Rescue Muni

The 14L-Mission Limited buses that used to stop tantalizingly close to the Daly City BART station finally will take people the rest of the way during AM and PM commute hours.  Temporarily, the morning runs will be connected by a shuttle between Daly City BART and the 14L at Goethe Street, though eventually the 14L will make morning and evening runs available both ways.  Free transfers will be available inside the paid area of the BART station.

Muni is also promising better maintenance and supervision of the 14L buses.

In May, Lea Militello became the MTA’s new police commander. She has a novel idea: not only place fare inspectors at key evasion stops, but also place inspectors at random stops, so no matter where customers board, they will have the expectation of encountering a fare inspector. The plan is working, the number of citations up 20% since she began the program.

Found at Montgomery station. Is BART getting complaints from cash passengers no longer getting their transfer discount?

SF Streetsblog reports today that SFMTA is unlikely to approve increases to senior, youth, and disabled Fast Pass fares in tomorrow’s meeting, but that proposals to extend meter hours and operate parking meters on Sunday are also not likely to be considered, so Rescue Muni still urges the MTA to reject the proposal. If you can speak at tomorrow’s meeting, please do.

Meanwhile, Supervisor Elsbernd’s proposed amendment appears to be gaining momentum. The Chronicle’s CW Nevius covers it today. It would remove the wage floor for operators set in Proposition A (2007) and require that operators collectively bargain for wages, hours, work rules, and benefits, just as other MTA and city workers do.

Despite strong opposition by riders in recent public hearings, the MTA Board is planning to vote on proposed service cuts and fare increases to balance this year’s budget. SF Streetsblog has a good summary of what is scheduled.

In particular, the proposal does NOT include extended parking meter hours or meter enforcement on Sunday, but it does charge riders $70 per month for the privilege of using express routes and cable cars (over our opposition) and it increases senior, youth, and disabled monthly pass fares. It’s not clear if the same premium pass will also be available on BART, or if riders will need to buy multiple premium passes to ride expresses, cable cars, and BART – but regardless, this is a terrible proposal that moves Muni further away from providing universal service throughout the city, and completely ignores the Transit-First policy in the charter.

Also, a major reason for the immediate cuts is the decision by TWU Local 250A members to reject a proposed package of pension contributions and other work rule savings. Supervisor Elsbernd is proposing an amendment to the Charter that would repeal the salary floor that is there now, allowing the MTA to collectively bargain for wages as well as benefits and working conditions – we are watching this closely. But because the proposed concessions were rejected, they can’t be used to balance this year’s budget.

We urge all riders to attend Friday’s meeting (9am, City Hall Room 400) and urge a NO vote on this proposal. Sunday and evening meter hours are a much better way to solve the budget deficit for transit riders (and merchants also, who will benefit from higher turnover from their customers.)

Update: The Chronicle covered this today. Also, SPUR Director Gabriel Metcalf published an open letter to the Transport Workers Union in the Guardian urging them to vote in favor of work rule concessions.