Today Muni is announcing the launch of a program many years in the making. You may have already heard of Muni Forward. We’ve mentioned it a couple of times on this blog (here and here). It grew out of the multi-year Transit Effectiveness Project planning process that took the first comprehensive look at Muni’s service in a generation.
Most of us living and working in SF are aware of the challenges our transit (and overall transportation) system faces. Throughout the TEP and other outreach, Muni staff heard repeated calls to make transit more reliable and less crowded.
Muni’s management and frontline staff are working every day to make it easier to get around the city. Muni Forward brings together in one place those efforts and the long list of capital and planning projects under way to help make Muni safer, smarter, more reliable and more comfortable.
The changes—some major, some minor—cover Muni’s extensive system of 76 bus, rail, cable car, and streetcar lines, weaving their way across a 49 square-mile service area (approximately), and serving about 715,000 trips a day. Behind these system-wide statistics are real people—Muni riders and San Francisco residents.
Muni Forward breaks down into four distinct project categories:
1. Creating a Rapid Network – reduced travel times on core routes serving more than 60 percent of riders
An example is the 5L Fulton Limited, which provides limited stop service for quicker trips and increased frequency to reduce crowding. Other improvements are planned in the coming months on several other routes. Visit
http://muniforward.com/creating-a-rapid-network/ to learn more.
2. Improving Reliability – route changes to better serve current customer needs
Red transit-only lanes have already been implemented on key routes such as Market Street, 3rd Street, Geary Street, and Church Street, making Muni more reliable. Visit http://muniforward.com/improving-reliability/ for more details.
3. Making the System Smarter – new technologies and better access to real time information
New “transit priority” traffic signals can detect when a Muni bus or train is approaching and hold the green light. Combined with a future state-of-the-art management center, new technologies are being used to better serve Muni customers. See http://muniforward.com/making-the-system-smarter/ for more information.
4. Enhancing Safety and Access – improving safety, access and comfort on and off Muni
1,100 bus shelters citywide are being replaced with red Wave shelters. Along with improved access and pedestrian safety improvements, these efforts focus on making your trip safer both on and off transit. Visit http://muniforward.com/enhancing-safety-and-access/ for more details.
Muni Forward projects prioritize transit improvements that provide the greatest benefit to all and focus on daily service improvements. The new Rapid Network will provide significant time savings on Muni’s busiest routes to help you get where you’re going faster.
Safer, more reliable transit will help us all get where we're going more easily and less
The success of Muni Forward relies on community involvement, so we need your input. Please share your thoughts, concerns and hopes for the future of transportation in SF at TellMuni.com. And let us know what changes you like!
You can also learn more about all these projects and more by visiting MuniForward.com! Keep up with the latest by following or liking Muni Forward.
Let’s work together to move Muni Forward.
