Transit Advocacy
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At 40 Years, San Francisco’s Transit-First Policy Still Struggles for Traction
The first private automobile users on early 20th-century American streets were generally accorded no special privileges on the public right-of-way. "The center of the road was reserved for streetcars, and the new automobiles had to move out of the way," as Renee Montagne describes it in the 1996 documentary Taken for a Ride, which chronicles the decline of American public transit over the 20th century.
March 22, 2013
Muni: All-Door Boarding Continues to Increase Bus Speeds, Fare Payment
Seven months since Muni changed its policy to allow all-door boarding on all of its vehicles, the agency is reporting continued improvements in service and a drop in fare evasion.
February 11, 2013
POWER: Mobility for Low-Income San Franciscans Means Putting Transit First
Advocates for San Francisco's low-income communities have issued a new report calling for policy changes intended to improve Muni service, increase mobility for transit-dependent San Franciscans, reduce pollution from driving, and improve the city's economy.
January 18, 2013
Supervisor Wiener Calls Hearings to Assess the Cost of Muni Delays
Just how bad is Muni? And is it getting any better? Supervisor Scott Wiener has called for monthly reports from the SF Municipal Transportation Agency and the City Controller's Office to tally up the true cost of transit delays and track progress on Muni's reliability.
January 16, 2013
On the Ballot: A Key to Alameda County’s Sustainable Transportation Future
Alameda County could usher in a new era of progressive transportation projects if voters pass a proposed half-cent sales tax increase known as Measure B1 on November 6.
October 24, 2012
Muni Switchbacks Stink, But What’s the Real Root of the Problem?
The San Francisco Civil Grand Jury released a report [PDF] today blasting Muni's regular practice of dumping riders and turning vehicles around early.
August 9, 2012
MTC Votes to Reject Funding for Free Muni for Low-Income Youth
In a 7-8 vote, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission today rejected $4 million in funding for the free Muni for low-income youth pilot program.
July 25, 2012
Big Ferry Subsidies for Tech Firms Before Free Muni for Low-Income Youth?
Free Muni for low-income youth is just within reach, which would be the culmination of a hard-fought advocacy campaign that urged the SF Municipal Transportation Agency and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to set aside a total of $9.4 million to improve transit access for students in need.
July 12, 2012
Advocates Rebuff Merchant’s Absurd Argument Against East Bay BRT
In an op-ed in the Oakland Tribune yesterday, local business owner Randy Reed laid down a whopping piece of misinformation: For businesses, he wrote, enhancing East Bay transportation options with Bus Rapid Transit will be no different than when construction removes all of the car parking on a street.
July 10, 2012
CA Senate Approves Funds for High-Speed Rail, Commuter Rail Upgrades
In a pivotal vote Friday, the California Senate approved $4.5 billion in bonds to begin construction of CA High-Speed Rail (CAHSR) connecting San Francisco and Los Angeles. The funds will help fund construction of the line's initial segment in the Central Valley and upgrades for the Caltrain and Metrolink commuter rail lines in the Bay Area and Los Angeles, respectively.
July 9, 2012