#

Question

Response

1

Can the SFMTA Board have a Caltrain representative on it?

This would require a change in the Charter of the City and County of San Francisco.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) Board of Directors is defined in Section 8A of the Charter of the City and County of San Francisco, which required voter approval. Any changes to this amendment would have the same requirement.

The SFMTA Board of Directors holds regular meetings on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 2:00 p.m. These meetings are held in City Hall, room 400. The next meeting is Tuesday, June 19, 2007. Any changes to this schedule or location will be posted on the website. Every meeting includes an invitation for public comment.

2

What about regional representation on the SFMTA Citizens' Advisory Council (CAC)?

The Citizens’ Advisory Council of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency is governed by the City Charter Section 8A.111. According to the city charter, the members of the SFMTA CAC shall be appointed by the Mayor and Board of Supervisors. The membership should also reflect the diversity of neighborhoods within the City and County of San Francisco. (see text below).

Section 8A. 111

The Agency shall establish a Citizens' Advisory Council of fifteen members which shall consist of one person appointed by each member of the Board of Supervisors and four members appointed by the Mayor. Each member must be a resident of the City and County. No fewer than ten members of the Council must be regular riders of the Municipal Rail-way. At least two members must use the Municipal Railway's paratransit system, and at least three of the members must be senior citizens over the age of 60. The membership of the Council shall be reflective of the diversity and neighborhoods of the City and County. The Council may provide recommendations to the Agency with respect to any matter within the jurisdiction of the Agency and shall be allowed to present reports to the Agency's board of directors. The members of the Council shall be appointed to four-year terms and shall serve at the pleasure of their appointing power. Staggered terms for the initial appointees to the Council shall be determined by lot.

3

As a long-term solution, could there be one station at 4th and King, instead of two?

While this is not a viable near-term solution given the original design, the SFMTA is not adverse to an extensive evaluation of the feasibility of a joint station.

4

Could the Next Muni signage please reflect when the trains are expected to depart, rather than arrive? This would be more useful for passengers.

The current standard for all NextMuni signage is that it displays the predictions of arrival times based on location of the next train bound for a specific stop.

Departure times at 4th and King are scheduled for every 8 minutes. Once a train arrives, it is scheduled to remain at the station for boarding for 8 minutes. In addition, during the morning commute time we have added several 2-car shuttles to carry Bullet Train passengers.

5

What does Muni do to coordinate with Caltrain? What can it do to improve coordination?

During the morning commute time we have added several 2-car shuttles to carry Bullet Train passengers.

Policy decisions are coordinated through the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (JPB) that oversees Caltrain. The SFMTA’s Executive Director/CEO, Nathaniel P. Ford, Sr. serves as a member of the JPB and has addressed public concerns when there are impacts affecting a cross section of Muni/Caltrain riders.

6

Can Muni please put two-car trains on the J-line during commute hours?

While a 2 car train on the J-line is not a viable option due to the length of the boarding areas in the shared roadway on the J line, several options being considered (but not limited to) are:

• Restore N to Caltrain

• Return J to Embarcadero switchback all times

• Make frequency adjustments on all lines to better match operator availability and provide more reliable timetables to customers

7

What can the SFMTA do to increase worker autonomy?

Each year, the SFMTA conducts an employee survey to have an annual “report card” of how well the agency serves its internal customers—its employees, who are the heart and soul of the agency. This year the SFMTA embarked on a strategic plan to develop a 5 year action plan and incorporate many of the key findings within the employee survey, as well as other key data indicators. Once the plan is adopted, there will be several items in the plan focused on improving access to tools for our workforce to get the job done—including improving our communication internally and with the public, as well as investing in additional skills needed for our workforce to be more competitive in the 21st century.

8

How is the SFMTA improving service from North Beach to Caltrain?

We are currently reviewing providing additional service along Columbus Avenue to Market Street and to Caltrain. Specifically being considered (but not limited to) are:

• New service: 20-Columbus VN/North Point to Beale/Howard weekdays only at the following times:
Inbound 7am-4pm, Outbound 9am-4pm

• Restore 10-Townsend service on weekends

9

Will the SFMTA consider a pedestrian overpass at 4th and King Streets?

That issue was taken into consideration during the Conceptual Engineering phase of the project and rejected.

Pedestrian overpasses are considered for connections like 4th and King, but the long approaches to get the height needed to clear the roadway makes them circuitous and unpopular.

Nevertheless, we recognize the complicated connection between Caltrain and the two metro platforms and are looking at increasing frequency to these platforms to improve service and give connecting passengers more real time to board the T-Line.

10

The staff helping with schedules should be required to ride the service to appreciate the riders' experience.

MTA staff ride Muni services extensively, during work hours and beyond, and take notes on the points and causes of delays which is being included in the Transit Effectiveness Project (TEP). Since the opening of T-Third on April 7, 2007, management staff has increased hands-on participation in daily service operations to better understand the issues and troubleshoot problems.

11

What will the SFMTA do to improve the 10 line?

We are currently reviewing the feasibility of restoring the 10 Townsend service on weekends. We welcome your specific comments on frequency, routing and stops.

12

What is the SFMTA doing to better enforce the bus lanes?

The Mayor is sponsoring, on behalf of the SFMTA, AB 101 (Ma) that would authorize citation issuance based on video evidence of double parking in designated bus only lanes and street sweeper parking violations. We are actively working in support of this bill which has passed the Assembly and is now pending hearing in the Senate.

In addition, we work closely with the San Francisco Police department and welcome and encourage their enforcement of these transit only lanes.

13

Explain how there are 40% more trains in the subway.

There is a 26% increase in trains (total in both directions) in the subway. In addition, there is a 20% increase in the number of trains turning back at the Castro Station, which places an added burden on the system.

14

What is the SFMTA doing to improve service along The Embarcadero, especially in South Beach?

As stated in Question 5, Muni staff is evaluating a number of options for its effectiveness and viability.

We offer service on the 12 line and welcome feedback on how this service can be improved to be more valuable to users. Also, we are looking to launch the E-line service (streetcar from Caltrain to Fisherman’s Wharf) once the facilities, equipment and operating budget are in place.

15

What is the Muni policy on bikes on LRVs? What about folding bikes? Is consideration being given to changing this? How is this information publicized?

Bicycles, as well as folding bicycles are not currently allowed on Muni LRVs.

The specific guideline that our operators follow is Rule 6.7.7 which states “Bicycles may only be carried on vehicles equipped with bicycle racks."

That information can be found in the "Bike Rack Rules" section of the SFMTA web site which states: "Bikes, folding and non-folding, are not allowed inside any Muni bus, streetcar, or other transit vehicle at any time."

The SFMTA is currently enjoined from making any changes to our bicycle program. The current legal injunction, found on the website declares that "allowing bicycles inside Muni buses and other public transit that were not allowed before June 7, 2005" are enjoined.

16

What is the SFMTA doing to improve customer service agency-wide?

Last year the SFMTA began a comprehensive program to improve customer service. Beginning at our most important level, in our vehicles, we have begun identifying employees who exhibit the need for improved customer service skills. We have implemented an aggressive retraining program in customer service. In addition, we are currently implementing changes in how we communicate specifically with our Metro customers. We are looking to enhance the number of employees available to ensure that we provide real-time information to our customers regarding service delays and interruptions.

17

What steps is the SFMTAtaking to improve NextMuni?

On the T-Line, a change to the NextMuni software was implemented to provide more reliable arrival predictions. Also, operator schedule adherence has improved which improves prediction accuracy.

Several proposed improvements include:

• Provide street inspectors with laptops to assist in real time line management.
• Ensure that Central Control is notified of any last minute (real time) route changes thus allowing Central Control to notify the public of this change through theshelter display signs.

Muni plans to complete installation of NextMuni on all buses (and installation of prediction signs in shelters) by the end of August 2007.

18

What is the status of the priority signal system along the T line?

The signal system along 3rd Street provides transit priority for the T-Third light rail vehicles traveling in the corridor between Bayshore and Sunnydale and 4th and King. With this feature we expect the travel time to be shortened by about 20% between these two points.

The transit priority signal system on 3rd Street is fully operational and functional, and we expect to attain the reduced travel times as train operators become accustomed to the priority features.

We have identified several locations along the alignment where the system is experiencing disruptions in reliability due to transmission frequency issues. SFMTA’s track personnel are addressing this issue.

19

What is a reason-able amount of time for a commute between The Embarcadero and Caltrain? How much time should our customers reasonably allow to make the Caltrain connection?

A recent series of measurements taken since the implementation of T-Third indicates that the average run time from the time Embarcadero Station to the platform at 4th and King is 15 minutes.

20

What is the SFMTA doing to improve on-street management/train flexibility?

Senior Operations managers and supervisors have been assigned to monitor service and work with Central Control to make service adjustments as required to prevent avoidable backups.

21

What is the SFMTA doing to improve capacity to Caltrain, especially during peak hours?

In the AM and PM peak periods, SFMTA is running additional trains. At the same time, SFMTA staff is evaluating various options to improve capacity and service.

22

Can the SFMTA implement a sweeper or backup train to guarantee connections to Caltrain?

This approach will be considered among others that SFMTA is evaluating. As discussed at the Town Hall Meeting, there are a number of options being considered and no options will be fully implemented without thorough consideration and an understanding of the overall viability of that option.

23

What are the SFMTA's lessons-learned from the T-Third implementation process?

This process is on-going.

• The need to ensure that all branches of the organization coordinate with each other at all times

• Future testing needs to be in real time with revenue headways, as opposed to relying on simulations.

• Improve outreach and education to help patrons anticipate and understand changes.

24

What are so many trains marked "out of service" at the Embarcadero station?

The Embarcadero is a terminus and turnback point for the outbound K, L, M, and N lines. Those trains that are marked “Out of Service” at the Embarcadero Station are generally not out of service but rather are turning back to return to service in the inbound direction.

25

When will Muni have public or keep published schedules? Why doesn't Muni adhere to one?

Scheduled service information is available and can be printed via the 511.org website.