It's a tale as old as time in these parts, but everyone's morning commute on Muni was pretty miserable on Thursday when the metro system's automatic train controls pooped out.
Giving their usual excuses about upgrades in progress, the SFMTA said vaguely and repeatedly on Twitter that this morning's meltdown was due to "mechanical issues."
The Examiner reports, via the SFMTA, that today's issues were with the automatic train controls, and the underground system was operating at "walking speeds" because drivers had to control the trains manually — an excuse, to this day, I will never understand but has something to do with safety.
After SFMTA acting Director of Transit Julie Kirschbaum told the Chronicle last week that she's committing to cutting systemwide delays by a meager 10 percent, Curbed laid out the numbers in terms of each train line's on-time percentage. For example, the K/T-Third Street line is late or very late 45 percent of the time, and the M-Oceanview is currently late or very late 57 percent of the time.
The San Francisco city charter, meanwhile, mandates that Muni maintain an 85-percent on-time rating. [Editor's note: Have they ever even been close to that?]
SFist last looked at Muni's on-time rating in 2014, when it was hovering around 60% — after a then all-time low of 57.4% in October 2013. The new low, as of January 2019, is 55% — meaning that buses and trains, on average, are no more than four minutes late or one minute early 55% of the time.
Earlier this week the Chronicle reported that Muni was trying put its recent delay issues "under a microscope."
Lots and lots of commuters were late to work this morning as a result of Muni's all too familiar jackassery, and despite their running some shuttle buses above ground. Below is the social media evidence.
Hey @sfmta_muni it shouldn’t take 40 minutes to get through the tunnel at any time but It really shouldn’t take 40 minutes at 7 PM. Extra 20 minutes in the tunnel just now, extra 20 this morning. This is a daily occurrence. Is this is an acceptable level of service to you?
— no (@_yourblood) January 30, 2019
Muni is holding me hostage in SF 😂
— Charlie (@dustups) February 28, 2019
Here’s some @sfmta_muni math for you: this morning I got on a train 20 minutes earlier than I normally do so I could arrive 30 minutes early to work, and instead I’m 10 minutes late. 👍
— Chelsea Christer (@chelsmark) February 28, 2019
@sfmta_muni is there a reason the trains are running at walking speed between Montgomery and Embarcadero? Second day in a row. Curious. Thanks.
— Dena M. (@HealthEDena) February 28, 2019
All underground @sfmta_muni trains are stopped due to some train being stuck in a tunnel.
— Zach Harris (@bluedevilzach19) February 28, 2019
All passengers told to get off the train. Swarms of people waiting for the F line or buses
— Zach Harris (@bluedevilzach19) February 28, 2019
Not a single bus or train providing inbound service from West Portal in 45 minutes. And no clear communication from @sfmta_muni employees
— Jon Muncie (@jmmuncie) February 28, 2019
There’s a human driver in every @sfmta_muni subway car and only 2 tracks. Still requires a computer. pic.twitter.com/iqgnjBIi4q
— C-$ Hg (@cgiven) February 28, 2019
MUNI @sfmta_muni rebooting the computer system. pic.twitter.com/22UzlrDfYs
— C-$ Hg (@cgiven) February 28, 2019