Give A Dose of Reality to the “Transit Effectiveness Project” This Month!

For the past several months, Really Important and Smart People have been working on a project called the Transit Effectiveness Project which is supposed to really analyze how real people such as yourselves use MUNI, and make adjustments since they really haven’t changed a lot of routes in say, 20 years.
The words that describe said action sound great, and it’s a cornerstone of the reforms in whole Proposition A campaign as well. Which is great, if it is something that is driven by good research and input from you, the citizen. If it’s just a snow job by overpaid “consultants” and bureaucrats to make people who get paid too much to look good, it’s just more hype.
Recently, many of you have written in about the collision of reality and statistics on MUNI, so you can see the bad side of this sort of thing. But how, then can one speak up and be heard by The Powers That Be at MUNI.
Wonder no more. The nice people at SPUR sent me an email with a list of meetings you the public can attend. Now, be aware that many times when “public meetings” are held, they are more “lecture” than meeting – but ultimately that’s only if you let them lecture you. Show up, ask questions, take notes and hold them to their promises. Let them know what’s really going on and hopefully a dose of reality will accompany reams of statistics.
First, there’s SPUR’s MUNI Monday meeting where representatives from the TEP will speak about the latest news, at SPUR’s offices at 312 Sutter Street from 12:30-1:30pm. These can be quite informative if you can make it – but be sure to ask questions when they finish up.
The TEP itself will be holding “community meetings” around town, most notably here in the Inner Sunset. Meeting dates and times are as follows:
Excelsior District, Sat. Oct. 20, 10:00 am to 12:30 pm
Monroe Elementary School, 260 Madrid St. at Excelsior Ave.
The nearest Muni bus lines are 14, 29, 49 and 52.
Mission District, Sat. Oct. 20, 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm
St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Alabama St. at 24th St.
The nearest Muni bus lines are 9, 27 and 48.
Inner Sunset, Mon. Oct. 22, 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm
County Fair Building (Hall of Flowers) near entrance to SF Botanical Garden
9th Ave. at Lincoln Way
The nearest Muni lines are N-Judah, 6, 43, 44, 66 and 71.

Civic Center, Tue. Oct. 23, 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, 99 Grove St. at Polk St.
The nearest BART and Muni station is Civic Center.
The nearest Muni bus lines are 9, 19, 21 and 49.
Getting ticked at bad service, or showing concern online or in print is the first step. Showing up to these meetings and shocking ’em a little with what you’re seeing is the next. Pile on the reality and your ideas, and hopefully at least some of it will find its way into whatever Big Plan the TEP people come up with.

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