Mission Bay News & Updates

July 21, 2021

The SFCTA has revised its proposal for Congestion Pricing in San Francisco.  Its Board of Directors (the Board of Supervisors) will vote on whether or not to proceed with this concept before year-end.  If approved,  SFCTA will proceed with enabling legislation, even though implementation is not in the immediate future.

The most recent revisions include a new boundary that splits Mission Bay at Mission Creek (people crossing Mission Creek heading north/west would pay).  Proposed fees range from $6.50 per trip during commute hours for higher incomes to $2.17 for lower income people; free for those in a family of four earning less than $65,000 annually.  If additional discounts are called for (seniors, residents, toll-crossers), these base fees would increase by at least $1.  Current plans call for a two-charge daily maximum ($13 with no discounts), but discounts would only be on an opt-in basis, making it very difficult for anyone not a ‘regular’ user and knowledgeable about the program to get one of the discounted fees.

Fees would apply to anyone entering the zone (regardless of whether their trip ends in the zone) during peak times:  not only Mission Bay residents and workers heading to work, school, medical or other appointments; but plumbers, contractors, babysitters and friends…

The SFCTA will have another outreach effort of community meetings and town halls in August.  We’ll keep you apprised of dates as we become aware of them.

July 1 2021

Effective immediately, MB Shuttles will discontinue social distancing requirements.  But remember: all riders must be masked both at the bus stop and while on the bus, per Federal law.

We continue enhanced cleaning protocols that include:

1. Using CDC-recommended products and processes to clean and disinfect buses daily
2. Buses are cleaned before each shift (morning and evening)
3. We’re following ventilation recommendations from the A/C and vehicle manufacturers for maximum air circulation-refreshing during service

CALTRAIN IS OFFERING FARE DISCOUNTS AND MOBILE PAYMENT

Passengers using a Caltrain Monthly Pass will get a 20% discount through June 30, 2023.  Fare increases previously planned have also been postponed indefinitely.  Riders also can now pay for fares through their phone or Apple Watch.  You can add Clipper to either Apple Pay or Google Pay mobile wallets.  Once you’ve set it up, simply hold your phone or watch near the Clipper reader when boarding or deboarding.  It’s simple and contact-less!

SAN FRANCISCO BAY FERRIES

Ferries operate on a first-come, first-served basis.  Alameda has a new Seaplane route.  Fares have been discounted effective July 1 as follows:

• Zone 1: Alameda Seaplane, Harbor Bay, Oakland & Alameda, Richmond
• Zone 2: South San Francisco
• Zone 3: Vallejo
• Short Hop: Pier 41 Short Hop, Alameda Short Hop

BART (effective August 2)

BART is adding service and hours:  weekday service will run from 5am until midnight Mon-Sat; with 15-minute frequencies on all lines from 5am to 8pm; 30-minute frequency from 8pm-midnight.  Saturday hours are 6am to midnight with 15-minute service on most lines; Sunday will operate from 8am to 9pm on 3 lines with 30-minute frequencies.

With the reopening of large scale events at both Chase Center and Oracle Park, SFMTA’s Special Events Parking Fees will be reinstated, starting May 21.  Parking meters throughout Mission Bay are priced at $8 per hour before, during and after events with more than 10,000 attendees.

Daytime events (which start between noon and 3pm):  Special Event rates are in effect from noon to 6pm

Afternoon events (which start between 3pm and 6pm; Mon-Sat):  Special Event rates are in effect from 3pm to 10pm

Evening events (which start after 6pm; Mon-Sat):  Special Event rates are in effect from 6pm to 10pm

Sunday events starting after 3pm:  Special Event rates are in effect from 3pm to 6pm

Share a ride to work with coworkers who live nearby. Commute with Enterprise will provide a recent-model SUV, crossover or van. Everyone splits the costs and driving duties, saving you valuable time and money.  Learn more.

Mission Bay TMA has teamed up with SPIN to offer low-income employees in Mission Bay a free monthly pass for 30-minute electric scooter rides.

Rides may be taken any time, anywhere within San Francisco city limits.  (Rides may also be used for non-commute trips)

Eligibility:

1. Employees must work either part-time or full-time in Mission Bay and earn less than $50,000 annually
2. Employees must have an email and Smart phone to receive their SPIN pass and reserve scooters

Subject to employees’ manager confirming workplace and income eligibility

Please complete this updated application to apply for the SPIN low-income employee program.

Residents

Are you enrolled in a local, state, or Federal benefits program? If so, you may be eligible for free scooter rides from Spin. Click here to learn more

In January, SFMTA installed ‘transit only’ lanes on 4th St at the bridge, and prohibited left turns from 4th St onto Berry.

Results from the preliminary evaluation are in, and these changes have been effective and no further modifications in the area are needed.

• Delays to transit decreased by 63% at 4th & Berry
• T Third St. trains are 2.5 times more likely to travel through the intersection without having to stop for a red light; and when they do have to stop, the wait time is 70% less.
• Overall T Third trains have been delayed by congestion less than 1% of the time.

Traffic patterns have shifted and we’ve adjusted the Timetables for both East and West routes accordingly.  These changes begin Monday, February 8th.  There are no changes to CCA or Transbay-Caltrain routes at this time.

Please check out the minor changes to the schedules:

2021 02 01 Timetable East v9

2021 02 01 Timetable West v9

RELEASE DATE: 08/13/2020

The air you breathe while riding BART is filtered more effectively than that in the typical office or indoor setting like a grocery store or pharmacy, with an entire train car’s air being replaced about every 70 seconds.

Because the coronavirus spreads through droplets in the air when a person coughs, sneezes or even just talks, air filtration is key to stopping transmission. Wearing a mask is a first line of protection; BART’s Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system provides another safety layer.

“The BART fleet’s ventilation systems provide passengers with about 4,000 cubic feet per minute of air per car, or about 50 air changes per hour, which is substantial when compared with other public spaces,” said Daniel Cheng, Senior Vehicle Systems Engineer.  “All the air is filtered before entering the passenger area.”

Overall, the air in BART trains at a given moment is about 75% filtered and 25% fresh air drawn from outside the car (it’s 80/20% on legacy trains and 70/30% on Fleet of the Future trains).

For more information on how airflow on BART cars works as well as some of pilots BART is exploring to further enhance safety, visit www.bart.gov