Transit

More than 200 San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency employees have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past year, although the agency says contact tracing suggests almost none of them caught it on the job. (Samantha Laurey/ Special to S.F. Examiner)

Transit operators ‘thrown under the bus’ in statewide vaccine distribution plan

Muni union leader says members are ‘disgusted’ at by move to de-prioritize them for protection

More than 200 San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency employees have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past year, although the agency says contact tracing suggests almost none of them caught it on the job. (Samantha Laurey/ Special to S.F. Examiner)
Passengers board a BART train bound for the San Francisco Airport at Powell Street station on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)

Bay Area transit agencies get first round of latest federal transit relief package

Muni to get $44 million from total of $982 million distributed locally

Passengers board a BART train bound for the San Francisco Airport at Powell Street station on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority cut most of its bus service last year due to the pandemic, and has been slow to bring it back due to budget concerns and low ridership. (Samantha Laurey/ Special to S.F. Examiner)

Supes urge SFMTA to expedite restoration of Muni lines

Resolution emphasizes focus on seniors, individuals with disabilities and community routes

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority cut most of its bus service last year due to the pandemic, and has been slow to bring it back due to budget concerns and low ridership. (Samantha Laurey/ Special to S.F. Examiner)
Proposition K, approved by voters in 2003, provides funding primarily for traffic safety and transit capital projects and investment. (Courtesy SFMTA Photos)

City likely to seek reauthorization of transit sales tax in 2022

Measure to fund emerging priorities such as traffic safety, COVID-19 recovery and Muni train control

Proposition K, approved by voters in 2003, provides funding primarily for traffic safety and transit capital projects and investment. (Courtesy SFMTA Photos)
Scooter companies have expanded their distribution in neighborhoods such as the Richmond and Sunset districts. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)

SFMTA board signs off on changes to scooter permit program

Companies will gete longer permits, but higher stakes

Scooter companies have expanded their distribution in neighborhoods such as the Richmond and Sunset districts. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)
Private vehicles were banned from much of Market Street in January 2020, causing bike ridership on the street to increase by 25 percent and transit efficiency by as much as 12 percent. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)

SFMTA board approves new Better Market Street legislation

Advocates say traffic safety improvements don’t go far enough to make up for lost bikeway

Private vehicles were banned from much of Market Street in January 2020, causing bike ridership on the street to increase by 25 percent and transit efficiency by as much as 12 percent. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)
The T Third Street train resumes service on Saturday, joined by a new express route between Bayview-Hunters Point and downtown.<ins> (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)</ins>

Bayview-Hunters Point residents get first direct express bus to downtown

New Muni route to launch alongside the return of the T-Third train

The T Third Street train resumes service on Saturday, joined by a new express route between Bayview-Hunters Point and downtown.<ins> (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)</ins>
Construction in the Better Market Street Project between Fifth and Eighth streets is expected to break ground in mid-2021.<ins></ins>

SFMTA board to vote on Better Market Street changes

Agency seeks to make up for slimmed-down plan with traffic safety improvements

Construction in the Better Market Street Project between Fifth and Eighth streets is expected to break ground in mid-2021.<ins></ins>
Some people are concerned that University of California, San Francisco’s expansion at its Parnassus campus could cause an undesirable increase in the number of riders on Muni’s N-Judah line.<ins></ins>

Will UCSF’s $20 million pledge to SFMTA offset traffic woes?

An even more crowded N-Judah plus increased congestion ahead cause concern

Some people are concerned that University of California, San Francisco’s expansion at its Parnassus campus could cause an undesirable increase in the number of riders on Muni’s N-Judah line.<ins></ins>
Wanda Jackson stands next to a mural in 2019 at Fruitvale Station of her son Oscar Grant, who was shot and killed by BART police in 2009. (Laura Waxmann/S.F. Examiner)

BART board members criticize DA decision not to file new charges in Oscar Grant case

Four directors will introduce resolution calling for prosecution of former BART police officer

Wanda Jackson stands next to a mural in 2019 at Fruitvale Station of her son Oscar Grant, who was shot and killed by BART police in 2009. (Laura Waxmann/S.F. Examiner)
The 39 Coit line, shown here in 2018, is one of several currently discontinued routes that used smaller buses designed for hilly terrain and narrow streets. (Daniel E. Porter/Special to S.F. Examiner)

SFMTA to purchase 30 new hybrid buses designed to serve currently dormant routes

Supes called for swift restoration of community lines and speedy transition to electric buses

The 39 Coit line, shown here in 2018, is one of several currently discontinued routes that used smaller buses designed for hilly terrain and narrow streets. (Daniel E. Porter/Special to S.F. Examiner)
BART service extends down the Peninsula, intersecting with Caltrain at several stations including Millbrae. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)

Caltrain board member calls for regional rail system

Improved coordination between transit agencies will be key to Bay Area’s recovery, officials agree

BART service extends down the Peninsula, intersecting with Caltrain at several stations including Millbrae. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)
Wanda Jackson stands next to a mural in 2019 at Fruitvale Station of her son Oscar Grant, who was shot and killed by BART police in 2009. (Laura Waxmann/S.F. Examiner)

DA says no charges will be filed against former BART officer in Oscar Grant death

Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley announced Monday that her office will…

Wanda Jackson stands next to a mural in 2019 at Fruitvale Station of her son Oscar Grant, who was shot and killed by BART police in 2009. (Laura Waxmann/S.F. Examiner)
A parking meter sticks out of a Shared Spaces area outside Brandy Ho’s Hunan Food on the Chinatown/North Beach border on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)

Is it time to end free parking in San Francisco?

Increasing the cost of parking and offloading city garages could shrink budget shortfall

A parking meter sticks out of a Shared Spaces area outside Brandy Ho’s Hunan Food on the Chinatown/North Beach border on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)
A view of the former barracks of the Angel Island Immigration Station. (Courtesy Russell Nauman, AIISF)

Ferry to Angel Island provides a direct route to history

Advocates say loss of service from SF will make it hard to visit key Chinese immigration site

A view of the former barracks of the Angel Island Immigration Station. (Courtesy Russell Nauman, AIISF)
Since the closure of Twin Peaks Boulevard to vehicle traffic during the pandemic, neighbors have been disturbed and disrupted by people partying and causing crime.<ins> (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner )</ins>

Upper Twin Peaks neighbors fight SFMTA for their future

On March 28, The City of San Francisco closed its 120-year old…

Since the closure of Twin Peaks Boulevard to vehicle traffic during the pandemic, neighbors have been disturbed and disrupted by people partying and causing crime.<ins> (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner )</ins>
Manny Yekutiel, owner of Manny’s, was approved for a seat on San Francisco’s transit board on Tuesday, along with Fiona Hinze. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)

Supes approve two SFMTA directors despite pushback about lack of Latino representation

Fiona Hinze and Manny Yekutiel will complete the seven-person board

Manny Yekutiel, owner of Manny’s, was approved for a seat on San Francisco’s transit board on Tuesday, along with Fiona Hinze. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)
The 19 Polk line is one of four that will get temporary transit lanes added to keep bus travel times down. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)

Youth board to advise SFMTA on transit issues

Teenage transit enthusiasts in San Francisco will soon have the opportunity to…

The 19 Polk line is one of four that will get temporary transit lanes added to keep bus travel times down. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)
Bay Bridge toll plaza (Courtesy photo)

New system for collecting tolls at state-owned bridges goes into effect Friday

On Monday, the Bay Area Toll Authority announced that a new all-electronic…

Bay Bridge toll plaza (Courtesy photo)
J Church line trains began running again on Dec. 19, 2020 between Balboa Park Station and Church and Duboce. The line is the first to resume service after a lengthy shutdown prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic and widespread mechanical issues in the Metro subway. (Samantha Laurey/ Special to S.F. Examiner)

SFMTA annual report: 2020 leaves a ‘radically changed’ agency

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency annual report describes this year as…

J Church line trains began running again on Dec. 19, 2020 between Balboa Park Station and Church and Duboce. The line is the first to resume service after a lengthy shutdown prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic and widespread mechanical issues in the Metro subway. (Samantha Laurey/ Special to S.F. Examiner)