Shell Bells : Leading with Success: the January Board Workshop

Leading with Success: the January Board Workshop
By Bradley Dunn

2020 SFMTA Board Workshop graphic

Last Tuesday the SFMTA Board of Directors held their annual workshop, a special meeting that allows staff and the board to work together on larger issues. This year the workshop focused on our upcoming two-year budget. Our budget reflects the values of the agency, prioritizes investments in our transportation system and helps define our work over the next two years.

The city's booming economy and housing policies have created challenges for our transportation sector. Those challenges are reflected in the SFMTA's failure to meet safety, ridership and congestion goals. The good news is we also know that where we invest, we see safer streets and higher bike and transit use. For the years ahead, we have ambitious plans to keep investing, innovating, and meeting these challenges.

You can watch the board workshop to see how the agency plans for the future and incorporates policy guidance from our board and the public.

Below is a synopsis of some of the key topics which will help you navigate to areas of interest. Each section includes a link to the related video and a full video playlist is also included.

Welcome and Purpose

San Francisco's transportation sector is struggling across key indicators – safety, ridership and congestion
This agency, however, understands the solutions. Where the SFMTA invests we see safer streets, better transit, and higher ridership
We understand the root of the problem, including job growth, traffic speeds and housing needs

2019 Travel Decision Survey

Sustainable trips are down as a percentage of mode share
Ridership is up on transit routes improved via Muni Forward

Strategic Challenges

Consistent customer frustrations with safety; transit wait times, crowding and reliability; traffic congestion; and overall service by the agency
These challenges are known and understood by the agency and require systematic changes
FY 2021-2022 budget addresses issues across the agency

Financial Challenges

Our financial objectives are financial sustainability (on-going) and economic resiliency (disruption)
Structural imbalance exists between on-going sustainable revenues and growing expenses

Asset Management Strategy

Agency must move from a reactive culture and a preventative one
For the first time, the agency integrated asset management data and analysis into the development of the FY 2022 budget and FY 2025 Capital Improvement Program

Advancing Vision Zero

Progress made toward the strategic action plan in 2019, including 9 quick-build projects, the legislating of Market Street's closure to general vehicle use, and more
Proposal to use TNC tax: 50 percent for more quick-build projects and 50 percent for signal hardware upgrades
$1.2 million annual request for consistent educational program funding, focused on behavior change

Improving Transit Security

Plans to harden security at SFMTA facilities
Work will include repairing fences, gates and exterior doors, trimming trees and shrubs to increase visibility, and installing floodlights to increase visibility outside the buildings near the alleys or dark street corners.
Proposal to expand the Muni Transit Assistance Program (MTAP)

Delivering Excellent Service

Request for 12 new positions to increase training and support for Transit staff
Propose increased supervision staffing to build a service-oriented work culture, improve training and create an oversight team
Request for new planner and communication positions, rail and subway maintenance, and other positions and capital improvements
Launch new customer information system

Managing Congestion and Demand

Proposal to upgrade parking meter hours to 10 p.m., at lower rates, as well as green and white zones
Expansion will be based on engagement with District Supervisors and local merchants, evaluated, and potentially expanded to other areas if deemed successful
Also proposing 44 parking control officers to support multimodal safety and traffic flow

Equity and Service Expansion

Fare revenues are down, and there are concerns about access to Clipper Card add-value locations and other discounted fare programs
New fare policies could include a day pass for purchase at the fare box, monthly fare capping and other benefits through Muni Mobile
Board could also consider pausing fare indexing, reducing Clipper fare differential 50 percent ($0.25), expanding free youth program to all kids, introducing a City College annual pass
Proposing a 6 – 6.5 percent service expansion by end of the fiscal year 2022

Improving Hiring/Talent Acquisition