Muni Forward

Muni Forward makes getting around San Francisco faster, more reliable and safer. We’re expanding the Muni Rapid network, making new connections and giving Muni customers priority on congested streets.  

Muni Forward improvements provide sustainable, transformative change to San Francisco’s public transit system. The SFMTA has built more than 55 miles of reliability improvements to keep Muni moving—with upgrades like red transit lanes, bus bulbs for faster boarding and traffic signals that stay green for transit. In 2020 and 2021, we added over 14 miles of new or upgraded transit lanes – the fastest expansion of transit priority in San Francisco’s history.

A Rapid Network of core routes prioritizes reliability and frequency on San Francisco’s busiest transit corridors. We increased service across the system prior to the pandemic, adding more frequency where it’s needed most. And we’re continuing to make new connections as the system is restored, with new service to the Bayview, Mission Bay, and the Presidio.

Ridership has grown where we’re making improvements – that means fewer cars on the road and a greener city. Overall ridership on Muni Rapid bus lines increased by 23% from 2015 to 2019, even as transit ridership decreased across the country. And during the pandemic, ridership has returned faster on corridors with major Muni Forward improvements -- like the 38 Geary, 14 Mission and 9 San Bruno -- than the Muni system as a whole.

Muni Forward improvements take a systemwide approach, informed by ridership data, customer feedback and the Muni Service Equity Strategy. This groundbreaking strategy delivers transit improvements to neighborhoods with high percentages of households with low incomes and people of color and lower vehicle rates, as well as on lines with higher rates of seniors and people with disabilities. 

Muni Forward is also an essential component of the city’s Vision Zero Strategy, the City's commitment to eliminate traffic fatalities. Making needed safety improvements for people walking, including Muni passengers, is a vital part of improving the system as a whole. More transit riders also means fewer vehicles on the road, which helps make streets safer for people walking. 

To improve the customer experience, Muni Forward is also delivering technology and infrastructure improvements, making the system smarter, faster and more reliable. This includes new and improved signage at every Muni bus and train stop, a new Muni map, expanded real-time information at stops and smarter management of our service.