Remember when we said the bright spot in the new San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) budget was a pilot program that would provide low-income children with free transit passes? Well, it looks like that’s not going to happen after all. Yesterday the Metropolitan Transportation Commission voted against funding the project, effectively killing the program […]
The days of free parking on Sundays are numbered. The new two year budget approved on Tuesday by San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency officials will extend parking meter hours to Sunday, a move that’s expected to net around $900,000 in additional revenue during the first year alone. Pay meters will now be enforced between the […]
Serious accidents involving city public transportation agencies always draw major headlines. After all, there are fewer fates more terrifying than being hit by a train or bus. In the past year, Portland’s TriMet public transportation agency has been plagued by numerous high-profile pedestrian accidents. And San Francisco’s Muni system has had its share of accidents causing injuries and even fatalities. In one of Muni’s most costly debacles to date, the agency agreed to settle a personal injury lawsuit filed by a passenger injured in 2008 this week for more than $2 million.
This is nightmare material. While supposedly trying to hail a cab Wednesday, 49 year old Scott Whitsett was sandwiched between a Muni train and a bus. When the vehicles separated, Whitsett fell to the ground, where he was run over and killed by the bus. This is the newest in a string of Muni accidents, which have been coupled with Muni fare increases and service cutbacks. This time, at least, the accident doesn’t appear to be the fault of Muni drivers.
Update 7/22/09 —SFGate, online home of the San Francisco Chronicle has posted videos of the MUNI accident. Update 7/19/09 — CBS5 has just reported that officials from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have arrived on scene and have scheduled a news conference for this afternoon (Sunday). Their on-site investigation is expected to last through […]
