About Us

 

SF TRANSIT RIDERS

Our Impact

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Our Story

San Francisco Transit Riders is fighting for an excellent, affordable, and growing public transit system. We need excellent service that connects all neighborhoods. We need transit that provides equitable access to resources, opportunities, and each other.

Public transit is one of the most affordable ways to get around. We need to make sure it’s accessible for everyone. We need to continually grow public transit so it serves more riders, more areas, and more times of day – so it frees more people from being dependent on cars.

Public transit is essential to our sustainable future. Muni has served 750,000 trips daily while contributing less than 1% of the city’s greenhouse gases. While Muni itself is one of the greenest transit systems in the country, meeting the city’s climate goals means Muni needs to be the first transportation choice for many more San Franciscans.

Public transit also has the potential to make streets safer, improve our air quality, and reduce traffic congestion.

We’re fighting for a public transit system that can live up to its potential and serve us all. Become a member, join our community, and help us build the future of public transit in San Francisco!

Who We Are

VINITA GOYAL, Executive Director

Vinita Goyal is Executive Director at San Francisco Transit Riders leading efforts presently on organizational and development strategies and providing thought partnership on programs and campaigns related to place-based planning, policy and investments centered on racial and social justice and capacity building for local communities.

Vinita has focused the last decade in the non-profit sector, in philanthropy, and in the public sector, on aligning place-based infrastructure improvements with community needs and aspirations, particularly for vulnerable populations who can be adversely affected by planning and development. Previously, Vinita was Program Officer of Housing and Transportation at Silicon Valley Community Foundation, where she supported the $100 Billion Regional Transportation Measure campaign, alongside San Francisco Transit Riders, through co-leading research, fundraising and co-convening national experts to garner support for progressive revenue mechanisms (beyond sales tax) for regional transportation infrastructure.  At SVCF, Vinita also initiated and led the foundation to prioritize investments in supporting shared equity housing models in the Peninsula-South Bay region and co-led efforts with community partners to launch the Peninsula-South Bay Preservation Lab to advance systems level efforts in addressing housing displacement. 

As Strategic Advisor at City of Seattle’s Office of Planning and Community Development, Vinita led a film project that featured the lived experiences of residents facing displacement in the Central Area neighborhood that would be affected with the City’s proposed city-wide inclusionary housing framework. Vinita also led discussions with the Chinatown stakeholders on community stabilization strategies as part of the Chinatown International District Framework Implementation Plan. Prior to that, at the Association of Bay Area Governments, Vinita led the analysis assessing the feasibility of converting Mobile Home Communities into shared equity housing while at the City of Oakland, Vinita coordinated an inter-departmental equitable development strategy for the West Oakland Specific Plan.   ‍

Vinita currently serves on the board of the San Francisco Community Land Trust and is also an independent writer, having written for national industry publications.   

Vinita holds a Master’s in City and Regional Planning from the University of California, Berkeley and a Bachelor’s in Architecture from Government College of Architecture, Lucknow, India.

NICK LEVI, Community Organizer

Nick Levi is a dedicated and driven professional with a passion for public transportation. Having grown up in New York City, Nick has developed a deep understanding of the role public transit systems play in urban environments, and since moving to San Francisco, he has become an avid MUNI and BART rider. In his current role as a Community Organizer for the San Francisco Transit Riders, he works to improve public transportation in the Bay Area by cultivating relationships with community stakeholders and conveying necessary infrastructure improvements to the SFMTA and other officials. In addition to his current position, Nick has a history of community organizing, policy, and advocacy experiences, including roles with the government affairs team at the California Academy of Sciences, on policy and electoral campaigns, and in the offices of elected officials.

Nick earned his Bachelor’s degree in urban studies and political science from the University of California, Irvine, where he developed a strong foundation in the principles and practices of effective urban planning and policy-making. Utilizing his personal experience with public transportation and diverse background in community organizing and government affairs, Nick is eager to make a positive impact in San Francisco through coalition building and practical policy changes.

DYLAN FABRIS, Community and Policy Manager

Dylan Fabris is the Community & Policy Manager at San Francisco Transit Riders. In his role, he leads SFTR’s initiatives to support local and regional policy and advocacy efforts with a focus on achieving social and environmental justice. Dylan will also be supporting our engagement with our community of members.  

Dylan grew up in the suburbs of car-dependent Southern California and has since fallen in love with the freedom provided by San Francisco’s diverse public transit system. Dylan believes in the power of public transportation to connect and strengthen communities, and is excited to help advocate for a better, more equitable transportation system in San Francisco. Outside of work, you can find Dylan exploring the city by bike, relaxing in Golden Gate Park, or hopping on the N-Judah to spend a day at the beach.

Prior to joining SFTR, Dylan worked at the Convergence Center for Policy Resolution, where he helped bridge divides on issues related to social media and digital discourse. He is excited to apply his consensus-building experience to the issues that affect transit riders in San Francisco. Dylan earned a Bachelor’s degree in Politics from the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he learned the value of affordable transit while relying on Santa Cruz METRO’s fare-free bus service for students. 

REANNE LACOSTA, Communications Manager

Reanne Lacosta (she/her) is the Communications Manager at San Francisco Transit Riders. Reanne’s passions for environmental justice, community engagement, and graphic communications intersect through her work with SFTR.

She strives to seek equity and advocate for the needs of communities of color. She believes in the power of public transportation as a tool to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase cultural engagement between communities. Reanne credits her affinity for learning and exploring San Francisco’s rich culture and diversity to her access to the public transportation system.

Reanne is a University of San Francisco alum, where she received her Bachelor’s in Environmental Studies, with minors in Community Engagement and Graphic Design. She is currently working toward her Master’s in Urban and Public Affairs at USF. 

DAYRA BANALES, Safe Routes to School Consultant

Dayra Banales is currently the Safe Routes to School Coordinator Consultant; planning and coordinating Transit Focused Program Activities including Transit Socials, Free Muni for Youth Outreach, additional Transit-related workshops, as well as data collection and reporting. She has worked with San Francisco Transit Riders on Transit Month-based projects as well as assisting in community surveying in the Bayview. She brings a genuine perspective to the board as an avid public transit rider herself and is very comfortable opening dialogue with everyone she meets. 

Her past work has revolved around equity-based learning and community outreach; Dayra is inspired by the arts, social justice, and giving back to the people. As a local resident of the Bay Area, Dayra relies on the effectiveness and safety of public transportation. Through her work with SFTR, she hopes to make a positive change for Transit Riders, within an inclusive paradigm. Achieving such a goal will include the active participation and comprehension of Transit needs for people with disabilities, youth, families, and other daily riders of public transportation.

SF Transit Riders Board of Directors

JAIME VILORIA, Co-Chair

Jaime Viloria (he/him) was born and raised in the Philippines, lived in Sacramento, and now has lived in San Francisco for over 12 years.  A lifelong transit user, he was lucky enough to have jobs that did not entail commuting on a private car.

As a resident of the Tenderloin and Community Organizer for the housing non-profit Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation, he works to continue to improve the lives of people in the Tenderloin through policy changes on issues that negatively impact them. Recognizing that most of the issues are really city-wide issues magnified in the Tenderloin, he continues to get residents involved in city-wide efforts. Metaphorically & figuratively speaking, public transit is a perfect vehicle in doing so. Housing, environmental inequities, healthy food access, open-space and recreation, and access to services are examples of issues that can be partly addressed by having a public transit system that serves the transit-dependent people the most, like the people of the Tenderloin.

REANNA TONG, Co-Chair
Reanna (she/her) was born and raised in San Francisco and grew up taking Muni during the days of tokens being handed out to students for field trips, 35 cent youth fare, and shiny fast passes. Some of her fondest memories are taking the bus to her grandma’s house and back home from Chinatown after school. After many different experiences on the city’s transit system, Reanna wishes that she had known the paths to advocate for herself, peers, and family as a young person. This has grown to a desire to advocate for people most impacted, yet often excluded from decision-making conversations, and drives her participation with San Francisco Transit Riders. Reanna currently works as a city planner in San Francisco with a passion for community development, engagement, and transportation.
THEA SELBY, Co-Vice Chair

Thea Selby (she/her) has developed an expertise in and philosophy of “people-centered outreach” as chair and co-chair of the largest transit advocacy organization in the Bay Area, San Francisco Transit Riders. Co-founder of regional coalition Voices for Public Transportation, Thea has been working closely with CBOs and organized labor across nine counties in pursuit of a transformational, equity-infused transportation measure now slated for 2024. Thea is co-founder and principal at Next Steps Marketing, where she combines her expertise in communications and logistics, deep relationships with people in government and transportation, and passion for infrastructure to help make things work better for people.

In addition to Thea’s communications, outreach and engagement work with clients like MTC, BART, SFCTA, and Alameda CTC, she has governed large infrastructure projects as CA High Speed Rail Authority Board member, overseeing the Fresno-Bakersfield EIR/EIS process, and as CCSF Trustee, oversees their $845M multi-campus bond projects. Thea’s combined professional and community work allow her to see issues and challenges from agency, advocacy and public viewpoints.

STEVE PEPPLE, Co-Vice Chair

Steve Pepple (he/they) is a long-time advocate for equitable, livable, sustainable cities, especially fostering creative ways to engage people in inclusive, participatory methods of envisioning better cities and communities.

Steve is the co-founder of Vibemap and a designer and technologist working at the intersection of people, data, and civic life. He consults for governments, startups, and nonprofits to design, prototype, and connect people with better city experiences.

His writing and portfolio are at stevepepple.info

PETER STRAUS, Secretary

Peter Straus had a long career at the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, primarily as Manager of Service Planning, retiring in 2009.  At SFMTA he worked extensively with community organizations and residents, helping guide SFMTA and its predecessors through two rounds of service restructuring that significantly increased crosstown service, expansion of the electric trolley coach network, the opening of the Market Street subway, and the planning and development of the F-Market Street streetcar, the T-Third rail line, the Central Subway, and the Van Ness BRT projects, among numerous other endeavors.

After leaving SFMTA, he has been mostly involved in efforts to secure adequate funding for transit in San Francisco, and worked with Dave Snyder when he founded San Francisco Transit Riders; he has served on its Board ever since. He co-founded what became the San Francisco Transit Justice Coalition that supported numerous ballot campaigns, and whose efforts led SFMTA to establish its Transit Equity Strategy.  He also co-founded Voices for Public Transportation, a coalition that is now 50-organizations strong and is committed to securing a regional transit funding measure based on progressive revenue sources for the 2024 ballot.

Peter grew up in New York City, largely on the New York subway.  He has lived (and raised a family) in the Duboce Triangle/Lower Haight area of San Francisco, coming west after receiving his Ph.D. from Northwestern University in 1971. He is also an avid Giants fan, and founded San Francisco Little League’s Challenger program for kids with disabilities.

MIKE ARTUKOVICH, Treasurer

Mike (he/him) grew up in Los Angeles County when your transit options were either a car or a long ride in traffic on the Metro bus network. Rail in LA was a dream at that time. It wasn’t until he moved to the Bay Area almost three decades ago that he discovered the magic of truly effective public transit. As a result, Mike believes the value of public transit should never be underestimated. This has driven him to be an advocate for equitable transit access along with increased transit availability, affordability, efficiency, and safety in San Francisco and across the Bay.

Mike brings over 20 years of finance and accounting experience to the organization. He’s dedicated the last half dozen years of his career to the world of non-profits and cherishes his role as the Treasure for San Francisco Transit Riders. He also serves as the Finance and Operations Manager with the Value Reporting Foundation. Mike holds a Bachelor of Science from Santa Clara University, where he was very thankful for Caltrain and VTA service.

DOMINIQUE MONIÉ, Director

Dominique Monié (she/her) moved to San Francisco in early 2017 and immediately fell in love with public transit and never needing to drive (bonus that it’s better for the planet too!) She has a family member who relies on public transit to get around due to a disability and understands the critical role equitable public transit plays in giving people access to opportunity. In pre-pandemic times, Dominique was a regular N Judah rider, except when the 7X could get her to work faster.

Dominique manages the team of Technical Program Managers supporting LinkedIn Talent Solutions. She is also the San Francisco office lead for the employee green team, a group of employees interested in environmental sustainability. She has always been passionate about conservation, the environment and sustainability and has a Master’s of Environmental Science and Management from UC Santa Barbara.

SERENA WALES, Director

Serena Wales is a lifelong transit rider, and having lived in cities across the world, has seen how convenient, affordable, and sustainable transit enables great, inclusive cities. In their day job, Serena is a civic technologist with a focus on tools that enable communication. They are currently a senior engineering manager at Twilio.

Previously, they were a cofounder and CTO of Textizen, a platform for connecting public institutions with the people they serve, and a fellow at Code for America, where they worked with the city of New Orleans to help provide residents with accurate and up-to-date information about their neighborhoods. Serena graduated from Wellesley College with degrees in Media Arts & Sciences and History.

CAMILLE GUIRIBA, Director

As a Bay Area native, Camille Guiriba (she/her) is enthusiastic to work towards a more equitable transportation system and region through her day job and in serving on the SFTR board. In her current role at the San Francisco County Transportation Authority, Camille works on long-range and neighborhood-based transportation plans and coordinates the staff Racial Equity Working Group. Camille is a senior transportation planner with over 12 years of experience in the nonprofit and public sectors. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies from UC Berkeley and Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning from UCLA.

Contact us

San Francisco Transit Riders

P.O. Box 193341, San Francisco, CA 94119

© 2018 San Francisco Transit Riders, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit