San Francisco Sun

San Francisco, CA – Today, Mayor London N. Breed and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) announced that the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) improvement project on Van Ness Avenue has received the highest-level designation among transit projects in the country by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP). The Silver designation, which recognizes rapid transit projects that deliver world-class passenger experiences, significant economic benefits, and positive environmental impacts, is the highest-level designation in the nation as no U.S. project attained Gold.

SFMTA launched the Van Ness BRT project in April 2022 to improve transit service and address traffic congestion on this corridor. The BRT is a high-capacity bus-based transit system designed to deliver fast, reliable, high-quality, safe, and cost-effective services at a relatively low cost. The Van Ness project includes dedicated center-running transit lanes that avoid delays from parking or turning vehicles, transit signal priority that gives buses green lights as they approach intersections, as well as low-floor vehicles and all-door boarding to facilitate quicker passenger loading and unloading.

“This recognition of San Francisco’s transportation system shows that when we invest in transit, we can deliver transformative projects that improve our City and lead the country,” said Mayor London Breed. “Building on the success of the Van Ness improvement project will continue to benefit passengers who expect our transit system to be safer, faster, and more reliable. It’s also good for businesses and the environment. We will continue to be a global leader in sustainable and efficient transportation.”

SFMTA is currently conducting an evaluation of San Francisco’s Van Ness BRT with full results expected to be released this fall. Following an interagency effort that included extensive utility maintenance, civic improvements, and safety enhancements, early results show:

- Bus travel on this corridor is now 36% faster.

- Injury traffic collisions are down by 54%.

- Transit is 45% more reliable.

- Safety improvements like pedestrian bulbs, pedestrian countdown signals, and left-turn restrictions make walking on Van Ness safer.

Last June, Mayor Breed and SFMTA officials announced that Muni received its highest customer rating in over 20 years. The survey found that 72% of Muni riders rated service as good or excellent, an increase from 66% last year and the highest rating since annual customer surveys started in 2001.

“We’ve made Muni fast, frequent, reliable, clean and safe. And riders have noticed. The 49-Van Ness/Mission ridership is at 140% of pre-pandemic levels,” said SFMTA Director of Transportation Jeffrey Tumlin.

With presence in seven countries and 100 cities worldwide, ITDP is a non-governmental organization focusing on developing bus rapid transit systems, promoting biking and walking transport modes while improving private bus operators' margins.

The institute’s BRT Standard helps cities deliver inclusive access for residents while aiding governments in meeting climate goals. Projects are measured based on their effectiveness in implementing bus-only lanes among other criteria.

“With Van Ness Avenue we redesigned an important street to reflect our values,” said SFMTA Board of Directors Chair Amanda Eaken. “San Franciscans deserve fast convenient ways of getting around.”

“Transit-only lanes make it easier for us to get up and down Van Ness so we can make green lights without being blocked by cars,” said Raymone Garner a Muni Operator of 23 years.

"The Van Ness Rapid Transit project has made a significant difference for transportation to our restaurant,” says Michael Buhagiar Chef/Owner of Harris’ Restaurant.

Over 153 BRT corridors have been established in 91 cities across 24 countries over the past decade. The Van Ness BRT is one of only three projects in the U.S. to receive Silver certification by ITDP.

Additional information on the Van Ness BRT project may be found at this link.

###