You know how Muni switched some things up in April, adding some rapid/skip-stop bus lines to existing lines and trying to improve service for certain parts of town? Well that was just the first of three scheduled system upgrades in the budget this year, the second of which arrives on September 26, as Muni and Mayor Lee announce in a press release. The new changes, part of the Muni Forward initiative, will include more trains on the K/T and N-Judah lines, a fleet of 37 brand-new buses, and some redesigned routes.

As the Chronicle reports, the changes in April appear to have been a success, with ridership up by 2,500 trips per day on the routes that saw changes, including the 5-Fulton, 14-Mission, and 38-Geary lines which got more limited (now called R for "rapid") buses. Also, crowding on these and other lines allegedly has been reduced by a third.

What to expect in late September:

  • Two extra one-car trains will be added to the K-Ingleside/ T-Third line, decreasing spacing between trains from nine minutes to eight minutes during morning and evening rush hours.
  • One extra two-car train on the N-Judah line during the morning rush hour.
  • Extra buses on the 22-Fillmore and 24-Divisadero lines, decreasing wait times between trains to 7 minutes and 9 minutes, respectively.
  • The 21-Hayes will see a decrease in spacing from 10 minutes to 8.5 minutes, with more buses in the morning.
  • The 9R-San Bruno Rapid will come every 8 minutes instead of every 12 minutes.
  • The 1-California will go from every 8 minutes to every 7 minutes, with more buses on weekend days.
  • Increased frequency on the 57-Park Merced from every 30 to every 20 minutes.
  • Route adjustments on several lines, including the 7X-Noriega, which will now continue to Embarcadero instead of stopping at Fourth Street; the 28-19th Ave. bus will now terminate at Van Ness and North Point, in anticipation of the Van Ness Rapid Transit project; and the 29-Sunset which will now travel more quickly between the Excelsior and Balboa Park.

Also, new buses are continuing to be delivered, with new ones arriving every week for the next 18 months, and there will be another set of service upgrades before the budget-year is through.

These changes may or may not make up for the fact that the Muni Metro isn't running underground past 10 p.m. until the new year.

Previously: Muni's Killing Off Their Iconic Paper Transfers
Van Ness To Get Speedy New Bus Line (Eventually)