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SFMTA Expands Connection Between the Public and Staff Through New Podcast By   We have taken to the airwaves, or the “digital waves” anyway, with the new SFMTA podcast, Taken with Transportation .  Taken with Transportation showcases the people and policies that make accessible, equitable transportation possible in San Francisco, and two episodes already have dropped. The first brings listeners along for the ride aboard one of Muni’s hardest working bus lines: the 22 Fillmore. The second profiles several members of our transit car cleaning staff and takes a detailed look at the hard work they do to keep our buses, light rail vehicles and cable cars clean and safe.  Every episode will feature SFMTA staff members and offer listeners a deeper understanding of the agency. These stories will cover everything from the city’s streets to the SFMTA’s inner workings and offer insight and perspectives that aren’t available anywhere else. We’re passionate about the work we do and want to shar

SFMTA and City Supervisors Collaborate on Arguello Boulevard Safety Project By Alejo Alvarado Safety improvements are coming to the full length of Arguello. Arguello Boulevard is getting a safety upgr ade. The SFMTA has begun work on the Arguello Safety Project to improve safety for everyone, particularly people who ride bicycles on Arguello Boulevard. The project covers Arguello between Golden Gate Park and the Presidio.   District 1 Supervisor Connie Chan and District 2 Supervisor Catherine Stefani called for protected bike lanes on Arguello Boulevard after a San Francisco bicyclist was struck and killed on Arguello in the Presidio on April 4, 2023. Supervisors Chan and Stefani each awarded the SFMTA $50,000 of Community Response Team funding to support safety improvements to Arguello Boulevard within city limits. In addition to this $100,000, the SFMTA will put money into the project , and staff will work closely with both Supervisors and the

Celebrate Pride in San Francisco: Looking Back and Moving Forward By Enrique Aguilar SFMTA Pride Parade contingent in 2022. San Francisco has long been at the forefront of the LGBTQIA+ movement in the United States, and Pride is an integral part of the city’s cultural fabric. On Sunday, June 25, Market Street will come alive during the SF Pride Parade. This year's theme, "Looking Back and Moving Forward," embodies the spirit of reflection, progress and unity. Staff from the SFMTA will be participating in the parade and are ready to come together to celebrate!  Pride events are important to countless people. They offer a safe and accepting space where folks can express their true selves without fear or judgment. The celebration is a powerful reminder that everyone deserves acceptance and respect, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.   Pride Month events also acknowledge the contributions and struggles of the LGBTQ+ community throughout history. From th

Celebrating LGBTQIA+ Diversity at the SFMTA By Enrique Aguilar Yves standing in front of a photo of his father at the SFMTA headquarters. This Pride Month, we are spotlighting some incredible people who work tirelessly behind the scenes at the SFMTA and are part of the agency's LGBTQIA+ community. Their dedication, passion and unique perspectives contribute to the success of our transportation system, making it a true reflection of the diverse customers we serve.  Yves Michael C. Valdez is an HR Analyst for Employee and Labor Relations and is passionate about helping others. Outside of work, Yves is an avid gardener who has cultivated a collection of dwarf Japanese maples, succulents and orchids.  Several key motivations led Yves to the SFMTA. He relied on public transit when he moved to San Francisco from the Philippines, and that left a lasting impression on him. The daily interactions and unique experiences of passengers, sometimes filled with drama, comedy and suspense, ca

Celebrating 150 Years of Cable Cars By Jeanne Brophy Powell Street Cable Cars Looking Down Powell Street Towards Sutter Street San Francisco’s iconic cable cars are turning 150 this year, and we’re throwing a party to celebrate! Today the SFMTA is kicking off a series of events that mark this sesquicentennial by offering residents and visitors a chance to learn more about the rich heritage and cultural significance of the cable car. The six-month celebration will take a journey through time and help people rediscover the allure of these cherished, moving city landmarks. Since their invention, cable cars have woven their way into the fabric of San Francisco, becoming a beloved symbol of the city. As part of the 150th anniversary celebration, unique "ghost" cable cars from vanished lines will make a remarkable return. Discover the craftsmanship behind these engineering marvels with the first-ever public tours of the Muni shop (video) where cable cars are built and maintai

Towing in San Francisco Explained By Melissa Culross The sight drivers never want to see. You’re walking to your car, ready to jump in, when you look around and get a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach. The car is not where you left it. Have you forgotten where you parked? Has it been stolen?   And then you realize that it has been towed.  At the SFMTA, we understand that retrieving a towed vehicle is expensive and inconvenient. You’re charged towing and administration fees, and if your car is at the impound lot for more than four hours, you are responsible for storage costs, as well. However, it’s important to remember that San Francisco streets are a shared public space, not anyone’s private parking spot.   SFMTA parking control officers may tow vehicles that cause a hazard or block transit lanes, fire hydrants or driveways. Towing when it’s necessary keeps our streets safe and accessible to everyone, but ultimately, the SFMTA wants to help people avoid having their ca

June 10 Service Changes Add Muni Service on Connector Routes By Clive Tsuma Summer service changes will address crowding and wait times. The 44 O’Shaughnessy frequency will increase from every 12 minutes to every 10 minutes.  Starting Saturday, June 10, the SFMTA will launch summer Muni service, adding service on several routes to address crowding and wait times and to support increased summer tourism. Several stop changes will be introduced to serve more customers and make service more accessible and reliable.  These service changes prioritize supporting the city’s economic recovery and matching Muni service more closely to the needs of riders and their communities. We are working to build back our ridership by providing high-quality, reliable service that people can count on and riders are noticing !All of the service changes described here are cost neutral. This means that we are shifting available operators and vehicles to Muni lines that need more service to reduce crowding or

New Dashboards Give a Window into Muni Service Changes By Kate McCarthy An inspector manages Muni service. New dashboards that help inform changes to Muni service are now live at SFMTA.com/MuniData Many factors inform our decisions about Muni service adjustments. These include making sure changes to service support the SFMTA’s values, which are economic vitality, environmental stewardship, trust and equity. We also evaluate travel patterns. You can now explore these patterns using the new Muni data dashboards  (SFMTA.com/MuniData). When looking at possible Muni service changes, the first thing we do is turn to the Muni Service Equity Strategy for guidance. Using the Muni Service Equity Strategy, we prioritize providing Muni service along routes that more often serve people of color, members of low-income households, and/or those who are dependent upon transit service, including people with disabilities and seniors. We also use ridership data to analyze where riders are boardin

Tracks in the Sky: Overhead Lines Then and Now By Jeremy Menzies After telling you about the Track Department through the years , this month we take a look back at the Overhead Line Department. The focus of this group is to maintain our “tracks in the sky” which provide electric power to the LRVs, historic streetcars and trolley buses that are critical to keeping San Francisco moving.  SF Municipal Railway Tower Truck No. 1 on Van Ness Avenue circa 1917.  The earliest overhead transit power lines were built for San Francisco’s first electric streetcar line, which opened in 1892. As more electric streetcar lines came into service over the years, the electric grid above them expanded into a complex network requiring more power and more maintenance. Within 20 years, electric streetcars provided nearly all transit in the city.  A complicated overhead line operation at Bryant and Alameda, 1951. The building on the right- built as a power generating plant in 1893 -was home to the Ov