Skip to content.

City and County of San Francisco
Municipal Transportation Agency
Citizens’ Advisory Council (SFMTA CAC)

Regular Meeting Minutes

Thursday, August 7, 2008, at 5:30 p.m.
1 South Van Ness Avenue, Conference Room 3074
San Francisco, California

1. Call to Order / Roll Call

Chairman Murphy called the meeting to order at 5:40 p.m. 

SFMTA CAC members present at Roll Call:  Mary Burns, Joan Downey, Emily Drennen, Steve Ferrario, Daniel Murphy, Norman Rolfe, Dorris Vincent, Ruth Wheeler and Jamison Wieser. 

SFMTA CAC members present, but absent at Roll Call: Cesar Perez arrived at 5:48 p.m.

SFMTA CAC absent:  Art Cimento, Griffith Humphrey, Greg Riessen, and Dan Weaver.

2. Adopt minutes of June 5, 2008: 

On motion to adopt the minutes of June 5, 2008:
Adopted: Ayes – Burns, Downey, Drennen, Ferrario, Murphy, Rolfe, Vincent, Wheeler and Wieser. (Absent – Cimento, Perez, Humphrey, Riessen and Weaver)

3. Public Comment concerning any issue within the jurisdiction of the Council and not noted on the agenda:

None.

4. Report of the Chairman: Daniel Murphy

Chairman Murphy reminded CAC members that information requests needed to be directed through council and committee chairmen.

Chairman Murphy said that the CAC discussion and recommendations on TEP issues will be concluded at the September 4, 2008 meeting. 

Chairman Murphy said that an FAC meeting would be scheduled in August or September to discuss Revenue Panel Options.  It would be followed by a special CAC meeting.

Chairman Murphy appointed Greg Riessen to the EMSC.

Jamison Wieser said that Emily Drennen resigned from the PMC.  Chairman Murphy said that he would attend the PMC to ensure a quorum.  He encouraged other CAC members to attend the PMC as well.

5. Election of Chairman (Discussion/Action)

Dorris Vincent moved to re-elect Daniel Murphy as CAC Chairman. 

On motion to re-elect Dan Murphy as CAC Chairman: Adopted: Ayes – Burns, Downey, Drennen, Ferrario, Murphy, Perez, Rolfe, Vincent, Wheeler and Wieser. (Absent – Cimento, Humphrey, Riessen and Weaver)

6. Election of Vice Chairman (Discussion/Action)

Dorris Vincent moved to re-elect Steve Ferrario as CAC Vice Chairman. 

On motion to re-elect Steve Ferrario as CAC Vice Chairman: Adopted: Ayes – Burns, Downey, Drennen, Ferrario, Murphy, Perez, Rolfe, Vincent, Wheeler and Wieser. (Absent – Cimento, Humphrey, Riessen and Weaver)

7. Staff Report (Discussion/Action) Roberta Boomer

Roberta Boomer, SFMTA Board Secretary, presented the staff report.

Joan Downey said that the information request in the staff report regarding stop signs at Willard and Cole doesn’t represent her concern.  The location needs additional signage to indicate that through traffic does not stop. 

Mary Burns said that almost every morning there are delays on the M-line inbound from the Balboa Station to the West Portal Station between 7:15 and 8:00 a.m.  She would like someone to look at what is going on.  Joan Downey added that the Daily Operations reports had previously provided the time when LRVs were at different checkpoints.  She said that the information was helpful.

8. Advertising on SFMTA Property (Discussion/Action) Sonali Bose and Gail Stein

Gail Stein, Manager, Property Contracts and Development, stated that the Request for Proposals for advertising will be heard by the SFMTA Board on August 19, 2008.  The advertising RFP includes transit vehicles, garages, facilities, tunnels, fare media, signage and information kiosks.  Five percent of the buses and ten percent of the LRVs will be considered for advertising wraps.  58% of the comments received from the public were favorable.  All revenues generated from window wraps would be allocated to vehicle maintenance and repairs.  Sonali Bose, CFO/Director of Finance and Administration, said that there is no funding for wrecked vehicles.  Ms. Bose stated that Ruth Wheeler’s suggestion to wrap only one car of a two-car train was a good idea.

Chairman Murphy reminded the Council that during the previous budget cycle the CAC recommended full support of revenue through advertising.  Wrapped vehicles are part of the strategy.  While wrapped vehicles may be unpleasant, the alternatives are higher fares or less service.

Public Comment

David Pilpel said that he was comfortable with advertising on a larger percent of the fleet.  Ms. Bose stated that the advertising RFP would generate $4 to $5 million per year.

Chairman Murphy asked the Secretary to call item 13, Recommendations from the Planning and Marketing Committee.

9. TEP (Transit Effectiveness Project) (Discussion/Action) Julie Kirschbaum

Julie Kirschbaum, TEP Program Manager, stated that the SFMTA is expecting a lot of public comment at the September 16, 2008 Board meeting.  Information will soon be available in Chinese and Spanish on the website.  The website has accumulated 4,000 comments and over 20,000 unique address hits and 30,000 site visits.  TEP materials will also be available in multi-language postcards, e-mail and car cards.  Information will be posted at the main library as well as at One South Van Ness Avenue. 

There have been several public workshops and community briefings.  She and Mr. Ford also met with employees at every division and at One South Van Ness Avenue.  Ms. Kirschbaum stated that the SFMTA has hired five new schedulers to make more realistic schedules.  New street inspectors and assistant superintendents are being hired and trained to improve service delivery.  To fill the gap in operators, class size has been increased from 15 to 30 students with a future goal to increase the number to 50 students per class.  The SFMTA is hiring mechanics and re-evaluating maintenance needs. 

Ms. Kirschbaum reviewed the TEP changes made since the February CAC meeting.

The E and the F lines have been included in the rapid network.  Service for the rapid network would increase by ten percent to reduce crowding.  Changes include all day limited-stop services, faster boarding, ticket vending machines and other strategies to board people faster. 

Ms. Kirschbaum stated that there will be a terminal built near SF State for the M and the J lines.  She covered TEP changes for various routes.

Ms. Kirschbaum stated that 20 to 25 passenger zero-emission electric vans will serve community routes that have low ridership and that are on tight streets.  The SFMTA is working on a grant for a pilot program to provide door-to-door service for seniors who do not qualify for paratransit.  Routes under consideration for the pilot program are the 56 and the 66.  These routes were originally slated for elimination, but because they are basic access routes on hills, it was decided to test van service.  Dorris Vincent expressed concern about plans to change from buses to vans on the 56 line, as there will be new housing in the area.  Ms. Kirschbaum stated that the current loads and ridership projections do not warrant buses.  Chairman Murphy added that as the service demand grows, the vehicle requirement could change.

Public Comments

David Pilpel asked about headways and weekend service.  Ms. Kirschbaum stated that the information will be posted on the website.

Mr. Pilpel asked if the new MOU with TWU Local 250A precluded van service.  Ms. Kirschbaum responded that it did not, but some details of the service may need to be negotiated.

10. Committee Reports: 

None.

11. Recommendation from a CAC Committee (Discussion/Action)
Operations and Customer Service Committee (EMSC)

Motion 080611.01
Given the present train control and signaling system’s instability and overall reduction of passenger throughput of the Metro Subway since 1998, the SFMTA CAC recommends that the Automatic Train Control System should be replaced with a manual system.

Additionally a matching manual system should be installed in the new Central
Subway, resulting in increased stability at a decreased cost.

On motion to approve Motion 080611.01:

Adopted: Ayes – Burns, Downey, Drennen, Ferrario, Murphy, Perez, Rolfe, Vincent, Wheeler and Wieser. (Absent – Cimento, Humphrey, Riessen and Weaver)

Motion 080611.02
The SFMTA CAC recommends leaving the original signal system, as installed, in the subway.  Money currently budgeted for its removal should be used for research, engineering and design of an entirely new manual system to replace the Automatic Train Control System.

On motion to approve Motion 080611.02:
Adopted: Ayes – Burns, Downey, Drennen, Ferrario, Murphy, Perez, Rolfe, Vincent, Wheeler and Wieser. (Absent – Cimento, Humphrey, Riessen and Weaver)

Motion 080611.03
The SFMTA CAC recommends that when the track diamonds are replaced at Church and Market, an outbound track be added to allow streetcars to turn left from Market Street to Church Street.  This would be a companion to the existing inbound track, which allows a right turn from Church Street to Market Street.  This addition to an already planned re-tracking project would provide additional flexibility for the streetcar fleet.

On motion to approve Motion 080611.03:

Adopted: Ayes – Burns, Downey, Drennen, Ferrario, Murphy, Perez, Rolfe, Vincent, Wheeler and Wieser. (Absent – Cimento, Humphrey, Riessen and Weaver)

12. Recommendation from a CAC Committee (Discussion/Action)
Operations and Customer Service Committee (OCSC)

Motion 080616.04
The SFMTA CAC recommends that the SFMTA investigate an expedited procedure for towing private vehicles in the path of Muni vehicles, and that this procedure would include a system by which tow truck operators would receive reasonable compensation for situations in which the obstruction is cleared before the tow truck arrives.

On motion to approve Motion 080616.04:

Adopted: Ayes – Burns, Drennen, Ferrario, Murphy, Perez, Rolfe, Vincent, Wheeler and Wieser. (Absent – Cimento, Downey, Humphrey, Riessen and Weaver)

Motion 080616.05
The SFMTA recommends that the San Francisco Police Department and/or the Department of Parking and Traffic ticket all vehicles obstructing Muni lines and that Police and Parking Control Officers are instructed that tickets be issued in all such circumstances, and that officer discretion not be exercised.

On motion to approve Motion 080616.15:
Adopted: Ayes – Burns, Drennen, Ferrario, Murphy, Perez, Rolfe, Vincent, Wheeler and Wieser. (Absent – Cimento, Downey, Humphrey, Riessen and Weaver)

13. Recommendation from a CAC Committee (Discussion/Action)
Planning and Marketing Committee (PMC)

Motion 080717.01
WHEREAS, The SFMTA is chronically underfunded,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT The SFMTA CAC supports the Request for Proposals for Advertising on San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Property.

Chairman Murphy moved to amend the motion to insert the language, “The MTA CAC urges the Agency to collect statistics on crime comparing wrapped and unwrapped vehicles and to report those statistics to the SFMTA Board and the SFMTA CAC in one year.” Without objection Motion 080717.01 was amended to add the sentence.

Norman Rolfe moved to amend Motion 080717.01 to delete “The MTA CAC urges the Agency to collect statistics on crime comparing wrapped and unwrapped vehicles and to report those statistics to the SFMTA Board and the SFMTA CAC in one year” and insert “The SFMTA CAC recommends that vehicle wraps would not be allowed to cover the windows of the vehicles.”

On motion to amend Motion 080717.01:

Ayes – Burns, Downey, Perez, Rolfe and Vincent
Nayes – Drennen, Ferrario, Murphy, Wheeler and Wieser
(Absent – Cimento, Humphrey, Riessen and Weaver)

The motion failed adoption.

On motion regarding the Request for Proposals for advertising:

WHEREAS, The SFMTA is chronically underfunded,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT The SFMTA CAC supports the Request for Proposals for advertising on San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Property.

The MTA CAC urges the Agency to collect statistics on crime comparing wrapped and unwrapped vehicles and to report those statistics to the SFMTA Board and the SFMTA CAC in one year.

Ayes – Burns, Downey, Perez, Rolfe and Vincent
Nayes – Drennen, Ferrario, Murphy, Wheeler and Wieser
(Absent – Cimento, Humphrey, Riessen and Weaver)

The motion failed adoption. 

CAC member Joan Downey left the meeting

14. Council Members’ Questions/Information Requests: (Discussion)

Norman Rolfe requested clarification regarding BB1 and BB12 and BB6 codes in the response to information request #080616-03.

Jamison Wieser said that 9 out of 14 of this year’s derailments occurred at 4th and King Streets.  There is no signal priority and passengers are missing trains.  Chairman Murphy directed the topic to the EMSC meeting. 

15. Agenda Planning for the Next Regular Meeting Tentatively Scheduled:

Next regular meeting:  September 4, 2008 at 1 South Van Ness Avenue, Conference Room 3074, at 5:30 p.m.

• September CAC meeting will be devoted to TEP

• Handicap plaque fraud (future topic)

16. Adjournment:  The meeting was adjourned at 8:24 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by:
Debra J. Reed
SFMTA CAC - Secretary

Accessible meeting policy – One South Van Ness Avenue

telephone311 Free language assistance / 免費語言協助 / Ayuda gratuita con el idioma / Бесплатная помощь переводчиков / Trợ giúp Thông dịch Miễn phí / Assistance linguistique gratuite / 無料の言語支援 / 무료 언어 지원 / Libreng tulong para sa wikang Tagalog / คว“มช่วยเหลือท“งภ“ษ“โดยไม่เส’ยค่าใช้จ่าย

 

©2000-2013 San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. All rights reserved.