San Francisco MUNI Board of Directors
discuss service and safety issues

By Brent Begin, Bay City News Service

September 26, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) - Officials from the largest public transportation agency in the Bay Area met today in San Francisco to discuss a range of issues including improving service and safety for riders.

Nathaniel P. Ford Sr., who became director of transportation for the Municipal Transportation Agency in January, remained positive today as he addressed the board of directors on issues from new technology to streamlining management.

He also brought up several issues that have been plaguing Muni for years, such as on time standards, safety and staffing.

"There are no less than a dozen factors that are under our control," Ford said as ran down a list projected in front of about 40 onlookers.

One of those issues, on-time performance, has drawn attention recently. Ford said that for the last decade Muni has been "treading water" and that while running Muni on time 100 percent of the time is the projected goal of the agency, he conceded that Muni would be better off with a more realistic goal like 85 percent.

In 1999, San Francisco voters passed Proposition H, a taxpayer-funded bill that requires Muni run at least 85 percent on time.

Ford also addressed the board on safety, which he said was being funded by an extra $2 million and with the help of the Police Department, and on staffing, which he said he would like to bring to its full level within a year.

"At this point, we are well short of the operators we need," he said.

Copyright © 2006 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.

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