Transit

Cyclists and pedestrians enjoyed the car-free Great Highway between Sloat Boulevard and Lincoln Way. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner/2020)

Debate over Great Highway’s closure represents a much larger San Francisco problem

Last month, a sign appeared in the window of the popular Outer…

 

A Muni M-Ocean View bus recently headed up West Portal Avenue; underground service on the route is not being scheduled to return this summer. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)

Let’s get loud about the future of Muni

We must demand transparency and a return to full service

 

While the Muni M underground train will not come back this summer, officials said bus service on the route will continue. <ins>(Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)</ins>

More changes coming to Muni this summer

Questions arise over the return of the M line

 

Chris Arvin isa member of the Market Street Railway board and the SFMTA Citizens’ Advisory Council. (Photo courtesy of Chuck Schoenberger)

Q&A: For transit advocate Chris Arvin, trains and buses offer a ‘whole other kind of freedom’

The SF Examiner recently launched a Q&A series that seeks to connect…

Chris Arvin isa member of the Market Street Railway board and the SFMTA Citizens’ Advisory Council. (Photo courtesy of Chuck Schoenberger)
A cyclist heads past an artistic sign onto Page Street, a Slow Street, at Stanyan Street near Golden Gate Park on Monday, April 12, 2021. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)

Push to make street closures permanent meets with resistance

Hastily thrown together during the pandemic, Slow Streets program now struggles to build support

A cyclist heads past an artistic sign onto Page Street, a Slow Street, at Stanyan Street near Golden Gate Park on Monday, April 12, 2021. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)
Muni operator Angel Carvajal drives the popular boat tram following a news conference celebrating the return of the historic F-line and subway service on Friday, May 14, 2021. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)

Mayor, transit officials celebrate return of Muni service

Mayor London Breed and city transit officials gathered Friday to welcome the…

Muni operator Angel Carvajal drives the popular boat tram following a news conference celebrating the return of the historic F-line and subway service on Friday, May 14, 2021. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)
Passengers board a BART train bound for the San Francisco Airport at Powell Street station. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)

BART bumps up service restoration to August 30, offers fare discounts

Rail agency breaks pandemic ridership records, prepares to welcome more passengers

Passengers board a BART train bound for the San Francisco Airport at Powell Street station. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)
Passengers ride the 14-Mission Muni bus on Friday, March 12, 2021. (Jordi Molina/Special to S.F. Examiner)

Transit officials fear Free Muni pilot could hurt already-strained service levels

Supporters say fare cuts could increase ridership, help low-income residents

Passengers ride the 14-Mission Muni bus on Friday, March 12, 2021. (Jordi Molina/Special to S.F. Examiner)
Historic streetcars are undergoing testing on The Embarcadero to prepare for their return to service on May 15.<ins></ins>

What to expect for Muni Metro’s relaunch on May 15

Significant service restoration includes downtown subway tunnels and historic streetcars

Historic streetcars are undergoing testing on The Embarcadero to prepare for their return to service on May 15.<ins></ins>
San Franciscans mourned the loss of a Monterey Cypress tree in the median along Geary Boulevard that was removed to accommodate a transit project.<ins> (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)</ins>

Now is a good time to hug a city tree

Nature shouldn’t be regarded as something separate from humans

San Franciscans mourned the loss of a Monterey Cypress tree in the median along Geary Boulevard that was removed to accommodate a transit project.<ins> (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)</ins>
Many famillies have supported keeping John F. Kennedy Drive in Golden Gate Park free of car traffic. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)

Fight over future of JFK Drive heats up

Shamann Walton compares accessibilty issues to segregation, likens street closure to ‘1950s South’

Many famillies have supported keeping John F. Kennedy Drive in Golden Gate Park free of car traffic. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)
Transit riders and transit labor advocates march to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission headquarters to demand MTC release $1.7 billion in transit funds to Bay Area transit agencies on Thursday, May 6, 2021. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)

Transit advocates want MTC to release $1.7 billion from American Rescue Plan

MTC says waiting will help build consensus on priorities, increase certainty about future needs

Transit riders and transit labor advocates march to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission headquarters to demand MTC release $1.7 billion in transit funds to Bay Area transit agencies on Thursday, May 6, 2021. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)
Income from Shared Spaces will provide financial resources to the San Francisco Municipal Transporation Agency, according to its director, Jeffrey Tumlin. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)

SFMTA director says Shared Spaces serves transit agency’s financial interest

$10.6 million price tag for program raises concerns among transit agency’s board members

Income from Shared Spaces will provide financial resources to the San Francisco Municipal Transporation Agency, according to its director, Jeffrey Tumlin. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)
Many San Francisco residents expressed support in a survey for the idea of integrating BART and Caltrain, the Bay Area’s two regional commuter rail systems. (Shutterstock)

Survey suggests merger of BART and Caltrain could be popular

Bay Area commuter rail systems have been hit hard by loss of riders during pandemic

Many San Francisco residents expressed support in a survey for the idea of integrating BART and Caltrain, the Bay Area’s two regional commuter rail systems. (Shutterstock)
An expanded, permanent Shared Spaces program allowing businesses to open outdoor seating in public areas could help the economy, but cost The City millions in parking revenue and other expenses. <ins>(Jordi Molina/ Special to S.F. Examiner)</ins>

Shared Spaces could cost cash-strapped SFMTA more than $10M a year

Program intended to boost small business could come at a cost for struggling city transit agency

An expanded, permanent Shared Spaces program allowing businesses to open outdoor seating in public areas could help the economy, but cost The City millions in parking revenue and other expenses. <ins>(Jordi Molina/ Special to S.F. Examiner)</ins>
Vehicles pass through the intersection of Park Presidio and Geary boulevards on Tuesday afternoon, April 20, 2021, San Francisco, Calif. (Photo by Ekevara Kitpowsong/Special to S.F. Examiner)

Man killed by hit-and-run driver at Geary Boulevard and Park Presidio

A driver struck and killed a pedestrian in the Richmond Distrit before…

Vehicles pass through the intersection of Park Presidio and Geary boulevards on Tuesday afternoon, April 20, 2021, San Francisco, Calif. (Photo by Ekevara Kitpowsong/Special to S.F. Examiner)
Red concrete lanes along Van Ness Avenue are part of a long-anticipated Bus Rapid Transit project intended to speed up travel times and increase reliability. <ins>(Jordi Molina/Special to S.F. Examiner)</ins>

Van Ness Avenue BRT to finally begin service early next year

SFMTA say ‘the end is in sight’ on lengthy construction project

Red concrete lanes along Van Ness Avenue are part of a long-anticipated Bus Rapid Transit project intended to speed up travel times and increase reliability. <ins>(Jordi Molina/Special to S.F. Examiner)</ins>
A BART memo proposes spending nearly $10 million for enhanced cleaning in the system’s cars and restrooms.<ins> (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)</ins>

BART to emphasize increased service and cleaning in next fiscal year’s budget

Agency’s future could depend on getting riders back on the train

A BART memo proposes spending nearly $10 million for enhanced cleaning in the system’s cars and restrooms.<ins> (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)</ins>
Temporary high-occupancy vehicle lanes will be added to sections of state Highway 1 and U.S. Highway 101, including Park Presidio Boulevard, to keep traffic flowing as The City reopens. <ins>(Ekevara Kitpowsong/Special to S.F. Examiner)</ins>

Transit and high-occupancy vehicle lanes coming to some of The City’s busiest streets

Changes intended to improve transit reliability as traffic increases with reopening

Temporary high-occupancy vehicle lanes will be added to sections of state Highway 1 and U.S. Highway 101, including Park Presidio Boulevard, to keep traffic flowing as The City reopens. <ins>(Ekevara Kitpowsong/Special to S.F. Examiner)</ins>
A construction worker rides on top of materials being transported out of the Twin Peaks Tunnel as work continues at West Portal Station on Thursday, August 16, 2018. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)

SFMTA’s poor track record on capital projects risks losing ‘public trust’

Supervisors say cost overruns and delays could jeapordize future ballot revenue measures

A construction worker rides on top of materials being transported out of the Twin Peaks Tunnel as work continues at West Portal Station on Thursday, August 16, 2018. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)