COVID-19 Developments & Response

Muni Service

Please do not ride Muni if you are feeling ill, except as necessary to seek medical care after consulting with your medical provider.

Backdoor boarding is now required on all vehicles, except for passengers in wheelchairs or with other accessibility needs. If you need assistance, please request to board from the front door and an operator will help you access the ramp or the kneeler.

Muni bus service is currently running a reduced schedule. There are no Express buses or special event shuttles at this time. 

Get details on which Muni routes are currently affected

Due to changing ridership, and in order to prioritize resources during the shelter-in-place order, the following additional service changes will be implemented:

Beginning Monday, March 30

• All Muni Metro and light rail routes will be replaced by buses (J/KT/L/M/N). Metro subway stations will be closed, except for downtown stations which will remain open for BART service during their operating hours. Customers can use the same bus stops as the early morning Metro bus service.
• The 5R, 9R, 28R and 38R Rapid routes will be temporarily discontinued. Riders can instead use local service for all stops during all hours of service. The 14R Mission Rapid will continue to operate as normal.
  
  • 5 Fulton will provide service between Cabrillo/La Playa and Transit Center.
  • 9 San Bruno will provide service between Sunnydale Ave/McLaren School and Main and Mission.
  • 38 Geary will be extended to 48th Ave after serving the VA Hospital in the outbound direction.

Beginning Saturday, April 4 on weekends only

• The 47 Van Ness will be temporarily discontinued. Use the 49 Van Ness, which will be extended between North Point and Fisherman’s Wharf.

Paratransit

Paratransit service continues to operate as normal so that customers can travel for essential needs as defined by the Public Health Order. We ask riders to cancel any non-essential trips. If you are a paratransit customer and you need to cancel a previously scheduled SF Access trip, please call 415.285.6945 as soon as possible.

Effective Wednesday, March 18, the SF Paratransit Office will operate with limited capacity during regular business hours (Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.). Teller window hours are subject to change.

During this time, reduced staffing will be available to accept cash payments for monthly taxi debit card allotments only.

Parking Enforcement

Effective on Tuesday, March 17 for the duration of the shelter-in-place order, the SFMTA will not ticket for mechanical street cleaning. Street cleaning tickets issued on March 17 will be waived. However, it is crucial that we still clean our streets to prevent trash buildup and local flooding. Please still move your car for street cleaning if you can.

Enforcement will also be temporarily suspended for the following:

• 72-hour parking limit and towing
• All time limit parking (e.g., 1-hour, 2-hour, etc.)
• Residential Permit Parking (RPP) permits
• Commuter shuttles
• Peak-hour towaway zones
• Street cleaning

The SFMTA will continue enforcing parking rules that impact health and safety:

• Fire hydrant zones
• Red and yellow zones; and "No Stopping" or "No Parking" zones
• White passenger loading zones, except in front of schools while they are out of session
• Blocked driveways, double parking and parking on sidewalks
• Parking in bike or transit lanes
• Parking meters (see below)

Parking Meters: Given the significant shifts in parking demand, the city is implementing a temporary rate change for all parking meters citywide beginning on March 18 through the period of the Public Health Order. Time limits are also being waived on meters citywide, and is expected to be fully implemented by March 29.

By Tuesday, March 24, all meters will be reduced to their base rates through April 7:

• $0.50/hour for vehicle parking
• $0.10/hour for motorcycle parking

We are maintaining a minimal fee to ensure there continues to be turnover around essential services, such as grocery stores, medical facilities and banks.

Parking Garages

To minimize risk to the public and our garage staff, the SFMTA has closed some city-owned parking garages and limited others to monthly pass-holders only. We are prioritizing maintaining access to garages that are near essential services like medical facilities or markets.

The following garages will be closed to the public until further notice:

• Golden Gateway Garage (call 415-956-8003 for assistance)
• Ellis-O'Farrell Garage (call 415-765-9069 for assistance)
• Moscone Center Garage (call 415-765-9069 for assistance)

These garages will be open only to monthly pass holders:

• Japan Center Annex Garage (call 415-956-8003 for assistance)
• Performing Arts Garage (call 415-956-8003 for assistance)
• St. Mary's Square Garage (call 415-956-8003 for assistance)
• Kezar Lot (call 415-956-8003 for assistance)
• 16th and Hoff Garage (call 415-956-8003 for assistance)
• Lombard Garage (call 415-956-8003 for assistance)
• 7th and Harrison Lot (call 415-956-8003 for assistance)
• Mission-Bartlett and Polk-Bush garages are only open to monthy pass holders with 24/7 access (call 415-956-8003 for assistance)

The following garages are currently open to the public:

• Zuckerberg General Hospital Garage
• 5th and Mission Garage
• Sutter and Stockton Garage
• Union Square Garage
• Civic Center Garage
• North Beach Garage
• Vallejo Street Garage
• Pierce Garage
• Portsmouth Square Garage

Taxis and Ramp Taxis

Taxi services continue to operate as an essential service. ​Individual taxi companies are following best practices to minimize the risks of transmission. To request a taxi you can continue to hail them in the street or at the nearest taxi stand. You can also search the taxi directory or the wheelchair accessible ramp taxi directory for links to apps and contact information. During this time, the Emergency Ride Home program provided by official taxis will continue for individuals who work in San Francisco and are fulfilling essential job functions.

Taxi Drivers: Please note the Taxi Services Window is closed until further notice. Please see our website for more information or call 415.701.4400

Bikeshare and Scooter Share

We are deferring to operator discretion as to whether they continue to operate, and ​sharing best practices with them to minimize the risk of transmission of the virus. Please visit the websites and apps of the individual companies for more information on availability during the COVID-19 shelter-in-place.

Fines and Fees

Until further notice the SFMTA will take the following the actions:

• Suspend new late penalties on citations
• Extend deadlines for submitting citation protests, payment and community service plans
• Extend citation/boot/tow hearings deadlines – you may request 48-hour tow hearing at hearingsgeneral@sfmta.com or call 415.503.8453
• No longer forward additional delinquent citations to the Department of Motor Vehicles or Special Collections

Customer Service Center

Effective Thursday, March 19, 2020, the Customer Service Center at 11 South Van Ness Avenue will be temporarily closed. 

No Lifeline passes will be sold for the month of April. Lifeline IDs, regardless of the monthly sticker displayed, are valid as proof of payment.

Get info on how to access SFMTA services

Regional Transit Card Discount ID Office

Effective Wednesday, March 18, 2020, the Regional Transit Card Discount ID Office will be temporarily closed. 

You can download a Renewal or Lost Card Application online at: 511.org/transit/rtc-card/renew-or-replace to receive a new card through the mail. If you have any questions, please call 415.646.2224, Monday through Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Get info on RTC replacement or renewal

Special Event Street Closure Permits

All special events are cancelled through April 7, 2020.

Lost and Found

Muni Lost and Found will be processed on a reduced schedule. Items will arrive at the lost and found office two to three business days from the time they are located, and it may take up to seven business days for you to be contacted.

To minimize exposure, we will only return critical items such as phones, medication, wallets, keys, travel documents, identification documents, etc. during the shelter-in-place. All other items may be picked up when the order is lifted and business resumes as usual. 

Safety Measures We Are Taking

The safety of SFMTA employees and customers is our top priority. There remains no specific risk to transit or paratransit riders regarding Coronavirus, however, we are taking extra precautions to limit exposure.

Muni car cleaners, station custodians, and paratransit personnel are cleaning vehicles and high-touch surfaces regularly. Daily vehicle cleaning includes safe, strong disinfectants on high-touch surfaces at the end of service. High-touch surfaces such as railings in Muni subway stations are cleaned approximately every four hours.

In addition to the extra cleaning protocols, we are requiring operators to always use their security partitions. Operators have been given guidance that they can skip stops if their vehicles become too crowded to maintain social distancing between passengers.

We are canceling or postponing non-essential public meetings, or hosting meetings remotely. 

You can help prevent the spread of coronavirus. The San Francisco Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend these simple daily precautions to help prevent the spread of coronavirus:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Stay home if you are sick.
• Those who are 60 and older, or with a health condition or a weakened immune system should limit outings and avoid community events.

Get Updates

For travel and transit updates, please visit our email and text alert subscription page. You can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook for the latest Muni and COVID-19 updates.

For city and local Department of Emergency Management updates about COVID-19, text "COVID19SF" to 888-777.

Additional Resources:

Websites

Citywide COVID website with FAQs
San Francisco Department of Public Health (sfdph.org)
San Francisco 72 Hours
San Francisco Department of Emergency Management
CA Department of Public Health
Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Twitter

@SF_DPH
@SF_emergency
@CAPublicHealth
@CDCgov

Facebook

San Francisco Department of Emergency Management
CA Public Health
Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Video

City Officials announce new Public Health Order March 16
Watch “Quick Facts on Coronavirus” and “Hand Washing" videos