San Francisco's data-driven transportation recovery

SFMTA’s data-driven transportation recovery
Data will help SFMTA keep buses out of traffic and identify additional Slow Streets possibilities.

San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA)
May 27th, 2020


The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) is using data to guide not only its reaction to the COVID-19 crisis but also how the agency will recover.

Transit’s recovery

When shelter-in-place began and the SFMTA was forced to reduce Muni service, it identified how to focus service reductions using data. The Muni Core Service Plan prioritized available resources based on locations of medical facilities, Muni’s Equity Strategy and data from shifting customer travel patterns observed during the first weeks of the COVID-19 shelter-in-place order. The service plan kept all of San Francisco within one mile of an active Muni stop. As additional resources have become available, guided by the same data as well as additional information from operators, riders and city leaders, SFMTA has increased frequency and returned some additional routes to service.

As more people return to working in retail and manufacturing, there will be an increased demand for transit, even as physical distancing still limits Muni’s capacity. If SFMTA cannot get the thousands of employees who rely on Muni to work, San Francisco cannot recover economically, says the agency.

Preventing crowding and having everyone wear masks is key to recovery. Generally, as the activities allowed by the public health order expand, SFMTA is keeping the core service routes and increasing capacity and frequency. The increased frequency helps limit crowding and promote physical distancing. ..............(more)

https://www.masstransitmag.com/management/press-release/21139886/san-francisco-municipal-transportation-agency-sfmta-sfmtas-datadriven-transportation-recovery