SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA | Public Transport

[jchernin]

SMART construction updates from yesterday/today:

[bayviews]

Originally Posted by Anderson Reis

Wow!!!Super fast even! I would love to travel on BART.

Andy hope you can make it up sometime!

Things will be even better when the new BART cars come into service.

[Fan Railer]

Originally Posted by bayviews

Andy hope you can make it up sometime!

Things will be even better when the new BART cars come into service.

yes, quite. I am hoping that they raise operations back to PL (performance level) 1 once the new cars are in service. Trains will actually travel closer to the advertised speed of 80 mph instead of the 66-70 they do now under PL2 lol.

[bayviews]

Originally Posted by Fan Railer

yes, quite. I am hoping that they raise operations back to PL (performance level) 1 once the new cars are in service. Trains will actually travel closer to the advertised speed of 80 mph instead of the 66-70 they do now under PL2 lol.

However, often as not, lower/higher speeds in operations like BART owe less to do with capability, rather than union rules, etc.

[Fan Railer]

Originally Posted by bayviews

However, often as not, lower/higher speeds in operations like BART owe less to do with capability, rather than union rules, etc.

Interesting. Would you perhaps mind explaining a little more in depth?

In the mean time, enjoy a final batch of videos from my visit to the Bay Area, including VTA light rail, ACE commuter trains, and Capitol Corridor trains, in addition to a WHEELS tri-valley bus:

[jchernin]

More SMARTness:

The Tamper, which 'surfaces' and aligns the tracks


Close-up

http://www.facebook.com/sonomamarintrain

[trainrover]

[AVassilios]

I've recently been to San Francisco and since I know the city and the Muni system quite well i've been taking advantage of the weekpass to get around the city.

But I'm curious and have some questions, I hope someone local can help.

- why do Muni Metro trains ride at such a low speed in the old streetcar tunnel under the twin peaks (Castro <-> West Portal)?
- why isn't the E Embarcadero line not running yet? I usually saw some backup oldtimer streetcars in this section and since the platforms at Folsom also have a lowfloor section I imagine the infrastructure would be read right? Is it because of the tight Muni budget?
- What about the extension of the F Market line from the Fishermans Wharf further to Fort Mason and Marina, any news there?

Thanks in advance!

[bayviews]

Originally Posted by AVassilios

I've recently been to San Francisco and since I know the city and the Muni system quite well i've been taking advantage of the weekpass to get around the city.

But I'm curious and have some questions, I hope someone local can help.

- why do Muni Metro trains ride at such a low speed in the old streetcar tunnel under the twin peaks (Castro <-> West Portal)?
- why isn't the E Embarcadero line not running yet? I usually saw some backup oldtimer streetcars in this section and since the platforms at Folsom also have a lowfloor section I imagine the infrastructure would be read right? Is it because of the tight Muni budget?
- What about the extension of the F Market line from the Fishermans Wharf further to Fort Mason and Marina, any news there?

Thanks in advance!

Good questions:

The old streetcar tunnel under Twin Peaks dates from circa 1912. Also there were some accidents in the downhill turn segment, thus the very slow speeds for the light rail trains entering under Market.

Plus, the Muni Metro signal "system" was done by inept political hacks without engineering backgrounds.

The F Line includes both the vintage streetcars on market as well as the segment on the NE Embarcadero.

F line extension to Ft Mason and Marina have been planned for many years, but its not a big priority.

Perhaps much like Greece, yes Muni has been living far above its means!

[Woonsocket54]

Originally Posted by bayviews

The old streetcar tunnel under Twin Peaks dates from circa 1912.

I always thought it was 1918.

[bayviews]

Originally Posted by Woonsocket54

I always thought it was 1918.

How right you are!

Correction 1918

[AVassilios]

Originally Posted by bayviews

Good questions:

The old streetcar tunnel under Twin Peaks dates from circa 1912. Also there were some accidents in the downhill turn segment, thus the very slow speeds for the light rail trains entering under Market.

Plus, the Muni Metro signal "system" was done by inept political hacks without engineering backgrounds.

The F Line includes both the vintage streetcars on market as well as the segment on the NE Embarcadero.

F line extension to Ft Mason and Marina have been planned for many years, but its not a big priority.

Perhaps much like Greece, yes Muni has been living far above its means!

Thanks a lot! Still it's such an important commuting corridor they could at least do some not-so expensive update to the tunnel given the fact that they obviously have the money. They just burn it by building the central subway. I get the fact that there is a need for more capacity in the north-south direction (Fisherman's wharf - Chinatown - SOMA), but a BRT for the 30/45 Stockton busses would be much more suitable than for 38 Geary. They REALLY should have spent their money on a new B Geary Light Rail line.

I was astonished how many new refurbished PCCs went into service this year, I'm impressed.

[bayviews]

Originally Posted by AVassilios

I've recently been to San Francisco and since I know the city and the Muni system quite well i've been taking advantage of the weekpass to get around the city.

But I'm curious and have some questions, I hope someone local can help.

- why do Muni Metro trains ride at such a low speed in the old streetcar tunnel under the twin peaks (Castro <-> West Portal)?
- why isn't the E Embarcadero line not running yet? I usually saw some backup oldtimer streetcars in this section and since the platforms at Folsom also have a lowfloor section I imagine the infrastructure would be read right? Is it because of the tight Muni budget?
- What about the extension of the F Market line from the Fishermans Wharf further to Fort Mason and Marina, any news there?

Thanks in advance!

FYI, here's some more details & links re: the proposed F line extension to FT Mason:

Extension of F-Line Streetcar Service to Fort Mason Center
Golden Gate National Recreation Area » Extension of F-Line Streetcar Service to Fort Mason Center » Document List

February 17, 2012: The National Park Service (NPS) is pleased to announce the release of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS) for the Extension of F-Line Streetcar Service to Fort Mason Center. The project would lengthen the historic streetcar F-line from Fisherman's Wharf to the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park (SF Maritime NHP) and on to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA), ending at the Fort Mason Center.

The Final EIS evaluates the same alternatives as those in the Draft EIS, including the No-Action Alternative and the Preferred Alternative. The Final EIS also addresses all substantive comments received on the Draft EIS. The intended effect of this project is to provide park visitors and transit-dependent residents with high-quality rail transit that improves transportation access and mobility between existing streetcar service at Fisherman's Wharf to San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park and Fort Mason Center.

Preferred Alternative:
The Preferred Alternative would extend the existing F-Line from Fisherman's Wharf to Fort Mason Center. The track extension would include a street-running segment along Beach Street, a transition zone between the street-running segment and the Fort Mason Tunnel, a tunnel segment and a turnaround segment with two options for locations, Alternative 2A: North Loop (Fort Mason parking lot) and 2B: South Loop (Great Meadow). Project elements would include the construction of streetcar track for approximately 0.85 miles, construction of 8-9 station platforms, upgrades to the existing Fort Mason Tunnel, and installation of signals, crossings, wires and poles.

The Final EIS is available as follows:
> ** Here on this website (click on tab marked "Document List" )
> at GGNRA Headquarters (Bldg. 201 Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA)
> at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park's Maritime Library
(Building E, Third Floor, Fort Mason Center)
> at local public libraries (San Francisco Public Libraries: Main Branch,
Golden Gate Valley Branch, North Beach Branch, Eureka Valley
Harvey Milk Library, Presidio Branch Library)

**Because of the large size of the document it has been split into separate sections to make downloading quicker and easier.

Questions can be sent to goga_planning@nps.gov

Written inquiries can also be sent to:

Superintendent, Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Attention: F-Line FEIS
Fort Mason, Building 201
San Francisco, CA 94123-0022

Next Step:
Consistent with National Environmental Policy Act, the National Park Service will execute a Record of Decision (ROD) no sooner than 30 days following publication of the Notice of Availability of the Final EIS in the Federal Register by the Environmental Protection Agency. The ROD will also be published in the Federal Register and available on the park's public PEPC site.

The cooperating agencies will engage the public with timely information and opportunities to comment on any future planning or design activities that may result from this decision.

Contact Information
goga_planning@nps.gov

[bayviews]

Originally Posted by AVassilios

Thanks a lot! Still it's such an important commuting corridor they could at least do some not-so expensive update to the tunnel given the fact that they obviously have the money. They just burn it by building the central subway. I get the fact that there is a need for more capacity in the north-south direction (Fisherman's wharf - Chinatown - SOMA), but a BRT for the 30/45 Stockton busses would be much more suitable than for 38 Geary. They REALLY should have spent their money on a new B Geary Light Rail line.

I was astonished how many new refurbished PCCs went into service this year, I'm impressed.

Yeah, with a push from the Market St Railway San Francisco must have one of the largest--if not the largest--collection of those truly timeless PCCs streetcars collected from all across North America.

Albeit few PCCs from San Francisco itself, owing to the poor mainteance of the original MUNI PCC fleet!

[quashlo]

Originally Posted by AVassilios

I was astonished how many new refurbished PCCs went into service this year, I'm impressed.

It only seems like a lot are re-entering service because they've only just gotten around to completely rewiring many of the ex-Newark / ex-Minneapolis cars... These were purchased way, way back in 2004, and several of them already debuted on Muni as early as 2007, but all were afterwards removed from service because of ridiculous wiring / door motor problems. For several years, they were just sitting useless at Geneva Yard.

[bayviews]

Well, yet again, Muni's taken another hit on its poor performance.

Most riders understand the need for occasional switchbacks. What they don't understand is why Muni can't put out enough vehicles to maintain scheduled service.

Contra Costa Times [Walnut Creek, Calif] 11 Aug 2012: B.6.

SAN FRANCISCO

Grand jury: Riders dumped too soon

A San Francisco grand jury says Bay Area train and bus riders are too often dumped before reaching their destinations.

The civil grand jury report says the Municipal Transportation Agency shows a callous disregard for commuters when it uses the so-called switchbacks.

The practice involves unexpectedly unloading passengers before destinations are reached so trains and buses can turn around.

Muni officials tell the San Francisco Chronicle that the grand jury based its conclusions on flawed assumptions.

Grand jury committee chair Sharon Gadberry says she stands by the panel's report.

Transit chief John Haley says Muni uses switchbacks when normal runs are thrown off schedule for such problems as accidents, operator shortages, equipment malfunctions and blocked tracks.

[bayviews]

Here's a quick update:

Its very dissapointing to hear that the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) is apparently still hell bent on completly foolish & waistful plans to desert its HQ in Oakland, a struggling city with plenty of vacant office space, a city that needs to keep all the agencies it can, for a much plusher place with a big atrium in San Francisco, a wealthier & costlier city already flush with HQs. This despite widespead opposition from the public as well as many public officials across the Bay Area.

The cost to Bay Area taxpayers? Over $180 million. What an outrage!

[Silly_Walks]

Originally Posted by bayviews

Here's a quick update:

Its very dissapointing to hear that the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) is apparently still hell bent on completly foolish & waistful plans to desert its HQ in Oakland, a struggling city with plenty of vacant office space, a city that needs to keep all the agencies it can, for a much plusher place with a big atrium in San Francisco, a wealthier & costlier city already flush with HQs. This despite widespead opposition from the public as well as many public officials across the Bay Area.

The cost to Bay Area taxpayers? Over $180 million. What an outrage!

I expect this kind of behavior to go mostly unchallenged in just about every country in the world, but surely not in a country that has a complete 2nd amendement devoted to the citizens' rights to shut down such despotic behavior.

[bayviews]

Originally Posted by Silly_Walks

I expect this kind of behavior to go mostly unchallenged in just about every country in the world, but surely not in a country that has a complete 2nd amendement devoted to the citizens' rights to shut down such despotic behavior.

Americans are probably more apathetic about government performance than those in most other developed countries. Poor Oakland's stuck with a very nice & kind but helpless mayor who makes sleepy Ron Dellums, the ex-mayor look like a some kind of a genious. Meanwhile San Francisco's become very adept in trying to poach agencies and firms from other smaller cities & suburbs around the Bay Area in hopes avoiding bankruptcy.

[Sunfuns]

Originally Posted by bayviews

Well, yet again, Muni's taken another hit on its poor performance.

Most riders understand the need for occasional switchbacks. What they don't understand is why Muni can't put out enough vehicles to maintain scheduled service.

Contra Costa Times [Walnut Creek, Calif] 11 Aug 2012: B.6.

SAN FRANCISCO

Grand jury: Riders dumped too soon

A San Francisco grand jury says Bay Area train and bus riders are too often dumped before reaching their destinations.

The civil grand jury report says the Municipal Transportation Agency shows a callous disregard for commuters when it uses the so-called switchbacks.
The practice involves unexpectedly unloading passengers before destinations are reached so trains and buses can turn around.

Muni officials tell the San Francisco Chronicle that the grand jury based its conclusions on flawed assumptions.

Grand jury committee chair Sharon Gadberry says she stands by the panel's report.

Transit chief John Haley says Muni uses switchbacks when normal runs are thrown off schedule for such problems as accidents, operator shortages, equipment malfunctions and blocked tracks.

Please tell me this is some elaborate joke... I've used public transport extensively in many cities around the world (in Europe mostly, but also NYC and Washington DC) and have never encountered stunts like that.

Is bus driving really such a poorly paid and miserable job in San Francisco? In most places it's quite cushy middle income position folks are very keen on keeping...