Transit Briefs: SFMTA, MDOT, Metrolinx, TriMet, Phoenix Valley Metro
SFMTA
SFMTA’s 2024 annual report, Next Stop: A Thriving San Francisco (see above), covers its accomplishments from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024—from how people are getting around in new ways to how the transit agency is working to meet the city’s transportation needs now and in the future.
“The pandemic changed the way people work,” SFMTA said Oct. 17, when it released the report. “San Francisco has one of the largest populations of remote workers, and this has had a significant impact on the commute to downtown. But we’ve seen growing demand on routes that connect neighborhoods.”
At the end of the fiscal year, ridership was 74% of 2019 levels—“among the best recovery rates for any transit agency in the country,” SFMTA reported. Since then, it has grown to 78%, and the agency reached another milestone last month. “Our average weekday ridership in September was more than half a million people,” it said. “Ridership is growing because Muni is faster, safer and more reliable than it has ever been. A large reason for this is our Muni Forward program, which marked its 10th anniversary in 2024. Over the past decade, we’ve built more than 75 miles of transit lanes and made transit improvements to 100 miles of our streets. Delays are down to one-quarter of 2019 levels. Long delays are down more than 65%.”
Among SFMTA’s highlights from the past year:
- Completed several “milestone” projects, including the L Taraval Improvement Project. In collaboration with other city agencies, SFMTA completely rebuilt the L Taraval track and the water and sewer lines under the street—much of which were more than a century old—and built new boarding islands and installed a new Overhead Contact System, curb ramps, and new signals. Also repaired and rehabilitated was the 100-year-old Twin Peaks Tunnel.
- Improved streets through its “Quick-Build” program, which helped to reduce crashes involving bicycles and pedestrians.
- Marked the 10th anniversary of Vision Zero in San Francisco, which SFMTA described as an “international policy goal to eliminate traffic fatalities.” San Francisco was one of the first U.S. cities to adopt it. “Our Vision Zero work has included painting high-visibility crosswalks, giving walkers head starts at signals, reducing speeds and daylighting (prohibiting parking within 20 feet of an intersection),” the agency said. “These improvements have gone a long way toward reducing fatalities on our streets.” SFMTA is now planning the next phase of Vision Zero, which will include 33 speed safety cameras citywide.
- Advanced equity and accessibility. “Part of our mission is to provide service to San Francisco’s most transit-dependent neighborhoods,” the agency said. “Our Muni Service Equity Strategy helps us correct historic inequities in such neighborhoods as: Bayview, Chinatown, The Mission, Oceanview/Ingleside, Outer Mission/Excelsior, Tenderloin/SoMa, Treasure Island, Visitacion Valley, and The Western Addition.” The agency’s paratransit programs, including the Paratransit Van and the Paratransit Taxi, provided more than half a million trips to seniors and people with disabilities in the past fiscal year. It also improved its micromobility programs, approving permits for Lime and Spin to provide scooter share service in the city.
- Launched a Curbside Electric Vehicle Charging Pilot to test the feasibility of providing charging infrastructure to people who do not have their own garages. “This could speed the transition to electric vehicles and help the city meet its climate goals,” the agency reported.
“We are committed to supporting San Francisco as it reinvents itself after the pandemic,” the agency summed up. “We are building a transportation network for the future. One that will better serve the city’s growth and work for all San Franciscans and visitors.”
MDOT
Maryland’s Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld and Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day have signed a memorandum of understanding (see above) to advance transit-oriented development opportunities, MDOT reported Oct. 21. The move is slated to help increase transit ridership, support economic development, maximize the efficient use of transportation infrastructure, and increase affordable housing opportunities.
“The interagency agreement formalizes an existing partnership and a commitment to collaborate on efforts to create more affordable housing near transit stations,” MDOT reported. “It specifies areas for collaboration between the two departments, including legislative proposals, application development and funding consideration, housing and transit advocacy, and partner outreach. Specifically, it gives priority to transit adjacent sites and MDOT joint development projects in funding programs that the Department of Housing and Community Development oversees. That means more housing, particularly affordable housing, where it is needed most—next to high-quality transit assets.”
According to MDOT, the Moore-Miller Administration 2024 State Plan identifies transit-oriented development “as a critical tool in advancing the state’s transit, economic development, housing, and climate goals.”
“This partnership is a win-win for Maryland families as transit-oriented development will help lower the costs of housing while increasing access and ridership to transit,” Secretary Wiedefeld said. “Secretary Day and the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development are tremendous teammates with helping to expand affordable housing across the state.”
“Supporting the development of dense housing around transit is critical to addressing our state’s housing shortage of over 96,000 units,” Secretary Day said. “We know that progress doesn’t come without partnership. Through this agreement, we’re making firm our commitment to collaboration with our partners at the Maryland Department of Transportation in addressing the housing shortage and fostering economic vitality for communities across the state.”
Metrolinx
Metrolinx will soon offer more rush-hour service on the Milton GO Line. Starting Nov. 4, an additional morning rush-hour trip will depart Milton GO Station at 8:15 a.m., making all stops to Union Station. For the commute home, an additional afternoon rush-hour trip will depart Union Station at 4:40 p.m., making all stops to the Milton GO Station.
Additionally, starting Nov. 3, Metrolinx said it will adjust schedules across the network “to better reflect actual travel times.” These adjustments, it said, mean that some scheduled times have changed:
- Lakeshore West: Some weekday westbound trips will depart Union Station up to two minutes earlier.
- Kitchener: Some weekday trips will depart up to one minute earlier or later.
- Barrie: Some trips will depart up to two minutes earlier or later.
- Milton: Trips from some stations will depart up to two minutes earlier or later. Departure times at Union Station will remain the same.
- Richmond Hill: Trips from some stations will depart up to two minutes earlier or later. Departure times at Union Station will remain the same.
In other Metrolinx news, work is now under way across all Ontario Line project contracts.
TriMet
TriMet has achieved the highest possible bond rating from Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) for the seventh consecutive year, according to the transit agency that provides light rail, commuter rail, bus and paratransit services in the Portland, Ore., metropolitan area.
KBRA, an independent financial institution known for assessing the creditworthiness of government agencies, gave TriMet a AAA rating in relation to its Senior Lien Payroll Tax Revenue Bonds and its ability to repay those bonds.
“TriMet’s AAA rating reflects a solid vote of confidence in our ability to manage our finances responsibly and remain resilient in the face of economic challenges,” TriMet reported Oct. 21. “Similar top-tier ratings last year from Moody’s (Aaa) and previously from Standard & Poor’s (AAA), two additional leading credit rating agencies, place TriMet in an elite group, underscoring our role as a financially stable transit agency.”
These ratings directly affect how the agency can borrow money for major projects, enabling it to secure better terms and lower interest rates, TriMet explained. This, in turn, allows the agency to reinvest in its transit system, improve service, purchase new vehicles, and fund key infrastructure projects like the recently completed A Better Red MAX extension.
“According to KBRA’s latest report, TriMet’s payroll tax revenues have shown ‘resilience during economic downturns’ and benefit from ‘a diverse and strong economic base,’” TriMet said. “The report praised TriMet for our ability to manage our resources carefully, with KBRA affirming that TriMet’s payroll taxes—our primary source of funding—are a highly stable and reliable revenue stream.”
TriMet’s continued strong ratings are the result of careful financial planning and oversight, as well as a conservative approach to debt, according to the agency. “While TriMet has issued debt to fund important projects, we remain well within our debt policy limits,” it said. “KBRA noted that TriMet’s strong debt service coverage and the safeguards in place to prevent over-borrowing help ensure long-term financial stability. ‘TriMet’s ability to maintain high debt service coverage margins demonstrates its careful and effective financial management,’ the report noted.”
Looking ahead, TriMet reported that it plans to issue additional bonds starting in early fiscal year 2026, “further fueling projects critical to enhancing service, improving infrastructure, and keeping our region moving.”
Phoenix Valley Metro
Valley Metro’s newly launched fare system, Smart Fare, offers options for riders to pay for fares with cash. “With Smart Fare, riders choose between paying with the Valley Metro app or a reloadable Copper card,” the transit agency reported Oct. 21. “You load money to the card or app and scan mobile fare or tap the card every time you ride.”
How to add funds to the app with cash:
- Visit valleymetro.org/appcash to find a participating retail location.
- Open the Valley Metro app.
- Select “Wallet” on the bottom of the screen.
- Select “Add funds” and then “Add funds with cash.”
- Ask the cashier to scan the bar code on the screen and tell them the amount you would like to add.
How to purchase or reload a Copper card with cash:
- Use one of the fare machines located at light rail stations.
- Go to a transit center (Ed Pastor, Sunnyslope or Central Station).
- Visit valleymetro.org/coppercard to find a participating retail location. Hand the cashier your Copper card, ask them to scan the bar code on the back of the card and tell them the amount you would like to add.
According to the transit agency, a 1-Ride cash option is still available onboard the bus and at fare machines at light rail stations.
