San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency officials asked for the public’s input on what Muni stops should be available for shared use by private commuter shuttles as part of an upcoming 18-month pilot program.
The program, approved by the SFMTA board of directors last month, will charge $1 per stop for the use of Muni stops by companies like Google and Facebook that use shuttles to transport their employees to work.
The shuttles will be able to stop at 200 of Muni’s 2,500-plus bus stops but have to yield to Muni, pull to the front of the bus stop and follow other guidelines.
Community members have until Feb. 23 to participate in the selection of the shuttle stop locations via an interactive map at http://sfcommutershuttles.sfmta.com.
Those without Internet access will be able to attend two open house meetings on the program. The first meeting is at 6 p.m. Monday at SFMTA headquarters at 1 S. Van Ness Ave. and the other is at 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 22 at Mission High School, 3750 18th St.
SFMTA officials say the commuter shuttles provide more than 35,000 boardings per day in the city, eliminating traffic and pollution.
However, critics of the shuttles say they symbolize the rising costs of living in San Francisco, provide a private transit system for the affluent and cause delays to Muni service.
The pilot program is scheduled to start on July 1.
Dan McMenamin, Bay City News
