Taken with Transportation

Muni service changes are coming this weekend. Beginning June 21, three bus routes will be trimmed and two others will be combined into one. The changes might be confusing, so in this episode we’ll walk you through them. We hop on board one of the affected buses and visit some of the stops and neighborhoods serviced by the other. We discuss how the adjustments were designed and the transfer options to navigate them. 

SFMTA Chief Plan...

It’s Mother’s Day weekend, and we are honoring moms by showcasing some of the fabulous mothers of the SFMTA. We have scores of moms on staff who keep San Francisco and the agency moving. This special episode features seven of them.

Director of Transportation Julie Kirschbaum, Deputy Chief of Staff Kamini Lall, Parking Control Officers Lachanee Ricard and Kynattah Hill, Multimodal Planning Manager Jean Long and Muni Operators Juliann...

It’s no secret that it can be difficult to park in San Francisco. But have you ever wondered why it may be so hard? In this episode, we discuss curb management and find out why available parking spaces seem to be so scarce in some SF neighborhoods. We hit the streets to see how curb management works and promotes safety. And we get tips on how to find parking with a minimum of frustration and how to use our new, more accessible park...

There are many things that make San Francisco … well, San Francisco. The hills, the cool summers, the architecture. And you can add to that list, our public transit system. From buses to light rail lines to our iconic cable cars, residents and visitors alike love the San Francisco Municipal Railway, also known as Muni.

This episode explores the depth of that love for Muni. We talk with riders about what they love about it. We learn ...

Thousands of people in San Francisco depend on Muni to get where they need to go. And the SFMTA depends on fare revenue to keep the system running and to keep it clean, safe and accessible. 

In this episode, we talk about fare compliance and enforcement on Muni. Revenue Operations Senior Manager Diana Hammons and Chief Strategy Officer Jonathan Rewers discuss why fares are important and how they fit into our overall budget. We then ...

It’s the holiday season, and in this bonus episode, we’re going back to our SweaterFest celebration. In early December we threw a party for Muni fans and the community at large in honor of our “Icons of San Francisco” holiday sweater. We sipped hot chocolate, enjoyed music and comedy, wrote haikus about Muni, and embraced the joy of San Francisco and its transportation system. So, grab some nog and join us for a dose of good cheer!...

Sometimes people may not be able to use standard Muni and taxi service in San Francisco. So, we offer a variety of options from paratransit to shuttle services that help older adults and people with disabilities get where they need to go. In this episode, you’ll learn how we customize and administer these options. San Francisco Paratransit Operations General Manager Yevette McNeese, SFMTA Mobility Management Center Manager Catherin...

Welcome back to the Sunset District, L Taraval! For several years, light rail service along the L Taraval line between the San Francisco Zoo and downtown was suspended while the SFMTA worked with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and Public Works on a major track replacement and water and sewer project. That project is now done, and along with the infrastructure upgrades, we made many safety improvements along the line.

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Ten years ago, we began implementing an ongoing series of transit improvements as part of a new program called Muni Forward. These improvements have made Muni faster, more reliable, more frequent, easier to access and safer.  

In this episode, we celebrate Muni Forward.

We learn about history of the program and some of the specific improvements we've made. We speak with SFMTA Transit Director Julie Kirschbaum...

September is Transit Month in the Bay Area. And we’re celebrating on board Muni’s Boat Tram open air streetcar. In this episode we discuss the beloved 90-year-old boat’s history and how we maintain it. Plus, we talk about the joy it brings to the streets of San Fransico.

SFMTA Director of Transportation Jeff Tumlin, Board Member Dominica Henderson, Muni Historic Fleet Superintendent Kevin Sheridan and Muni Operator David Gunter appe...

San Francisco’s Slow Streets are low-vehicle-traffic residential corridors. They provide comfortable options for walking, biking and rolling, as well as driving. But some of them also have become community spaces that bring neighbors together. In this episode, we take a look at a few of the ways San Francisco residents are embracing their Slow Streets. 

We speak with SFMTA Transportation Planner Julia Malmo and Analyst Elijah Enis. ...

An increasingly popular way to get around San Francisco is by scooter. This includes shared scooters that riders pick up in one place, use for a fee and then drop off when they’re done. The SFMTA regulates the companies that rent those scooters. We also promote scooter safety for all riders.

In this episode, we discuss scooter safety with Kate Toran, Philip Cranna and Danny Yeung from our Taxis, Access and Mobility Services Division...

The road to school should always be a safe one, and it also can be a fun one. The San Francisco Safe Routes to School program works to make walking, biking, rolling, and taking transit to school safer and more accessible for all SF kids. In this episode, we speak with SFMTA Safe Routes to School Program Coordinator Crysta Highfield and Transportation Planner Ben Frazier about their work on the program, along with San Francisco Bicy...

In late-March 2014, San Francisco adopted Vision Zero, the road safety policy to eliminate traffic deaths and reduce severe injuries in the city. This episode of Taken with Transportation looks at the impact of that policy and what has changed over the last decade. 

We discuss the origins of Vision Zero, as well as the work the SFMTA is doing today and will do into the future to make San Francisco streets safe and joyful. ...

There are things on our streets that we probably take for granted but most definitely help us move around cities safely and efficiently. We’re talking about street signs, street markings and parking meters. 

In San Francisco, the SFMTA Street Operations shops handle the signs, street painting and meters we depend on, whether we are getting around by walking, driving, cycling or scooting. In this episode of Taken with Trans...

If you're new to San Francisco Muni, using it can feel overwhelming at first. Well, don't worry. Whether you've just moved to the city, are planning to visit and don't want to rent a car or have lived here for some time but haven't taken advantage of all Muni has to offer, we at Taken with Transportation have your back.

In this episode, we offer a practical how-to guide for getting around on Muni. ...

26 years ago this month, Fannie Mae Barnes made history when she became San Francisco's first female cable car grip. In this episode of Taken with Transportation, Barnes talks with host Melissa Culross about that experience. The episode also features Willa Johnson, the second female grip.

The women discuss what it takes, physically, to be a grip and what it was like to break the glass ceiling that hung over San Franci...