Current Affairs IBPS, RRB, RBI, SSC, CLAT, State PSC Exams; Current Affairs for UPSC/IAS Prepa

Speed Safety Cameras are Coming to San Francisco with New State Law By Shannon Hake On October 13, 2023, Governor Newsom signed California State Assembly Bill 645 into law, allowing six cities, including San Francisco, to pilot a speed safety camera program. This pilot is an opportunity for San Francisco to employ a powerful traffic safety tool that has been used successfully across the world. More than 200 cities in the United States have implemented speed safety cameras, including New York City which reported 70% fewer traffic deaths and injuries where speed cameras are installed. Portland, Oregon experienced a 46% decrease in traffic deaths and 85% decrease in excessive speeds after implementing an automated speed safety program.   Unsafe speed is the number one factor in fatal traffic crashes in San Francisco, accounting for 20% to 40% of traffic deaths in recent years. For over a decade, San Francisco has been advocating for additional tools, like speed safety cameras, to help

APEC is Coming to SF! What You Need to Know to Get Around By Mariana Maguire Map of the main security zone around the APEC conference at Moscone Center, with vehicle detours. Security zones have been set and are managed by the United States Secret Service. Only conference attendees and those who live or work inside this zone will be allowed to enter following security screening procedures. San Francisco is proud to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference in November, one of the largest gatherings of global leaders in San Francsico. This is an exciting opportunity for San Francisco to shine on the world stage. Most APEC activities will take place in the South of Market and Nob Hill neighborhoods. Due to the scale of the gathering, APEC may have some impacts on travel in other areas of San Francisco as well. The bulk of the travel and transit impacts will take place from Nov. 14-19. More than 20,000 people are expected to attend this historic conference, includ

Lime and Spin Host Adaptive Scooter Event in Golden Gate Park with SFMTA Support By We are proud to support Lime and Spin as the companies host a dedicated adaptive scooter event in front of Peacock Meadow in Golden Gate Park on Oct. 17 from 2:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. The initiative is another step toward ensuring a more inclusive and accessible transportation ecosystem for San Francisco's residents and visitors. Adaptive scooters, equipped with features such as wider bases, seating and additional wheels, are designed to cater to riders with various mobility needs. They may be particularly useful to those who find traditional scooters challenging to ride.  People will have the chance to get hands-on experience with a range of adaptive scooters from both Lime and Spin at this event. There are expected to be at least 10 vehicles for riders to test out and provide feedback.   A two-wheeled adaptive scooter with a seat from Lime (left) and a three-wheeled adaptive scooter with a

Hop on Board: Experience the Magic of Trolley Dances By Jeanne Brophy Are you ready for an unforgettable adventure that combines the beauty of dance with the charm of San Francisco's iconic trolley cars? Mark your calendars for the Epiphany Dance Company’s 20th annual Trolley Dances event on October 21 and 22.   This free event is great fun for all. You’ll be able to explore the city and witness the magic of dance in unexpected places—while taking advantage of San Francisco's efficient and easy to navigate transit system.  What Are Trolley Dances?   Now in its 20th season, SF Trolley Dances is a unique event that brings together seven dance companies and the city's public transit system. It's a rich and different experience that highlights the city's vibrant culture and artistic spirit. It’s free,  however capacity is limited so you will want to reserve a spot now at their website ( epiphanydance.org/san-francisco-trolley-dances/ ). This year’s event will be

Taken with Transportation Podcast: School Days By SFMTA School Crossing Guard Arturo Garcia helps pedestrians across Castro Street outside McKinley Elementary School. A successful school day begins with students getting to class safely, and school crossing guards help San Francisco children and their parents navigate intersections near their campuses. “School Days,” the latest episode of the Taken with Transportation podcast, is focused on our School Crossing Guard program. This is part of the agency's larger effort to create safe and inviting streets. This school year, we have 180 crossing guards serving 106 public and private schools across about 154 intersections in San Francisco.  Host Melissa Culross offers listeners a firsthand look at the program by interviewing school crossing guards Christian Frederick Lauser and Arturo Garcia in action. She also speaks with the School Crossing Guard Program’s acting manager, Karen Wong, and others.  Lauser is a San Francisco native

What’s Next for the Hayes Street Weekend Street Closure By Monica Munowitch San Francisco established the Shared Spaces program during the pandemic to make it possible for restaurants and neighborhood business districts, like Hayes Street, to have additional outdoor space in the form of parklets, sidewalk space and block closures they so desperately needed when it wasn’t safe to operate indoors. In addition to bringing people outdoors, it also brought people together, creating community and delight throughout our city. That’s why the Mayor and Board of Supervisors made Shared Spaces a permanent program to allow for outdoor dining and activations that will continue to support our businesses and commercial corridors and enliven our public spaces.   This Summer, the Hayes Valley Merchant Council applied for a permit to continue their Hayes Street “Shared Street” block closure every weekend, including Fridays 4 to 10 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Whi

SFMTA Projects Honored as Exemplars of Community Engagement By Che Harmon Ambassadors helping people at Union Square Station on opening day of free weekend shuttle service in Central Subway, November 19, 2022. The Central Subway and the Potrero Yard Modernization Project were both nationally recognized by the International Association for Public Participation at the IAP2 USA Core Values Awards in Seattle, Washington this September. Each year, the awards go to projects that demonstrate public engagement best practices and advance the field of public engagement.   Both the Central Subway Project and Potrero Yard Modernization Project are prime examples of the positive effects that community engagement and effective public participation can have on public projects and programs. Both projects embody IAP2’s core values centered on the belief that the people affected by a decision have a right to be involved in decision-making and participate in shaping outcomes.   Central Subway  The

New Rebate Programs Will Help Taxis Go Electric By Asher Eskind We are proud to announce the launch of two groundbreaking rebate programs to spearhead efforts to reduce vehicle emissions in the city's taxi industry. Supported by a generous grant of nearly $350,000 from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District  (BAAQMD) and the San Francisco County Transportation Authority  (TA), these initiatives represent a significant step towards a more environmentally friendly transportation landscape. Clean Air Taxi Rebate: Accelerating the Shift to Electric Taxis Building on its success since the program’s inception in 2012, the Clean Air Taxi Rebate program has been instrumental in reducing emissions from San Francisco's taxi industry. Low-emission vehicles comprise over 90% of the city's taxi fleet, making it one of the cleanest in the nation.  Now, the SFMTA is taking a bold step forward to transition to a completely zero-emission taxi fleet. Under the Clean Air Taxi Reb

Dominica Henderson Appointed to MTA Board of Directors By The SFMTA is thrilled to welcome Dominica Henderson to its Board of Directors. Director Henderson is a longtime public servant who has worked to improve housing policy in the Bayview community and create affordable housing opportunities for those in need. She was appointed in July and sworn in on September 26, 2023.   A lifelong San Franciscan and resident of the Bayview neighborhood, Director Henderson’s goal as a member of the board is to advance a safe and equitable transportation network for all districts and communities in the city. She also shares a surprising connection with the agency, as her grandfather was a Muni and cable car operator for close to 25 years. Henderson considers both her lived experience and 20-year career in housing policy as key attributes in advocating for public transit initiatives and for developing safe, welcoming and sustainable communities.   Director Henderson is the Chief Social Impact Of

Go Local. Muni Supports Small Businesses. By Sophia Scherr An illustration for one of the featured neighborhood districts supporting the Take Muni to Support Small Business campaign, Artwork created by Dan Bransfield. This week we are launching a campaign encouraging residents and visitors to take Muni to support San Francisco small businesses. The “Go Local” campaign is centered around defining the personalities of several neighborhood business districts, highlighting what makes them unique and promoting the benefits of taking Muni to shop, dine and explore.   Economic Boost  When you choose Muni for your daily commute or to explore the city, you're directly contributing to our local economy. Small businesses thrive when customers can easily access their shops, restaurants and services, as many of them rely on foot traffic and local patronage. By opting to take Muni, you're helping these businesses grow, create jobs and continue to enrich our city.   Climate Conscious Ch

Taken with Transportation Podcast: Transit Month on Muni By September is Transit Month in the Bay Area and on the latest episode of Taken with Transportation, the official SFMTA podcast, host Melissa Culross talks with Muni riders in multiple neighborhoods who use our buses, streetcars and light rail vehicles as their principal means of transportation.   “I just absolutely loathe driving, and the Muni gets me somewhere that I don’t have to drive,” says Erin Livingston, who has lived in San Francisco for almost a decade. “I have such fond memories of days that I had nothing to do, and me and my friends just kind of bopped around, and we took the Muni to one neighborhood and then took it another … and I think Muni is so quintessentially San Francisco.”  “My family still doesn’t drive, I don’t drive,” San Francisco native Jennifer Borromeo says. “I’m so happy that I have a transportation system that’s reliable, something I can easily navigate with my parents as they’re getting older.

Reimagine Potrero Yard: View Latest Designs By Bonnie Jean von Krogh Rendering of Bryant and 17th Streets intersection. Image: Arcadis IBI Group  We are reimagining the SFMTA’s Potrero Yard as the nation’s first known joint development of a bus maintenance facility with integrated housing and retail. Please join us at a Community Open House today, Wednesday, September 20, 2023, to learn more about the Potrero Yard Modernization Project including updated designs, economic development opportunities and the public art plan.   Community Open House   Wednesday, September 20, 2023, 5:30 p.m. (TODAY)  Z Space, 450 Florida St, San Francisco, CA  Bus Yard tours for all ages, childcare and dinner provided Español  - Jornada Comunitaria, Miércoles 20 de septiembre de 2023 a las 5:30 p.m. Z Space, 450 Florida Street, San Francisco, CA. Tour de Yarde de autobuses para todas las edades, Cuidado de niños, Cena. Located at Bryant and Mariposa Streets, Potrero Yard is an over 100-yea

Muni Heritage Weekend Brings History Alive By Jeremy Menzies Take a ride back in time and explore transit history at Muni Heritage Weekend this Saturday and Sunday, September 23-24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This years’ festivities combine free rides on heritage buses and streetcars, with special cable car service and activities to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the cable cars . The action will come together in the plaza across from the San Francisco Railway Museum on Steuart Street between Market and Mission Streets.  Vintage Bus Rides  Pulling out for the weekend will be several vintage trolleys and motor buses that will run on two new, never-before offered excursion loops. Trolley coach buffs will get a chance to ride on three different buses running a special Cable Car 150th Anniversary commemoration route over Nob Hill. This route follows in the footsteps of San Francisco’s very first cable car line from 1873.  Four motor buses from 20 to 85 years old will drive along the

Enhancing Safety on Franklin Street By Mark Dreger We're excited to share an update on the Franklin Street Quick-Build Project, an effort to enhance traffic safety on Franklin Street between Broadway and Lombard Streets. This roadway stretch was the site of 38 collisions between 2017 and 2021, including the tragic loss of a Sherman Elementary School paraeducator in November 2021. Our data-driven approach focuses on several key safety improvements, and we are ready to share the evaluation results and the next steps to bring further safety changes to Franklin Street.  The project includes the implementation of a suite of safety measures focused on the intersections where neighborhood stakeholders expressed most concerns during the outreach process.  Painted safety zones (PSZs) have been installed to increase pedestrian visibility at crosswalks by keeping the corners of intersections clear. Slow-turn wedges have been added to encourage drivers to turn at safer speeds and

Transit Month is Taking Over the Bay Area By Guest Authors Rebecca Gibian and Reanne Lacosta, San Francisco Transit Riders Transit Month 2023 is a celebration of the role of public transportation in our communities and the Bay Area’s economic, social and cultural vibrancy. In the span of just eight years, it has grown from Transit Day into Transit Week and into the robust month it is now, thanks to our partnership with Seamless Bay Area and other transit-focused agencies and organizations. Together we have reached hundreds of riders through events held across the city.   We love seeing people get on transit and enjoy themselves, the ride and the experience. We appreciate that Transit Month encourages people to take a trip they never have or try a new line. We love seeing the shift that happens when people take the bus or train, realize how easy and affordable it is and then continue to do so (and tell their friends)!  Transit Month is a time to show our support for the people who

Taken with Transportation Podcast: Connecting Community to Transit By The Bayview Community Shuttle is intended to help residents connect more easily with transit lines that serve Bayview-Hunters Point, such as the 54 Felton and T-Third. Accessing public transit can be more difficult for people in one particular San Francisco neighborhood than it is in other parts of the city. So we are designing a supplemental transportation program for this area, the Bayview Community Shuttle. You can learn more in the latest episode of the SFMTA podcast, Taken with Transportation . Host Melissa Culross talks with SFMTA Transportation Planner Christopher Kidd, San Francisco Supervisor Shamann Walton, Bayview-Hunters Point Community Advocates Environmental Justice Director Dalila Adofo, SFMTA Planning Director Maia Small and neighborhood residents about the shuttle, which is expected to begin running in Bayview-Hunters Point in 2024.  Christopher Kidd is the planner in charge of the shuttle progr

MTA Board of Directors Welcomes Lydia So By Stephen Chun Lydia So, a championed public servant, advocate for the AAPI community and an accomplished urban planner, designer and architect, has joined the SFMTA’s Board of Directors. She was appointed in June 2023 and sworn in by Mayor London Breed on Aug. 23, 2023, at Central Subway’s Chinatown Rose Pak Station, in line with her personal connection with the Chinatown community.   So was born in Hong Kong and is fluent in Chinese (Cantonese). She is the founder of the architecture firm SOLYD Architecture, Management and Design. She is a former Historic Preservation Commissioner for the San Francisco Planning Department where she voted in favor of the Potrero Yard Modernization Project that is expected to bring hundreds of housing units to our city while maintaining the functions of the SFMTA. She was the first Chinese American Historic Preservation Commissioner, implemented the Planning Department’s Racial and Social Equity policy and

New Muni Service Changes Start Saturday, August 19 By Clive Tsuma 28R 19th Avenue will run on weekdays between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. starting Monday, August 21.  Back to School  With SFUSD students returning to school August 16, many families who rely on Muni to get to school will see service increase after school as part of the new schedule. Because Muni vehicles often become crowded during morning peak hours and sometimes pass up stops when there is not enough room for more riders, families are encouraged to plan their trips ahead of time and hop on Muni early to make sure students get to school on time.  With every public school in the San Francisco Unified School District being served by at least one Muni route , students can expect extra Muni service on the first day of the school this fall and continue providing service throughout the school year. While the Muni service changes won’t be implemented until August 19, school tripper service will be offered starting August 16, the f

Track Replacement on the L Taraval Line By Sevilla Mann If you’ve traveled through the Sunset or Parkside neighborhoods recently, you may have seen a lot of construction activity on Taraval Street. Major construction projects are an inconvenience, and the impacts seem to be never ending. You may wonder, why does it take so long ?  We would like to thank everyone for your ongoing patience and understanding as the L Taraval Improvement Project to replace aging infrastructure continues. Since we announced the beginning of the second segment of improvements on Taraval Street in January 2022 , we’ve been busy wrapping up upgrades to the sewer and water lines, underground conduits and new pole foundations for the Overhead Contact System (OCS) that powers our Muni trains. We have also installed the necessary infrastructure to upgrade existing electrical for the trains, current and future streetlights and light poles. We’ve now begun work on some of the above-ground improvements that you’

Making Special Events Possible By Michael Delia   Outdoor festivals like Sunday Streets Phoenix Day celebrate the spirit of San Francisco. Such special events rely on the cooperation of many city departments.  San Francisco is a city that loves its outdoor events. Whether it’s a cultural heritage or holiday festival, farmers market, street fair, dance party, road race or even just a neighborhood block party, what often gets overlooked is the intricate collaboration and planning across city departments to make these events a success.  Nick Chapman is one of the people behind the scenes at the SFMTA who helps make them a reality. For seven years, he has worked to manage the permitting process that’s required for any special event . As a native San Franciscan who knows many corners of the city, Chapman has an appreciation for the public’s requests and finds the work to be fascinating.  “Every project is a little different. Every event, every location is a new situation with differen

How to Pay for Parking at The City's New Multi-Space Paystations By Pamela Johnson One of San Francisco's new paystations as the city moves away from its aging parking meters. How drivers pay for street parking in San Francisco continues to evolve. In March 2022, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) began the Citywide Parking Meter Replacement Project to replace San Francisco's aging 27,000 parking meters. Half of the parking meters will be replaced with new single-space meters and the other half with multi-space paystations that use a brand-new pay-by-license-plate system. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.  San Francisco uses paid parking to create curb availability in commercial districts and high-demand neighborhoods. When parking meters are in operation, drivers spend less time circling the block looking for a space. Less circling means less congestion and fewer greenhouse gas emissions.   To help drivers use the new m