Rescue Muni

Here are some updates that we haven’t blogged yet:

And a reminder for those reading on RSS feeds or any other means: Join Rescue Muni, and comment on the TEP!

No more replacement buses, at least for a while: the Twin Peaks Tunnel project is done as of today, so Muni Metro service is back until 1 am (or close to it, check schedules and NextBus).

Also, plan now for a SFMTA hearing on fares and fines April 1, at the regularly scheduled MTA Board meeting. Due to budget shortfalls, the MTA is again considering fare and parking/traffic fine increases.

Today’s Chronicle discusses the downside of increasing service on the proposed Rapid Network, as proposed by the Transit Effectiveness Project: service reductions on some of SF’s least used lines, as well as on lines that are redundant to other service.

The SFTEP will be presented in detail at today’s MTA Board meeting (2 pm, City Hall, room 400), but if you can’t make that there will be many opportunities to get a detailed presentation, ask questions, and provide feedback. Rescue Muni is planning to host a General Meeting on the subject in early April.

Today Mayor Newsom, MTA Director Nat Ford, SFTEP head Julie Kirschbaum, and others unveiled a highly detailed plan to revise Muni service citywide, to improve service quality and better match service to customer demand. This is easily the most extensive revision to Muni service proposed in a generation, since the crosstown routes were created in the 1970s. Highlights include:

The best way to review this is to look at the 8 page proposal summary (pdf) and service policy framework (pdf) and then go straight to the list of proposals by line.

Many of us at Rescue Muni have been participating in the SFTEP Citizen Advisory Committee, and the detailed proposal is quite consistent with the policy proposals discussed in these meetings. It’s very good news to see the MTA thinking about service as a whole and not just about specific point changes that can be made - after all, most riders use more than one line on a regular basis, so a faster, more reliable system is what is needed to increase ridership and get more San Franciscans out of their cars. And it’s also quite refreshing to see these proposals being made based on real world data on ridership and customer input, instead of just drawing lines on a map.

Of course we will have specific comments about many of the specific proposals, which we’ll post here soon, but we’re delighted to see Muni focusing here on what really matters - faster and more reliable service.
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Muni is making two service changes beginning February 23 on the 44-O’Shaughnessy and 108-Treasure Island lines. Both are designed to make transfers easier - on the 44 to the T-Third at Evans, and on the 108 to Caltrain. Treasure Island riders will get service direct to the Caltrain station (and ball park) from 2-10 pm every day, which should save quite a bit of walking for commuters to the south bay and Giants fans. 44 riders from the Bayview will get an easier transfer to the T and direct access to the shopping center at Evans and Third.

Thanks to David on the Yahoo Group for the tip!

Update: Riders have good things to say about the 108 extension, not just to Caltrain but also to shopping in SOMA.