Only twelve short years after we began to advocate for it (see TRANSFER from August 2001, page 5), the SFMTA has finally approved the project. Assuming all federal approvals come in, construction could begin in less than two years – a very short time by San Francisco standards!
Well done SFMTA and SFCTA for getting the approvals – now let’s GET IT BUILT.
Tomorrow, the SF Municipal Railway celebrates its centennial. Take a look at the Market Street Railway‘s website for details on all the festivities. Car One will be in regular service on Market Street, and rides are free systemwide all day!
Today’s Mercury News tells the story of how the Santa Clara VTA light rail system has consistently missed ridership targets while costing taxpayers more than expected in subsidies. The system only has 32,000 daily boardings, less than one-quarter of Muni’s light rail boardings – due largely to sprawling land use throughout the region that favors automotive commutes, but also slow speeds through the downtown “transit mall” and suburban lines. This should be a lesson to regional authorities considering where to build mass transit: build where the demand is!
While transit projects around the region get cut, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission is currently stuck with the bill for a new office building, far in excess of what is needed for such an organization. Joyce Roy of the Oakland Tribune says it’s not too late to junk this boondoggle.
John King of the Chronicle reports favorably on the option to extend the Central Subway to North Beach, perhaps using the Pagoda Theater site as the entrance. We agree! Let’s at least find out what it would cost and how quickly it could be built without spending decades debating alternatives.