A slightly understaffed San Francisco Municipal Transit Agency board of directors decided the fate of Muni’s service restorations earlier today at City Hall.
The directors decided to reinstate 5% of Muni’s total service (50% of what was cut) on the condition that they receive all of the $11.9 million that was recently found usable for operating costs.
The SFMTA cut Muni’s service and budget by 10% earlier this year , only to come under massive public scrutiny from riders and operators alike. Overcrowded trains and the dissolution of certain lines all together proved to be too dramatic for many, and they spoke out.
“Like everyone on this side of the podium,” said local disability advocate Bob Planthold, while speaking of the public. “I’d like to see service improved.”
The services scheduled to be reinstated as of September 4 include (list at bottom):
-Owl service will be reinstated to every 30 minutes
-The service end times will be restored to around midnight as they were before the cuts, community routes only
-Capacity will be added to certain lines to reduce over crowding.
While many from the public who spoke were glad to hear that certain services would be reinstated, there seemed to be an overwhelming anger that they were cut in the first place. Snickers, sighs and other sounds of disbelief could be heard throughout the meeting.
“If some one steals your wallet with $100 in it, and gives it back with only $50, it’s hard to be grateful,” said Fran Taylor, who has been riding Muni for over 30 years.
Frank Lara, a member of the ANSWER coalition, spoke at the podium, but not to the board members. He instead looked directly into the SFGTV cameras and addressed the community, holding a sign that read “Restore ALL Muni Services.”
The SFMTA reports their choices for which services to reinstate were based off customer input, data the SFMTA collected, and observations by SFMTA staff. The board added that no future restorations will take place until 2012.
At the same meeting, the board also decided to require all taxis and cabs to accept credit cards as payment for rides. New possible technology, such as credit card readers in the backseat of cabs, was also discussed.
Not-so-fun-fact: This year so far there have been 569 crimes on Muni and its stops.
According to SFPD deputy chief John Murphy, head of police operations on Muni, those numbers are good.
Muni Service Restorations
Restore Owl Service to Every 30 Minutes
– L Owl
– N Owl
– 22 Fillmore Owl
– 90 San Bruno Owl
– 91 Owl
Restore End Times for Community Routes
– 17 Parkmerced
– 35 Eureka
– 36 Teresita
– 37 Corbett
– 39 Coit (weekends only2)
– 52 Excelsior
– 66 Quintara
– 67 Bernal Heights
Restore End Times for Local and Rapid Routes
– F Market/Wharves
– 9 San Bruno
– 19 Polk
– 21 Hayes
– 27 Bryant
– 28 19th Avenue
– 29 Sunset
– 43 Masonic
-44 O’Shaughnessy
– 54 Felton
Add Capacity to Reduce Weekday Crowding
– F Market/Wharves3 (midday and pm peak)
– 1 California (midday and pm peak)
– 5 Fulton (all day)
– 8X/AX/BX Bayshore Expresses (all day)
-14L Mission Limited (all day)
-18 46th Avenue (midday)
-24 Divisadero (all day)
– 33 Stanyan (am/pm peak and midday)
-35 Eureka (pm peak)
-37 Corbett (am peak)
-43 Masonic (midday)
-44 O’Shaughnessy (midday and pm peak)
-52 Excelsior (pm peak)
-Rail System (all day)
Restore Service Frequency at Night
– 5 Fulton
– 8X Bayshore Express
– 9 San Bruno
-14 Mission
-22 Fillmore
-28 19th Avenue
– 31 Balboa
– 44 O’Shaughnessy
– 49 Van Ness/Mission
Add Capacity to Reduce Weekend Crowding
– 8X/AX/BX Bayshore Expresses
– 30 Stockton
– 45 Union/Stockton
