According to SFMTA's latest blog post, the city is introducing a new bus route, altering existing ones, and tweaking bus stops to enhance accessibility and reduce delays. These updates are kicking in due to a budget shortfall casting a shadow over the upcoming fiscal cycle.
For those who relied on the 6 Haight-Parnassus and 21 Hayes, the new 6 Hayes-Parnassus will be a merger of sorts. It will cover the west of Masonic stops from the former 6 and the east of Masonic stops from the latter 21. Some buses won't push past Market Street on weekdays anymore. The 5 Fulton, 9 San Bruno, and 31 Balboa will do a U-turn once they hit Market. Riders will need to hop off and transfer to get further downtown. This new service cadence is designed to connect commuters efficiently amid tightened budgets and reduced hours of operation.
Muni hasn't forgotten riders' need for clarity in these changing times. They're rolling out online tools and a new podcast episode named "Transfers That Fit Our Budget" to give a helping hand. Information about these new transitions is available in detail on SFMTA's Service Changes webpage, which is poised to help riders plan their trips without missing a beat.
For the data-driven and tech-savvy among us, these tools include interactive Transfer Maps for routes ending their journey at Market Street and a real-time trip planner. So, if you find your routine route is changing, you can stay ahead of the game. To ease into the new flow, service disruptions have been minimized, with only a 2% reduction, contrasting with the 4% initially foreseen. As SFMTA's blog post notes, this was made possible "thanks to your input this past spring."
