June 1, 2023
A Message From The Supervisor:

Sincerely,

Starting Saturday, June 10, the SFMTA will be adding Muni service on several lines to address crowding, wait times and to support increased summer tourism. We’re also making some stop changes to serve more customers and make the service more accessible and reliable. 

Increased Service 

To address crowding and reduce pass-ups, we’re adding service on the 1 California between Clay and Drumm streets and California Street and Presidio Avenue – where demand is highest – on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

We’re also going to be starting service earlier on the 1X California Express, at 7:30 a.m. instead of 8 a.m., in response to customer feedback, as well as adding stops at Cherry, Spruce and Laurel streets and Presidio Avenue.  

We’re also extending the evening service to the Presidio at 30 Stockton seven days a week. The last trip from the Sports Basement will depart at 8:30 p.m. instead of 8 p.m.  

On the 5 Fulton Owl we’re extending the terminal from McAllister and Jones streets to 4th and Market streets, which will provide a connection to Market Street for customers. 

Additionally, to better support summer tourism, we will add supplemental Muni bus service on weekend afternoons for the F Market & Wharves between the Ferry Building and Fisherman’s Wharf from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. 

Other upcoming changes include frequency increases on the following lines: 

• 28 19th Avenue – Weekdays and weekends from 10 minutes to 9 minutes during peak morning service and from 12 minutes to 10 minutes during midday  
• 38R Geary Rapid – Weekdays from 7 minutes to 6 minutes all day 
• 44 O’Shaughnessy – Weekdays from 12 minutes to 10 minutes 

Stop Changes 

On the 15 Bayview Hunters Point Express, we’re improving access to the shops, banks and supermarket at the Southeast Center by moving the bus stop at 3rd and Evans Street from the far side of the street to the near side of the street.  

On the 27 Bryant, we’re improving accessibility and reliability by upgrading flag stops to bus zones on Leavenworth and Turk, Post, Sutter, Bush and Pine streets, inbound, and on Bush and Leavenworth outbound. And we’re adding inbound and outbound stops at Valencia and 24th streets to restore the connection there for customers. 

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 provide better connections elsewhere.

We’re also prioritizing safety on Muni. If you experience or witness customer or operator harassment on Muni, report it directly to the SFMTA by calling 311 or using the 311 mobile app or the Muni Feedback form (SFMTA.com/MuniFeedback). 

Read about the highest Muni rider satisfaction in 10 years! 

To give SFMTA feedback on Muni service write to TellMuni@SFMTA.com.  

District Strategic Plan  

As we exit the pandemic, the world has changed in ways that affect travel in the Golden Gate Corridor. While recreational and tourist travel have mostly returned, commute travel has not. Today, there are 150,000 fewer people in downtown San Francisco each weekday as compared to pre-pandemic. In downtown San Francisco, the office vacancy rate is over 29%, and the amount of vacant office space is greater than 20 Salesforce Towers.

Given the state of downtown San Francisco, demand for Bridge, Bus and Ferry travel during commute periods remains depressed. Commute Bridge traffic is averaging about 30% below normal, so only about 70% of auto commute travel has returned.

Not surprisingly, the absence of commute travel creates fiscal challenges for the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District (District). Revenues from tolls and fares are still down an average of about $1 million each week, and expenses continue to exceed revenues. Fortunately, expenses are down, due to the District offering less commute bus and ferry service.

STRATEGIC PLANNING EFFORT

The District’s Board of Directors recently launched a strategic planning process to create a path forward regarding the District’s future activities and finances. Our Board leadership embarked on this critical process in order to prioritize financial and operational commitments that would provide resources and services for the communities we serve, while ensuring the District’s long-term financial sustainability.

In the first phase of the process, the Board through its Strategic Planning Advisory Committee is collecting ideas on four broad topics:

1. Transportation (including Bridge)
2. Environment and Climate Change Mitigation/Adaptation
3. Finances (Revenue and Expenditure)
4. Labor/Employee Relations

WE NEED YOUR INPUT!

We believe that public input is vitally important to this process. We want to hear your ideas, suggestions and recommendations as they relate to the District’s future and strategic focus.  We know there may be possible overlaps among the topics and that some ideas may be grand, others small, some visionary, others pragmatic; we openly welcome and request any and all input and feedback in this process.

WAYS TO COMMENT

1. Via Email: StrategicPlan2023@goldengate.org

2. Via Mail:   
Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District
Attn: District Secretary – Strategic Plan
P.O. Box 29000, Presidio Station
San Francisco, CA 94129-9000

3. Via Online Form: click HERE

4. At the June Board of Directors Meeting:

• Attend in-Person:  Friday, June 23, 2023, at 10:00 a.m.
  Four Points Sheraton, Marin Ballroom
  1010 Northgate Drive, San Rafael, CA  94903
• Attend Remotely:  (415) 569-6446

Comments will be accepted through the month of June.  After public input has been received, the Board will prioritize the ideas and test them against the District’s five- and ten-year financial projections, before publishing a set of recommendations which will be presented again to the public for their input. That is projected to occur in the second half of this year.

We value your participation in this effort, and we look forward to hearing from you.