Muni Matters for a Sustainable San Francisco

By Bevan Dufty

As Mayor, I will bring a wide range of transportation experience to Room 200 including working in transportation at the federal level, in Los Angeles and in San Francisco. I am excited to lead our city toward high-speed rail, the Central Subway, Transbay Terminal, and system improvements advised by the Transportation Effectiveness Plan (TEP). I am committed to funding maintenance of our fleet, and working with innovative programs like MTAP--Muni Transit Assistance Plan­-- to keep riders and Operators safe.

Muni requires a Mayor's daily attention and dedication as well as long-term vision. I will be a Mayor standing at the bus and rail divisions, talking with Operators as well as regular riders, and insisting that we not just be a transit-first city in words but in deeds.

Bevan's Plan to Overhaul Muni:

• Working closely with Muni workers and operators to manage our human capital proactively
• Expediting recommendations of the Transit Effectiveness Program (TEP)
• Expanding Muni Transit Assistance Program to ensure safety for all riders
• Supporting essential programs such as Central Subway, High-Speed Rail and Transbay Terminal

• Worked for Congressman Julian Dixon to authorize and fund the LA Metro Rail system;
• Initiated the Transportation Effectiveness Plan, the first systemwide transit overhaul study in over 25 years. My Controller's audit of the J-Church led to the TEP.
• Secured both a location and funding for a new central Transportation Management Center to replace the outdated Central Control Facility and streamline Muni Operations;
• Initiated a study of the economic impact of private employee shuttles to Silicon Valley that highlighted the environmental and economic benefits of these routes;
• Worked with communities on traffic calming, pedestrian and bicycle safety to install stop signs and parklets that protect pedestrians and improve neighborhood walkability.

Last year, Muni Operators missed 12.9% of scheduled runs because of no-shows. I ride Muni and know what it's like to wait 40 minutes for the bus or to start your week off in an over-crowded N. The reality is that people, not just physical capital, drive Muni performance.

Like Karen Carpenter's song, we've got to address `Rainy Days and Mondays' that can really get you down-- on Muni.

If I motivate operators and other employees to come and give their best, we turn around Muni performance. I will use life-coaching techniques with front-line employees, to educate them about first-time home buying, great youth and family programs (such as Camp Mather), anger management, healthier lifestyles, and how to advance in their careers through education.

I will be at the bus and rail yards regularly, to establish a covenant between me, as Mayor, and Muni employees. They must know that I'm committed to their success as heads of households and individuals. Then, coming to work isn't just about driving a bus -- it's about leading a more fulfilled and happy life.

Keeping Muni Safe

Growing up in NYC I rode the subway from 86th Street to 242nd Street from the 7th grade on. I was mugged, once at knifepoint, and know how vital it is that we keep Muni safe + especially after-school. I'm a big fan of San Francisco's Muni Transit Assistance Program (MTAP), where community-connected young adults ride the system in yellow jackets and defuse problems.

One year, Mission High School and Everett Middle School mistakenly scheduled the same time ending classes. You can imagine how that ended. I pushed SFUSD to immediately change the times so middle school students were not preyed upon. I'd like to expand MTAP to improve safety for all riders and create pathways so these young adults grow into great city jobs.

Transit Effectiveness Program

I launched the Transit Effectiveness Project after a Controller audit for the J Church line revealed significant structural defects in the system as a whole.

As Mayor, I will expedite both the system improvements and capital projects advised by the Transportation Effectiveness Plan (TEP). I will work directly with the public throughout the planning process, ensuring that these transportation solutions are integrated with community input. TEP will massively overhaul the way our transit system works, providing a Muni that has less ancillary stops, improved route frequency and builds out new capital projects promptly to improve mobility across San Francisco. These larger policy goals must be supported with a strong commitment to basic maintenance of and investment in our fleet. I will work with my fellow mayors to push forward an urban agenda that includes a redesign of the federal allocation of transportation dollars.