Operator Convenience Facility Project

BENEFITS

The Operator Convenience Facility Project will support the health and safety needs of Muni operators, improve Muni on-time service performance and reduce unplanned service disruptions.

PROJECT BACKGROUND

Muni is the largest transit agency in the Bay Area with 702,000 daily transit boardings. Transit service is provided by 2,512 Muni operators that operate 74 Muni routes and 102 transit terminals in San Francisco and into Daly City. Routes such as the 33 Ashbury-18th and 29 Sunset are estimated to take 43 to 85 minutes one way. The lack of available restrooms at a terminal force operators to leave their routes to find a clean and safe restroom, which creates unplanned service disruptions.

In order to secure reliable Muni operator facilities, the SFMTA negotiates licenses, leases, permits and utilitzes free/public restrooms whenever possible.

Yet, there are a number of reasons that prevent using more of these options:

• Availability of businesses with available facilities within 50 to 150 feet of a transit terminal
• Extended hours of operation of bus routes, such as late night and 24-hour routes
• Personal safety and security concerns
• Cleanliness of facilities
• Accessibility requirements
• Wait time for use of a restroom

In 2015, the SFMTA received City approvals for new modular Operator Convenience Stations for Phase 1 and Phase 2 installations at 14 route terminals throughout the City, including two locations in Daly City (Daly City BART and Top of the Hill). 

APPROVAL PROCESS

There is a lengthy approval process before construction of an Operator Convenience Station can begin.

PHASE 1 (completed June, 2016) 

1. Bowley Street at Lincoln Boulevard located inside the Presidio 

• 29 Sunset route takes 85 minutes one way, peak frequency is every 9 minutes, unplanned schedule interruptions occur 4 percent of the time

• Status: Construction completed and the facility is in use

2. Ortega Street and 48th Avenue

• The 7 Haight/Noriega and 7x routes take 58 minutes one way, peak frequency is every 10 minutes, unplanned schedule interruptions occur 2 percent of the time

• Status: Approved by the City

• Construction completed and the facility is in use

3. 25th Street and Potrero Avenue

• 33 Stanyan route takes 51 minutes one way, peak frequency is every 15 minutes, unplanned schedule interruptions occur 2 percent of the time

• Status: Construction completed and the facility is in use

4. Hudson Avenue and 3rd Street

• 54 Felton route takes 76 minutes one way, peak frequency is every 20 minutes, unplanned schedule interruptions occur 14 percent of the time

• Status: Construction completed and the facility is in use

5. 3rd Street and Fitzgerald Avenue

• 29 Sunset route takes 76 minutes one way, peak frequency is every 20 minutes, unplanned schedule interruptions occur 14 percent of the time

• Status:  Construction completed and the facility is in use

6. Geary Boulevard and 32nd Avenue

• 1 California route takes 43 minutes one way, peak frequency is every 3 minutes

• 1 California A Express takes 30 minutes one way, peak period service only, frequency is every 10 to 15 minutes

• Status:  Construction completed and the facility is in use

PHASE 2 (completed May 13, 2019)

Phase 2A 

1. Top of the Hill, Daly City (6232 Mission Street)

• 14/14R Mission route(s) takes 55 minutes one way, peak frequency is every 8 to 9 minutes

• Status: Construction completed and the facility is in use

2. Daly City BART

• 28 19th Avenue route takes 60 minutes one way, peak frequency is every 10 to 12 minutes

• 54 Felton route takes 76 minutes one way, peak frequency is every 20 minutes, unplanned schedule interruptions occur 14 percent of the time

• 14R Mission Rapid route takes 55 minutes one way, peak frequency is every 9 minutes

• Status: Construction completed and the facility is in use

Phase 2B

1. Parkridge Drive and Burnett Avenue

• 37 Corbett route takes 30 minutes one way, frequency is every 15 to 20 minutes

• Status: Construction completed and the facility is in use

2. 20th Avenue and Buckingham Way

• 91 Owl 19th Avenue & Holloway route takes 1 hour and 22 minutes one way, frequency is every 30 minutes

• 18 46th Avenue route takes 40 minutes one way, peak frequency is every 20 minutes

• Status: Construction completed and the facility is in use

3. Sunnydale Avenue and McLaren Way

• 9 San Bruno route takes 67 minutes one way, peak frequency is every 12 minutes

• Status: Construction completed and the facility is in use

Phase 2C

1. 48th Avenue and Lower Great Highway

• 48 Quintara route takes 60 minutes one way, peak frequency is every 10 to 12 minutes

• Status: Construction completed and the facility is in use

2.  Fulton Street between 7th and 8th avenues

• 5/5R Fulton Corbett route take 37 to 46 minutes one way, peak frequency is every 4 to 5 minutes

• Status: Construction completed and the facility is in use

3. 4th Street and Townsend Street

• 10 Townsend, 30 Stockton, 45 Union/Stockton, 47 Van Ness routes take 40 to 60 minutes one way, peak frequency is every 4 to 20 minutes

• 81X Caltrain Express, 82X Levi Plaza Express, 83X Mid-Market Express 15 to 20 minutes one way, peak frequency is every 15 to 20 minutes (Caltrain service is scheduled to Caltrain arrivals)

• N Owl and 91 Owl routes take 1 hour and 22 minutes one way, frequency is every 30 minutes

• Status: Muni operators can access the Caltrain restroom daytime and evening hours, but SFMTA staff is currenlty seeking additional restroom access

4. Van Ness Avenue and North Point Street

• 28 19th Avenue route takes 57 minutes one way, peak frequency is every 10 minutes

• 30 Stockton route takes 32 minutes one way, peak frequency is every 6 minutes

• 47 Van Ness route takes 42 minutes one way, peak frequency is every 10 minutes

• 49 Van Ness/Mission route takes 65 minutes one way, peak frequency is every 8 minutes

• 90 Owl San Bruno & Arleta route takes 32 minutes one way, frequency is every 30 minutes

•  91 Owl 19th Avenue & Holloway route takes 1 hour and 22 minutes one way, frequency is every 30 minutes

• Status: Construction completed and the facility is in use

PHASE 3 

1. The SFMTA is currently rehabilitating 21 older operator restrooms in addition to the Embarcadero Station operator restroom 

2. 6th Avenue and California

• 28R 19th Avenue route (currently suspended due to COVID-19) take 39 minutes one way, peak frequency is every 10 minutes

• 1 California B Express route (currently suspended due to COVID-19) takes 32 minutes one, peak period service only, frequency is every 11 minutes

• 44 O'Shaughnessy route (currently shortened route due to COVID-19) takes 35 minutes one way on a weekday, peak frequency is every 13 minutes

The SFMTA will continue to secure operator restroom licenses, leases, and use permits where possible.