overview of the project and go into an in-depth discussion about recent project milestones.  

We hope you can join us!

• English-language Meeting: Saturday, December 5 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

• Spanish-language Meeting: Saturday, December 12 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

For meeting details visit SFMTA.com/PotreroYard. If you’re unable to attend our upcoming meetings, take a virtual tour of Potrero Yard by visiting SFMTA.com/PotreroYardTour.

The Project Concept

The proposed project improvements offer solutions to ensure we can maintain our fleet of buses as efficiently as possible, accommodate new buses that will be delivered in the next six years, enhance resilience to climate change and natural disasters like earthquakes and ensure that our staff is able to perform their work in a safe and efficient way.

Potrero maintenance staff replacing a bus tire.

To support transit needs, the project proposes to build a three-level bus facility designed for ground-floor activities on Bryant and possibly 17th streets. The project also provides an opportunity to address local housing needs, through mixed-income housing proposed on top of the yard, something that has never been done before on an active bus yard in the United States. The total facility would be up to 150-feet in height.

The new building would also include:

• Up to 575 residential rental units with a 50% minimum target for affordable housing
• Infrastructure for all battery-electric buses
• Centralized, modern space for Muni operator training
• Centralized location for Street Operations, Muni’s “first responders”
• Built to an elevated structural and seismic standard
• LEED Gold Certification

Project Milestones

Since November 2019, we have been working with the Planning Department on the environmental review process, referred to as CEQA, that will analyze potential environmental impacts and identify strategies for mitigating those impacts.

At the same time, we’ve begun the developer selection process to procure a joint development partner to design, build and finance the project, as well as to maintain the common portions of the building. This August, we distributed the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) and we’re now working on the Request for Proposals (RFP) draft which requires the top three qualifying development teams from the RFQ to produce a project that includes community values and priorities laid out in the RFP document. We plan to release the RFP in early January 2021. 

Learn more about the project and subscribe to project updates by visiting www.sfmta.com/PotreroYard. 

Take our Request for Proposals (RFP) Survey at SFMTA.com/PotreroYardSurvey to inform the RFP with your priorities for neighborhood uses and housing at the site. 

For more information, please email PotreroYard@sfmta.com or call us at 415.646.2223.

Published December 03, 2020 at 02:04AM
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Chances of Service Cuts and Layoffs Rise Due to Budget Impacts

Chances of Service Cuts and Layoffs Rise Due to Budget Impacts
By Bradley Dunn

At today’s SFMTA Board meeting, the Director of Transportation discussed how the pandemic has caused catastrophic revenue losses, and the SFMTA does not expect revenues to return fully for years to come. While the SFMTA is in a stronger financial position than our peer transit agencies, and we’ve worked to realize more than $100 million in savings during the pandemic, we are projecting the need for substantial service cuts and layoffs to make up for projected revenue losses of $607 million.

These cuts will be painful and difficult both for the people of San Francisco and our employees. We continue to work with our elected leaders and have reached out to President-elect Biden’s transition team as well to repeat the calls from across the industry for the urgent need to secure federal support for our nation’s transit systems.

Federal CARES Act funding helped to replace hundreds of millions of dollars of lost revenue but was not enough. We are currently projecting that the pandemic will cause a loss of $607 million of revenue through June 2023, even after spending our CARES Act funds.  If the SFMTA had not received these funds, more drastic measures would have been necessary earlier on in the pandemic. In addition, service reductions and layoffs would have occurred already.  By the end of the month, we will have spent all of our CARES funding keeping our workers employed and Core Service running to support essential workers across the city. 

To make up for our lost revenue, we must cut spending even further. Our forecasts indicate the need for layoffs of between 989 to 1,226 full-time positions, or up to 22% of the workforce to close our Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 projected deficit.  Every employee that we are forced to layoff hurts our ability to provide services. We depend on each of our employees to provide the transit, street safety and other services on which the public relies. 

We do not know exactly how these cuts will be spread throughout the agency, but we do know that these cuts will hurt all San Franciscans. Cuts could include:

• Combined with our previous service reductions earlier this year, we might only be able to operate about 35% of the pre-pandemic service
• When schools reopen, we may lack the funding to pay for crossing guards and other school safety programs
• Discontinuing the Essential Trip Card program, a discount program helps seniors and people with disabilities pay essential trips in a taxi when many people lost access to their local bus service

Each of these cuts would make transportation in San Francisco harder, less equitable and more harmful to the environment. But we have no choice.

We wish that we could tell you exactly what the future will hold, but there is just too much we don’t know.  We don’t know how long the pandemic will last. We don’t know how quickly our customers will return. We don’t know what the economy will look like in the future, or if there will be any additional federal help. In addition to the revenue loss we currently project, there is even further potential risk to our revenues. It is possible that over the current 2-year budget period, there could be additional financial risks to our budget. If our revenues come in below projections, the situation may be even worse.   

Given these revenue losses, we are working hard to save money. We have cut overtime spending by 48% compared to last fiscal year. We instituted a hiring freeze for all but the most mission-critical positions. Combined with other fiscal controls, the SFMTA has found $118 million in cost reductions this fiscal year. The majority of those reductions have been in non-labor costs. Finding additional reductions without reducing our labor costs will be increasingly difficult as we cannot put off purchasing critical supplies --like parts --while still providing services.

We cannot survive without new funding and we will be looking for different ways to secure additional local revenue.  We are considering a wide variety of options to supplement our revenues including a general obligation bond, a community facilities district and reauthorization of the Prop K sales tax. There are tough times ahead and we need the support from the people of San Francisco so that we can provide the high-quality transit and other services that they deserve and depend on.

 

Published December 02, 2020 at 03:46AM
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Shared Spaces Lights Up Skybridge on Stevenson

Shared Spaces Lights Up Skybridge on Stevenson
By Nehama Rogozen

The Shared Spaces program has imagined new ways to utilize public spaces around the city. Skybridge on Stevenson, a unique partnership between SFMTA, OEWD, the San Francisco Parks Alliance, the Mid Market Community Benefit District, and Zendesk in an alley in SoMa illustrated how coming together, we can support communities.

Dancers were just one part of the programing for the Skybridge Shared Space

While completing its ten week run, the Shared Spaces program  event served as a launchpad to reimagine community building in the diverse neighborhood where SOMA Pilipinas, the Transgender District, Theatre District and Mid-Market mix. Dense neighborhoods like SOMA often lack access to open spaces and community gathering locations, making this project even more important.

Every Thursday evening, Stevenson Street was shut down between 6th and 7th streets for performances by area musicians, dancers and artists. Food from area businesses like Montesacro Pinseria Romana SF and The Grilledcheezguy were available free of charge to attendees, many of whom are residents of nearby SROs. Even with the required masks, physical distancing and other safety measures, the event provided an evening of normalcy during these challenging times.

The Skybridge project showed how we are working to be nimbler and provided needed services during the pandemic. The Parks Alliance had already planning a lighting installation and pop-up events to activate the Stevenson alleyway. However, the Shared Spaces program expedited permits and gain support that otherwise might have taken years so that the community could enjoy the space more quickly.

The Skybridge on Stevenson team made it a priority to understand what the community was looking for, both before and after COVID-19 hit. Behind the lighting installation was a desire for increased safety as well as foot traffic to local businesses. Theater and music groups were looking for an outdoor space to practice and perform. Local residents sought opportunities to connect with each other safely.

“As someone who comes into these communities, you are the least knowledgeable,” says Mark Bonsignore of the SF Parks Alliance. “Really listen to what needs to be done. There’s always a way. You can’t always build a park so we look at underutilized areas of the city and utilize them so they can be for the public benefit.”

With several SFMTA projects like Mission Street SoMa, Better Market Street, the 6th Street Pedestrian Safety Project, and Safer Taylor Street either underway or starting soon, we are exploring opportunities to utilize public space and/or side streets for community-building during construction. For example, the 6th Street Pedestrian Safety Project will ensure that Skybridge on Stevenson can continue during construction. We look forward to plans aiming to restart the event this spring.  

Thank you to all the partner organizations and people that made this project a huge success.

Published November 25, 2020 at 02:02AM
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Twin Peaks Tunnel Work to Start November 30

Twin Peaks Tunnel Work to Start November 30
By

View from inside the Twin Peaks Tunnel that was first opened 102 years ago in 1918 

The Eureka Curve is a section of the Twin Peaks tunnel that connects downtown San Francisco to West Portal and beyond. In 2019, we completed a major project in the Twin Peaks tunnel with seismic upgrades, major track and other infrastructure overhauls. Now, additional work in this crucial section of trackway needs to be done, and we will start that on Monday, November 30. This work is essential to improving the quality of the system and reducing the potential for disruptions to service in the years to come. 

Starting the Monday after Thanksgiving, construction crews will begin maintenance work inside the Twin Peaks Tunnel going into the tunnel via the entrance on Market Street between Diamond and Collingwood Street. Planned work includes replacement of the overhead catenary system (OCS) splice connectors, overhead lines, track fasteners, rails, track ballast, switch machine, trackway adjustment throughout the tunnel, rail grinding, installation of new subway lights, and several trackway and OCS tests. These are the key elements that keep our trains running. 

Work is planned for approximately three months, through February 2021. Crews will take a break for the holidays from December 24th through New Year's Day. Construction is scheduled for Monday to Saturday, from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. with hours are subject to change based on construction needs. No night work will occur in the public right of way and will be limited to inside the tunnel. 

As we perform this work, some parking will be temporarily restricted, and traffic lanes will be modified in the construction zone near Castro Station: 

• One lane street closure in each direction on Market Street between Diamond and Castro Street during active construction hours 
• Parking will be temporarily restricted on Market Street between Diamond and Castro Street  
• No access to Market Street from Collingwood Street. Local access to Collingwood Street from 18th Street will be provided 
• Material and equipment staging on both sides of Market Street between Diamond and Collingwood Street.  
• Heavy equipment will enter through West Portal Station tunnel most mornings for about an hour. We do not anticipate any parking impacts or traffic lane changes near West Portal Station.  
• This work is part of our Subway Renewal program that targets critical subway systems and infrastructure for strategic overhauls to improve system reliability and resilience. This work will improve the maintainability of the trackway. It will also provide a more solid foundation for service into the future.  

Ballast Replacement Details 

Ballast is the rocky bed beneath the tracks that stabilizes the trackway. Over time, the ballast wears and can become dusty as the larger rocks are broken down, these are called fines. Over time the number of fines increases, and the trackway can become muddy and difficult to maintain. During the 2019 Twin Peaks project, we reused rather than replaced the ballast in an attempt to save time and money. Unfortunately, the required procedural steps to ensure that the reused ballast would maintain its integrity through a thorough wash/filtering process was not followed. Looking back, we acknowledge these choices were an oversight.

Example of ballast – the rocks that help stabilize the tracks  

Today the ballast has continued to degrade and will, over the long term, reduce the expected life of the new trackway if left unaddressed. In order to take advantage of the current closure of the subway and minimize future disruptions to service, we are moving ahead with the ballast replacement now.  

This issue also underscores two of the key areas we are targeting with our Subway Renewal program: improved project delivery and workforce culture. The decision-making process that led to the reuse of the ballast in 2019 should have been interrogated more intensively. We are committed to promoting a more open workplace that supports our staff raising challenging questions during the course of projects to make sure the choices we make are in the best interest of the system and of the public.  

We thank San Franciscans and Muni customers for your continued patience and understanding as we navigate through our Subway Renewal program and work towards the return of rail service. We will keep you informed about our continued efforts at SFMTA.com/RailRecovery. 

Published November 21, 2020 at 12:29AM
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Twin Peaks for All: Survey Results

Twin Peaks for All: Survey Results
By Benjamin Barnett

Last month, the SFMTA and San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department released a survey seeking public feedback regarding five proposed roadway options for Twin Peaks Boulevard. San Franciscans responded to the survey, ranked support for each alternative and shared opinions about how the different options met their needs. 

The Twin Peaks for All survey was open for almost three weeks and received more than 1,700 responses. This number reflects the high level of interest for this San Francisco park and its future access.  

Survey Background

Conditions on Twin Peaks Boulevard between Portola Drive and Barnett Avenue before COVID street closures.  

The Twin Peaks Boulevard gates were closed early in the pandemic to reduce crowding at the lookout point parking lot. The gates were closed on the north, at Burnett Avenue, and the south, at Portola Drive. Since then, Twin Peaks Park use by hikers, joggers and people on bicycles has increased significantly, with an average of more than 800-weekday visitors and more than 1,100-weekend visitors.  

While the new park access configuration received support, there are also significant community concerns. Our goal with the new design proposals and survey is to find a solution that balances all the various needs of the community including people with disabilities, neighbors and everyone that enjoys this iconic park. 

Survey Options:

1. Burnett Avenue - Burnett Avenue gate is open 24 hours, with parking and a vehicle turnaround available on Christmas Tree Point Road.  
2. Portola Drive - Continue keeping the Portola Avenue gate open, extending the hours from noon to midnight daily.  
3. One-Way Southbound - One-way, southbound vehicle traffic, from the north gate at Burnett Avenue to the south gate at Portola Drive. Reserve the northbound vehicle travel lane for people walking and bicycling.   
4. One-Way Northbound - One-way, northbound vehicle traffic, from the south gate at Portola Drive to the north gate at Burnett Avenue. Reserve the southbound vehicle travel lane for people walking and bicycling.  
5. Pre-COVID - Open both the north and south gates, as were conditions pre-pandemic. The east side of the figure eight is reserved for people walking and biking and the west side of the figure eight is reserved for two-way traffic.   

Overview of Results:

Map representing the Burnett Avenue Option, the most preferred option according to the survey. 

• The Burnett Avenue Option was most preferred with 52 percent of people ranking it highest in comparison to the other four options 
• The Pre-COVID Option was the most divisive of the five options, it ranked as the second most preferred with 30 percent but also most respondents ranked it as less preferred with 64 percent of the vote.
• Mode of transportation to Twin Peaks was associated with responses, with visitors traveling by non-motor vehicular modes favoring the Burnett Avenue Option and visitors traveling by motor vehicular modes favoring the Pre-COVID Option 
• Many respondents commented that they prefer some form of car-free space on Twin Peaks 
• Survey respondents are concerned about sharing the road to the top of Twin Peaks with tour buses and motor vehicle traffic 
• Crime, vandalism and litter are concerns associated with all options 

What We Learned from You

Many people who filled out the survey are regular visitors to the area; almost 50 percent of the respondents typically visit Twin Peaks one or more times per week with another 27 percent of people who visit once per month. People who took the survey tend to reside near the park. The highest percentages of respondents came from zip codes immediately adjacent to the park and of the more than 1,700 responses, 50 respondents were from outside of San Francisco. In total, 52 percent ranked the Burnett Avenue option as their preferred choice. The next closest preference was the Pre-COVID option, with 30 percent.  

Other data demonstrating Option 1 was the most preferred include:  

• Trip frequency did not have an impact on preference, from the respondents stating that they rarely/never visit Twin Peaks to those visiting 1-4 times a week, Option 1 was preferred.  
• Most respondents 64 years of age or younger preferred Option 1.Those 65 years of age or older preferred Option 5.  
• Option 1 was the top preference across races/ethnicities.

More to Come

Access to Twin Peaks is important to San Franciscans and this was reflected by the large number of responses and the range of responses to the Twin Peaks for All survey. Responses reflected that both personal and property safety is important as is access to the beautifully scenic resource. For a much more detailed analysis of our survey data please visit our survey report.

SFMTA staff will continue to review the options, working with project stakeholders to develop a project that is feasible and meets the needs of the public based on the survey results. Staff will develop a final proposal to share with the community and present to the SFMTA Board of Directors for potential approval in the coming months.   Twin Peaks is a beautiful and unique destination for San Francisco residents and visitors alike and everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy it. For more information or to sign up for an email update, visit our project page.  

Published November 20, 2020 at 12:05AM
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Central Subway: Slowed by COVID-19 But Still Making Progress

Central Subway: Slowed by COVID-19 But Still Making Progress
By Phillip Pierce

The Central Subway is a transformational transportation project that will extend the T Third underground to Chinatown through some of the busiest and densest parts of our city. While this mega-project is nearing completion, we are unfortunately delayed a few months due to COVID-19 and other complexities. 

Before the pandemic, we anticipated that construction would be finished by the end of next month, with customers riding trains at the start of revenue service a year later. Our current projections put the completion of construction this spring and the start of service in the following spring of 2022. 

View of the sleek concourse at the Yerba Buena/Moscone Station. 

The main reasons for this delay: 

• Moving to remote work and instituting necessary safety measures and procedures during COVID-19 

• Quarantining multiple contractor crews when, despite safety measures, some of the team tested positive for COVID-19 

• Difficulties and delays in getting materials from suppliers during COVID-19 

• Ongoing design changes throughout the project due to the differing site conditions discovered deep underground 

These delays will likely have impacts on the overall project budget, and we are working closely with our construction contractors to get the project completed as safely and prudently as possible. 

Highlights and Making Progress  

Granite etchings of photographs by artist Catherine Wagner installed at Yerba Buena/Moscone Station 

Most importantly for our neighbors, the most disruptive construction is far behind us. The streets and sidewalks along Stockton Street in Union Square and Chinatown are reopened and most work is now deep underground. The last remaining closed street – one block of Washington Street in Chinatown - will be reopened around the end of the year.  

The vast majority of the project is now completed. The tunnels and tracks are done with crews now working on the final finishes, installing art and systems like automatic train control cabling, traction power and communications.  

We even added a ceremonial “Golden Spike” on 4th Street joining the new Central Subway railwith the existing T Third rail line. A golden spike was first used to celebrate when the rails from the east and west come together on the First Transcontinental Railroad – a tradition that many projects follow to this day. 

The project is a finalist for two International Tunneling Association Awards. The Chinatown–Rose Pak Station is a  "Project of the Year” contender. The Union Square/Market Street Station’s innovative design for the battered drilled shafts support system are also nominated.  

Crews have installed some of the public art  – including a kinetic sculpture at 4th and Brannon station, granite etchings inside Yerba Buena/Moscone (photo above) and a light installation at Union Square/Market Street.

Some of the final decorative panels being installed at the platform level in Chinatown–Rose Pak Station 

Central Subway Facts 

Once in operation, the Central Subway will greatly reduce travel times and increase capacity along the congested Stockton Street and 4th Street corridor while enhancing connections to BART, Muni Metro, Chase Center, Oracle Park and Caltrain.  

The Central Subway route starts across from Caltrain at King Street, runs along 4th Street on surface, transitions into underground tunnels with a portal under the I-80 freeway, the tunnel crosses under the BART and Muni Metro tunnels beneath Market Street, and continues under Stockton Street to Washington Street. With an above ground stop in SoMa at 4th and Brannan, and subway stations at Yerba Buena/Moscone Center, Union Square/Market, and Chinatown – Rose Pak, the Central Subway will vastly improve transit access for the residents in areas of the city, such as Chinatown, that have limited transportation options. 

By extending the T Third line, the Central Subway will not only make new connections, but will also increase overall service in Visitacion Valley, the Bayview, and Dogpatch neighborhoods.

Lots of natural light and exposed concrete from the skylights for the entrance underground at Yerba Buena/Moscone Station. 

Floors, ceiling panels, finishes and color-changing LED light art installation by Erwin Redl 

Platform level with finished floors and transit information signs up at Union Square/Market Street 

Published November 13, 2020 at 12:01AM
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New Bayview-Hunters Point Bus Express Route Alternatives: Vote by November 15

New Bayview-Hunters Point Bus Express Route Alternatives: Vote by November 15
By Enrique Aguilar

In response to deep community engagement, the SFMTA's FY 2021-22 Muni Service Equity Strategy and the Southeast Muni Expansion Project recommended adding express service from the Bayview to Downtown. The disproportionate impacts of COVID-19 on people of color and low-income people has made fast-tracking this service even more important. We are asking for feedback to help us identify the future route of this crucial new service. 

This new express bus service aligns with our transportation priorities as we respond to and recover from the pandemic. Adding capacity to routes that help San Franciscans make essential trips and prioritizing neighborhoods with high concentrations of essential workers and those most impacted by the pandemic are goals in SFMTA’s Transportation Recovery Plan (TRP). This effort also minimizes travel time to reduce how long customers are in our vehicles, which are goals in our SFMTA’s Transportation Recovery Plan. 

The proposed route options are estimated to take about 36 to 45 minutes one-way from end to end. The new express route from Bayview-Hunters Point would improve access to downtown, provide shorter travel times and reflect the priorities of neighborhood residents. 

 

Proposed route alternatives for Bayview Hunters Point Express 

How We Came Up With the Options 

Due to the pandemic, the SFMTA project team formed a virtual Working Group that was instrumental in shaping the three route options.  Members of the Working Group were: 

• Alyssa Jones Garner (CCSF)  

• Earl Shaddix (Economic on Third, EDoT)  

• Emily Rogers-Pharr (PUC)  

• Frank Martinez (BMAGIC)  

• Juanita Washington  

• Lyslynn Lacoste (BMAGIC)  

• J.R. Eppler  

• Nicole Christian (SFMTA)

• Raina Johnson  

The Working Group identified key priorities, downtown destinations customers wanted access to and providing other critical information to help the project team engage the greater Bayview Community to make a final decision.   

  

Signs posted at neighborhood businesses and Muni bus stops on 3rd Street. 

Please take our survey and vote on your preferred route alternative. The survey will be open until Sunday, November 15. Project staff will review feedback from the Bayview community and a final route identified. 

Bayview Express Survey (English) 

Bayview Express Survey (Spanish) 

Bayview Express Survey (Chinese) 

Bayview Express Survey (Filipino) 

Please visit the Bayview-Hunters Point Express page for more information. 

Published November 12, 2020 at 08:41PM
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Can't pay your fare? We Can Help.

Can't pay your fare? We Can Help.
By Bradley Dunn

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit people hard.  Millions of people across the country have lost their jobs or lost their incomes.  When times are tough, even paying for the bus can be a challenge.  During times like these, the SFMTA has programs to help get you where you need to go, like Free Muni for Youth, Seniors and People with Disabilities, the Lifeline and Clipper START reduced fare program and our Essential Trip Card. 

Reduced Muni Fares for Low-Income San Franciscans 

 

Lifeline is a Muni-only monthly pass for customers on a limited income. Lifeline customers get unlimited access to Muni service for a calendar month at a 50% discount off the standard adult monthly pass price. Individuals with a gross annual income (before taxes) at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level are eligible to receive the Lifeline pass.

Federal Poverty Level:

Household Size	1	2	3	4	5	6
Annual Household Income	$25,520	$34,480	$43,440	$52,400	$61,360	$70,320

 

Currently, Lifeline program applications and requests for replacement cards are being accepted online or by mail, and expired Lifeline passes have been extended until April 2022.  

Lifeline pass holders may also qualify for the Clipper START fare program, a new regional discount program that provides a 50% single ride fare discount to those who qualify for Lifeline, which is a great option if you qualify for Lifeline, but don't ride enough to need a monthly pass.  

You can apply for a Lifeline pass: 

• Online - Complete the online application; OR  

• By Mail - Download an application and mail it to SFMTA Customer Service Center, ATTN: Lifeline Application, 11 South Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94103; OR 

• In Person - Bring a completed application to  SFMTA Customer Service Center at 11 South Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94103 

Free Muni for Youth, Seniors and People with Disabilities 

This program provides low- and moderate-income youth, seniors and people with disabilities residing in San Francisco free access to Muni service when using a Clipper card.  

All San Francisco seniors, ages 65+, youth ages 5 to 18, and people with disabilities with a gross annual family income at or below 100 percent of the Bay Area median income level are eligible for the program according to the chart below:

Qualifying Income

Household Size	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Annual Household Income	$89,650	$102,500	$115,300	$128,100	$138,350	$148,600	$158,850	$169,100

 

 

 

You may apply by filling out the program application online or if you are unable to complete the online form, please mail a completed Program Application to: 

SFMTA Customer Service Center 
11 South Van Ness Avenue 
San Francisco, CA 94103 
ATTN: FREE MUNI 

Essential Trip Card 

The Essential Trip Card (ETC) – a discount program to help seniors and people with disabilities make essential trips in taxis during this crisis.  

The ETC will subsidize about two to three round trips by taxi per month for older adults (persons 65 and older) and people with disabilities. Eligible participants will pay 20% of the cost of a regular cab ride fare for essential trips.  The program uses taxis to take people on essential trips like going to the grocery store, pharmacy or another necessary medical trip during the shelter-in-place period. Customers who pay $12 will receive $60 value for taxi trips on a debit card.   

Together all these programs help make sure that every San Franciscan can access transportation during this difficult time. Even if you don’t qualify for one of these programs you can tell someone you know who would qualify for any of these programs and, make sure they apply. 

Published November 10, 2020 at 07:25PM
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Parking Meter Pilot Coming to Dogpatch

Parking Meter Pilot Coming to Dogpatch
By Phillip Pierce

A small but exciting pilot project at parking meters on Indiana Street in the Dogpatch is starting Monday, November 9. For the past couple of years, all metered surface parking lots have been equipped with “pay-by-license-plate” functionality. Now we want to test the “pay-by-license plate” function for on-street parking meters as well.

The only change is that you’ll enter your plate number instead of a parking space number. Drivers may PayByPhone or at the multi-space paystation, just like always. Nothing will change about the forms of payment accepted: drivers will still be able to pay with coins, credit/debit or SFMTA parking card.  

Here are the benefits:

• You can pay at any paystation on the block, even if it’s across the street. So drivers may head in the direction of their destinations, pay at the nearest meter, and be on their way. 
• If you pay for parking but have to leave early, you may return to the same block and park without having to pay again, as long as you are within the original time frame you paid for.

For the SFMTA, we are using this pilot to test if the system can help:

• Streamline enforcement, allowing parking control officers more time to focus on safety issues like double-parking and neighborhood concerns including Residential Permit Parking enforcement
• Remove the need for space numbers and markings on the street that are costly to install and maintain
• Allow for more vehicles to fit on each block when space markings are removed
• Reduce the number of meters needed, freeing up sidewalk space and saving the cost of installation and maintenance

Example of signs to be installed in the pilot area explain how to pay and provide a zone number.

Location and Privacy Details

The pilot is planned for Indiana in part because multi-space paystations already exist between Mariposa and Cesar Chavez streets on the on the following address blocks: 600, 800, 900, 1000, 1100 and 1500.  We plan to install permanent metal signs on the pilot blocks to indicate that customers must enter their license plate to pay, and temporary signs in the early stages of the pilot to notify drivers of the new payment process.

To connect payments with plates for enforcement purposes while preventing anyone from tracking specific plates, we will be masking license plate numbers in our database so that only a limited number of characters from each license plate will be stored.

How to Pay-by-license plate at a Paystation:

• Enter license plate number at the closest or most convenient pay station
• Choose the amount of parking time
• Pay with coins, credit/debit or SFMTA parking card

How to Pay Using a Smartphone

• Download or open the Pay-By-Phone app
• Enter zone number found on nearby meters or pay stations
• If it’s your first time in the app, enter your license plate number
• Choose the amount of parking time
• Pay with credit/debit or SFMTA parking card
• You can extend your meter time through the app, if needed

How to Pay Over the Phone 

• Call the number posted on signage
• Respond to the prompts
  
  • Existing users will be prompted to enter the 4- or 5-digit location number, license plate number and parking time required
  • New users will be guided through a registration process
• Pay with credit/debit or SFMTA parking card
• Extend your parking by calling the same number

 How to Pay Online

• Visit the PayByPhone website
• Create a PayByPhone account and use it to pay for parking.
• Enter location number, license plate number, and amount of parking time
• Pay with credit/debit or SFMTA parking card
• Extend your parking by visiting the website again

Published November 06, 2020 at 09:24PM
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