Dear Taxi Industry Members,
I am writing as a follow up on my message to you from April about Waymo operating on Market Street has part of Mayor Lurie’s vision to advance the city’s downtown revitalization efforts. Since that time, SFMTA staff have developed a carefully phased rollout and evaluation plan. Taxis remain a vital component of our transportation network and you are all important , and that is why I am writing to keep you informed on this matter.
On August 26, Waymo and a limited number of commercial plated vehicles from Uber Black and Lyft Black will begin using select portions of Market Street for passenger trips. These services will be available on Market Street between Van Ness Avenue and Steuart Street, with the option to provide passenger pick-up and drop-off at seven loading bays between 5th and 8th streets. Taxis will continue to have access to the seven loading zones along Market Street. New signage will be installed that allows passenger loading for up to three minutes and commercial loading for up to 30 minutes.
The seven loading bays are located at:
- Market at Mason Street – in front of IKEA
- Market at Sixth Street (southeast side) – in front of Blick
- Market at Taylor Street (northeast side) – in front of the Warfield
- Market east of Jones Street (mid-block south) – in front of Urban Alchemy
- Market east of Jones Street (mid-block north) – in front of Prism Apartments
- Market at Seventh Street – across from Proper Hotel
- Market at Eighth Street (southeast side) – near Trinity Place and Lighthouse for the Blind
Taxi access to the Transit Only Lanes and the loading bay near the Orpheum Theatre will remain unchanged.
The Mid-Market passenger service access changes will be managed and evaluated in an iterative and deliberate way to understand if and how they affect the safety and Muni operations of the corridor. All three providers — Waymo, Uber Black, and Lyft Black — have agreed with the city to ensure a carefully phased and closely monitored rollout.
All three providers will first rollout with limited service during off-peak hours. A limited number of Lyft Black and Uber Black vehicles will operate during the initial phase.
- Waymo off-peak hours: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. – 6 a.m. (Muni off-peak)
- Uber Black & Lyft Black hours: 7 p.m. – 6 a.m. (evening and overnight only)
The SFMTA will work with them to review transportation and safety data, along with customer experience and demand, to adjust and expand service volumes and hours over the evaluation period. This evaluation will help answer questions about where passenger service works well, if it has any impacts to transit service or safety conditions, and how the City may consider making changes to Market Street in the future. The approach is designed to protect Muni reliability, curbside efficiency, and the safety of people walking, biking, or rolling — before any service expansion.
Taxis are core to San Francisco’s safety net of services and serve residents and visitors in every neighborhood, including older adults and people with disabilities. You will continue to play an important role in human-delivered transportation and your continued commitment to providing outstanding customer service will continue to distinguish taxi services.
The SFMTA remains committed to supporting the taxi industry through innovative programs and services, such as the Taxi Upfront Fare program and the Essential Trip Card Program. We value your ongoing feedback and will continue to explore new opportunities to support a thriving taxi industry in San Francisco.
With sincerest gratitude,
Julie Kirschbaum, Director of Transportation