SF Transit Riders Union

As summer approaches, the SFTRU is rolling out a dynamic fellowship program for passionate and dedicated individuals interested in the fields of urban planning, public transportation, and/or community organizing. We are looking for 2 fellows to assist the organization with a variety of creative and dynamic projects over the course of the summer.  Fellows will work closely with SFTRU staff and board members and will represent SFTRU on several committees and public meetings throughout the program.  Fellows are asked to commit ~20 hours/week.  Proficient Spanish, Cantonese and/or Mandarin-speakers are encouraged to apply, as well as individuals with graphic design and/or video production experience. This is an unpaid internship. The fellowship is 20 hours/week and runs between June 18th – August 10th.

Please pass the opportunity along to anyone who you think might be interested!

To find out more about this program, click here.

How to apply:

• To apply, go to bit.ly/sftruintern12
• Or download application (DOCX file) and submit to fellowship[at]sftru.org.
• Application Due: June 1st at 11:59pm
• Additional questions? E-mail Henry or Ben at: hpan[at]sftru.org, bkaufman[at]sftru.org
• Official fellowship webpage: www.sftru.org/fellowship

March 16th, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The San Francisco Transit Riders Union is pleased to announce that Muni will expand all-door boarding to buses on July 1, 2012. SFTRU launched its all-door boarding campaign in August 2011 and has advocated the proposal at agency board meetings, in the media, and when speaking with riders.

“SFTRU recognized that all-door boarding will create faster trips for riders, improve reliability, increase fare compliance, and save the agency money,” said Robert Boden, SFTRU board member. “We are pleased that Muni is listening to riders.”

The greatest benefit to Muni riders will be shortened travel times, especially given Muni’s average speed of 8 miles per hour.

“Muni spends a large amount of time simply boarding passengers,” said Mario Tanev, campaign coordinator for SFTRU’s all-door boarding campaign. “When riders can board at all doors, travel times will be shorter.”

In addition to saving time for riders, expanding the benefit to buses will save money for the cash-strapped agency.

“When a bus is slow and late, it costs the agency money,” Tanev said. “Muni can’t afford it, and the riders don’t deserve slow buses. All-door boarding will both save money and ensure quicker trips.”

Fare inspectors will randomly check for payment, just as they currently do on the J, K, L, M, N, and T lines, where all-door boarding has been in effect for years.

“Fare inspection has worked well on Muni’s rail lines” Tanev said. “The success on rail lines should be expanded to the buses. Implementing inspections on buses will keep fares lower and will make trips faster, protecting San Francisco riders – many of whom are low-income – from increased fares or service cuts.”

He added, “Low-income riders often have longer bus rides, and as such, they have the most to gain from quicker trips and improved service.”

SFTRU is a rider-based organization advocating for a reliable, robust and 21st-century transit system for San Francisco. To get involved, drop by a meeting, contact us, or become a member.

Visit our new No Service Cuts page to view the latest news, action, and talking points on opposing Muni service cuts. Also considering joining our Facebook page “No Muni Service Cuts.“

SFTRU will host a forum on Monday regarding a proposal to modernize Caltrain by bringing high-speed rail investment to the San Francisco region much earlier than originally planned. Come learn more about this time-sensitive proposal to improve transit:

SFTRU Forum on Modernizing Caltrain
Monday, February 27, 6 – 7:30 p.m.

Location:
Sierra Club Office
85 Second Street, Third Floor, Yosemite Room
San Francisco
Map: http://g.co/maps/sc8gt

Nearby Transit:
BART, J, K, L, M, N, T, F, 5, 6, 9, 21, 31, 38, 71, 10, 12, 14

SFTRU, Friends of Caltrain, and the Sierra Club Joint Transportation Committee have invited Luis Zurinaga of the San Francisco County Transportation Authority to speak about the Fast Start proposal and take our questions.

Over the last few weeks, local transportation agencies have been discussing the Fast Start proposal, which would expedite high-speed rail improvements in San Francisco and on the Peninsula, helping to modernize Caltrain much sooner than previously anticipated. Without this Fast Start plan, investment in San Francisco and the Peninsula is slated for 2034 or even later. (For more information, the Chronicle wrote about the proposal: http://goo.gl/mmn0u.)

According to a recent presentation delivered to the SFMTA Board, the Fast Start plan could be delivered at a much lower cost than the estimates from the California High Speed Rail Authority and would generate higher ridership. Mr. Zurinaga said that staff is working with legislators along the corridor and with the HSRA to advocate for the adoption of this proposal. This is time-sensitive because the revised high-speed rail business plan is expected to be completed in March, for debate in the state budget this spring.

We hope to see you at our forum!

Stop by our member meeting tomorrow (Monday) to learn about the City’s expanding SFPark program. Lauren Mattern and Mariana Pareiras of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) will be presenting on SFPark’s expansion into the Mission Bay and 17th & Folsom neighborhoods.

Studies have shown that, in some cities, as much as 30 percent of city traffic is caused by drivers circling for parking. This extra traffic slows our buses to a crawl and pollutes the air. Even worse, some drivers give up and double-park, completely blocking transit routes, not to mention emergency vehicles. The drivers who continue to circle, ever more frustrated and distracted, run the risk of hitting a walker or cyclist.

SFPark is a new program that uses technology to solve these problems. For a video animation on how SFPark works, visit http://sfpark.org/about-the-project/

At the upcoming meeting, SFTRU members will vote on whether to endorse the Mission Bay and 17th & Folsom expansion of SFPark, already endorsed by Livable City and the SF Bike Coalition. Read more about the Mission Bay proposal at http://sfpark.org/resources/mission-bay-parking-management-strategy/ and the 17th & Folsom proposal at http://sfpark.org/resources/17th-and-folsom-parking-management-strategy/

We are a new but growing organization, and we hope you can attend Monday’s meeting to help us advocate for better transit in San Francisco. If you can’t attend, you may also support our advocacy by making a donation or becoming a member. However you help out, we really appreciate your support.

SFTRU Meeting Information

Date: Monday, January 23, 2012
Time: 6 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.
Location: First Christian Church
Address: 599 Duboce Ave (at Noe)
Map: http://goo.gl/IYeI2
Transit Lines within One Block: N, 24, 37
Other nearby transit: F, J, K, L, M, T, 6, 22, 71.
Plan your trip: www.511.org

Date: Monday, January 23, 2012
Time: 6 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.
Location: First Christian Church
Address: 599 Duboce Ave (at Noe)
Map: http://goo.gl/IYeI2
Transit Lines within One Block: N, 24, 37
Other nearby transit: F, J, K, L, M, T, 6, 22, 71.
Plan your trip: www.511.org

Member Meetings for 2012

• February 27
• March 26
• April 23
• May 28
• June 25
• July 23
• August 27
• September 24
• October 22
• November 26
• December 17

Join us tonight at Cafe Flore from 7-9 p.m. for a year-end happy hour:

Location: Cafe Flore

Address: 2298 Market Street (at Noe)

Map : http://g.co/maps/6nbjy

Transit lines within one block: K, L, M, T, F, 24, 35, 37

Other nearby transit: J, N, 22, 33

Plan your trip: www.511.org

(Left to Right) Peggy de Silva, Christina Castro, Rob Boden, Thea Shelby, and Henry Pan

At Monday night’s board meeting we voted on our 1st Board of Directors! We are all pretty excited that the organization is moving forward to represent Muni riders.

Date: Monday November 28, 2011

Time: 6 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.

Location: San Francisco County Transportation Authority (SFCTA) (NEW LOCATION)

Address: 100 Van Ness Ave, 26th Floor, Staff Conference Room (Note that the Better Market Street CAC will be holding a meeting on the same floor)

     Map: http://g.co/maps/jyuyu

     Transit lines within one block: J, K, L, M, N, T, F, 47, 49, 21

     Other nearby transit: 19, BART

     Plan your trip: www.511.org

SFCTA to Present on Van Ness Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)

Monday’s meeting will include a presentation by the San Francisco County Transportation Authority on the Van Ness Bus Rapid Transit project. Van Ness BRT, which has been endorsed by SFTRU, will bring better transit service to Van Ness Avenue, as well as expand the rapid transit network in San Francisco. The agency has just released the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) on the project, and the public is welcome to submit comments. More information on the project and on submitting comments: http://www.sfcta.org/content/view/306/152