Rescue Muni

Despite or because of or notwithstanding SF’s plans to cancel Halloween in the Castro, there will be some important service changes tonight:

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission and various regional rail agencies are updating the Regional Rail Plan, which covers proposed expansions to BART, Caltrain, Amtrak, and other passenger rail systems in the Bay Area. As part of this project, public workshops are being held – but despite San Francisco being the second largest city in the region (after San Jose) with the most transit boardings, there is no workshop here. Transit riders looking to promote expanded rail service should attend the workshop in Oakland on Wednesday, August 15 (there are two sessions, one at 3 pm and one at 6 pm). Nearest BART station is Lake Merritt.

Rescue Muni supports expanding High Speed Rail and Caltrain to the Transbay Terminal in San Francisco (so it’s not just a billion dollar bus station). And we support Geary Light Rail which should be part of any regional plan. BayRail Alliance also has detailed recommendations for better regional rail service.

Update: The Chronicle reports on the proposals discussed.

While Muni contemplates bus rapid transit and light rail extensions, BART is looking at a long term plan that may include some major capacity improvements, such as a new Transbay Tube and fourth track through downtown Oakland, as well as further extensions into the East Bay suburbs. San Francisco could also be served by a Geary or Van Ness line in some scenarios.

This is a 50 year conceptual plan, so don’t expect tunnel boring machines on your block just yet.