Your place to share stories on and off the bus.
Photo by lynnfriedman
In this week’s transit news:
You know those yellow dotted lines on the platform? They’re there for a good reason. In this hilarious video, Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal held a press conference on a platform at the Milford Metro-North station to discuss its safety record and a train nearly takes him out.
Fittingly the train speeds by and knocks everything over just as Blumenthal said, “Safety, as you know, is paramount.”
via Rider Amy, who found the video on Gawker
Photo via SFMTA Photo Shelter by John Henry Mentz
At 5:12 a.m. on April 18, 1906, a powerful earthquake shook San Francisco. Here are three terrible yet amazing photos from the SFMTA photo shelter of the cable car powerhouses after the quake. In the photo above, take at the Washington and Mason powerhouse, a cable car is covered in falling debris from the power and car house smokestack. This photo was taken by John Henry Mentz.
Two more photos from the archive, both taken at the Oak and Broderick powerhouse.
Head over to the SFMTA Photo Shelter to see rest of “United Railroads 1906 | After the Earthquake” gallery.
Photo via SFAppeal
SFMTA approved a two-year budget that might result in an increase in Muni fares but allows drivers to park for free again. The free Sunday meters means that the agency is giving up about $11 million in annual revenue, reports SFGate.
The panel voted unanimously to scrap Sunday parking charges, setting up another showdown at the Board of Supervisors when it considers the MTA budget. The members also voted to prioritize expanded service to low-income seniors and youths, banking on some of a $15 million surplus the agency has, and delayed some planned fare increases.
More about those fare increases via the Examiner:
The transit agency’s approved two-year budget also calls for a Muni single-trip fare increase of a quarter to $2.25, a 10 percent boost in service systemwide and expanding the free Muni for low- and moderate-income youth into a permanent program that includes 18-year-olds. These and a bevy of other changes will go into effect July 1, pending approval by the Board of Supervisors. The budget is set to increase to $943.2 million next fiscal year and $962.6 million the following year.
Photo via @JimMcNutty
Officials have confirmed that the woman who was under the BART train yesterday evening had jumped in front of it, but that she survived, according to SFAppeal. At about 4:50 p.m. on Monday, we got word via Twitter from witnesses that Montgomery station was closed due to a medical emergency. BART was single-tracked and bypassed Montgomery station, which reopened around 6:15 p.m. There were massive crowds at other stations. Traffic above ground was also delayed.
From SF Appeal:
Investigators used witness statements and video to reach the conclusion that the woman jumped from the platform shortly before 5 p.m., BART police Lt. Paul Kwon said. The woman was taken to San Francisco General Hospital but Kwon did not know the extent of her injuries.
SFWeekly says that the woman was treated for head injuries but was still talking. She’s expected to survive.