The SFMTA and Mayor Ed Lee's office announced an 18-month pilot program today with tech companies utilizing private employee shuttles that will allow said shuttles to use Muni bus stops for a fee and under certain agreed-upon guidelines. Providers will be allowed to use 200 of the more than 2500 Muni stops and will be charged based on a per stop, per day, cost recovery schedule. Providers will also operate under agreed-upon guidelines, such as yielding to Muni and pulling to the front of the zone making more room for other vehicles. SFMTA will enforce the guidelines ensuring only participating companies are using shared zones. It will be illegal to use all other bus zones. SFMTA Director of Transportation Ed Reiskin says that the agreement is projected to bring in $1.5M during the 18 month pilot program. If that doesn't seem like much to some people that's because under CA Proposition 218 the SFMTA cannot create a fee structure that goes beyond the cost to provide such a service or policy. Basically, the fees are set to cover the cost of enforcing of the program. The pilot will go into effect after approval from the MTA board of directors. Supervisor Scott Wiener supports the pilot program and added, "We need to stop stereotpying and scapegoating and demonizing people who work in the tech sector." via @joenewsman, @mcbridesg, @cynthia_says
Reps of Google and other tech co's join SF Mayor Ed Lee to announce new bus stop agreement. pic.twitter.com/3auYvnZF5s
— Joe Vazquez (@joenewsman) January 6, 2014@cynthia_says 35k * 260 days = 9.1m rides. Seems like if they were charging Muni fares, that'd be $18.2m/year.
— Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) January 6, 2014
