Solution demanded to Muni practice of forcing riders off light-rail vehicles

IMAG0238.jpg

Residents who live in the outer Sunset said the N-Judah has been leaving them off at 19th Avenue and Sunset Boulevard without any notification and have waited as much as 20 minutes for the next train. Photo by Jerold Chinn / SF Public Press.

Muni’s practice of  leaving passengers at light-rail stops before the end of the run and turning around – known as switchback or short-turning – came under heavy criticism before a Board of Supervisors commitee today.

The City Operations & Neighborhood service committee, chaired by Supervisor Carmen Chu, wanted to hear solutions to the problem. Chu, who has several light-rail lines in her Sunset district, including the N-Judah and L-Taraval, said she has been receiving complaints in the past several months from residents who say they have been dropped off at either 19th Avenue or Sunset Boulevard without any notification and have waited up to 20 minutes for the next train to arrive.

John Haley, Transit Director of Muni Operations, said the practice of short-turning is essential when there are major delays in the system.

He said Muni has taken steps to make things better for riders by improving communication with passengers by posting the final destination on the signage of trains, making announcements if a train is going to turn around and only doing so when there is another train within five minutes.

Chu did not like the report. “Better communications is not a solution. It’s not really going to help the problem,” she said. She said that many residents have not experienced the five minute, but instead waited for 20 minutes for the next train to arrive.

Supervisor John Avalos said the city’s “transit-first" term is meaningless for those who live outside the downtown area.

“How can you encourage transit use when in neighborhoods such as the Sunset and Excelsior when transit is unreliable,” said Avalos. He also questioned some of the options presented to the committee, which include a N-Judah Express bus.

“Mentioning options does not make it go away,” said Avalos. Both Chu and Avalos said they want solutions that can be actually implemented instead of solutions that might not never be implemented because of budget issues.

San Francisco resident Clarice Moody, who lives on 34th Avenue, said she’s more worried about residents who are unable to walk home when they are left stranded. “I was able to walk home after being dropped off 19th Avenue after a Giants game, but there are some folks who are not able- bodied,” said Moody.

Chu asked for more information from Muni management, including past history of short-turning and how the five minute waiting policy was established.

Don't miss out on our newest articles, episodes and events!
Sign up for our newsletter