Rescue Muni

Muni likes all door boarding (so do we!)

Andrew — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 17:07:48 +0000

Today’s Chronicle reports that SFMTA has reported good results from the all door boarding initiative that began last year. The key stat: dwell time is down 4 seconds PER STOP, which adds up to big savings on every trip. Props to our colleagues at SF Transit Riders Union for their lobbying on this issue!

Christmas cuts might be permanent, Spring break cuts eyed

markballew — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 17:55:16 +0000

The SFMTA is considering making 2012′s Christmas break service, where Muni uses a Saturday schedule instead of the normal weekday schedule, permanent each season. Ridership was 30% lower than a normal week, and running a Saturday schedule saved the agency $275k, with savings as great as $350k with additional tweaked cuts such as reduced express [...]

Which line has the most missed runs?

markballew — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 18:02:31 +0000

According to a set of weekly reports obtained by Rescue Muni, for the week of Nov. 12-18, the most gutted major line is the 14, with the 45 and 47 getting gutted to as low as 95% service. The worst performing line was the 2, with only 89% of it’s service hours deployed For light [...]

Happy 100th birthday to SF Muni!

Andrew — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 03:53:16 +0000

Tomorrow, the SF Municipal Railway celebrates its centennial. Take a look at the Market Street Railway‘s website for details on all the festivities. Car One will be in regular service on Market Street, and rides are free systemwide all day!

Santa Clara VTA light rail: 25 years later, very low usage

Andrew — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 17:42:14 +0000

Today’s Mercury News tells the story of how the Santa Clara VTA light rail system has consistently missed ridership targets while costing taxpayers more than expected in subsidies. The system only has 32,000 daily boardings, less than one-quarter of Muni’s light rail boardings – due largely to sprawling land use throughout the region that favors [...]

MTC to waste $218 on an office building

Andrew — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 17:38:25 +0000

While transit projects around the region get cut, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission is currently stuck with the bill for a new office building, far in excess of what is needed for such an organization. Joyce Roy of the Oakland Tribune says it’s not too late to junk this boondoggle.

John King: Study extending subway to North Beach

Andrew — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 22:54:49 +0000

John King of the Chronicle reports favorably on the option to extend the Central Subway to North Beach, perhaps using the Pagoda Theater site as the entrance. We agree! Let’s at least find out what it would cost and how quickly it could be built without spending decades debating alternatives.

On time rate, service rate improve after half year slide

markballew — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 16:24:39 +0000

Muni’s on-time rate is finally on the move upward again, at least compared to last month, to 58.4%, but that’s a large slide from March’s 63.2%. Muni’s voter mandated on time rate is 85%. Hours of service are also up, 95.7%, compared to 93.9% 6 months ago. Muni’s voter mandated hours of deployed service is [...]

Free youth fare idea back from the dead

markballew — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 16:30:53 +0000

The SFMTA might receive $6.7m out of $15m allocated by the MTC for introducing new riders to the system. Those funds could be allocated to the defunct free youth ride program, which would create a 22-month pilot program to give free passes to 40,000 of the city’s low income youth. The SFMTA would still need [...]

Debate in Delhi over BRT

Andrew — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 16:52:56 +0000

In India, a new bus rapid transit system has been successful in speeding up service for some of the 33% of commuters who ride mass transit, but has led to opposition among auto drivers. The BBC interviews bus riders who support faster service, and also has a surprisingly honest comment from an auto driver opponent: [...]