San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency s.f. muni Transit Information for Seniors and People with Disabilities s.f. muni access guide table of contents Getting Started 7 Bus Access 15 Access on Muni Metro 21 Access to Muni Historic Streetcars 29 Muni Accessibility Advisory Committee 35 Paratransit 37 The SF Muni Access Guide was written by SFMTA Accessible Services. Design and production is by MIG, Inc., revised by SFMTA Marketing. Fully accessible electronic versions of this publication can be found at www.sfmta.com/publications April 2012 getting started getting started The San Francisco Municipal San Francisco. Trains run in the subway Transportation Agency (SFMTA) manages downtown and on surface streets in the and operates the city’s surface trans- neighborhoods. portation network, which encompasses transit, paratransit, pedestrians, parking The Historic F Line runs between Castro and traffic, bicycles and taxi regulation. and Market streets and Fisherman’s The San Francisco Municipal Railway, Wharf. The historic streetcars are or Muni, is the transit arm of the SFMTA accessible at most stops via platforms and provides service that is accessible that provide level boarding for customers to seniors and persons with disabilities who use wheelchairs and others who 24 hours a day, seven days a week. need it. This chapter provides an overview of the Muni’s rubber tire vehicles are wheelchair system and descriptions of trip planning accessible and operate on an extensive and fare payment options. network of routes that provide service within two blocks of most city addresses. Travel Options Accessible boarding for wheelchair users is The agency operates light rail vehicles available on all modes except cable cars. (LRVs), historic streetcars, “rubber tire” vehicles includ- ing diesel buses, hybrid/ diesel buses, electric trolley coaches and the world famous cable cars. The Metro system consists of six light rail lines, the J Church, K Ingleside, L Taraval, M Ocean View, N Judah and the T Third, that serve downtown and neigh- borhoods in the western and southeastern parts of Clockwise from top left: light rail; hybrid/diesel vehicle; diesel bus; electric trolley; historic streetcar. [ 4 ] muni access guide muni access guide [ 5 ] getting started started the locations of station to-use, reloadable Clipper elevators on Market Street transit fare card. Clipper card east of Van Ness Avenue holders can load monthly and shows which surface F passes or cash value on their Line streetcar and light rail card, which is accepted by Above: 511.org, sf311.org and Metro stops are accessible most Bay Area transit agen- NextMuni for customers who require cies (e.g., BART, AC Transit, level boarding. Caltrain and others). The Clipper card replaces all paper to a shelter or pole. You For customers who need to use an can call 511 and provide “Fast Passes” and the monthly discount elevator to access a Metro station, there fare sticker, as these media can now be Planning Your Trip the stop number to get are a few options for checking to make bus arrival times. The website features loaded electronically onto the Clipper sure the elevators needed are in service. card. A variety of tools are available to assist a “Take Transit” trip planner. When you Call the San Francisco Customer Service you in planning a transit trip. enter your origin and destination, the Center information number, 311 (outside Regional Transit Connection (RTC) trip planner provides several bus and rail the 415 area code dial 415.701.2311), discount ID cards for customers with The website www.NextMuni.com can options for your trip. to get information about Metro station disabilities have all the capabilities of a be used to select origin and destina- elevators 24 hours a day. Information Clipper card. RTC card holders can load tion stops on all light rail lines and bus The SFMTA Streets & Transit Map (left) regarding elevator status at shared a monthly discount pass on their card, or routes. NextMuni information can be shows all bus, light rail, historic streetcar Muni/BART stations can also be obtained load cash to pay a discounted single ride accessed from Internet-enabled handheld and cable car routes and can be used to from BART by calling 510.834.LIFT or fare (for information on how devices such as cell phones and personal help plan a transit trip. The map includes 888.235.3828 (information is updated to obtain an RTC digital assistants (PDAs) so you can plan many San Francisco points of interest for when there is a change in status). During card see page X). your trip in advance or as you go. visitors, as well as government buildings your Metro trip, look for elevator status like City Hall and the San Francisco Main Clipper also offers a Digital signs that provide real-time arrival messages that are provided on the train Library. The map can be viewed online Senior Clipper card information are available at Metro sta- information screens at many Muni street at www.sfmta.com or for customers aged tions and at many transit shelters. The level platforms, station agent booths and purchased at a variety of 65 and older. The distinctive new “seismic wave” transit on subway platforms. locations including at the Senior Clipper card shelters and many of the older shelters SFMTA Customer Service allows customers have “push-to-talk” buttons that, when Center at 11 South Van to load discounted pressed, provide a voice announcement Ness Avenue, City Hall monthly passes or of the arrival times displayed on the and many stores through- add cash value to pay digital sign. out the city (see the Paying your Fare the discounted senior SFMTA website for spe- Another helpful resource is 511.org ® fare each time they cific vendor locations). Clipper which provides information via telephone The SFMTA recently introduced the easy- ride. To obtain a Senior Clipper card you (511) and on the website www.511.org. Note that the map shows must fill out an application and provide All bus stops have an ID number affixed [ 6 ] muni access guide muni access guide [ 7 ] getting started proof of age. Applications are accepted a pass loaded. You may at the SFMTA Customer Service Center also use a TVM to load a (11 South Van Ness Avenue at Market monthly pass or cash onto Street), at the SFMTA Presidio Fast Pass your Clipper card. Sales Kiosk (949 Presidio at Masonic), on the concourse level of the Embarcadero You are encouraged to call BART/Muni Station and at the Bay Clipper to register your card Crossings storefront in the San Francisco so you will not lose the value Ferry Building. of your pass or cash if your card is lost, stolen or damaged. Lost, As part of the transition to Clipper, the damaged or defective RTC/Clipper agency has installed new fare gates cards should also be reported to the and ticket vending machines (TVMs) RTC office (415.252.3291); problems with at all Metro stations (Embarcadero, Senior Clipper cards should be reported Montgomery, Powell, Civic Center, Church, to Clipper at 877.878.8883. Please note Castro, Forest Hill and West Portal). The that there is a $5 fee to replace a lost, new TVMs dispense discount single-ride stolen or damaged RTC/Clipper card. SFMTA Customer Service Center at 11 South Van Ness Avenue reloadable tickets that are valid for 90 days from the date of purchase. You can HOW TO PAY USING CLIPPER Note that Proof of Payment (POP) is are eligible to pay the discounted cash also use a TVM to load a monthly pass or required throughout the system. You fare to ride Muni. On buses, streetcars cash onto your Clipper card. To pay your fare using a Clipper card on a must tap your Clipper card when board- and light rail vehicles operating on the bus, historic streetcar or an LRV running ing a vehicle or passing through a fare surface, you must show a valid ID to There are a few ways to load a pass on the street, simply hold your card to the gate so you can prove you have paid your pay a discount cash fare. On the Muni or cash on your Clipper, RTC or Senior lower part of the card reader as you step fare. Fare Inspectors may ask to check Metro underground, you must purchase Clipper card. You can contact Clipper into the vehicle. The reader will beep your card to see that it has been tagged. a reloadable discount ticket from a (877.878.8883) to load value or to set once to register your payment (if it beeps Customers without Proof of Payment will ticket vending machine to enter the up Autoload so that a discount pass is twice you may have a low balance on be subject to a fine. system through fare gates or via the automatically loaded on your card each your card). elevator. Fares are subject to change; month. The cost of your monthly pass will On cable cars, a conductor will tag your for current fare information call 311 or then be automatically deducted from your If you are entering the light rail system card on a hand-held Clipper reader. visit www.sfmta.com. in the subway, hold your Clipper card to bank account or charged to your credit CASH FARES card. You can also register your card and the card reader on a fare gate, which will For seniors, photo ID for proof of age is open when your fare has registered. If required. Accepted forms of ID include: set up Autoload at www.clipper.com. Seniors (age 65 and over) and people You can also take your card to a Clipper you need to use the elevator to access with disabilities with proper identification • California ID retailer, like a participating Walgreens or the Muni boarding platform, there are transit agency ticket office (call Clipper Clipper card readers installed near the for a complete list of vendors) to have elevators on the concourse level.