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Acting SFMTA director reviews N Judah pilot, halon-trigger shutdown and announces speed-camera public-education push
Summary
Acting Director Julie Kirschbaum told the SFMTA board the agency ran a four-day N Judah layover pilot to assess impacts on businesses, operators and riders with disabilities, opened a citywide education campaign ahead of speed safety cameras, and said an internal probe found rumors that ICE boarded Muni vehicles were false.
Acting Director Julie Kirschbaum told the Municipal Transportation Agency Board on Feb. 4 that staff ran a four-day pilot changing the N Judah layover to test effects on local businesses, operators and riders with disabilities, and that the agency will collect site visit feedback, operator input and public comments before determining next steps.
Kirschbaum also described a vendor error that forced a temporary shutdown of Market Street and the Central Subway on Friday, March 31, when a contractor triggered a halon fire-suppression system. She said the system worked as designed, the facilities were evacuated, the fire department cleared the sites and staff found no permanent infrastructure damage. “We learned quite a bit from this unexpected exercise,” Kirschbaum said, adding that the agency is revising contractor-clearance procedures and scheduling of critical work.
On street safety, Kirschbaum previewed a citywide public-education campaign launched Jan. 27 announcing that speed safety cameras will go live this spring in permitted locations. She said camera testing will begin with a minimum 60-day warning period before fines are issued and that “any revenue generated from this program will be directly invested in street safety treatments.” The campaign includes multilingual materials, billboards and digital outreach.
Kirschbaum also addressed circulating rumors that Immigration and Customs Enforcement had entered a Muni vehicle. “These rumors are not true,” she said, reporting that SFMTA conducted an internal investigation with the city administrator's office and police department and found no ICE raid. She described staff protocols if federal agents enter SFMTA property and urged riders to consult the city's Know Your Rights resources.
The director highlighted event planning for a busy February weekend that will include the NBA All-Star events and the Chinese New Year parade, noting city and agency coordination on free fares for the parade weekend and supplemental service. She thanked staff, BART and bus operators for mutual aid during the halon incident and described a welcome but unusual early-morning sighting of coyotes in the Central Subway that did not delay service.
Board members thanked staff for the report and asked for follow-up on how the N Judah pilot's business impacts will be evaluated; Kirschbaum said site visits and operator feedback will inform the agency's next steps.
