SFMTA Board Chair/Vice Chair Issues Statement RE: Resignation Of Director Of Transportation
San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) Board Chair Malcolm Heinicke and Vice Chair Gwyneth Borden today issued this statement regarding the resignation of Ed Reiskin, director of transportation.
“The unique set-up of the SFMTA makes the role of leading this transportation agency an incredibly difficult job. Over the last eight years, Ed Reiskin has worked tirelessly to help improve transportation in San Francisco. His leadership has earned him the respect of this board that holds him in high regard for his integrity and his passion to improve transportation in our city as we continue to grow and increasingly rely on sustainable modes to get around.
“Ed is a true San Franciscan who walks the walk and relies on the transportation system every day. Whether he is taking Muni, riding a bike, taking a taxi or another form of sustainable transportation, Ed has been a champion for making our transportation network equitable for all. The SFMTA Board of Directors cannot thank Mr. Reiskin enough for all that he has done.”
In his years of service at the SFMTA, Reiskin has overseen initiatives that help improve San Francisco transportation, such as:
- Directing the increase of Muni service levels by more than 10 percent;
- Replacing and expanding the Muni bus fleet and initiating the expansion of the entire rail fleet, transforming Muni from one of the oldest fleets in the country to the newest and greenest fleet in North America;
- Growing Muni ridership on rapid routes, while national trends were decreasing;
- Overseeing a drop in crime on Muni by 9.3 percent and assaults by 43 percent;
- Committing to Vision Zero in 2014. In 2017, San Francisco reached the lowest traffic fatality count in its recorded history;
- Exceeding the city’s goal of 50 percent of trips by sustainable modes;
- Making Muni free for approximately 115,000 low to moderate income youth, seniors and people with disabilities;
- Developing the Muni Service Equity strategy to eliminate the gap in performance between Equity Neighborhood routes and the Muni system as a whole;
- Completing the Transit Effectiveness Project, the first comprehensive review of Muni service in a generation;
- Implementing the Muni Rapid Network and giving Muni more priority on our streets;
- Expanding the transit-only lane network;
- Earning the highest-rated transportation revenue bonds in the United States;
- Championing new approaches to public outreach and engagement to give all communities an opportunity to provide input to projects impacting their community;
- Developing the Guiding Principles for emerging mobility to ensure that the dramatic growing range of emerging transportation options in San Francisco are consistent with city policies and values;
- Expanding demand-based parking pricing across the city; and
- Leading the $3.5 billion capital budget program to ensure projects are delivered and coordinated with other agencies for maximum benefit.
“The search for a new director of transportation will focus on what qualities and expertise San Francisco would like to see in a leader who will be charged with running San Francisco’s transportation system. The Board is committed to a transparent hiring process and will work with the public to ensure that our next leader will be accountable to the residents of San Francisco for providing service that San Francisco, as a world-class city, richly deserves.
“The Board realizes that the SFMTA has not lived up to what is expected of them. The Board is moving forward with laser focus on being accountable for the metrics that we have set, safety, improving reliability, and performance.“
Reiskin will remain as director of transportation through the end of his contract in mid-August.