Together, let’s develop a network of rapid lines that truly ties the city together with
end-to-end service in 30 minutes by the year 2030.

30×30: The Rapid Rider Network

Fill out a quick survey to help us build the Rapid Rider Network

Why rapid? Muni’s rapid routes – the 38R, 14R, 5R, 9R, and 28R – get riders where they’re going faster. The buses come more frequently (at least every 10 minutes), and they overlay a local service but skip stops to save time. Travel times go down, and become more predictable. How do we get all these benefits? Rapid routes get transit priority improvements that remove the competition with cars – reducing collisions, and getting buses out of traffic. Transit priority improvements can be red lanes, traffic signals that favor the buses, and things like bus bulbs that keep the bus going straight ahead, rather than pulling in and out of traffic.

With the better service that rapid buses provide, they also attract more riders. Compared to nationwide declining ridership, Muni’s rapid routes have seen significant increases in riders, including many who are choosing to leave their cars behind.

Better Muni service addresses three main challenges facing San Francisco today:

Record-level traffic congestion.

The city’s streets are choked and at a standstill. When we invest in public transit, we give it street priority so it’s not trapped in traffic. Ridership has increased 22% on Rapid routes. In one survey, 15% of new riders formerly drove their private cars. Rapid works.

Street safety & Vision Zero

We have a street safety crisis as pedestrian deaths in San Francisco have reached a new high. Where we’ve improved Muni routes, traffic is calmed, the bus can move along smoothly, and incidents and crashes have gone down.

The climate emergency

San Francisco has declared a climate emergency. Temperatures are rising every year, and we are experiencing the devastating effects of climate change. There are more unhealthy air days, more heatwaves, and more wildfires.

Muni serves 26% of the trips in San Francisco, but contributes less than 1% of the greenhouse gas emissions. Public transit that works for the riders can be a big part of the solution to our climate goals, and our street safety goals. Only with a robust public transit system will we be able to build and sustain a safe, livable, and healthy future.

How do we get there?

Robust public transit means reliable and frequent service, that can get us across town in a reasonable amount of time. Rapid buses are additional service on a local line. The Rapid version skips stops, shows up every 10 minutes or more frequently, and has transit priority so buses don’t get stuck in traffic. Our trains should also be considered Rapid – with more frequent service and with priority on the street.

We’re making sure that all voices are heard, especially those of everyday transit riders. Which neighborhoods and communities do people want to see better connected? What Muni lines do people want to become Rapid? How can we improve not just the ride itself, but also the experience waiting at bus stops? How can we improve accessibility?

We are working to build the voice of the rider and build a coalition to support the vision of a robust network of Rapid routes that truly makes every neighborhood in San Francisco accessible with end-to-end service in 30 minutes, with buses at least every 10 minutes, by 2030. Join us!

The Problem

Muni service has absolutely improved on some of its Rapid lines – like the 14R, 5R, and 38R. The investments in service and simple infrastructure on these routes have returned increases in speed, reliability, and perhaps most importantly, ridership.

However, other lines on Muni’s Rapid network don’t meet stated rapid standards, and the network as a whole doesn’t sufficiently connect the city.

The Rider-Based Solution

We need input from riders – like you! – we’re developing a set of community-driven rapid network standards, including what we want to see at bus stops, how often buses and trains should come, and whatever else riders think will make rapid transit succeed.

Through street and neighborhood outreach and workshops, we’ll be touching base with communities across the city to make sure riders’ voices are heard. With your help, we’ll push the SFMTA to adopt those standards, to serve all of San Francisco.

A Timeline of Our Progress

Current

Our 4th annual Transit Week, September 9 – 13, highlighted 30×30. We had city leaders on the steps of City Hall supporting our vision. We started a campaign for Rapid service on the 29-Sunset with students from San Francisco State, Lowell High, and City College. We held a panel with representatives from various communities often lacking in access and influence, to talk about equitable transit access.

May to July – Outreach and Resolution Supporting 30×30

As we talked to more and more riders for what Muni lines, current or new, that they want to see become Rapid, three have risen to the top: the 22 Fillmore, the 29 Sunset, and the T Third (The T is already considered Rapid but it is slow and unreliable). We hosted another workshop for folks to brainstorm solutions on how to move forward. Check out how it went here.

We drafted a resolution and are circulating it among organizations/associations to sign on. We’re building out the Rapid Rider Alliance – sign on to support a future where San Francisco can thrive! Contact us for more details.

February to April – Beginning Outreach

We followed up with a great discussion around how to potentially fix the light rail system of the Rapid Network – check out the creative ideas proposed here.

We started outreach across the city – engaging with every day transit riders, community-based organizations, senior centers, merchant associations, city officials, and more. We tabled, surveyed at bus stops, held presentations and workshops to make sure that we can capture as many voices as possible in order to make 30 x 30 succeed.

One way of gathering these voices is through our 30 x 30 survey – please fill it out if you haven’t already! We’re working on collecting at least 1,000 surveys to bring to the SFMTA board to show them that there is a need for a redefined Rapid Network.

January 2019 – 30 x 30 Kicks Off

We kicked off 2019 with a workshop to talk about what a true, Rapid network might look like and how to get there. Click here to read more about how it went!

 

If you think this work is valuable, please show your support by becoming a member today!