The 5R Fulton Rapid passing a traffic circle installed at McAllister and Lyon streets as part of Muni Forward’s 5 Fulton Rapid Project.
This Transit Month, we’re celebrating the 10-year anniversary of Muni Forward!
Each week, we’ll highlight one of our Muni Forward corridors to share exactly how we worked to improve your trips – and the wins riders are seeing as a result.
Today, we shine the spotlight on the 5 Fulton. It runs from the Financial District all the way to the Great Highway.
How the “Flying Fulton” helped launch Muni Forward
Our 5 Fulton Rapid Project was one of the very first Muni Forward projects to break ground in San Francisco.
Originally billed as “The Flying Fulton Pilot,” the project kicked off in 2014 and aimed to:
- Speed up service
- Reduce crowding
- Improve safety
The 5 Fulton passing through downtown San Francisco.
To accomplish these goals, we made many upgrades to the 5 Fulton corridor using a toolkit of proven transit improvement strategies. These upgrades were introduced in phases, over the course of two separate projects – the 5 Fulton Rapid Project and the Fulton Street Safety and Transit Project.
- Rapid Lines: We introduced the 5R Fulton Rapid. This route is part of Muni’s growing Rapid Network. Buses within the Rapid Network make fewer stops than regular lines, which allows them to carry riders more quickly across San Francisco on the city’s busiest streets.
- Bigger buses and increased frequency: We also increased bus frequency on this line and introduced 60-foot coaches. Together, these changes helped reduce crowding on the 5 Fulton and 5R Fulton Rapid.
- Contraflow lanes: We transformed McAllister Street from a one-way to a two-way street, streamlining the route and cutting down on travel time.
- Bulb outs: We built new transit bulbs and pedestrian bulbs. These give people more space to wait for buses, reduce boarding times and increase safety for people walking.
- Transit priority features: We installed dedicated turn pockets and special traffic signals that give a green light to buses to reduce delays. We also created dedicated transit lanes to help buses avoid getting caught in traffic.
A 5R Fulton Rapid bus makes a stop on Market Street. This 60-foot coach carries more riders, reducing crowding on the route.
5 Fulton upgrades by the numbers
Muni riders have responded positively to these Muni Forward upgrades, and the 5 Fulton corridor has emerged as one of our strongest transit corridors over the past decade.
Thanks to Muni Forward improvements:
- Travel times have dropped up to 12% on Fulton Street
- The eastbound contraflow lane on McAllister saves up to 3 minutes of travel time
As of August 2024, the 5 Fulton and 5R Fulton Rapid were averaging:
- More than 14,000 combined daily boardings on weekdays
- About 12,000 daily boardings on weekends
Post-pandemic ridership has rebounded significantly on both lines. More people are now riding the 5 Fulton on the weekends than before COVID-19 brought the city and its transit system to a standstill.
Given the size of the Muni system, it is not always easy to decide which routes to invest in. But making upgrades to the 5 Fulton was an obvious choice.
For more than 100 years, San Francisco transit riders have been taking some version of this route. It was among the very first lines in the city to run from the bay to the beach. It stops at many important and popular destinations along the way — including Union Square, City Hall, Golden Gate Park and Ocean Beach. From 2009 to 2019, the Fulton corridor saw a 60% growth in ridership.
Collect stamps and experience 100 miles of public transit improvements with the Muni Forward Passport and interactive story map.
Transit Month and the Muni Forward Passport
There are lots of ways to explore and celebrate Muni Forward corridors during Transit Month.
You can check out our special interactive map that shows upcoming events and local businesses that are part of the festivities. You can also pick up a commemorative Muni Forward Passport, which you can get stamped at participating businesses throughout September 2024. You can grab your very own limited-edition Muni Forward Passport at one of our Transit Month events or at participating businesses along the 10 Muni lines highlighted in the passport.
Since 2014, the Muni Forward initiative has made San Francisco’s public transit system faster, more reliable, easier to access and safer for people taking transit, walking, biking and rolling. More than 100 miles of Muni upgrades have been built or approved throughout the city.
To learn more about the Muni Forward Passport and see our interactive map, visit our Muni Forward Anniversary Passport webpage (SFMTA.com/Passport).