A nine percent increase to the city's bus lines and rail routes will make room for 70,000 additional riders without increasing the MTA's budget. This is according to the findings of the Transit Effectiveness Project (TEP), which researched demographics and tracked rider ship to capture the most comprehensive picture of MTA's traffic in 25 years. Yet, not all San Francisco residents are pleased with the TEP's recommendations.
On Tuesday, September 16, the Municipal Transit Authority (SFMTA) Board held a special public hearing so those concerned by the changes the TEP calls for could state them on the record. Comments, however, were limited to one minute per speaker — down from the three-minute floor-time residents were expecting — due to the nearly 100 person long comment list at the start of the 3:30 hearing.
Recommended changes include: consolidating certain low-traffic routes (or route segments), increasing service on high-traffic routes, with additional increases during peak hours, while adding new routes and extending existing routes. The TEP's staff recommendations state that by shifting MTA resources to high-traffic routes it will reduce delays and increase reliability on all routes.
While objections to the TEP recommendations spanned a wide range of issues the most common among them were concern for how the changes would affect the elderly and the disabled. Cutting the 38 Ocean Beach line would force seniors traveling inbound (toward senior centers, doctor's appointments or downtown shopping) to take the 18 bus to 33rd St. and transfer to 38 Geary, arguably adding an additional 30 minutes to an already hour long commute.
"It's not broke, so don't fix it. I learned that in City Hall," said Veera Hail, referring to the route change proposed for the 38 Ocean Beach. "It's fine the way it is. Leave it alone."
The public comment required no action by the Board. Yet, TEP staff will incorporate Tuesday's community input session during their September 22 work session. The results of the work session will be presented to the SFMTA Board for approval on September 30. If approved at the SFMTA meeting, the TEP proposals will not take effect sooner then July 2009 at the earliest.
On Tuesday, September 16, the Municipal Transit Authority (SFMTA) Board held a special public hearing so those concerned by the changes the TEP calls for could state them on the record. Comments, however, were limited to one minute per speaker — down from the three-minute floor-time residents were expecting — due to the nearly 100 person long comment list at the start of the 3:30 hearing.
Recommended changes include: consolidating certain low-traffic routes (or route segments), increasing service on high-traffic routes, with additional increases during peak hours, while adding new routes and extending existing routes. The TEP's staff recommendations state that by shifting MTA resources to high-traffic routes it will reduce delays and increase reliability on all routes.
While objections to the TEP recommendations spanned a wide range of issues the most common among them were concern for how the changes would affect the elderly and the disabled. Cutting the 38 Ocean Beach line would force seniors traveling inbound (toward senior centers, doctor's appointments or downtown shopping) to take the 18 bus to 33rd St. and transfer to 38 Geary, arguably adding an additional 30 minutes to an already hour long commute.
"It's not broke, so don't fix it. I learned that in City Hall," said Veera Hail, referring to the route change proposed for the 38 Ocean Beach. "It's fine the way it is. Leave it alone."
The public comment required no action by the Board. Yet, TEP staff will incorporate Tuesday's community input session during their September 22 work session. The results of the work session will be presented to the SFMTA Board for approval on September 30. If approved at the SFMTA meeting, the TEP proposals will not take effect sooner then July 2009 at the earliest.
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