Speak up for a strong transit recovery! ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Transit Is Essential - Join us for our 5th Annual Transit Week!

As we're sheltering in place due to a global pandemic AND toxic smoke from the wildfires engulfing the west coast, it's a challenge to celebrate the central role of transit riders in a sustainable, equitable San Francisco.

But we know that people were taking at least 100,000 trips every day on Muni even during the most restrictive days of shelter-in-place, and we know more and more people are riding every day. We know we need to rebuild from all of this, and we know that robust public transit is essential to any kind of recovery we can envision. So while we all need to take some extra time to take care of ourselves and each other, we can't stop working for the better future we all need.

We need to make sure Muni, and public transit around the Bay Area, is able to serve a strong recovery - one that is sustainable, is environmentally just, and one that provides equitable access to opportunities and resources for all San Franciscans. 

So please join us this Transit Week, October 5-9, in digital format! We'll share our stories of how Muni enables us to live our lives; what public transit means to us (and what it might mean if it doesn't return stronger than before); and we'll launch a strong, broad-based community call for a real transit recovery.

 

The Three Components of Transit Recovery​​​​​​

There is a ton going on right now around public transit - from emergency Core Service Plans and Temporary Emergency Transit Lanes (TETLs) at the local level, to regional discussions around safety standards, to national discussions around funding - and we need riders to speak up! If you can add your voice for strong transit recovery, please join our volunteer and action list. We'll let you know when letters needs to be sent, public comment needs to be made, or when we need your help developing and building a campaign.

1. Transit Priority

During the shelter in place, we saw how much faster buses could serve their routes. Riders didn't have to slog through traffic, and buses could provide more runs in a day. Service could be more frequent and have more capacity without spending more money. With limited resources, it would be irresponsible to cut service even further because buses are stuck in traffic. This is the idea behind our 30x30 campaign, and removing traffic from our streets for those few weeks was a clear proof of concept. 

Now SFMTA is introducing and rolling out these transit priority pilot projects, and we need transit riders like you to show up, speak up, and provide feedback on the projects. Coming right up: Wednesday meeting for the 43 Masonic and the 44 O'Shaughnessy pilot projects, and next week's meeting on the 38 Geary pilot.

2. Diverse, Equitable Transit Funding

As with every public transit agency across the country, Muni is facing a severe financial cliff. Because we depend on sales tax and fare revenue to provide service, and both those funding sources have dropped off, service will suffer. We need to find more diverse, broadbased, equitable, and sustainable long-term funding.

There are two ballot measures that need your support this November. Each would provide Muni with several million more dollars per year that could go directly to more service across the city. Vote YES on RR, and YES on Prop 15! We consider these measures a good beginning, and will keep fighting for more funding for Muni beyond November.

3. Safety & Cleanliness

A longstanding challenge for Muni is making sure bus riders and drivers feel, and are, safe and respected. Personal safety concerns are only heightened by COVID-19. We are having long overdue conversations about what safety means to different people - that simply increasing enforcement makes too many people feel less safe. We're heartened to see SFMTA retraining its staff so fare enforcement is about rider support and encouraging compliance, rather than about punishment.

We need to keep pushing for policies, practices, messaging, and resources that can build a positive culture of safety and cleanliness so Muni can be an inviting option for all.


San Francisco Transit Riders
P.O. Box 193341,  | San Francisco, California  94119 

[email protected]

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