Waste of money or critical connection for travelers? Whichever it is, the columns are now rising in the median of Hegenberger Road for the Oakland Airport Connector linking the Coliseum BART station to Oakland Airport. It’s projected to be completed in 2014.
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) recently did a study of the cost savings from commuting by mass transit versus driving a car. The savings are major – San Franciscans can save thousands of dollars per year by riding Muni and BART. APTA estimates that a SF two-person household can save over $12,000 per year just by making the switch to mass transit.
At a hearing on Thursday, SFMTA officials appeared before the Supervisors to discuss upcoming budget issues. Supervisor David Campos and others expressed concern about work orders to other City departments (notably SFPD) and overtime far exceeding budgeted amounts. This will be a serious concern over the next budget cycle as fares and fees are once again likely to rise to cover increased costs.
“We’re not going to get a better deal than now,” SFMTA CFO Sonali Bose told reporters. 2007′s Prop A allows the SFMTA to issue revenue bonds for “shovel ready” infrastructure upgrades and repairs, and the low interest rates on the bond market make it a once in a lifetime chance for the agency to get a good deal on rates. Out of the $170m the bonds will raise, the agency will buy down existing expensive debt, with the rest of the funds going to help pay for a rehabilitation project at Muni’s Green yard, replacing system radios, replacing the system’s 28 year old digital subway signs, upgrading the sea water damaged Embarcadero MMT, and upgrading rail infrastructure in the Sunset Tunnel (which will be in tandem with the Cole St rail upgrade).
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.