Posts Tagged ‘Transit and Transportation and Traffic’

The Feds say that Muni has spilled tens of thousands of gallons of fuel into the Bay, and they want a quarter million dollars in fines. No, the Feds are not happy about it. No, folks at Muni aren’t happy about it either.

Okay, I’m officially obsessed with bridge building.  Seriously, how does it all work?  And yes, I realize that I could actually take the time to learn the answer to that question, but I’d much prefer to sit and watch our city’s newest bridge be constructed whilst marveling at the wonder of it all from afar.  Next up?  The 4 million pound, 101.7-foot-long iconic white tower, which should be in place by Christmas Eve.  They have to lift it 400 feet above the water in order to set it into place.  I mean seriously, how cool is that?

The City gets its tail whupped by some spectacularly aggressive rainfall yesterday.  Muni Metro drowns, freeway entrances temporarily close, sewer grates clang and shudder, some Excelsior residents build an ark and round up some animals - you know, all the normal stuff.  Thanks, Mother Nature!  Come back soon!

The MTA Board will vote tomorrow on an amendment that will make it easier to penalize the city’s illegitimate taxi drivers.

Some of the most difficult construction on the Bay Bridge begins this Thursday night.  For those of you who are planning on taking a road trip to celebrate the long weekend, better find an alternate route.

The Examiner takes a look at what happens to the property that’s left on BART, and it turns out that all those lost cell phones have a financial benefit for the agency.

San Francisco’s natural gas-powered traffic vehicles are having a difficult time maneuvering around some of our hilly terrain.

Board President David Chiu is urging BART to allow airport employees to bypass BART’s new new $4 surcharge for trips to SFO.

A bond set to be on November’s ballot would provide $10.1M for sidewalk repair, something a few City departments and advocates say is much needed.

Despite a few scattered violent incidents, the SFMTA is happy to report that crime aboard its fleet of vehicles is down.  The reason: a data-driven police presence aimed at positioning officers on the agency’s most crime-plagued transit routes.

If you’ve recently driven along the Bay Bridge, arrived in the East Bay and remembered why you live in San Francisco, then you’ve probably noticed the little people standing on alarmingly high cables and know that the retrofit crew has been busy at work. But with little funding secured to make the proposed Bay Bridge bike path stretch all the way across the water, some bike commuters are left asking, now what?

Parking!  Or so says the Guardian.  Steven T. Jones takes an in-depth look at what’s what with the politics surrounding getting around our town…

The Redevelopment Agency rejects the only two complete bids for site close to the new Transbay Terminal.

Pending a vote by the Board of Supervisors, SFO employees may no longer have to flip the extra $2.50 to get to work.  Rejoice!

A state law takes effect on January 1st that will substantially increase fines for the misuse of disabled parking placards.

The Examiner takes a look at Muni drivers’ unexplained absences that have resulted in reduced services and increased overtime pay.  With drivers missing 15% of their workdays, it’s no wonder the bus is always late! (Cough.)

Muni considers selling naming rights for its cable cars.

The next time you want to chuck your proof of payment as soon as you hop on Muni, think again.  The Muni fare inspectors are back.  And they will make sure you are punished (with a fine of $75) for not paying to ride.  Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Beating Mayor Newsom to the punch, the POA creates posters for Muni vehicles that publicize the reward for information relating to several of the city’s unsolved homicide cases.  Unfortunately, the police union forgot to clear its plan with MTA, so the posters have yet to actually see the side of a bus.

Under a new proposal, developers hoping to build in the neighborhood of the Transbay Terminal would have to pay up to an additional $35 per square foot in fees to the City.

In yet another attempt to close Muni’s budget gap, Supervisor Dufty advocates for an increase in fines levied against riders who do not pay their fare.

With a long-anticipated makeover, underground Muni stops will look a lot more like BART - and speed up throughput, too, say Muni brass.  Fingers crossed that Uncle Barack gives us the money for this project!

Muni plans to install $2 million of video camera equipment in its buses in order to inspect drivers and prevent faulty accident claims.  Just watch out next time you’re on the bus, your mug may just end up on Candid Camera.

San Francisco’s newest streetcar hails from Down Under.  A gift from Melbourne’s mayor, streetcar number 916 will go into service some time next year.  Welcome to the fleet!