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Muni Access Guide

WELCOME

GETTING STARTED

ACCESS ON Muni BUSES

ACCESS ON Muni METRO

HISTORIC F-LINE

EXPECTATIONS WHEN RIDING Muni

TRAVEL TRAINING

PARATRANSIT

BASIC INFORMATION

COMMENDATIONS & COMPLAINTS

Glossary

FARES FOR Muni SERVICE

ACCESSIBLE Muni LINES 2002

Welcome

Welcome to the San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni). We are proud of the level of accessibility of the Muni System, which has been achieved through years of work with the disabled community through advisory committees and public meetings.

This guide describes Muni's accessible services. Use the guide in conjunction with the official Muni Street & Transit Map to plan your transit trips. Whether you are a resident of San Francisco or a visitor to our beautiful city, we hope this guide will provide you the information you need about accessibility on Muni. We encourage transit riders with disabilities to contact the Accessible Services Program at 415.701.4485 (TTY/TDD 701-4730), with questions or for additional information about accessibility or trip planning.

If you need this brochure in an accessible format, please call 415.701.4485 (TTY/TDD 701-4730).

Getting Started

Hours of Muni Transit Service

Most Muni lines run from 5am to 1 am Monday through Friday. Service begins at 6am on Saturdays and at 8am on Sundays.  Owl Service (on selected routes) runs from 1am to 5am daily.

Note: for detailed information about schedules for each bus line, obtain a free Muni Timetable Booklet, or visit our website at www.sfmuni.com, or phone the San Francisco 3-1-1 Customer Service Center. Access MTC's on-line trip planner at www.sfmuni.com/tripplan. The trip planner does not provide information about wheelchair-accessible routes.

Discount Fares

Who is eligible for the discount fare?

• Seniors aged 65 and older automatically qualify for the discount fare. Valid photo ID must be presented upon request. Muni also has a Senior ID Card available from Senior Information and Referral at 415/626-1033.
• Disabled and senior riders who show a valid Regional Transit Discount ID Card are eligible for the discount fare on Muni and all other Bay Area transit systems.
• Medicare card and DMV disabled placard registration holders with photo ID can pay discounted fares but are encouraged to apply for an RTC ID for convenience (see below).

Who is eligible for the Regional Transit Discount ID Card?

• Seniors aged 65 and older automatically qualify.
• Medicare cardholders, DMV disabled placard registration holders, and veterans with a 50% or more service-connected disability qualify under the basic category.
• All other individuals with transit-related disabilities must complete the medical certification application form and have it signed by a certifying professional.

Where can I apply for a Regional Transit Discount ID card?

• The Muni Discount ID Office is located at 2630 Geary Boulevard (between Presidio and Masonic Avenues) and is open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 10:30 am to 4 pm. Two accessible Muni lines-the 38-Geary and the 43-Masonic, serve the office. Call 415/923-6070 for more information or to get a list of other locations in the Bay Area where a Regional Transit Discount ID can be obtained.
• Please allow up to 21 days after you submit your application to receive your Regional Transit Discount Card in the mail.
• Groups of 15 or more may request to have ID's issued at an off-site location. Arrangements must be made and paperwork completed in advance of issuance.
• For information about discount passes and stickers, see page 31.

Visitors

• Visitors with a transit discount ID card from a California city outside the Bay Area may receive a Bay Area Regional Transit Discount ID Card valid for as long as their local city card, up to a maximum of three years. They may also use their local card on Muni in order to pay the discount fare.
• Visitors with a transit discount ID card from outside the state of California are eligible to receive a Bay Area Regional Transit Discount ID Card valid for up to three months.

Attendants

Attendants may accompany passengers with disabilities on transit trips. Attendants are entitled to pay the same discount fare as the passenger when the disabled passenger has a Regional Transit Discount ID Card with a symbol indicating that an attendant is necessary for use of public transit.

Guide, Signal and Service Dogs

• Service dogs (including Guide and Signal dogs) and other service animals are allowed to ride free of charge on all Muni vehicles. Service dogs may travel without a muzzle, but they must be leashed.
• A service animal is an animal specifically trained to assist the disabled rider with necessary duties. The animal must be constantly under the control of the handler. Any service animal determined by the driver or supervisor to be out of control or posing a threat to the safety of other passengers or animals may be prevented from boarding the vehicle or may be removed from the vehicle.

Access on Muni Buses

Muni has an extensive network of bus lines providing service within two blocks of most city addresses. Muni began providing accessible bus service in the early 1980s, and now a large part of the fleet is accessible. All new trolley and diesel buses purchased are accessible, which will bring the fleet to 100% accessibility in 2003.

On bus lines that are currently designated accessible, all vehicles have priority seating for senior and disabled customers, wheelchair lifts, kneelers, extra vertical poles for standing customers to hold, and large header and side destination signs.

New buses are also equipped with automated stop announcements that provide digital stop location signs and human voice stop announcements inside the bus, and human voice bus line announcements outside the bus.

Accessible lines are listed in this booklet and on the Muni website (www.sfmuni.com). Information about new accessible lines can be obtained from the website or by contacting the Accessible Services Program 415.701.4485 (TTY/TDD 701-4730). For a Muni System Map, contact the Muni Communications Department at 415.701.4200.

Seating

Seniors and persons with disabilities have priority access to the front seats of all Muni vehicles, which includes the side facing seats and the first set of front facing seats. Signs and decals instructing customers to yield the front seats to seniors and persons with disabilities are posted above the seats on all vehicles. Signs in Spanish and Chinese are also posted. Please present your Regional Transit Discount ID Card or Senior ID Card to the driver as you board. Upon request, operators will ask riders in the priority seating area who are neither senior nor disabled to give up their seat for you.

Kneelers

Kneelers allow the front steps of accessible buses to be lowered, making it easier for customers to board the bus, especially if boarding from the street. Bus operators will employ the kneeler at your request.

Lifts and Securements

Accessible buses are equipped with mechanical lifts at the front door that provide level boarding of the bus from the street or sidewalk for customers with mobility impairments. Lifts are for anyone with a disability who is unable to use the steps to board the bus, including persons using wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, or other mobility aids, and those with less visible disabilities such as arthritis, heart ailments or breathing impairments. Inform the bus operator if you need to use the lift.

Please note that lifts are not intended for non-disabled customers with baby strollers, package carts, etc. Lift platforms on most buses are at least 4 feet long and 3 feet wide.  They are solid and sturdy, with handrails on both sides. There is adequate turning room inside the bus to accommodate most standard manual and power wheelchairs, including three-wheeled models. Newer accessible buses have two securement areas near the front of the vehicle. Older buses have one securement area.

If two wheelchair users are traveling together, contact the Accessible Services Program for the latest information on lines served by buses with two securement areas.

Boarding Using a Lift

• Make sure you are visible to the driver as the bus approaches.
• When the bus is in position, stay back from the curb about four feet to allow enough room for the lift to be lowered. When you are ready, the operator will lower the lift.
• Ambulatory customers using the lift should stand on the platform facing the inside of the bus, hold on to the handrails and duck their heads when approaching the doorway.
• Most wheelchair users prefer to board facing backwards, but may board facing either direction. Wheelchair users should roll squarely onto the platform and lock their wheels during boarding and alighting.
• When boarding be sure to tell the driver where you would like to get off.
• Wheelchairs users should roll down the aisle to the securement area, making sure that passengers seated in front of the bus have moved their feet out of the way.

Getting to the Securement Area

• Let the operator know if you need help using the securements. The securement areas are created by lifting up either the first row of front facing and the adjacent row of side-facing seats or the second set of side facing seats at the front of the bus. Pull the lever beneath the seats to raise them and expose the securement area. Inform the operator if you need help lifting the seat.
• Back the wheelchair into the open wheel clamp to secure the chair.  The wheel clamp fits most manual and power chairs, but does not accommodate three-wheelers or other chairs with small back wheels.

• While the new Muni buses have two securement areas, the older vehicles have only one.

Using the lift to disembark

• About a block before your stop, pull the "stop request" cord or push the stop request strip or button located along side the securement position.
• After the bus has stopped, release the securements by pushing down the wheel clamp lever to release your wheel, and undoing the safety belts. Since it is not always clear if help is wanted, let the operator know if you need help releasing the securements.
• Leave the bus after other passengers have gotten off. Roll squarely onto the raised lift platform and lock your wheels. When the lift platform has lowered and the safety barrier has dropped, roll carefully off the platform.

Note: There are some stops that are not recommended for lift use because the grade is too steep, there are no curb cuts, or the sidewalk is too narrow.  These stops are clearly marked with a symbol painted in yellow on the street.

Access on Muni Metro

Muni METRO

The Muni Metro is made up of light rail vehicles (streetcars) that run on tracks both above and below ground along the J-Church, K-Ingleside, L-Taraval, M-Oceanview and N-Judah lines. These Metro lines run underground in the downtown area, and on the surface in outlying neighborhoods. All underground Metro stations and high-level surface stations on the street are accessible. Accessible surface key stops are located at regular intervals throughout the system, as well as at major destinations such as schools and hospitals, and at transfer points.

Below you will find a brief description of the accessibility features at the different stations and stops in the Metro system.

Underground Stations

Each underground station has accessible pay phones, a TTY telephone, and a Station Agent on duty to answer any questions you may have. Muni and Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) share four downtown stations: Embarcadero, Montgomery, Powell, and Civic Center. The remaining underground stations, Van Ness, Church Street, Castro Street, Forest Hill and West Portal, serve only the Muni system.  All the underground stations can be accessed by elevator, escalator (except for Forest Hill, which has no escalators, and West Portal, which has ramps) or stairs. For up-to-date information about the status of elevators in the downtown stations shared with BART, call (510) 834-LIFT or (888) 2ELEVATE. Information about downtown station elevators, Muni-only station elevators and Muni wayside lifts can also be obtained by calling Bay Area Travel Information at 511 or by calling Muni Accessible Services 415.701.4485 (TTY/TDD 701-4730)

All downtown station elevators are located on the north side of Market Street.  At most stations, you must pay your fare or show your Senior Pass or a valid Regional Transit Discount ID Card with a monthly sticker at the clearly marked Muni Station Agent's booth and then take the elevator down to the platform level.  At the Montgomery, Powell and Civic Center Stations, the Muni Station Agent's booth and the elevator to the platform are at opposite ends of the station. For your convenience, at these stations, instead of paying your fare at the Station Agent's booth, you can pay your fare and receive proof of payment from ticket vending machines located near the elevators. Signage in the stations will direct you to the elevator to the platform level. Each elevator is equipped with an emergency telephone to connect you with a Station Agent. Note that at Castro and Church stations there are two elevators from the concourse to the platform level, one for inbound and one for outbound travel. At Forest Hill there are two elevators serving the inbound platform, and two serving the outbound platform. At all other underground stations, except West Portal, which is served by ramps, there is one elevator between the concourse and the platform, which serves both directions of travel.

High-Level Surface Stations

There are several high-level surface stations on the Muni Metro System.  These stations have one boarding area for all customers, which is accessed by a ramp. There are high-level Metro stations served by the N-line on The Embarcadero between Folsom Street and the 4th and King Caltrain Station. There are also high-level stations at Stonestown Shopping Center and San Francisco State University (both served by the M-line).

Wayside Platforms

On the surface portion of each of the five Muni Metro lines, there are accessible wayside platforms at regular intervals. The wayside platforms, which are located before or after island or curb stops, have a designated accessible high-level boarding area that is accessed by a ramp.  The operator will position the vehicle at the wayside platform and raise the vehicle steps so they are level with the platform to allow wheelchair users to board or exit the vehicle. If you want to get off the Metro at a surface stop, inform the operator of your destination.

Wayside Lifts

There is a wayside lift on the M-Oceanview line on San Jose Avenue at Geneva.  At some locations along the F-line on Market Street, wayside lifts are used in place of wayside platforms because of space constraints (these lifts are described in the F-line section of this document).

System Improvements

Third Street Light Rail Project:  The Metro system is being expanded to serve the Third Street corridor. The Third Street Light Rail Project will take place in two phases. Phase 1 will extend accessible light rail service from the current 4^th and King terminal (near the San Francisco CalTrain Station), along Third Street and Bayshore Boulevard to the Bayshore CalTrain Station. This phase of the project is expected to open for service in 2004. Phase 2 will provide accessible service from the Third Street corridor to Chinatown via a new Central Subway. For more information about the Third Street Project, call Muni Construction at 415.703.6655, or visit the Muni website, www.sfmuni.com.

Automatic Vehicle Location Systems: An Automatic Vehicle Location System (AVLS) called Nextbus has been installed on the J, K, L, M and N Metro lines as well as on the 22 Fillmore bus line as a pilot project. The AVLS uses satellite technology and computers to track vehicle location and predict vehicle arrival time at stations and stops. Muni is currently planning the permanent implementation of AVLS on the above-mentioned Metro and bus lines, as well as the eventual expansion of the system to other Metro and bus lines.

Riding Tips for Wheelchair Users on the Metro

Boarding Metro Trains

• Once on the boarding platform at an underground station, notice the electronic signage overhead or listen to announcements indicating the destination and time until arrival of approaching vehicles. Keep in mind that in the underground, outbound Metro vehicles stop at the far west end of the platform, and inbound trains stop mid-platform.
• Once the train has arrived, for safety and convenience it is best to board the first car of the train at the door nearest the front of the car. All train doors will open in the underground.
• Muni recommends that customers whose wheelchairs have small front wheels should back onto the car in order to cross over the vehicle-to-platform gap. The LRVs have gap fillers at the front and rear doors that reduce the gap to 3 inches. All vehicles are in the process of being equipped with gap fillers at all doors.

Inside the Vehicle

• Wheelchair stationing areas are located at the front of the vehicle. These front side-facing seats lift up to create space for customers in wheelchairs. If other wheelchair users occupy the stationing areas, additional wheelchair users may ride as long as they do not obstruct the aisles.
• To request a stop, the wheelchair user can speak to the operator upon boarding, use the black stop request strip located adjacent to the doors, or use the intercom next to the stationing area that allows customers to communicate directly with the operator.

Riding Tips For the Blind and Visually Impaired on the Metro

Below are some tips to assist the blind or visually impaired using the Metro.

In the Metro Underground

• In an underground station, locate the escalator or stairs leading to the concourse level. On the concourse level, locate the Muni Station Agent's booth to pay your fare, and proceed to the platform level. Cane users should use the constant cane technique when walking on the platform.
• Determine the type of platform: 1) Center platform- tracks on both sides of the platform: Embarcadero, Montgomery, Powell, Civic Center, Van Ness, Stonestown, San Francisco State, Folsom, Brannan, 2nd & King, and 4th & King. 2) Side platform-two platforms with tracks in between: Church, Castro, Forest Hill, and West Portal.
• Each platform has two feet of tactile edging to indicate to visually impaired customers when they are approaching the platform edge. The tactile edging has a truncated dome pattern in contrasting color that is recognized as an effective warning, detectable by canes and under foot. Stand on the platform behind the tactile edging when waiting for the train.

Special Features

The Muni Metro is equipped with special technology to assist the blind and visually impaired. There are Talking Signs™ (see glossary) at the Powell Street BART/Muni Station, at the high-level surface stations along The Embarcadero, and at Stonestown and San Francisco State. More Talking Signs™ will be installed at other key locations on the Muni system. Talking Signs™ receivers can be borrowed from the Rose Resnick Lighthouse for the Blind by calling 415/431-1481, or from the Mayor's Office on Disability (415/554-6789). At underground stations, an automated voice announcement system on the platform announces inbound and outbound arriving trains, as well as up to the next three trains approaching.

Boarding a Vehicle

In the underground, inbound and outbound trains stop at designated points on the platform. Outbound trains stop at the west end of each station, and inbound trains board mid-platform. Listen for door noise and people entering and exiting the train to locate a door opening. A chime sound above each door indicates the location of the opening.

If there are no auditory clues, trail along the train until you find a door opening. Passengers using canes can detect the vehicle-to-platform gap and step over it. Caution: All light rail vehicles taper or narrow at each end, creating a larger vehicle-to-platform gap. When looking for a doorway, be sure to locate the floor of the train before stepping off the platform. Do not mistake the gap between the end of a car and the platform for the gap between the platform and the train doorway.

A single chime sounds to signal that the doors are closing.

On two-car trains, the operator in the first car operates the train and all train doors. It is not possible to go from one car to the next except by exiting.

On LRVs, all doors of the cars open at underground and at high-level surface stations. (At surface street and island stops, only the front door of the train will open, but customers wishing to board can open other doors by pushing buttons near the doors on the outside of the train). LRVs have steps that rise and lower to accommodate boarding in the underground as well as at surface platforms. When the steps are raised they form a level area even with the rest of the car floor.

On outbound K, L, or M streetcars leaving the West Portal station, and on outbound J or N streetcars leaving the tunnel at church Street and Duboce Avenue, a bell will ring indicating that the steps are lowering. It is best not to stand in the stepwell area while the steps are being lowered.

Metro operators announce each station as the train approaches. If you need further assistance identifying your location, you may ask another passenger, or contact the train operator using the intercom.

All Metro vehicles are equipped with an intercom at the front and rear of each vehicle to allow customers to communicate with the operator. Passengers can also speak directly with the operator by approaching the operator's compartment at the front of the vehicle.

On the surface portion of the Metro, there are a few cases where island stops are configured with the high-level wayside platforms for wheelchair boarding in the center of the stops. At these stops, ambulatory passengers exit the train onto the island, and then must travel up stairs, across the wayside platform and down a ramp to the other end of the island in order to reach the crosswalk.

The following stops are configured this way:

-  J-line: Church and 24^th Streets inbound

-  N-line: 19th Avenue and Judah inbound

-  9th Avenue and Judah, inbound and outbound

Exiting the Vehicle

To exit a Metro vehicle at a surface stop, use the push bars located on each side of the stairwell. The push bars must be pushed to open the doors. When exiting in the underground or at a high-level surface platform, locate the vehicle-to-platform gap and step over it. To locate the stairs or escalators from the platform, listen to the direction others are walking. If there are no other passengers, wait until the train leaves the station and then walk parallel along the platform until you hear the escalators or feel the wall of the stairs. If you exit at a side platform, walk straight ahead to the wall and then trail along the wall to the stairs or escalators.

Note: Customers exiting a vehicle at a street or island stop must yield to passing automobile and bicycle traffic when crossing the street.

HISTORIC F-LINE

Historic streetcars from the first half of the last century run on the F-line. The streetcars travel from Castro & 17^th Streets down Market Street to the Ferry Building along The Embarcadero to Fisherman's Wharf. The historic vehicle fleet includes streetcars from cities around the world, with cars built from 1895 to 1952. Most of the historic streetcars are painted in vivid colors representing the transit systems that used to run them, including Baltimore, Boston, Brooklyn, Chicago, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Louisville, Newark and Philadelphia. Historic cars from Australia, England, Italy, Japan and Russia are also part of the fleet.

Muni is proud to offer accessible service on the F-line. All stops along The Embarcadero are accessible via wayside boarding platforms. Stops at key locations along lower Market Street have wayside platforms or lifts; all stops west of Van Ness Avenue are fully accessible. At all accessible F-line stops, the operator deploys a bridge to cover the gap between the lift or platform over the stepwell to the floor of the car. The bridge allows wheelchair users to board the streetcars easily.

F-Line Stops

[Correction: The inbound stop on Market St. between Steuart and The Embarcadero is incorrectly shown as being wheelchair accessible.]

Boarding at Wayside Platforms

• Wheelchair users needing to board from the wayside platform should situate themselves at the top of the platform to await the oncoming streetcar.
• When the streetcar arrives, the operator will put down a bridge to allow the customer to cross from the platform onto the streetcar. (The bridge is also used whenever a wheelchair user exits the streetcar to a platform or lift.)
• Upon boarding, the customer should inform the operator of his or her desired stop.  There is also a stop request feature located next to the securement area.
• The securement area on the historic cars is located at the front of the vehicle. The operator will help with the securements upon request.

Boarding at Wayside Lifts

• There are four wayside lifts on the F-line (see map above).
• Customers requiring a lift should position themselves on the lift platform, which is located behind a gate at the end of the boarding island. When the streetcar arrives, the customer should push and hold the "UP" button to raise the lift. If the button is not depressed continuously, the lift will stop. Note that the lift will not go into the "UP" position until the train arrives.
• If the passenger cannot operate the lift independently, the operator will raise or lower the lift using controls inside the streetcar.
• When the lift reaches the level of the streetcar floor, the operator will open the vehicle door, and then open the gate between the lift and the streetcar. The gate will not open unless the lift is completely raised. The operator will then lay down a bridge to allow the customer to cross from the lift into the streetcar.
• Upon boarding, the customer should inform the operator of his or her desired stop. There is also a stop request feature located next to the securement area.
• When exiting the street at a wayside lift, the operator will raise the lift from inside the vehicle, then open the vehicle door and the lift gate, than deploy the bridge. Once on the lift platform, the customer should press the "DOWN" button continuously until the platform has lowered. The gate to the island will not open unless the lift is restored fully to the "DOWN" position.

EXPECTATIONS WHEN RIDING Muni

The Municipal Railway is dedicated to providing its customers with a high level of service. Below are expectations that, when observed by both customers and by Muni, will make the customer's ride as smooth as possible.

What Customers Can Expect from Muni

All lift-equipped buses will clearly display the International Symbol of Accessibility (ISA) at the front. Muni will ensure that all accessibility equipment is working properly.

Operators will  

• Be courteous and respectful to passengers.
• Call out major stops, intersections, and all transfer points as well as any other stops requested.
• Lower the lift or kneeler on accessible vehicles upon the rider's request.
• Give instructions on how to use the accessibility equipment upon request.
• Lower the lift at any stop upon request. Note that a few stops are not recommended for lift use due to sharp grades or insufficient space for the rider to get off the lift once it has been lowered. These stops are clearly marked by a symbol painted on the street. 
• Upon request, ask other customers to make a seat or wheelchair securement area available for seniors or riders with disabilities.
• Assist with securements when requested.

What Muni Expects from Customers

Customers will

• Be courteous and respectful to Muni operators.
• Ask the operator any questions or request any assistance required.
• Ask the operator to kneel the bus if needed.
• Ask the operator for assistance with lifts and securements if necessary.
• Communicate your desired stop to the operator. If oral communication is difficult, a note card with your destination on it is helpful.
• Use caution when the vehicle is in motion.
• Have your cash fare, pass or other proof of payment ready to show the operator.
• Be prepared to show appropriate photo ID when paying the Discount Fare. Please see the section on Discount Fares for more information.
• Ask the operator to call out a particular stop if needed.

Travel Training

If you would like to improve your skills or gain more experience using the Muni system, consider signing up for free travel training. Travel training provides an opportunity to use transit with an experienced Muni rider, either one-on-one or in a group setting. Many of the travel trainers are themselves persons with disabilities. Individuals who successfully complete travel training receive a free Discount pass for the month following the training. Call 415.351.7063 for more information on travel training.

Paratransit

Muni provides paratransit service (using ramp taxis, sedan taxis and lift-equipped vans) through a Paratransit Broker to accommodate individuals who are unable to use public transit and who meet the eligibility requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Paratransit van and taxi providers work under contract to the Paratransit Broker and are subsidized by Muni.

Muni has a long history of community involvement regarding paratransit services, and currently works with a community advisory group, the Paratransit Coordinating Council (PCC), on paratransit service issues. The PCC, which meets approximately every six weeks, consists of seniors, persons with disabilities, service providers, and representatives from social service and public agencies; their meetings are open to the public. If you would like more information about the PCC, contact the Muni Accessible Services Program at 415.701.4485 (TTY/TDD 701-4730).

If you are unable to use Muni's fixed route (bus or Metro) system because of a physical or cognitive disability, contact the Paratransit Broker at 415.351.7000 to apply for the paratransit service and to be certified under ADA eligibility guidelines. Applicants may be certified fully eligible or conditionally eligible. Conditionally eligible riders use paratransit only on selected trips; for example, when the needed bus line is not fully accessible, or when the individual is unable to use transit independently due to the condition of the terrain at a needed stop. Conditionally eligible paratransit riders are encouraged to take advantage of free travel training (see previous page).

If you are a paratransit user planning to visit from outside San Francisco, you are advised to make arrangements in advance of your arrival.

Basic Information

Other Transit Connections

San Francisco has excellent connections to other counties in the Bay Area. The Bay Area Rapid Transit System (BART) service San Francisco, northern San Mateo County, and Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. You may make accessible transfers between Muni Metro and BART using elevators within The Embarcadero, Montgomery Street, Powell Street, and Civic Center and Balboa Park Stations. The Transbay Terminal at Mission and Second Streets in downtown San Francisco is a transit hub serving Muni and other systems, including SamTrans (San Mateo County Transit), AC Transit (Alameda and Contra Costa County), and Golden Gate Transit (Marin and Sonoma). The CalTrain Station at 4^th and King Streets, served by the N-Judah Metro line, is the terminal for commuter rail service to San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. In addition, the Ferry building has terminals for ferry service to the East Bay, Marin County, and Vallejo. Please call these agencies (see numbers above) for more information.

Ballpark Service

The Muni system provides accessible service to PacBell Park and Candlestick Park. There is regular service to PacBell Park on the N-Judah Metro line and the 10 Townsend, 15 Third Street, and 47 Van Ness bus lines. Special Metro Ballpark Shuttle service is also provided on game days only. The shuttles run from Balboa Park Station along the N-Line to PacBell Park beginning 2 hours before game time. For more information about this service, contact Passenger Information at 415.673.6864, TTY 415.351.3443.

 Accessible Ballpark Express service to Candlestick Park is provided on the 9X, 28X and 47X lines for 49ers home games. Contact Muni Passenger Information to learn more about this service.

Security

The Muni system is patrolled by officers of the San Francisco Police Department either in plain clothes or in uniform. In addition, some Muni buses and streetcars area equipped with security video cameras.

Muni Accessibility Advisory Committee

Muni's Accessibility Advisory Committee (MAAC), composed of seniors and persons with disabilities, advises Muni on its transit service and transportation projects. MAAC is always looking for new members and encourages interested individuals to participate. The monthly MAAC meetings are open to the public. For more information, contact the Accessible Services Program at 415.923.6142.

Informational Material

The Municipal Railway provides a variety of publications on its programs and services. These include the Muni Map, the Timetable, the Access Guide, newsletters from Accessible Services and from the Paratransit Coordinating Council, and a variety of other printed material that is frequently updated. Please call Muni Information 415.673.6864 or Accessible Services at 415.923.6142 for more information.

Accessible Formats

Muni offers its publications in various accessible formats, such as large print, cassette, and computer disk. Contact the Accessible Services Program for more information.

Commendations & Complaints

All Muni riders are encouraged to call in with any commendations or complaints regarding Muni accessibility and service. In order to effectively follow up on your commendation or complaint, we request that you provide as much of the following information as possible when describing the incident you are referring to:

• Route number or letter
• Location
• Date of occurrence
• Time of occurrence
• Vehicle number
• Direction of travel
• Operator number
• Description of incident

For visually impaired passengers, the vehicle identification number can be found both in Braille and raised letters at the front of all Muni vehicles on the panel directly behind or beside the driver, approximately five feet above the floor. In addition, there are large numbers at the front and rear of the exterior of Muni buses, and inside the vehicle above the operator.

You can register a complaint specifically related to accessibility by calling Accessible Services (923.6142, TTY 351.3443) or Passenger Services (923-6164, TTY 351.3443). When a complaint is filed against an operator, Muni Passenger Services will investigate and, if appropriate, will schedule a hearing. Muni encourages its customers to attend complaint hearings. Regarding equipment problems, Muni will also follow up with the appropriate maintenance personnel to make sure that all accessibility equipment is functioning properly.

Glossary

Fares for Muni Service

(Fares are subject to change. Contact Muni Information at 415.673.6864, TTY 415.351.3443 for more information.) 

Transfers

Transfers are issued free when a cash fare is paid, and are valid for unlimited trips in any direction until the time shown. No transfers are issued or accepted on cable cars.

Monthly Passes and Stickers

Call 673-Muni for locations throughout the City where fast passes and discount monthly passes and stickers are sold. Monthly passes are valid for the calendar month they are issued plus the first three days of the following month. They are valid for unlimited use on all of Muni, including cable cars. Holders of the Regional Transit Discount ID card are eligible for discount monthly stickers, which must be placed on the card at the location indicated. Also eligible for discount passes are riders aged 65 and older, who must present valid photo ID to use monthly discount passes.

Proof of Payment

Muni requires customers to have proof of payment on all five Metro lines, including anywhere inside the fare gates and on the platforms at underground stations, from The Embarcadero Station to the West Portal Station. Proof of payment allows customers to board any door of a Metro vehicle. Valid forms of proof of payment include a transfer or fare receipt, a ticket, a BART Plus pass or any type of Muni pass. You must carry your proof of payment at all times while traveling within the Muni Metro System. Muni monthly stickers on Golden Gate Transit, AC Transit, Samtrans, Caltrain, or Vallejo Ferry passes are also accepted. Customers needing to pay cash fare can purchase a ticket from a ticket vending machine (TVM) at some surface locations. TVMs are located on all high-level surface platforms, at the N-Judah stations along The Embarcadero and King Street, and at the Stonestown and San Francisco State University stations on the M-line. TVMs will be installed at some locations on the Third Street light rail line. Customers can also pay their fare with cash or a token by boarding the first door of the first car and depositing their fare in the farebox.  Exact change is required. No change is given.  The operator will issue a transfer that will serve as proof of payment.

Note: Muni Fare Inspectors may ask you for proof of payment on board any J-, K-, L-, M-, or N-line streetcar, or on Metro station platforms between The Embarcadero and West Portal. If you do not have proof of payment, they can issue a citation for up to $250.

Accessible Muni Lines

1AX California Express
1BX California Express
2 Clement
5 Fulton
9 San Bruno
9X San Bruno
10 Townsend
12 Folsom
14 Mission
14L Mission Limited
15 Third Street
17 Park Merced
18 46th Avenue
19 Polk
22 Fillmore
23 Monterey
24 Divisadero
26 Valencia
27 Bryant
28 19th Avenue
28L 19th Avenue Limited
29 Sunset
30 Stockton
30X Stockton Express
31 Balboa
31AX Balboa Express
31BX Balboa Express
33 Stanyan
35 Eureka
36 Teresita
38 Geary
38L Geary Limited
38AX Geary Express
38BX Geary Express
39 Coit
43 Masonic
37 Corbett
44 O'Shaunessy
45 Union-Stockton
47 Van Ness
48 Quintara
52 Excelsior
53 Southern Heights
54 Felton
56 Rutland
67 Bernal Heights
71 Haight-Noriega
71L Haight-Noriega Limited
76 Marin Headlands
80X Gateway Express
81X Caltrain Express
82X Presidio & Wharves Express
89 Laguna Honda
90 Owl
91 Owl
108 Treasure Island
L Owl
N Owl

Illustrations by Michael-Che Swisher
Publication date: July 2002 (Accessible Services phone numbers updated May 16, 2006)
San Francisco Municipal Railway • Accessible Services Program
1 South Van Ness Ave., Fl. 3 • San Francisco, CA 94103• 415.701.4485 • TTY/TDD 415.701.4730

©2002-2006 San Francisco Municipal Railway. All rights reserved.
Last updated May 6, 2008