May 31, 2011

Shuttle Buses: SFCTA Releases Final Draft Of Strategic Analysis Report

In 2009 Bevan Dufty initiated a studdy of corporate/private shuttle buses operating in San Francisco neighborhoods. Concerns at the time were that while the busses took drivers off the road and increased foot traffic to local business the busses were too big, too loud and took up space at MUNI stops -- all true to varying degrees according to the SAR finalized on May 25, 2011. Other claims were unfounded (for instance, Google was not paying to use MUNI stops).

After studying use patterns of employer and regional shuttles in the Marina, Glen Park, and Noe Valley (as well as in Seattle, New York City and Washington, DC), the SFCTA came up with two recommendations:
1) More formal management and recognition of shuttles. The SAR recommends the
development of a “Muni Partners” program at the SFMTA and dedicated SFMTA staff to liaise with the shuttle industry, respond to public inquiries and concerns, and provide for the orderly and beneficial growth of the shuttle sector. Shuttle providers would pay a fee to sustain the program which would provide operating guidelines and facilities for safe and complementary shuttle operations with Muni and other road users.

2) Designated shuttle coordinator. The Muni Partners program would include a shuttles staff person at the SFMTA to address management needs and develop regulations, coordinate with shuttle providers and operators, and act as a point of contact for the public. This coordinator would set certification criteria, provide operating guidance, plan needed facilities, set fee structures, conduct monitoring and evaluation activities, coordinate enforcement, and manage growth of the sector. The coordinator would also receive and appropriately direct public inquiries and complaints.
In other words, the shuttles are valuable, need to be regulated and the City sees a potential revenue stream.

Give it a read (PDF). Lots of good info.

[SFCTA: Shuttle SAR]
[SFCTA: SAR Final Report (PDF)]
[SFCTA: SAR Memo to CAC (PDF)]
[NVSF: Meeting: Upper Noe Neighbors]
[NVSF: Shuttle Buses: Useful or Menace?]

7 comments:

Greg said...

the private bus shuttles are essential when you consider that about 30% of SF residents leave the city every day to go to work - this was unprecedented 40 years ago. Managed properly the private system is an asset to all and doesn't have to be a pain in the ass to anyone.

cr said...

Thanks NVSF for your continued coverage of transit and public space issues.

Anonymous said...

The shuttles sit and idle in "downtown" Noe Valley every morning. They use the bus stops, then making it dangerous for Muni riders to board the city buses when one of each is in the same place at the same time.

If I live and work here, i.e. spending more money per day in SF, then shouldn't I come first?

Because there are so few parking permits in Noe Valley,a great number of Apple, Google, LinkedIn, and others park here to catch their shuttles. This is unfair to neighborhood residents.

Anonymous said...

"If I live and work here, i.e. spending more money per day in SF, then shouldn't I come first?"

"Live and work here" meaning "spending more money per day in SF" - that's a pretty enormous leap, especially if you are comparing yourself to people who work at Apple, Google, and LinkedIn.

That Google employee is at work scarfing down free food while you are buying a sandwich in Noe Valley, perhaps? Of course the Google employee is paying people who "live and work here" hundreds of thousands of dollars to remodel his house, assuming he can get past the hurdles that his jealous neighbors throw at him in the permitting process. During the day the spouse keeps Small Fry's and Peek-a-boutique in business. Then he or she comes home and goes out with spouse and kids throw down $120 at Lupa for dinner.

The majority of consumptive spending is not done while you are at work. Find a more relevant (or at least nominally accurate) argument.

Anonymous said...

"Because there are so few parking permits in Noe Valley,a great number of Apple, Google, LinkedIn, and others park here to catch their shuttles. This is unfair to neighborhood residents."

I am unrelated to above Anonymous, but I had a question on this - most of the parking in Noe is permitted, so i don't think they can easily drive in and park (except for the streets w/out parking permits).

cr said...

This map is from 2009 but it shows less than half of the neighborhood is permitted.

http://www.sfmta.com/cms/pperm/13442.html

Anonymous said...

As a 40 year NV resident, my opinion.., buses keep cars off the road. A good thing. People with good paying jobs, choosing to live in Noe Valley is also a good thing. It would be wonderful if those good paying jobs were 3 blocks from where people live, but since that isn't the case, shuttle buses provide a service to those who ride them as well as the rest of us who care about the environment.