BRT Not BART

That long-talked about Bus Rapid Transit system that was someday to go in effect on Geary Street is finally in effect. Kick off date was last Thursday.

The plan, called BRT (couldn't they have chosen something slightly different from another mode of pub trans in the area? All this stuff is confusing enough without having to someday contemplate a BRT plan for BART), is supposed to increase timeliness along the 38 line by having one of the lanes on Geary Street blocked off to anything but buses. The plan also calls for making fewer stops and for buses to have priority at traffic signals. The bestest part of the plan, however, is that Muni will join the 21st century and use technology to tell riders when the next bus was arriving. Amazing, we know. To help speed things along, Muni will encourage riders to purchase tickets before going on the 38. It isn't clear from the story how.

That's not the only Muni news going on. Yet another study is being developed, called the Transit Effectiveness Project. Last Friday, the MTA met with people from the consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton to basically figure out what to do. Knowing a few consultants, we know they don't come cheap so we're wondering how much money is going to something any person who rides Muni can tell the the MTA. And if they're throwing money around to tell them what to do, you can get in touch with us at editor@sfist.com.