It’s Electric! Battery Buses Then and Now

It’s Electric! Battery Buses Then and Now
By Jeremy Menzies

Battery-electric buses and cars have been hitting the streets around the nation in recent years, and here in San Francisco, the SFMTA is currently running a pilot program to test battery powered buses across the system. The pilot analyzes not only the buses themselves, but also how the technology works in the real world of stop-and-go traffic and hill-climbing.   

Surprising as it may seem, this pilot program is not the first time battery electric buses appeared on the streets of SF. Here’s a look back at one test that took place over 50 years ago. 

While battery electric vehicles date back nearly 200 years to the 1830s, it took over a century for them to see widespread commercial success due to the limitations of the battery technology. 

One of the first times Muni tested a battery-powered bus was in November 1972.  Dubbed the “Electrobus”, this small vehicle was tested on the 39 Coit route up Telegraph Hill. This route has historically been served by shorter than normal buses due to the tight turns and steep grades up the hill. 

Loaded with sandbags to simulate the weight of passengers, the Electrobus climbed up the hill to the Coit Tower parking lot just like its gas-powered counterparts. While this bus never went into service, it was one of a handful of “alternative” buses Muni explored in the early ‘70s, including a steam bus and a flywheel-powered bus. 

Today, the SFMTA is testing battery electric buses from four different manufacturers to see what the vehicles can do and to work out possible kinks in adopting the technology on a large scale. 

These buses have been running on some of the city's hardest routes for months, from long stretches along the 9 San Bruno line to the steep hills of the 22 Fillmore, to determine their viability as an alternative to our hybrid-diesel buses.

Muni already operates the greenest fleet of any city in North America. Pollution from Muni makes up less than 0.001% of citywide emissions, while 30% of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions come from private vehicles. Riding transit is a sustainable way to travel, and we’re committed to our efforts to achieve a 100% zero-emissions transit fleet. Alongside trolley buses and other emerging technologies, battery-electric buses will play a critical role in a cleaner, greener future for Muni and all of San Francisco. 

Published November 30, 2023 at 11:17PM
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Taken with Transportation Podcast: Celebrating Culture and Community on a Cable Car

Taken with Transportation Podcast: Celebrating Culture and Community on a Cable Car
By

SFMTA staffers celebrate the launch ride of the 2023 Filipino American History Cable Car.

Specially decorated cable cars climb the hills of San Francisco throughout the year in honor of different communities, cultures and history months. These cars help us celebrate the diversity of our staff and of the city as a whole, and the latest episode of Taken with Transportation, “Celebrating Culture and Community on a Cable Car,” takes you on board. 

The program is the brainchild of SFMTA Cable Car Division Manager Fred Butler, who came up with the idea in early 2022. “We’d normally decorate a car for the Lunar New Year, and I sat back and was like, ‘We should do something for every type of person that’s here at the agency’,” Butler says. “And seeing that February was, you know, Black History Month, I said, ‘Let’s do a Black History car’.” 

Butler worked with the agency’s Office of Racial Equity and Belonging on the idea, and the two 2022 Black History Month cable cars were so popular, we now run more than half a dozen heritage, culture and history cable cars for a month each. 

Inside one of the inaugural Black History Month cable cars in 2022.

In the episode, host Melissa Culross hops on board the Filipino American History Cable Car and the Native American Heritage Cable Car, alongside agency staffers and SFMTA Board of Directors member Lydia So. 

“This event is amazing,” Director So says.” It kind of brings everyone together, and being part of the AAPI community, I love that we elevate everybody’s voices.” 

Maisha Tawasha, who works in the agency’s peer assistance program, rides all the heritage and culture cable cars when they launch. “I feel it’s just important to represent all the different racial groups that make up the SFMTA,” she says. “The more we can celebrate each other, then it’s just best for everybody.” 

The first run of each heritage and culture cable car is for staff and special guests only, and then the public rides for the month that the car is decorated. You can find “Celebrating Culture and Community on a Cable Car” and all the episodes of Taken with Transportation on our podcast page (SFMTA.com/Podcast). 

Published November 29, 2023 at 11:23PM
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Temporary Parking Changes Will Support Valencia Street Businesses

Temporary Parking Changes Will Support Valencia Street Businesses
By Melissa Culross

 

Cars, bicycles and delivery vehicles all share space along Valencia Street. Photo credit: Shayda Haghgoo, SFMTA. 

Valencia Street is home to one of the city's most eclectic and culturally diverse sets of restaurants, shops, nightlife and essential services. The heavily traveled corridor attracts residents and visitors of all ages and interests who get there by walking, biking, rolling and driving.  

As part of our work to make Valencia Street safe and inviting for everyone, we’re making some temporary changes to our loading zones beginning this week to create more general parking on the corridor during the holiday season. These changes will help customers who drive patronize Valencia businesses while keeping the street safe for people on foot, bicycles and scooters. Small businesses are an important part of all that makes San Francisco the incredibly special city that it is, and we all benefit when they succeed. 

In the years since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the Shared Spaces Program’s parklets and weekend block closures along Valencia have offered a lifeline for businesses and created space for neighbors to come together in joy and community. At the same time, the parklets removed commercial and passenger loading space and parking spaces, and there has been an increase in pick-up and delivery business. The result has been increased competition for limited curb space.  

In response to the concerns of struggling local businesses, we are temporarily adjusting the type and duration of many of the loading zones on Valencia Street between 15th and 23rd streets and on several side streets (18th, 19th, 20th, 22nd) to create more general parking availability in the neighborhood. These temporary changes will be in effect while the project team evaluates permanent curb changes that would be made in early 2024. 

Short-Term Adjustments to Support Small Businesses 

• We are temporarily turning just over a third (34%) of the loading zones that we recently installed into general parking after 12 noon. 

• We are also temporarily turning the vast majority (82%) of the new loading zones into general parking after 6 p.m. Previously they ended at 10 p.m. 

• We are temporarily converting about a third (34%) of the 6-wheel loading spaces into regular commercial loading spaces.  

In addition to on-street parking, the SFMTA operates two garages in the neighborhood: the Mission-Bartlet garage at 3255 21st Street and 16th and Hoff garage at 42 Hoff Street. Parking rates at the Mission Bartlett garage range from $2.00 an hour to $5.00 an hour, depending on the time of day, and the rate at the 16th and Hoff garage is $4.00 an hour (see lists below). Drivers who park in either garage are likely to spend less time looking for a space than those who choose to park on the street, and up-to-date space availability information for the Mission Bartlett garage can be found at our Demand-Responsive Parking Pricing page (SFMTA.com/ParkingRates).  

Mission Bartlett Garage: Open Sunday to Thursday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday to Saturday from 7 a.m. to 12 a.m. Parking rates by time are in the list below: 

• 12 a.m. to 9 a.m.: $2 per hour. 

• 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.: $3 per hour. 

• 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.: $5 per hour. 

• 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.: $3 per hour. 

• 6 p.m. to 12 a.m.: $5 per hour. 

16th & Hoff Garage: Open daily from 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Parking is $4 per hour all day. 

Meanwhile, we offer neighborhood businesses the opportunity to purchase parking validation stickers at half price. This allows businesses to offer their customers and employees discounted parking at Mission-Bartlet and Hoff Street garages at a very low cost. Interested merchants can reach out to David Dunham at David.Dunham@sfmta.com or 415.701.4604. 

The Mid-Valencia Bikeway Pilot Project 

We began efforts to improve bikeways along Valencia in 2018 to make the street work better for everyone, and the Mid-Valencia Bikeway pilot project began on August 1, 2023. The pilot includes the following changes: 

• Center-running bikeway to provide a dedicated and clear path for people on bikes. 

• Turning restrictions to eliminate or reduce the likelihood of collisions involving turning vehicles. 

• The restriction of parking near intersections, known as “daylighting,” to help drivers to see people about to cross the street. 

• Curb management changes to provide more space for loading vehicles and prevent drivers from double parking. 

We are closely evaluating the pilot’s design and will consider adjustments to improve safety and effectiveness. Public input and experiences are instrumental in this process.  

Valencia serves as a major bike route, but most of the corridor is on the city's Vision Zero High Injury Network, the 12% of streets that account for 68% of the city's fatal and severe traffic collisions. While there is no perfect solution, we are committed to improving safety for bicyclists and pedestrians while preserving the economic vitality of Valencia Street.  

As we move forward, SFMTA staff plan to return to the agency’s Board of Directors in early 2024 with an update on how the pilot project is performing. Safety remains our top priority, and our evaluation will encompass a comprehensive range of factors. These include measuring bikeway blockages, vehicle turn restriction compliance, close calls, vehicle speeds and bicycle and vehicle behavior at new intersections with bike signals. Beyond these metrics, we will assess the effectiveness of the new curb management plan, traffic and user volumes, emergency vehicle access, and the interaction of cyclists with the center-running protected bikeway. This evaluation will help us understand how the pilot design is working and whether we need to revise it for enhanced safety and efficiency. 

Two studies are also underway to help inform a future design for Valencia. The first is focused on traffic and circulation to assess the impacts of various design concepts. The second is a public realm/public space study to consider how we can ensure that the corridor is a great place to visit and spend time outside.  

Questions or comments? You can send feedback about the Mid-Valencia Bikeway pilot and the corridor, in general, to Valencia@SFMTA.com, and updates are available at our Valencia Bikeway Improvements project page (SFMTA.com/Valencia). 

Published November 21, 2023 at 11:40PM
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Celebrating SFMTA Staff for a Successful APEC Conference in San Francisco

Celebrating SFMTA Staff for a Successful APEC Conference in San Francisco
By Michael Roccaforte

San Francisco has officially wrapped up the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting after an exciting week that put the city on the world stage. We’d like to take a moment to recognize the staff from across our agency who spent countless hours and brought their expertise to make APEC a success. It was truly all-hands-on-deck for this effort, and everyone who works at the SFMTA deserves credit for showing why we are a world-class transportation network. 

SFMTA security and Parking Control Officers played a key role in creating safe conditions for the APEC conference.

The restricted areas around the conference zones were carefully coordinated with our street engineers and planners to make sure everyone who attended could remain safe. Our sign shop brought those plans to life with the signage to tell people which areas were closed to traffic. Parking Control Officers (PCOs) then positioned themselves to create a perimeter around the security zones, directing traffic and supporting motorcades. The work by SFMTA security to keep our staff and riders safe during all of this was essential to make APEC possible in San Francisco.   

Our Muni transit staff worked hard to create plans around APEC, and harder when those plans faced sudden changes.

Our Transit staff worked for months to plan Muni reroutes around restricted areas and create new schedules, temporary signs to alert riders and contingencies for any last-minute changes. Our Muni operators skillfully navigated the reroutes with help from our Transportation Management Center staff who monitor road and metro conditions. We were able to get riders safely around crowded or restricted areas thanks to these efforts. Our Muni Transit Ambassadors and Transit Fare Inspectors were on our vehicles to prevent any incidents onboard, and our maintenance teams kept Muni running smoothly. 

Paratransit and Taxi services teams worked diligently to make sure that people with mobility needs who live in the security zones were able to access their homes. The Muni Transit Assistance Program (MTAP) made sure our kids got to school without incident. 

An event of this scale and its travel impacts called for immediate public outreach and customer communications efforts, and our Communications, Outreach & Marketing division sprang to action. The team made sure everyone traveling in SF understood the magnitude of APEC, helped people plan ahead and provided real-time travel alerts during unfolding impacts.  

SFMTA staff get dressed in orange to volunteer themselves as ambassadors to help people find their way around San Francisco during large events. 

Members from divisions across the SFMTA volunteered their time to work as ambassadors to help people find their way around the city. They equipped themselves with maps of the temporary Muni reroutes and brought their knowledge of how to make sense out of navigating San Francisco during this busy event.  

We couldn’t be more thankful for all the work by our staff to make APEC successful while keeping life moving for visitors and people who live and work here. Moments like this make us proud to work for this great city. Thank you, San Francisco! 

Published November 21, 2023 at 05:41AM
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Take Muni to Enjoy San Francisco During APEC

Take Muni to Enjoy San Francisco During APEC
By Mariana Maguire

Muni can get you to all corners of San Francisco while the APEC conference keeps the city bustling.

San Francisco is set to welcome global leaders for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting on Saturday, November 11. The city will be thriving with activities, so residents and visitors who wish to avoid downtown congestion can take Muni, SF Paratransit or use the SFMTA’s bicycle network to enjoy the city’s many unique neighborhoods. Given that much of San Francisco’s cultural heritage was born of immigrant communities from APEC countries and beyond, you can get into the spirit of APEC by exploring some of the sights and flavors of the world right here at home. 

San Francisco’s culturally distinct and uniquely beautiful neighborhoods are what make the city a world class destination! SF.gov’s Perfect San Francisco Days series is designed to help you explore some of the best the city has to offer. 

Chinatown - The largest in the world! 

No visit to San Francisco is complete without a visit to our world-famous Chinatown. San Francisco is home to the largest community of Chinese people outside of China, and Chinatown is a thriving historic, cultural and economic hub of our city. Service during APEC on the temporary Muni Metro Shuttle to Chinatown-Rose Pak Station has been increased to every five minutes from Union Square-Market Street Station. For Muni Metro service, take the J Church, temporary KT Ingleside-Third, M Ocean View or N Judah to Powell Street Station to transfer to Union Square/Market Street Station. The 8 Bayshore will continue to serve this neighborhood during APEC. Muni riders can also take the shortened 30 Stockton or 45 Union-Stockton north of Market Street to Chinatown during APEC. 

Other SF Neighborhoods 

Visit the Richmond district to experience some of San Francisco’s Burmese cuisine, as well as an array of dumplings, dim sum and other Asian favorites. You may even still find some Russian delis or pastry shops in this once predominantly Russian enclave. The 1 California, 2 Sutter, 31 Balboa, 38 Geary and 38R Geary Rapid Muni lines serve this neighborhood. 

Visit Japantown for fresh sushi, hearty ramen and a bustling bazaar market. The 2 Sutter, 38 Geary and 38R Geary Rapid serve this neighborhood. 

Find some of San Francisco’s best Thai and Vietnamese food nestled in the Sunset district or take a walk to the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park. The 6 Haight-Parnassus, 7 Noriega, 29 Sunset and N Judah Muni Metro serve this area. Take the 5 Fulton or 5R Fulton Rapid to Golden Gate Park and enjoy the Botanical Garden or the Conservatory of Flowers. Admission to these gardens of Golden Gate Park is free for San Francisco residents.

Experience a bounty of Latin American cuisine, including Mexican tacos and Venezuelan arepas, in the Mission district. The 9 San Bruno, 9R San Bruno Rapid, 12 Folsom-Pacific, 14 Mission, 14R Mission Rapid, 22 Fillmore, 27 Bryant, 33 Ashbury-18th Street, 48 Quintara-24th Street and 49 Van Ness-Mission serve the Mission. 

To capture epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge, head to the recently opened Presidio Tunnel Tops Park or explore Fort Mason, both now served by the 30 Stockon. You can also take the 9 San Bruno or 9 San Bruno Rapid for a stroll through McLaren Park. 

Visit the APEC website (APEC2023SF.org) to find events, performances and other experiences during APEC. Stay updated on travel impacts in San Francisco and plan your trip in advance at our traffic and transit webpage (SFMTA.com/APEC). 

Published November 09, 2023 at 10:52PM
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How to Get to Chase Center During APEC

How to Get to Chase Center During APEC
By Janice Tan

Heading to Chase Center during APEC? Muni is your ride. Here’s what you need to know. 

San Francisco is hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference between November 11 and 17. This will require temporary changes beginning November 13 to Muni routes to Chase Center, potentially causing delays. 

If you’re heading to a Warriors game or to the Lauryn Hill & The Fugees concert during this time, plan ahead with this information and allow extra time for travel. Remember, your Chase Center event ticket is your fare—no additional Muni fare needed! Muni, walking and bicycling are the best ways to avoid parking and traffic headaches.  

• T Third and K Ingleside Muni Metro stops from Balboa Park to Embarcadero to Sunnydale will be served by a temporary KT Ingleside-Third Muni Metro from November 13-19. This includes Embarcadero at Folsom and Brannan, and King at 2nd and 4th streets.  

• Riders should look for train head signs that indicate the K Ingleside westbound, T Third eastbound or KT Ingleside-Third in both directions. 

• There will be no Muni Metro service provided to the 4th & Brannan or Yerba Buena-Moscone stations. 

• A Muni Metro train shuttle will operate every five minutes between Chinatown-Rose Pak Station and Union Square-Market Street Station. This shuttle maintains access to Chinatown and areas north of downtown. Transfer at the Powell Street Station to Union Square-Market Street Station to access the temporary train shuttle. 

• Paratransit drop-offs and pick-ups are available along the curb of 16th Street and Terry Francois Boulevard with accessible entry and exit from the East Entrance.

Map of the temporary Muni Metro routing changes during APEC. 

The 78X 16th Street Arena Express will continue to run express service between Chase Center and the 16th Street BART station two and a half hours before events and one hour after events. 

Visit our APEC webpage (SFMTA.com/APEC) for more information about how to get around San Francisco during APEC. 

Published November 09, 2023 at 01:12AM
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Taken with Transportation Podcast: More than a Meter Maid

Taken with Transportation Podcast: More than a Meter Maid
By Michael Roccaforte

SFMTA Parking Control Officers Scott Ong and Todd Baxter inspect a car to make sure its Disabled Person Parking Placard is compliant. 

One of the most misunderstood roles at the SFMTA is that of the Parking Control Officer, or PCO. In this episode of our Taken with Transportation podcast, host Melissa Culross spends time on the streets of San Francisco with PCOs Scott Ong, Todd Baxter and Ruben Reveles, as well as Parking Enforcement Assistant Director and Captain Kent Chiu. She learns why parking enforcement is essential, what parking control officers do and discovers that they are much more than just so-called "meter maids."  

People often overlook the fact that PCOs help the public access parking. One violation that comes up in the episode is the misuse of Disabled Person Parking Placards. That happens when a driver uses a placard that was not issued to them. 

“These spaces are…they’re needed. The people that park there need them. And making sure that the people that are parking there should be there…it’s needed. So, we always want to make sure that the people that are needing the spot can always have the spot if it’s available,” says Parking Control Officer Todd Baxter. 

It’s a tough job, given that some people believe all PCOs do is write tickets, but Parking Control Officer Scott Ong knows he and Baxter are doing a good thing when they enforce disabled parking regulations. “The general public, I feel, they look at us like we are, I guess you can say monsters,” says Ong. “But on this detail, when we go and take a bad placard off of the street, people that really do need the spot, they see it, and they see what you’re doing, and they thank us for it.” 

The work our PCOs do is critical to keep San Francisco moving. Illegal parking can cause traffic disruptions and even create unsafe conditions on our streets. Parking Enforcement Assistant Director and Captain Kent Chiu describes how PCO duties go beyond parking and traffic control, whether they’re lending the public a helping hand or providing assistance during emergency situations. 

"If there’s any immediate hazard, like a fire, it’s something we get called to. If we can hold a perimeter for something like that, it’s even better for the public at that point,” says Chiu. “It’s an extra layer...and we can keep life flowing, whatever the situation is.” 

You can find “More than a Meter Maid” and all the episodes of Taken with Transportation at our podcast page (SFMTA.com/Podcast).   

Published November 02, 2023 at 02:06AM
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