Comments on: MTA to propose stop consolidations (finally)

By: Rescue Muni » Blog Archive » Streetsblog: don’t forget stop consolidation

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 01:23:58 +0000

[...] MTA stop consolidation (which would speed up service and was proposed in the SFTEP, and which we have supported for years) has been put on the back burner due to the recent budget cuts. If you comment on the [...]

By: alexjb

alexjb — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 05:34:53 +0000

There are a number of issues that contribute significantly to delays on the 21 Hayes, especially in commute hours, but I agree strongly that in the case of that line, between Stanyan and Scott, there are way more stops than necessary.

The only transfer points are Divisadero and Masonic, the street grade is non-existent (no hills for those who have trouble walking), and yet the bus stops nearly every block!

This issue compounds things during commute hours. In the morning, inbound buses make time-consuming stops – even when the bus is too full to realistically add people. In the evening, the bus might stop every block for 5 blocks, to let off only 1-2 people each time. I can guarantee that you would save a lot more than 3.5 minutes per run in commute hours.

By: sf4fun66

sf4fun66 — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 05:21:02 +0000

Good point, Andrew. I live out in Parkside and rely on the L to get me to and from downtown on a regular basis. Out in the avenues, the train stops every 2 blocks. I think this is overkill. Increasing distance to 4 blocks between stops will shave off several minutes to get from the zoo to the Embarcadero. 5 or 6 minutes may not seem like a lot, but during rush it does, especially when cars and bikes whizz by as the train continuously starts and stops. My proposal is to have stop consolidations during weekday peak and keep local stops during offpeak and weekends. At least trial this on one of the rail lines and a couple bus lines. (I’d also like to see all bus and rail stops clearly marked with signage, not faded yellow paint on the road or light pole.)

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 21:56:31 +0000

I couldn’t agree more that shifting service from local to limited will ALSO help. I just think they need to do both. Moving stop spacing to one per two blocks in the flat areas, AND adding limiteds, will provide faster and more service at no additional cost.

By: david vartanoff

david vartanoff — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:57:27 +0000

Canard alert. While there may be a few very closely spaced stops in a few areas, this ‘quick fix’ ignores several realities. First, given one way street Muni routes, there are single block spaced stops because by policy when routes cross transfers should be enabled. Second, taking the example from the media coverage–eliminate 11 stops on the 9 local to save a whole 3.5 minutes on a 70 minute run. That figure is “in the noise.” Third, simply shifting two 9 lcls an hour to 9Ltd or 9X saves MUCH more time both for the longer distance rider, AND driver salary time. Fourth, staying with the 9, the route is regularly a not out victim sometimes as many as 5 buses. The delays caused by two-three headways of ridership are more than 3.5 minutes per run. Signal preempts and a few queue jump lanes also could save similar times and benefit locals and Ltds/Xs.
All of these