Concerned Caltrain/Muni Patrons of San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties

We, the undersigned, respectfully urge that the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and specifically Nathaniel P. Ford hold a meeting in downtown San Francisco during normal business hours within 30 days of April 16, 2007, to listen to and address the concerns of riders commuting from San Mateo and Santa Clara counties via Caltrain and Muni.

The specific areas of concern that should be addressed during this meeting include:

A. Inadequate transit capacity to accommodate the large numbers of passengers arriving at one time from each train during the normal commute hours. (Single car trains are inadequate, unsafe and uncomfortable when large quantities of Caltrain passengers arrive en masse. This also impacts train schedules and increases commute time since overcrowded trains increase station dwell time)

B. Accurate next train information on electronic signs at Caltrain and Muni boarding platforms so that passengers can confidently and safely proceed to the appropriate boarding area. (Some passengers, including those with limited mobility, have had to run between boarding areas across five busy lanes of traffic, sometimes multiple times)

C. Adherence to bus/train intervals so that riders can be confident that when they leave their office to board a bus/train, it will arrive in time for them to make their Caltrain connection at 4th and King. Waiting 20 minutes or more during commute hours was not infrequent with the N line. Long intervals also cause overcrowding and increased station dwell time as larger quantities of passengers jam into late buses and trains.

D. Train overcrowding when the Giants play is a serious problem. Frequent trains with a two-car consist are essential to reduce serious overcrowding and reduce station dwell time. Steps should be taken to improve travel times on tracks before, during and after ball games.

E. Transit from the ballpark station to the 4th and King stations needs to be seriously addressed. Transit time has exceeded 10 minutes with many passengers choosing to walk instead (even those with limited mobility). During backups at 4th and King, it would be useful for drivers to be instructed to permit passenger egress prior to crossing the 4th and King intersection. Muni should also consider creating a safer passenger egress point prior to the 4th and King intersection.

F. Municipal Transportation Agency employees are not sufficiently empowered to make decisions. Countless times over the past year during commute hours, back-to-back-to-back trains from one line will pass through the Embarcadero station with no trains available going to 4th and King. Any of those trains could be converted to continue on to 4th and King, but nobody at the station has been empowered to make that decision.

Please clearly communicate the date and location of this meeting at least one week ahead of time via local media and flyer handouts at Muni stations and the Caltrain station.