New bus terminal idea quashed

Muni monster: Neighbors and merchants have expressed dismay about the idea of expanding the bus stop at Union and Fillmore streets to accommodate larger buses. (cindy chew/the examiner)

SAN FRANCISCO — Merchants along Union Street, wary of lost parking spaces and increased congestion, beat back a proposal to add a bus terminal in their neighborhood — for now.

As cash-strapped Muni moves forward with an overhaul to save money by cutting service on underused lines and expanding service on busier ones, it proposed adding 60-foot-long articulated buses — vehicles with a flexible middle frame — to the 41-Union route that runs down Union Street and is boarded daily by about 3,000 passengers.

To make room for the larger vehicles — 20-feet longer than most buses — Muni proposed to extend bus zones and add an on-street terminal at Fillmore and Union streets where the vehicles could idle, which would take away parking spot.

The man leading the fight against Muni, David Coyle, the innkeeper at the Union Street Inn, said the new bus terminal at Union and Fillmore streets would take away six parking spaces in front of his business, a scenario that could mean lost revenue.

Coyle collected 1,000 signatures — many of which were from merchants — on a petition urging Muni officials to reconsider the changes.

After meeting with Muni Executive Director Nathaniel Ford, the two sides agreed to a compromise — the articulated buses would only run from 5 to 9 a.m. on Union Street and the terminal idea at Union and Fillmore streets would be temporarily abandoned.

If the negotiated operation of the 41-Union doesn’t seem to be working after a six-month trial period, Muni could revisit the possibility of housing the terminal at Union and Fillmore streets, Program Manager Julie Kirschbaum said at a board of directors meeting Tuesday.

Area residents seemed to applaud the move to abandon the terminal at the busy intersection on Union Street, but the idea that the articulated buses would continue to run — if only during  early morning hours — did not sit well.

Bebe Stavrinides, owner of La Cucina, an eatery located across the street from the proposed terminal, said the articulated buses would create unnecessary traffic congestion and would exacerbate the already difficult task of finding available street parking.

Dr. John Dusay, who lives off Union Street and takes the 41-Union frequently, said that even when the bus is crowded, he is never passed by  at his stop, and the issues on the line are certainly manageable with the current 40-foot vehicles.

“I like the status quo here,” Dusay said. “I don’t think we need to tinker with how the bus system currently works.”

Discord on Union Street

With the expansion of service on the 41-Union, the following locations were proposed for part-time bus zones, which would be in effect from 5 to 9 a.m. Mondays through Fridays:

LOCATION                       CHANGE
Union Street, south side    *From 17 feet to 291 feet west of Fillmore Street
Union Street, south side    From 80 feet to 99 feet east of Fillmore Street
Union Street, south side    From 107 feet to 129 feet west of Laguna Street
Union Street, north side    From 100 feet to 118 feet east of Laguna Street
Union Street, south side    From 76 feet to 96 feet west of Gough Street
Union Street, north side    From 109 feet to 131 feet east of Gough Street
Union Street, south side    From 100 feet to 122 feet west of Van Ness Avenue

*This proposal was killed by Muni

Source: Municipal Transportation Agency

wreisman@sfexaminer.com