Approved Transportation Project Seeks To Change SF Muni's Negative Narrative

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS)— San Francisco's Municipal Transportation Agency Board of Directors unanimously approved the Transit Effectiveness Project (TEP) Friday, touted as the city's first major transportation overhaul in 30 years.

TEP will have major impacts on Muni riders, bicyclists, pedestrians and motorists, but in large part seeks to improve Muni, boasting a 12-percent service increase.

The vote will mean changes to 15 Muni line routes with more dedicated lanes for buses and bikes, new bus bulbs, landscaping and fewer parking spaces.

SFMTA board member Malcolm Heinicke summed up the board's decision as a "monumental change", echoing the sentiment of the rest of the board and the agency's executive director, Ed Reiskin.

"This is a real significant increase in efficiency. All those five seconds, two minutes; add up," Heinicke said.

The fewer parking spaces concerns residents in the Inner Sunset. One of those residents spoke up during the public comment period and said if people have to drive to shopping malls in Daly City because they can't park in San Francisco that it wouldn't be good for the environment or for small businesses and that the neighborhoods would lose access to goods and services as well as their character.

Board member Cheryl Brinkman made it clear that the TEP isn't about pleasing motorists.
"We have to remember we're making the decisions for the 700,000- 800,000 Muni riders every single day,"

One of the goals of the TEP is to change Muni's storyline from one that is often-times criticized to a Muni that provides efficient, on-time service.