Save the date: July 6th at Noon.
The SFMTA Board of Directors will seek input from riders for the restoration of some bus route and rail lines that were cut during the May 8th service changes. Stop by city hall, Room 400, and get your comment cards in so the SFMTA knows which routes need restoration the most (weekend N service to Caltrain?). Call 311 or visit SFMTA.com for more information.
The SFMTA Board is expected to adopt next year’s budget, including deep service cuts, today. Please show up and let them know how you feel.
Many budget solutions to prevent service cuts involve long-term cost controls and revenue measures; we’ve written about a number of those here. In the short run, we think the most immediate solution to prevent budget cuts is to raise money through extended parking meter hours and higher parking meter rates. Many cities with less of a transit orientation than San Francisco run their meters on weeknights and Sundays.
Right now, today, the choice the SFMTA Board faces is one between raising more money at parking meters and cutting Muni service. Please show up at City Hall, Room 400, at 2:00 p.m., to let the board know which you prefer. Even with the unexpected injection of funds from the state, Muni is looking at a deep service cut which will do grievous damage to the notion of San Francisco as a Transit First city.
Extending parking meter hours and bringing meter rates into line with garage rates isn’t the solution to all of Muni’s problems, but it’s the best solution to the dilemma we face today. Please let the SFMTA Board know that.
Want to influence the proposed Bus Rapid Transit project for Geary Boulevard? The SFCTA and MTA are holding meetings this week to get your input. Attend one and voice your support for this project – and for a rail-ready plan! This is part of the EIS/EIR “scoping comment period” required for environmental review.
Thursday, December 4, 2008, 6-8 pm: Self Help for the Elderly / Jackie Chan Activity Center, 408 22nd Avenue (at Geary)
Saturday, December 6, 2008, 10 am – 12 noon: Tenderloin Community School, 627 Turk Street (at Polk)
Both locations are served by the (non-rapid) 38 Geary bus.
From our friends at the N Judah Chronicles: Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi and MTA Director Nat Ford will be holding a town hall on Muni, parking, pedestrian safety, and related transportation issues on Wednesday, December 3, from 7-9 pm, at the SF County Fair Building at 9th and Lincoln (71 Haight/Noriega, N Judah, 44 O’Shaughnessy).
Bring your tough questions, recommendations, advice, compliments, complaints, etc. – this is a good chance to advise your Supervisor and MTA Director on issues that matter to you.
Want to help SF reduce congestion downtown? Participate in an upcoming meeting about the confusingly named Mobility, Access and Pricing Study that is evaluating options for congestion pricing and downtown parking fees as well as other means to improve traffic flow and speed up mass transit downtown. Meeting times and locations:
Tuesday, December 2, 5:30 – 7:00 pm, San Francisco Main Library, 100 Larkin Street at Grove
Monday, December 8, 5:30 – 7:00 pm, San Francisco Ferry Building, Port Commission Hearing Room, 2nd Floor
You can also comment online – follow the SFCTA link for details on how.
Update: The SFCTA Board (aka the Board of Supervisors) will hear about the proposal this week.