SFMTA School Safety Programs

The mission of the SFMTA is to work together to plan, build, operate, regulate and maintain the transportation network, with our partners, to connect the community. This includes schools in our communities. Whether it's a school crossing guard at a nearby intersection or our Free Muni for Youth Program, the SFMTA plays a role in getting students to and from school. 

SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL

The Safe Routes To School (SRTS) program was created to help to make walking and bicycling to school safer and more accessible for children, including those with disabilities, and to increase the number of children who choose to walk, bicycle, take public transit, or ride in parental carpools. SRTS programs enhance children’s health and well-being, and improve the daily life of all members of our community.

Learn more about Safe Routes to Schools


ENGINEERING IMPROVEMENTS

Engineering and capital improvements play a critical role in getting students to and from school safely. Our projects range from large capital improvements to requests made by community members.  A number of Vision Zero Capital Project improve safety for students by focusing on high-injury and transit corridors, such as 19th Avenue, Taraval Street, Folsom Street and Geary Boulevard. As for community requests, we respond to approximately 100 requests every year to address school safety through STOP signs, crosswalks, pedestrian safety initiatives, loading zones and others. In addition, about 84 percent of our 2015/2016 traffic calming applications are located within a quarter mile of a school. We are currently in the process of expanding our traffic calming program to focus more on schools, parks, and locations with high rate of vulnerable user crashes. 


CROSSING GUARD PROGRAM

  • Approximately 195 school crossing guards serve public and private schools throughout San Francisco, assisting children in arriving and departing safely each day
  • 107 of the city's elementary and middle schools are served
  • 10 to 15 requests are received from schools every year and about 50 percent are accepted
  • Learn more about the adult crossing guard program here 

MUNI ROUTES SERVING CITY SCHOOLS

Muni provides service to close to 29,000 students boarding on an average day. Every middle and high school in the San Francisco Unified School District is served by at least one Muni route. There's even a special "school trippers" service, the supplemental Muni routes that begin after school hours and serve middle and high schools throughout the city. Learn more about Muni routes serving a city school near you and the "school trippers" service here


FREE MUNI FOR YOUTH

Effective August 15, 2021 household income limits will be eliminated for the Free Muni for Youth program. Fares for all youth 18 years and under will be free. No application or proof of payment/Clipper card will be required to ride Muni vehicles with the exception of Cable Cars - simply get on and ride.