SFMTA Prepares for Launch of New Muni Bus Route
The Board of Directors for the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), which oversees all surface transportation in the city, including the Municipal Railway (Muni), voted yesterday to approve the new 55 16th Street bus route. This new line will provide temporary convenient connections from both the Mission District and the 16th Street Mission BART Station; connecting the growing Mission Bay neighborhood and the new University of California San Francisco’s (UCSF) Medical Center at Mission Bay, opening February 1.
“San Francisco is a growing City, and this new 55 bus route is another great example of how we are improving connectivity between our neighborhoods,” said Mayor Ed Lee. “New bus lines improve the overall effectiveness of our entire Muni system and make it easier for our residents to choose public transportation as they move around our City.”
“This new service will be a great benefit to all Muni customers along the 16th Street corridor in Mission Bay and those who will be traveling to and from the new hospital,” said Tom Nolan, Chairman of the Board of Directors. “This is another great example of service improvements we’re rolling out as part of Muni Forward.”
The 55 Route is a part of a Muni Forward service improvement plan approved by the Board. Last year, the Board authorized the realignment of the 22 Fillmore Route on 16th and 3rd streets to directly connect central San Francisco and the new UCSF hospital at Mission Bay. This conversion requires extensive overhead wire work that cannot be completed before the opening of the hospital. To address this, the SFMTA proposed the implementation of this new route.
The new route will officially begin Jan. 31 and will remain in operation until construction of the overhead wiring for the 22 Route is completed.
“The 55 16th Street is another step in working to provide more attractive transportation options for people who live, work and visit San Francisco,” said Ed Reiskin, SFMTA Director of Transportation. “The demand for service continues to grow in Mission Bay and this route will help make public transit a convenient and appealing transportation choice in this corridor.”
The line will provide local stops on 16th Street at all current 22 Fillmore stops east of Mission Street and provide new stops along 16th Street at Rhode Island, Wisconsin, Missouri, and 4th streets. Service will operate seven days a week from approximately 6:00 AM to midnight every 15 minutes on weekdays during the day and every 20 minutes on weekday evenings and on weekends.
Analysis of the new 55 16th Street Muni route demonstrates a benefit to both San Francisco’s minority and low-income populations and meets Title VI requirements of the Federal Transportation Administration.
What’s more, the new 55 16th Street Muni route represents a key advancement for Muni Forward, the SFMTA’s initiative to create a safer, more reliable transportation system.