Friday, March 26, 2021

Better Connections from Bayview and Hunters Point to Downtown

Better Connections from Bayview and Hunters Point to Downtown
By Enrique Aguilar

To better connect southeast San Franciscans with downtown, the SFMTA debuted the 15 Bayview Hunters-Point Express in late January, coinciding with the return of T Third train service. Within weeks, average daily boardings reached 1,000 customers on this new service.

Photo of 15 Bayview Hunters Point Express bus

The 15 Bayview Hunters Point Express 

We added this route based on community feedback from the Southeast Muni Expansion Project in 2018, which prioritized a more direct trip to downtown from the Bayview. With the sudden rise of the COVID-19 pandemic and its disproportionate impacts on communities in the Bayview and Hunters Point, fast-tracking the project became critical to our transit planning. Adding service capacity and a direct connection between these neighborhoods and downtown is a crucial step in supporting the City’s economic recovery and increasing job access for essential workers using transit.

Using data from the SFMTA Equity Toolkit, staff determined that the addition of the 15 Bayview Hunters Point Express in the January 23 service changes resulted in the largest increase in job access for 45- and 60-minute commutes of any San Francisco neighborhood.

The SFMTA convened the Bayview Hunters-Point Express Working Group, comprised of community leaders who helped shaped the conversation on route options. Then, at a time when pandemic precautions precluded in-person community outreach, we invited all area residents to vote for their preferred route through both an online and text-based survey.

After months of planning and continuous support from the Bayview Hunters-Point Express Working Group, we were able to implement a route that offers service closer to residents’ homes and make trips shorter for community members.

“We appreciate the community process and approach SFMTA took to reinstate the 15 Bayview Hunters Point Express,” said Lyslynn Lacoste, Executive Director at Bayview Hunters Point Mobilization for Adolescent Growth in our Communities (BMAGIC) and working group member. “Particularly identifying and prioritizing those that are most isolated in the Bayview community and ensuring that they have efficient access to the public transportation line extending to downtown. I look forward to personally utilizing [it] myself as I travel from the downtown area to my office in the Bayview.”

While in-person outreach remains limited due to COVID-19 physical distancing guidelines, SFMTA staff continue to engage community residents and leaders in order to evaluate the service and gather feedback. Discussions with the working group on the initial impact of the service began earlier this week. In mid-March, project staff also distributed handouts to customers of the 15 Bayview Hunters Point Express waiting at bus stops and onboard when riding between downtown and the Bayview. Posters were also placed in businesses along Third Street in the Bayview.

Muni customer reading handout provided by SFMTA staff

Muni customer reading handout provided by SFMTA staff

15 Bayview Hunters Point Express signs were posted at businesses along Third Street

15 Bayview Hunters Point Express signs were posted at businesses along Third Street

Community members are encouraged to provide comments on the 15 Bayview Hunters-Point Express by completing the online Muni feedback form.



Published March 26, 2021 at 09:27PM
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Thursday, March 25, 2021

Hate is a Virus

Hate is a Virus
By Jonathan Streeter

As a city we stand united against racism. While violence resulting from racism has been more visible in recent years, many of our colleagues and community members have been surviving the violence resulting from racism for generations. This is especially true for many Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, and Pacific Islander communities that have often grappled with the effects of racism in silence or without widespread acknowledgement and support.

Hate against Asian American Pacific Islander communities has risen at an alarming rate during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Anti-Asian violence has been fueled by rhetoric baselessly blaming people of Asian descent for the outbreak and spread of COVID-19.  We condemn all forms of racism and xenophobia and stand in support of any marginalized groups who are being targeted.

Let’s continue coming together to stop racism in all its forms, including Asian discrimination. We can all do our part to stop bias, hate, and violence by educating ourselves and taking action. 

One action to take today is enrolling in Hollaback’s online training, Anti-Asian/American and xenophobic harassment.  The organization has partnered with Asian Americans Advancing Justice to launch a free bystander intervention training to meet this moment.  

As this year has shown, San Franciscans excel at connecting with each other in order to create the change we want to see in our city and the world. And we can do it again.



Published March 26, 2021 at 04:16AM
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Tuesday, March 23, 2021

SFMTA Supports San Francisco Small Businesses Through Construction and COVID-19

SFMTA Supports San Francisco Small Businesses Through Construction and COVID-19
By Sophia Scherr

Local small businesses are what give San Francisco its eclectic and unique charm. Running a small business in San Francisco isn’t an easy feat either, especially over the past year. Therefore, it’s imperative that SFMTA’s projects not only provide resources to businesses that are impacted by construction but are also responsive to COVID-19 concerns as well.

Through our partnership with the Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD), we have been able to provide an additional layer of support to businesses along project corridors including the Geary Rapid Project, Van Ness Improvement Project and L Taraval Improvement Project.  The SFMTA project teams have made it a standard practice to include dedicated support as part of every major capital project. OEWD staff undertake door-to-door outreach and provide information and assistance with grant applications and other city resources that are available to impacted business owners. This partnership with OEWD is just one of many tools in SFMTA’s toolbox to ensure that our small businesses can thrive.

Projects like the Geary Rapid Project span diverse neighborhoods, each with differing needs. Project staff therefore customized outreach and engagement with small business owners and merchant groups for each of the unique business corridors along the corridor: Union Square, the Tenderloin, Japantown and the Fillmore.

photo of Geary Rapid Project and OEWD staff meeting prior to COVID-19 with Fillmore Merchants to discuss upcoming construction

Geary Rapid Project and OEWD staff meet prior to COVID-19 with Fillmore Merchants to discuss upcoming construction

Prior to construction starting in a neighborhood, SFMTA and OEWD staff held frequent meetings with merchant groups and business owners to describe the anticipated impacts of construction and determine which support-resources best fit their needs. Once construction began, each merchant corridor was provided business wayfinding signage in line with their branding, as well as to fit the look and feel of the neighborhood. This wayfinding signage helps to raise the visibility of businesses, so that patrons can still find and access their favorite stores throughout construction.

Photo of wayfinding signage next to Construction Crews working in the Fillmore

Wayfinding signage next to Construction Crews working in the Fillmore

COVID-19 and shelter-in-place orders only compounded pressure on small businesses already feeling the effects of construction. In response, SFMTA staff and merchant groups worked together to develop new ideas on how to keep customers coming during this challenging time. Small businesses, local events, and COVID-19 resources were featured within the project’s weekly construction forecast, which is sent to over 3,000 subscribers.

Each group also collaborated with staff to determine what type of marketing support would best suit them, and when was the best timing given the changing nature of shelter-in-place restrictions. The results were a mix of traditional and new approaches of promoting local merchants. For example, the Japantown Merchants Group chose an advertising campaign to promote visiting Japantown, featured inside and outside of buses throughout the Muni network. The Tenderloin Community Benefit District took a social media approach and promoted visiting restaurants and stores via targeted Facebook ads.

No matter the chosen method, providing targeted support is a proactive way for the SFMTA to help small business during these trying times, so they are able to remain open as our city begins the re-opening process.     

Photo of bus with ad produced for Japantown as part of the Geary Rapid Project Business Support Program

Bus ad produced for Japantown as part of the Geary Rapid Project Business Support Program

Of course, we recognize that in the past not every SFMTA project has been smooth sailing when it comes to construction. However, we have built upon our experience as a lesson for projects currently underway, and for those being planned. We have learned that consistent, personalized outreach and having project staff dedicated to addressing issues directly and quickly are essential to building and fostering meaningful relationships that maximize opportunities, and minimize the impact of construction.



Published March 23, 2021 at 10:30PM
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Monday, March 22, 2021

Creating a Better Market Street: Car-free Enforcement to Resume

Creating a Better Market Street: Car-free Enforcement to Resume
By Mariana Maguire

It’s been over a year since Market Street went “car-free” on January 29, 2020, but shortly afterwards, the COVID-19 pandemic shut down our city and changed how people move through San Francisco. As the city begins to reopen and vehicle traffic is increasing, we are by stepping up compliance and enforcement efforts to keep Market Street car-free starting March 29, with the help of SFMTA’s Parking Control Officers (PCOs) and the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD).

Under the year-old car-free rules established as a part of Better Market Street, no private vehicles are allowed to travel along Market Street eastbound from 10th to Main streets or westbound from Steuart Street to Van Ness Avenue. Traffic is still allowed to cross Market Street, but there are no turns allowed onto the street in the car-free area. These restrictions apply to all private vehicles, including Uber, Lyft, Postmates, DoorDash, and other services whose drivers use personal vehicles without a commercial license plate.

Map of Market Street showing car-free zone from Van Ness Avenue to Main Street eastbountd and from Van Ness Avenue to Steuart Street westbound. New one-way restrictions on Ellis from Market to ____, new two way traffic on Jones from Market to _____, and additional turn restrictions from Market to Valencia street, from Market to Page and Franklin Streets, from South Van Ness onto Market Street and northbound from Steuart to Market. New traffic movements will occur from 2nd Street northbound onto ___ and ____ and on Market Street to Steuart Street.

 Map: Car-free area on Market Street, implemented January 2020.

Enforcement of compliance will increase starting March 29 and will continue for about a month to help remind drivers of the restrictions. PCOs and police officers will monitor the street at various locations. PCOs will wave on vehicles attempting to turn onto Market Street within the restricted area. During the first week of the campaign the SFPD will issue warnings to drivers as we ramp up education efforts. Thereafter, they will issue citations to vehicles in violation of the car-free restrictions.

These efforts are in direct response to violations and concerns we’re heard from people that private vehicles are still driving in the car-free area. We also understand and appreciate concerns around police enforcement and we’re working hand in hand with SFPD to address those concerns.

Photo of worker getting ready to put up a pole with new signs indicating that Market Street is restricted to non-private vehicles only.

Photo: Crew member installing new signage on Market Street in January 2020

Photo of signs on Market Street indicating restrictions to private vehicles.

Photo: Car-free Market Street signs limiting private vehicles from driving on Market Street east of Van Ness Avenue.

Vehicles that are still allowed to use Market Street:

  • Muni and other transit service vehicles
  • Taxis
  • Paratransit
  • Licensed commercial vehicles
  • Emergency service vehicles
  • Bicycles
  • Scooters

Don’t get ticketed! If you’re not one of the vehicles above, don’t drive on Market Street east of Van Ness Avenue. Pay close attention to signage like those shown in the photos. If you’re using a navigation app it will route you around the car-free area.

Please help us spread the word to family, friends, neighbors and coworkers. Plan your trips accordingly. Consider alternate modes of travel if you’re going downtown. If you need to use your personal vehicle to reach destinations along Market Street, take alternate streets – they’re open!

Keep checking the COVID-19 Muni Core Service Plan website for the latest Muni service as we continue to expand and restore additional Muni rail routes which will improve transit service along Market Street.



Published March 23, 2021 at 05:38AM
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