Category: News

Photo by Shannon K

SFMTA sent this service alert a few minutes ago:

As of 12:54 p.m., regular service on the following Muni bus routes has been affected due to an SFPD evacuation caused by a gas leak in the vicinity of 18th and Castro streets. Also, Muni Metro service both inbound and outbound is not stopping at Castro Station as a precaution requested by the SFPD.

24 Divisadero
33 Stanyan
35 Eureka
37 Corbett

Service on these routes must reroute around the area until the evacuation has been cleared.

Muni Metro customers are advised to use Church Street station instead of Castro at this time.

PG&E has been called to the scene.

Updates will follow.

Photo by AgentAkit

The day is upon us.

As we first reported back in early August, SFMTA is phasing out all paper Fast Passes, beginning with the Muni/BART-in-SF “A” pass at the end of October. If you’re an “A” passholder and haven’t already, Akit has great information on when/where/how you can get a Clipper card with your pass loaded onto it. Good luck for a smooth transition. No, really. You might need it.

Streetsblog SF has more on next week’s transition from Fast Pass to Clipper. Be prepared, folks!

Photo by Tenderblog

The TenderloinNob just can’t catch a break the past couple of days. A massive fire destroyed 824 Hyde Street this morning — entire blocks are still closed off, and the 27-Bryant, 2-Clement, and 3-Jackson are still being rerouted. The photos of the blaze are pretty terrifying — Tenderblog has pics from the fire and the evacuation. Elia at the Tenderblog told us that the Red Cross used Muni buses to evacuate people, as you can see from the photo.

The Red Cross is setting up shelter for the 75 people displaced by the fire, according to SF Appeal. They’ve gathered people initially at the St. Francis Hospital lobby before the shelter is set up.

More coverage of the fire from Tenderblog, SF Appeal, ABC 7, and KCBS.

Photo by DavidTakesPics

Still not sure how you’ll vote on Prop G? The good folks at Ocean Beach Bulletin took Sup. Sean Elsbernd and the drivers union, TWU-250A, to task on Prop. G, which would remove the minimum pay guarantee in the city charter for Muni drivers. We saw a spirited discussion about Prop. G when we posted about Sup. Elsbernd’s ad two weeks ago. What do the two sides of Prop G have to say? Read on.

Elsbernd told the Ocean Beach Bulletin:

Prop. G could potentially deliver millions in funds for riders and operations that currently are spent on Muni drivers’ salaries and work rules. Prop. G eliminates the salary guarantee [in the city charter] that ensures Muni drivers are the second-highest paid in the country. Prop. G also resets Muni driver work rules that contribute to millions of dollars lost in systemwide inefficiencies. Prop. G does not generate new money for Muni from the City, state or federal government, but rather it allows Muni to use the money that it has more wisely, and to the greater benefit of Muni riders.

But TWU-250A disagrees:

Prop G doesn’t actually deal with any specific work rules. Proponents argue that Prop. G will give management an opportunity to bargain away certain work rules, but they flat-out misstate the facts about Muni drivers and the rules they work under.  Muni management has a tremendous amount of power to suspend, remove and fire operators for poor performance. In fact, under the existing collective bargaining agreement, management is even required to execute disciplinary proceedings quickly so drivers can either be terminated or get back to doing their jobs. Voters shouldn’t be confused: Prop. G doesn’t require any increased service, altered work rules or increased management accountability. It just punishes drivers.

You can read more about Prop G from Sup. Elsbernd and TWU-250A at Ocean Beach Bulletin. Have you changed your mind about Prop. G?

Photo by dolanh

This week really went by in a whirl, especially because we are two short weeks away from Muni Diaries Live! number four! We’re super excited about our excellent lineup and some new stuff we’re bringing to the show…stuff you can bring home with you, aside from some great prizes. Meanwhile, in Muni news this week:

• Fewer Muni riders, more fare revenue (SFGate)
• Plan in the works to restore Muni service (SF Public Press)
• Rolanda Jones, Accused of Pepper Spray Attack on Muni, In Court (SF Weekly)
• Muni Service Restoration Task Force Considering Bus Stop Optimization (Streetsblog SF)
• Muni shows off first light-rail vehicle fixed with stimulus cash (SF Examiner)
• Fix Muni Now Prop. G Will Lead to Fewer Pee Breaks, Driver’s Union Claims (SF Weekly)
• Muni Driver Measure Doesn’t End Problems (SF Business Times)
• Coalition pushes for free Muni for kids (SF Examiner)
• 60 Minutes segment ow/1906 footage aboard cable car airs Sunday (Market Street Railway Blog)

Enjoy your weekend and these photos, and don’t forget to send us your Muni stories or bring a story to tell on stage on Oct. 29!

Photo by MarkPritchard

Photo by tonx

Photo by skew-t

Photo by MattyMatt

Photo by stephenlienharrell