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Showing posts from July, 2022

Six Generations of Pint-Sized Buses Serve Muni’s Toughest Routes

Six Generations of Pint-Sized Buses Serve Muni’s Toughest Routes By Jeremy Menzies For over 80 years, special fleets of shorter than usual buses have been reserved for some of the City’s toughest routes. Winding through tight bends and climbing up steep grades, these pint-sized coaches ensure access to transit in neighborhoods where standard-length buses cannot go. As the SFMTA phases in a brand-new batch of shorter buses, here’s a look at all six generations of Muni’s “mini” fleet. “Baby White” Buses: 1938-1975 The first generation of short-length buses was intended for regular use on all Muni bus routes. Made by the White Motor Company in Cleveland, Ohio, this fleet came to SF in 1938. The buses were nicknamed “Baby Whites” after a group of longer White Co. buses arrived in 1947. In the mid 1950s, all but three of these buses were retired. The three saved continued to run on the 39 Coit Tower route until 1975—in service longer than any other bus before or after.   This bus has

Midyear Check-In: SFMTA Milestones in 2022

Midyear Check-In: SFMTA Milestones in 2022 By Erica Kato Despite the ups and downs of COVID-19 in 2022, the SFMTA has been highly productive so far this year, keeping everyone moving and supporting San Francisco’s recovery from the pandemic. We increased Muni service in February and April, completed the Van Ness Bus Rapid Transit corridor and have moved forward with our quick-build program that help us reap the benefits of safe street design faster than ever, among other accomplishments. As we head in to the second half of the year, we continue to think creatively and expedite processes and practices that have traditionally required long lead times. We’re proud to give an update on some of our projects with significant milestones happening before year’s end. There’s a lot to look forward to. Muni riders in the subway   Here's a snapshot of what we’re currently working on: Muni Service: July 9, 2022 : Muni service changes, including the restoration of the 2 Sutter (modifi

SFMTA Receives $116 Million Award from CalSTA

SFMTA Receives $116 Million Award from CalSTA By A Snapshot from our most recent round of service changes Back in June, we published a blog about the loss of Proposition A , the Muni Reliability and Street Safety Bond, and what it would mean for our infrastructure projects going forward. In the post, we reaffirmed our commitment to find alternative sources for these funds. We know that improving Muni and making streets safer remain priorities for our community—and we’re dedicated to making that a reality. We’ve also committed to being transparent about our financial situation and budget, and we have good news to share on that front. Last week, the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) awarded us $116 million for SFMTA Core Capacity projects as part of the fifth cycle of the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) . This historic investment will be used to directly fund projects that will make Muni more reliable and dependable. Speeding up Muni and making i