Rolling Out the Red on Geary

Rolling Out the Red on Geary
By Liz Brisson

Transit lanes on Geary Boulevard east of Stanyan Street are about to receive the red carpet treatment. And with Geary Rapid Project construction nearing the finish line on time and on budget, it’s the perfect occasion for the corridor to be getting the ruby rollout.

But what’s so magical about the color red? In general, painting transit lanes red has been shown to improve compliance by about 50%. Studies of three downtown San Francisco streets found that red paint led to fewer violations by private vehicles, which reduces the number of collisions and makes Muni service more reliable.

And it makes sense: coloring transit lanes red makes it easier for drivers to know where they’re allowed to drive. By making transit lanes extra clear, you’re less likely to get a citation for unintentionally driving in a transit lane.

Learn about when it’s okay for drivers to access a transit lane.

Red transit lanes mark the final step of the transit, safety and utility improvements that are being installed along the Geary corridor between Stanyan and Market streets as part of the Geary Rapid Project.

San Francisco is a leader in using red transit lanes to give buses and trains priority on the street. Following San Francisco’s success, many cities are now using this approach, including New York, Washington, DC, Portland, Seattle, Boston and more.

In the coming months you will start to see new red lanes installed along Geary Boulevard between Stanyan Street and Van Ness Avenue. Then later this fall, after utility and repaving work is completed, existing red lanes will be refreshed and new red lanes will be installed on Geary and O’Farrell streets east of Van Ness.

When the red treatments are completed, Geary will have gained almost 3.5 miles of red lanes along the corridor, bringing the citywide red transit lanes total to 22 miles, or about a 20% increase in red transit line mileage. 

Red lanes along Geary will add to the transit benefits that were realized when quick-build improvements—such as non-colored transit lanes, bus stop changes and traffic signal retiming—were made at the beginning of the Geary Rapid Project in late 2018. Those changes helped to speed up 38R Geary Rapid trips by up to 20% and improved reliability by 20%. In the coming months we’ll be crunching the numbers to understand the additional benefits of the red-colored transit lanes and other recently completed transit improvements like bus bulbs (sidewalk extensions at bus stops).

 

Crews put the finishing touches on Geary Boulevard red lanes

Based on the success of San Francisco and other cities’ experiments, the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)—the national standards governing all traffic control devices—issued Interim Approval to use red transit lane treatments in late 2019. Now the 11th edition of the MUTCD is under development and is expected to include the treatment.

Published July 17, 2021 at 02:04AM
https://ift.tt/3z4ss8S

Rolling Out the Red on Geary

Rolling Out the Red on Geary
By Amy Fowler

Transit lanes on Geary Boulevard east of Stanyan Street are about to receive the red carpet treatment. And with Geary Rapid Project construction nearing the finish line on time and on budget, it’s the perfect occasion for the corridor to be getting the ruby rollout.

But what’s so magical about the color red? In general, painting transit lanes red has been shown to improve compliance by about 50%. Studies of three downtown San Francisco streets found that red paint led to fewer violations by private vehicles, which reduces the number of collisions and makes Muni service more reliable.

And it makes sense: coloring transit lanes red makes it easier for drivers to know where they’re allowed to drive. By making transit lanes extra clear, you’re less likely to get a citation for unintentionally driving in a transit lane.

Learn about when it’s okay for drivers to access a transit lane.

Red transit lanes mark the final step of the transit, safety and utility improvements that are being installed along the Geary corridor between Stanyan and Market streets as part of the Geary Rapid Project.

San Francisco is a leader in using red transit lanes to give buses and trains priority on the street. Following San Francisco’s success, many cities are now using this approach, including New York, Washington, DC, Portland, Seattle, Boston and more.

In the coming months you will start to see new red lanes installed along Geary Boulevard between Stanyan Street and Van Ness Avenue. Then later this fall, after utility and repaving work is completed, existing red lanes will be refreshed and new red lanes will be installed on Geary and O’Farrell streets east of Van Ness.

When the red treatments are completed, Geary will have gained almost 3.5 miles of red lanes along the corridor, bringing the citywide red transit lanes total to 22 miles, or about a 20% increase in red transit line mileage. 

Red lanes along Geary will add to the transit benefits that were realized when quick-build improvements—such as non-colored transit lanes, bus stop changes and traffic signal retiming—were made at the beginning of the Geary Rapid Project in late 2018. Those changes helped to speed up 38R Geary Rapid trips by up to 20% and improved reliability by 20%. In the coming months we’ll be crunching the numbers to understand the additional benefits of the red-colored transit lanes and other recently completed transit improvements like bus bulbs (sidewalk extensions at bus stops).

 

Crews put the finishing touches on Geary Boulevard red lanes

Based on the success of San Francisco and other cities’ experiments, the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)—the national standards governing all traffic control devices—issued Interim Approval to use red transit lane treatments in late 2019. Now the 11th edition of the MUTCD is under development and is expected to include the treatment.

Published July 17, 2021 at 02:04AM
https://ift.tt/3z4ss8S

Guest Blog: What's the Best Way to Restore Muni Service?

Guest Blog: What's the Best Way to Restore Muni Service?
By Jarrett Walker

Today Moving SF welcomes guest-blogger Jarrett Walker, an international public transit planning consultant and the author of the book Human Transit and the blog humantransit.org. The SFMTA contracted with Jarrett and his firm to provide an independent perspective on how to best help Muni service recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. His team has been tasked with evaluating different approaches for each of the next phases of Muni service expansion developed by the SFMTA’s transit planning team. 

Starting this summer, the SFMTA will be sharing three alternatives for how Muni service should be restored and inviting the public to provide feedback.

When a transit agency comes back from the COVID-19 crisis, should it aim to put service back the way it was, or try to put back something better? 

Muni started out as a service that took people downtown, and even today, most of the service is oriented that way. Meanwhile the pandemic accelerated ongoing trends that have shifted travel patterns away from a single focus on downtown and towards many locations across the city. At the same time, more people need to travel in all directions all over the city. So are we sure we want the network to be exactly as it was?

Later this summer, the SFMTA will be sharing three alternatives for how service might be restored in winter and inviting the public to provide feedback on those alternatives. The input received from the public will help the SFMTA Board determine the pattern of Muni service to be implemented in early 2022. The three scenarios the SFMTA will be laying out for the public to consider are: 

1. Return the Familiar Network​
2. Build a High-Access Network
3. Develop a Hybrid Network, balancing the best features of the first two.

The Familiar Network alternative would put back the routes people are used to from prior to the pandemic. But the service that people are used to isn’t always the service that helps the most people get where they need to go. 

The High-Access approach would shift some patterns of service to expand people’s ability to get to more destinations sooner. (See here for a full explanation of how access works.)

 When we plan for high access, we aren’t just thinking about trips people are making, or the trips they made before the pandemic. We’re also thinking about all the trips they could make. Better access can mean more opportunities in your life. Right now, many people’s lives are changing as they find new jobs, get their kids started at new schools and explore new types of recreation. A high-access network tries to give people as many options as possible.

 What does a high-access alternative mean in practice? Here’s an example:  Once the 31 Balboa comes back in August, the Richmond district will have frequent east-west lines spaced every quarter mile. But Muni’s 2 Clement runs just one-eighth mile (a long Richmond block) from the frequent lines on California and Geary. 

 

Caption: Pre-pandemic frequency and route spacing in the north part of the Richmond district.

To measure the total access for people in a particular place, we look at all the trips to all the places they might be going, and calculate how long those trips take on the network. This travel time includes walking time, waiting time and riding time. In other words, we measure travel time starting from when you want to go, not when the bus comes.  

 When we calculate access from points along Clement, we find that the 2 Clement doesn’t add much, because the nearby service on Geary is so much faster and frequent.  Even if you walk (or roll) slowly at 2 miles per hour, it would take you 8 minutes to get from Clement to Geary.  But your wait would be 5 minutes shorter, on average, because the 38 Geary is so frequent. You may save even more time if you get a 38R Geary Rapid, which is faster. At most, the 2 Clement service only saves riders a minute or two. And if you walk at a more average pace, 3 miles per hour, it’s almost always faster to walk to Geary than wait for the bus on Clement.

Such close spacing of parallel routes is not something the SFMTA provides in most parts of the city, so does it make sense to dedicate Muni’s scarce resources to provide it here? Should those resources go where they can measurably expand access to opportunity, such as by moving toward five-minute frequency on many lines?

I’ve talked at length about this high-access approach because it’s less familiar and therefore requires more explanation, but that doesn’t mean the SFMTA has already decided to do it. The choices between familiar and high-access approaches is a genuine question, and we’ll want to know what you think.

Finally, all of these choices are harder because the SFMTA faces severe resource constraints. It still faces a labor shortage and has lost much of its income from fares and parking revenues, not to mention the structural deficit that existed even before the pandemic.  So the agency can’t afford to restore all of the service it ran before the pandemic.  Even if the labor shortage were resolved (and the SFMTA is working on it), restoring 100% of the previously scheduled service would run the risk that just a year or two later, when one-time federal funding runs out, drastic service cuts would be needed that could leave us with even less service than we have now. 

Instead, it makes sense to offer only a level of Muni service that the SFMTA is sure they can sustain, at least until they find new resources to replace funds that have eroded over the last decade and fallen dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Next, we and the SFMTA will lay out exact plans for each alternative, showing the exact routes and frequencies that each alternative would provide. We’ll then analyze how each alternative affects access to opportunity.  We’ll look at this for the whole population, but we’ll also calculate the benefits and impacts for specific neighborhoods, for people of color, for low-income people, and for people who walk or roll relatively slowly.  

The SFMTA will bring this information to the community, so that everyone can think about the choices and express their view.  This will help the SFMTA Board reach a decision that reflects the values of San Francisco. 

 

Published July 15, 2021 at 08:15PM
https://ift.tt/3hIdeR4

Welcoming Back the M Ocean View and 31 Balboa

Welcoming Back the M Ocean View and 31 Balboa
By Kate McCarthy

The M Ocean View will return to rail service and resume its full pre-pandemic route in August

As August 14 approaches, the target date for the next big Muni service change, the SFMTA is pleased to announce Muni’s M Ocean View will be returning to rail service and the 31 Balboa will be returning to service with a temporarily adjusted route. We thank Supervisors Melgar, Safai, Preston and Haney for their advocacy for the return of this service on behalf of their constituents.

The addition of the 31 Balboa and return of the M Ocean View to rail service was made possible following improved clarity on our staffing levels this fall. We had previously forecast that due to an abnormally low level of retirements during the pandemic, we would see a spike at the start of the fiscal year (July 1) when many staff tend to announce their retirements. However, we are now confident there will be adequate staffing to deliver this additional service.

These enhancements to our previously announced plan for August include expanding evening service and restoring Muni Owl All-nighter service. To help workers and shoppers get around town we plan to expand service hours on 16 key routes. Instead of 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., these routes will operate from 5 a.m. to midnight. Muni’s full late-night Owl network is scheduled to be restored in August, providing service from midnight to 5 a.m. The frequency on the late-night routes will remain approximately 30 minutes. We also plan to extend Metro Bus hours to cover the time span between Owl and rail service. Visit our Muni Owl All-Nighter Service page for the full list of current Owl routes and service information.

Resources previously tied up by mandatory COVID-19 restrictions, like removal of the heightened cleaning regimen, were able to be redistributed so that service could be expanded. Returning the M Ocean View to rail service has always been a high priority for the SFMTA, and with available operators and vehicles, we are excited to bring it back in time for SFUSD to resume in-person instruction in August.

The M Ocean View will resume its full pre-pandemic route, traveling from Geneva and San Jose Avenue to the Embarcadero Station. It will operate every 10 minutes on weekdays and every 12 minutes on weekends.

The modified 31 Balboa will travel from Ocean Beach to Cyril Magnin at Market Street, providing a direct connection to Powell Station and several Market Street lines. The 31 Balboa is expected to operate daily every 20 minutes.

A major priority for SFMTA restoring service during the state of emergency has been ensuring convenient, two- to three-block access to Muni stops. Service changes implemented in January 23, 2021 provided access to 100% of residents living in neighborhoods identified by the Muni Service Equity Strategy, and with the service changes in August, 98% of San Francisco residents will also have this access.

As we head into the fall, SFMTA’s transit planning team is developing scenarios for three alternatives for how service might be restored this coming winter. Restoring the 31 Balboa to service is necessary in all three of the service restoration scenarios as it fills a critical gap in Muni access in the Tenderloin, Western Addition, and Richmond neighborhoods. Inviting the public to provide feedback on those alternatives is a part of upcoming community engagement activities.

Over the past year, we’ve heard robust feedback that the 31 Balboa is a critical lifeline for many Muni customers. While resource constraints continue to be a challenge for the agency as we gradually recover from the pandemic, the SFMTA schedules and transit planning teams, along with union leadership, are working hard to identify the resources needed to bring back the 31 Balboa.

The modified 31 Balboa will travel from Ocean Beach to Cyril Magnin at Market Street, providing a direct connection to Powell Station and several Market Street lines. The 31 Balboa is expected to operate daily every 20 minutes.

Restored and Adjusted Routes

Below is a summary of the specific service planned for the M Ocean View and 31 Balboa:

M Ocean View:

• The M Ocean View will return to rail service and resume its full pre-pandemic route, running from the Embarcadero Station to Geneva Avenue and San Jose Avenue. This route will use the Muni Metro subway and serve all stations from Embarcadero to West Portal.
• Service hours: 
  
  • Weekdays, 6am-9pm, approximately every 10 minutes.
  • Weekends, 8am-9pm. approximately every 12 minutes.

31 Balboa:

• Temporary modified route between Cabrillo Street and La Playa to Cyril Magnin at Market Street.
• Service hours: 
  
  • Daily, 6am-9pm (still to be confirmed), approximately every 20 minutes.

Further details can be found on the August 2021 Service Change Updates webpage and on the COVID-19 Muni Core Service Plan.

 

Published July 15, 2021 at 08:15PM
https://ift.tt/3yZH4Gp

Reconnecting San Francisco Across Streets and Freeways

Reconnecting San Francisco Across Streets and Freeways
By

With limited space on San Francisco city streets, how can we ensure that current and future transportation options remain accessible and affordable to all?

The San Francisco County Transportation Authority (SFCTA), the SFMTA and the San Francisco Planning Department are collaborating through ConnectSF in creating a template for an equitable, sustainable and effective future. Their Streets and Freeways Strategy examines approaches that support San Francisco’s Transit-First, Vision Zero, climate action, and equity goals.  The strategy complements the Transit Investment Strategy released in April 2021.

SFMTA staff provided expertise in developing the strategy and is leading the Active Transportation component, exploring ways to build a connected network of bike and pedestrian routes across the city that make biking and walking safe and enjoyable. SFMTA staff from across the agency also developed strategies to manage our limited street space effectively, focusing on moving the most people with space-efficient and low-polluting modes, and prioritizing people who have the fewest choices..

To learn about ConnectSF’s strategy for connecting neighborhoods, supporting the economy and creating a more welcoming environment, join their virtual town hall on Wednesday, July 21, 2021 at 5:30 pm-6:30 pm . That event will give participants insight into investing in San Francisco’s streets, prioritizing transit and carpooling, building out a complete walking and biking network, targeting safety, and repairing historical harms to communities.

To read more and provide feedback, visit the Strategy and complete the survey by July 31, 2021.

Published July 15, 2021 at 04:45AM
https://ift.tt/3ieHaTM

Good People, Tough Job

Good People, Tough Job
By Pamela Johnson

Parking Control Officer Larrell Dean directing traffic in 2019

You may not know always know their names or faces, but dedicated employees of the SFMTA are out on the street every day empowering our mission to keep San Francisco on the move. As part of a Good People, Tough Jobs series, we will be highlighting those key SFMTA staff who are crucial to accomplishing this goal. Today we take a look at the experiences of our parking enforcement group.

It isn't easy being a parking control officer (PCO) in San Francisco. PCOs are often met with anger and antagonism while enforcing parking regulations. Yet the work of PCOs is a critical tool in keeping our city moving, as they ensure that streets and critical pathways are kept clear for transit, vehicles, pedestrians, and other modes of transportation.

Unfortunately, the day-to-day work of a PCO can involve aggressive and, at times, unsafe situations. There are cases of parking officers being attacked on the job as they are issuing a fine. From yelling, spitting to physically assaulting the officer, their safety is sometimes jeopardized. 

For instance, between 2015 to July 2019 there were 9 assaults on officers reported and 27 Workers’ Compensation assault claims filed.

When asked about the nature of his job, PCO Larrell Dean replied “The most important thing is to be aware of my surroundings and make sure I’m safe and the people around me are safe, and treat the public with the utmost respect and professionalism."

While none of us likes to get a parking ticket, we know that taking it out on the city worker is wrong. Instead, remember to respond in a way that fosters a safer and more considerate work environment for them. PCOs are good people with demanding jobs. Of course, if you disagree with your citation, you can appeal it online or by mail rather expressing hostility toward the enforcement officer for administering the law.

The Importance of PCOs and What they Do

When enforcing parking regulations, the role of the PCO includes responding to residents' complaints (such as keeping driveways clear), managing residential parking permit time limits and arranging tow away for illegally parked vehicles. PCOs also support San Francisco's commercial corridors and small businesses by keeping spaces open and available to authorized parking and loading. Another critical job of the PCO is to provide street safety by directing vehicular and pedestrian traffic, particularly during special events and emergencies. While on the job, PCOs help monitor and manage hazards, traffic obstructions, accidents, stolen cars and property damage.

We’re asking for your help in spreading the word about being respectful to and creating a safe workspace for SF’s parking control officers—and please share this blog and safety campaign.

To help reduce frustration on all sides, please see the tips and available resources below. And remember, if you disagree with a citation you’ve received, contest it. Attacking a PCO is never the right choice.

How to Park Legally In San Francisco

For more information, including five things you should know to avoid a parking ticket, visit How To Park Legally in San Francisco and the Streets of San Francisco Parking Guide.

How to Appeal Your Citation

If you find that you have received a citation and disagree with it, you can appeal it online or call 311 (within San Francisco) or 415-701-2311.

Community Service In-Lieu of Payment Program

The SFMTA’s Community Service Program provides customers the option to perform community service in San Francisco in lieu of parking ticket and transit citation payment. Visit the agency’s website to learn more about the community service program.

 

 

Published July 13, 2021 at 09:37PM
https://ift.tt/2TXRgAH

Young People to Ride Muni for Free

Young People to Ride Muni for Free
By Stephen Chun

Mayor London N. Breed, Supervisor Myrna Melgar and the SFMTA have announced the expansion of our Free Muni for Youth Program to include all youth starting August 15, 2021. This is scheduled to coincide with the full in-person return of the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) 2021-2022 school year.

This one-year program will eliminate the application process for all youth under the age of 19 to ride Muni, regardless of financial status and without proof of payment.

There are currently 39,350 active users of the Free Muni for Youth program, representing approximately 72% of those eligible.  Existing participants will no longer need to carry their Clipper Card with the pass or tap the reader when boarding vehicles.

While Muni Transit Fare Inspectors will not request proof of payment from youth who appear to be under the age of 19, youth above the age of 16 are encouraged to carry a student ID or other form of ID for age verification. Youth (San Francisco residents only) who utilize Cable Car service for regular travel can apply for a pass for unlimited travel. Cable car rides for non-resident youth are not covered in the program.

The SFMTA implemented the “Free Muni for Youth” pilot program in 2013 providing free transit service to all low and moderate-income youth in San Francisco aged 5 through 17 years old, and made the program permanent in January 2015. In April 2020, the program was expanded to 18- year-olds and students enrolled in Special Education and English Learner programs through age 22. 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, the SFMTA lacked the financial resources to continue funding this program moving forward. By allocating $2 million in the upcoming budget, Mayor Breed is ensuring that Muni is accessible to more than 100,000 young people across San Francisco.

Numerous studies have established that exposure to riding transit at an early age leads to continued use in adult years, along with a decrease in auto-ownership. Additional program goals in line with the SFMTA Strategic Plan include creating a safer transportation experience for everyone by improving the safety of the transit system, improving the quality of life and environment in San Francisco and the region by using programs and policies to advance San Francisco’s commitment to equity and finally, ensuring quality of life and economic health in San Francisco that the transportation system is a safe and efficient movement of people and goods.

Free Muni has also been made available for seniors and persons with disabilities. Program eligibility is set at an annual income at or below 100 percent of the Bay Area median. The SFMTA Board of Directors expanded this program in 2020 to persons experiencing homelessness.

For more information about Free Muni for Youth and how to sign up for Cable Car service please visit http://www.sfmta.com.

---

 

 

Published July 13, 2021 at 01:38AM
https://ift.tt/3AVx4jq