SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA: Transit/Transportation News

[38 Geary]

More about the Speed Safety Camera system here: https://www.sfmta.com/projects/speed-safety-cameras

Our Speed Cameras are Working: Initial Evaluation Shows Drivers are Slowing Down
By Nick Veronin
Friday, October 3, 2025

It’s been six months since the first cameras in the SFMTA’s Speed Safety Camera Program were activated. In that time, we have seen a major decrease in speeding on city streets equipped with automated speed enforcement cameras. Today, we are releasing the data from our most recently completed speed study. The study analyzed speeding at 15 key locations before and after we installed our cameras. It shows that speeding has decreased by 72% on average at these locations.

A significant decline in speeding
On average, there was a 72% reduction in speeding vehicles across these 15 sample sites.

Here are a few other key statistics from our latest speed study:
- Approximately 20,000 fewer vehicles are speeding at these locations every single day.
- Generally, there has been a 4 MPH drop in average speeds at all 15 sample sites since the installation of our cameras.
- Before speed cameras were installed, 12 of these 15 locations had average speeds higher than the posted speed limit. Today, average speed is below the posted speed limit at all 15 locations.

https://www.sfmta.com/blog/our-speed-cam...valuation-shows-drivers-are-slowing-down

[38 Geary]

Caltrain’s Brakes Feed Power Back to the Grid. And Now They’ll Reduce Its Cost
Kevin Stark
Oct 8, 2025

When Caltrain rolled out its electrified fleet last year, the new, more eco-friendly trains also came with the ability to recapture energy as they slow down and return it to the grid.

Now, the agency will start to be compensated for that power, following policy changes from local providers Peninsula Clean Energy and San José Clean Energy announced Wednesday.

Caltrain’s regenerative braking is performing better than officials originally anticipated, returning 23% of the power used by its new electric trains. As a result, the commuter rail line revised down its estimated annual power cost from $19.5 million to $16.5 million. Caltrain’s service runs on 100% renewable energy.

https://www.kqed.org/science/1998733/cal...-the-grid-and-now-theyll-reduce-its-cost

[38 Geary]

10.14.25
BART ridership continues to grow; September ridership increased by 10% over previous year

BART ridership continues to grow, with notable gains on weekends as Saturday ridership this September was nearly 20% higher compared to the previous year. More than 5 million trips were taken on BART in September, exceeding expected trips by 5%. Overall, ridership saw a nearly 10% increase over the same month last year.

The increase in ridership on the weekends, especially Saturdays, demonstrates that people are taking BART for purposes beyond getting to the office. For example, the Japan v. Mexico soccer match on Saturday, September 6, drew 23,000 trips to Coliseum Station, the third-highest ridership day for the station since the pandemic. In fact, ridership for the match was nearly a third higher than the average Saturday ridership for A’s games in 2019.

Ridership growth is only part of the solution to BART’s significant financial crisis. To close BART’s $375 million deficit with only fare revenue, current ridership levels would need to more than double; BART’s latest budget forecast estimates a 4% ridership increase in 2026. BART’s slow and steady ridership recovery correlates with work from home rates in the region. While individual riders are returning to BART, they’re taking fewer trips, likely due to remote and hybrid work schedules.

https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2025/news20251014-0

[38 Geary]

Caltrain September ridership up 48.9% year over year. Still only at 66.2% of pre-pandemic ridership though, likely due to hybrid work schedules. Weekend ridership is doing really well, beyond pre-pandemic ridership.

Here's the breakdown for September 2025:
Average weekday ridership: 41,064 +54.5% 56.7% of pre-pandemic
Average Saturday ridership: 24,557 +29.4% 148.8% of pre-pandemic
Average Sunday ridership: 18,838 +5.0% 159.0% of pre-pandemic

https://www.caltrain.com/about-caltrain/statistics-reports/ridership

[38 Geary]

Muni September ridership up 3.0% year over year. Still only at 81.1% of pre-pandemic September 2019 ridership though, likely due to hybrid work schedules.

Here's the breakdown for September 2025:
Average weekday ridership: 542,430 +3.7% 73.9% of pre-pandemic
Average Saturday ridership: 398,250 +3.7% 88.4% of pre-pandemic
Average Sunday ridership: 331,580 +1.1% 86.3% of pre-pandemic

Here's the data when looking at just Muni Metro alone:
Average weekday ridership: 116,540 +25.5% 71.2% of pre-pandemic
Average Saturday ridership: 85,560 +18.0% 99.3% of pre-pandemic
Average Sunday ridership: 67,060 +14.5% 92.3% of pre-pandemic

https://www.sfmta.com/reports/muni-ridership-average-weekday-ridership

[38 Geary]

Bye Bye, Breda: Take a Last Ride on a Transit Superstar
By Danbee Song, Melissa Culross
Monday, November 3, 2025



It’s time to say farewell to an icon of San Francisco transit. Join us next week for a final ride aboard the Breda light rail vehicles. These trains have been a staple of Muni service for three decades, carrying passengers on more than 10 million trips. They have taken countless riders to work and school. They made grocery shopping and medical appointments easier for people who cannot or choose not to drive. City residents and visitors alike have depended on them to get to the beach, museums, the theatre and many other destinations.

...

We introduced Breda trains at the height of the 1990s dot-com boom. The first Breda went into service in 1996. Over the next eight years, 151 of these vehicles joined the Muni fleet. They replaced our aging Boeing trains and became the backbone of our light rail system. The Bredas helped expand Muni Metro service from Ocean Beach to Dogpatch. And they powered major milestones in the city’s development. The Bredas were there when Pac Bell Park (now Oracle Park) opened, and they made it easier for Giants fans to get to games. They were the first trains to run on the T Third line. The Bredas were designed to meet commuter demand in an evolving city. And they were an integral part of a transit investment that helped promote housing construction and create lively new neighborhoods in the South of Market area. They have been a rolling symbol of how San Francisco innovates.

...



We began phasing out the Breda trains in 2021 to make room for the next generation of light rail vehicles. We introduced the state-of-the art Siemens LRV4 trains a few years earlier. They are faster and feature improved wheelchair access to create a better ride for all. These new trains deliver real results for us and our riders. They are three to four times more reliable than Bredas and experience fewer service delays. They have onboard predictive diagnostics to help prevent issues before they affect service. Their modern crash safety system includes energy absorption in case of collisions. They have ergonomic seating, better visibility and intuitive controls for our operators.

https://www.sfmta.com/blog/bye-bye-breda-take-last-ride-transit-superstar

[craigs]

I rode all three of these LRVs in my 24 combined years in the city. The newest vehicles are by far the best (and the Boeing ones the worst). Does anyone know if the Siemens LRVs are lighter than the Bredas?

[38 Geary]

Originally Posted by craigs

I rode all three of these LRVs in my 24 combined years in the city. The newest vehicles are by far the best (and the Boeing ones the worst). Does anyone know if the Siemens LRVs are lighter than the Bredas?

According to this, the Siemens S200 weighs in at 78,770 lbs. I think the Bredas weighed in at 80,000 lbs.

[38 Geary]

SF Muni is making a comeback
By Kasia Pawlowska, Local Editor
Nov 5, 2025



The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency has reached a milestone: Muni ridership climbed to 82% of pre-pandemic levels in September, marking the strongest recovery since COVID-19 upended the city’s transit system. According to the most recent data, weekend service has nearly returned to normal, hitting 95% of pre-pandemic ridership, while weekday trips are at 77%.

...



Leading the charge is the 49 Van Ness line, where ridership has exploded to 148% of pre-pandemic levels throughout the week — the 49 buses now also run up to 36% faster and operate 45% more reliably. The dramatic turnaround stems from concrete improvements following a $356 million, six-year project, including transit signal priority that keeps buses moving through intersections and the new configuration with center-running lanes that bypass the notorious snarls on Van Ness Avenue.

...

SFMTA’s highest-ridership routes — including the 49, the crosstown 22 Fillmore (which is also above 100% recovery) and the 14 Mission — are all performing the best because they’re “running so quickly and getting people where they need to go efficiently, conveniently” Roccaforte said. Other upgrades to lines are taking place throughout the city. The K Ingleside Rapid Project is installing longer boarding islands to allow two-car trains to get to full capacity and aiming to address a bottleneck that slows trains to as low as 5 mph, and the M Ocean View is also getting improvements based on community input.

https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/sf-muni-ridership-nears-pre-pandemic-levels-21140811.php

[38 Geary]

Survey Says: Riders Love Caltrain
10/31/2025

Caltrain released the results of its 2025 Customer Satisfaction Survey at its Technology, Operations, Planning, and Safety (TOPS) Committee meeting, with the rail agency receiving a record high satisfaction rating of 4.41 out of 5, up from 4.02 in 2024. This is the first such survey designed to capture riders’ opinions about the new and improved electric service, and it contains the best ratings in the 27-year history of the survey.

On-time train performance was a high point, with another score of 4.41, while improvements on board scored 4.42 and station improvements received 4.30. Ninety-three percent of riders said they were satisfied with their overall experience, up from 78% in 2024. Fifty-two percent of riders say they are riding more often due to the benefits of electrified service. The key benefits that riders were most likely to cite were shorter travel times (55%), increased frequency (52%), cleanliness (43%), comfort (42%) and onboard Wi-Fi (37%).

These high ratings are reflected in Caltrain’s ridership, which as of last month had grown 57% year-over-year, with weekend ridership doubling. Average weekday ridership is now at approximately 41,000, with a total of 9.2 million riders in FY 2025.

https://www.caltrain.com/news/survey-says-riders-love-caltrain

[Busy Bee]

Who would have thought that building out a modern Euro-style electrified service would be a hit with the general public? Imagine how much more thrilled people will be when you can take it all the way to Transbay.

[electricron]

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

Who would have thought that building out a modern Euro-style electrified service would be a hit with the general public? Imagine how much more thrilled people will be when you can take it all the way to Transbay.

Why? Isn't BART providing a passenger train service already transbay? I would like to point out that BART does not service the peninsular past the airport - Caltrain does.

[Nouvellecosse]

He meant extending it to the Transbay transit hub rather than having it cross the bay. That would get people closer to more jobs in the CBD reducing the "last mile" problem.

[38 Geary]

Originally Posted by electricron

Why? Isn't BART providing a passenger train service already transbay? I would like to point out that BART does not service the peninsular past the airport - Caltrain does.

Originally Posted by Nouvellecosse

He meant extending it to the Transbay transit hub rather than having it cross the bay. That would get people closer to more jobs in the CBD reducing the "last mile" problem.

Correct. This was my interpretation of Busy Bee's comment as well. Still very early on, but we are also starting to see some increased buzz around DTSF with some new office and mixed use proposals that would time nicely with The Portal (aka Downtown Rail Extension or DTX). By placing Caltrain right in the heart of the CBD, it'd reduce travel time by 10-15 minutes for a lot of riders.





https://sfyimby.com/2023/10/ceqa-approval-for-san-francisco-transbay-downtown-rail-extension.html

[38 Geary]

11.14.25
October saw highest average weekday ridership since the pandemic

BART ridership continued its steady recovery in October, posting the highest weekday average since the pandemic began. Ridership was 10.7% higher than October 2024, with an average of nearly 200,000 weekday riders. In total, passengers took more than 5.3 million trips during the month. On Saturday, October 18, BART recorded 150,000 trips—the highest Saturday ridership since the pandemic.

Usage of the new Tap and Ride payment system continues to grow. Nearly 10% of all trips in October used Tap and Ride, which allows riders to pay directly at the fare gates with a contactless bank card. Tap and Ride is now the second most-used payment method after Clipper Adult, with usage up 23% from September.

...

BART has been investing in system improvements based on rider feedback, prioritizing safety, cleanliness, and customer experience enhancements. Earlier this year, BART completed installation of stronger, more secure fare gates at all 50 stations and became the first Tap and Ride agency—a system that will soon expand to other local transit agencies through the Next Generation Clipper program. These enhancements are making a visible impact. Riders are noting cleaner trains and stations and an increased safety presence throughout the system.

https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2025/news20251114

[38 Geary]

Caltrain October ridership up 42.5% year over year. Still only at 62.2% of pre-pandemic ridership though, likely due to hybrid work schedules. Weekend ridership is doing really well, beyond pre-pandemic ridership.

Here's the breakdown for October 2025:
Average weekday ridership: 39,900 +44.6% 56.7% of pre-pandemic
Average Saturday ridership: 22,607 +39.9% 143.0% of pre-pandemic
Average Sunday ridership: 16,556 +22.1% 147.5% of pre-pandemic

https://www.caltrain.com/about-caltrain/statistics-reports/ridership

[38 Geary]

BART West Portal construction update.

• Video Link

[deanstirrat]

https://sfist.com/2025/12/03/huzzah-all-...and-debit-cards-starting-next-wednesday/

All Clipper Card Systems Take Credit and Debit Cards, Starting Today!

Yay, lets go!

[38 Geary]

12.15.25
BART ridership continues upward trend in November with double digit growth at most stations

BART ridership continued its steady upward trend in November, with double digit growth at most stations and overall ridership increasing 11.6% compared to the previous year. In total, riders took more than 4.4 million trips in November, many taking advantage of new fare programs and innovations, such as Tap and Ride and Clipper BayPass.

‘Tis the season to take BART to the airport. Ridership to SFO and OAK around Thanksgiving grew 12% over last year. Riders are also increasingly using BART on the weekends. In November, Saturday ridership increased by 19% and Sunday ridership by 16% over last year. These gains come as ridership dipped modestly from October, a pattern consistent with seasonal shifts and variations in weekday and weekend travel.

https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2025/news20251215

[38 Geary]

Caltrain Named America’s Fastest-Growing Transit Agency in APTA’s 2025 Transit Wrapped
12/10/2025

Caltrain has been recognized by the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA’s) Transit Wrapped 2025 list as the fastest growing U.S. transit agency over the last year. The increased ridership and satisfaction levels follow the launch of its new high-performance electric trains in September 2024 that offer a better experience for Caltrain riders and provide faster and more frequent service.

The spotlight of the agency’s increased ridership follows Caltrain’s own 2025 Customer Satisfaction Survey, unveiled in October, which revealed ridership had grown 57% year-over-year, with weekend ridership doubling and five consecutive months of over one million riders.

Alongside the growth in ridership, the rail agency has seen a dramatic increase in ridership satisfaction and the best ratings in the 27-year history of the survey. Surveyed riders reported a record high satisfaction rating of 4.41 out of 5, up from 4.02 in 2024.

https://www.caltrain.com/news/caltrain-n...ransit-agency-aptas-2025-transit-wrapped