Safe and Secure Restroom Access Helps Muni Run On Time

Safe and Secure Restroom Access Helps Muni Run On Time
By Adrienne Heim

For those working in the field and delivering transit service, restroom access is not as easy as you may think. Bathroom breaks are a human necessity and require advanced planning for our thousands of transit operators. This is particularly true during the pandemic, as the shelter in place guidelines closed many restaurants and offices that were previously available to our transit staff.

Photo of muni operator behind the wheel, wearing a mask

Muni operators provide essential transit service in San Francisco

As the city looks forward to reopening, the SFMTA wants to ensure that all San Franciscans will be able get around the city safely and quickly. This means continuing to invest in maintaining the infrastructure that makes it possible for transit operations to be carried out. And that includes ensuring our Muni bus operators have safe and secure restroom access at the beginning and end of their routes.

Seven years ago, SFMTA’s Operator Restroom Taskforce was formed with a single mission – to overcome obstacles and provide safe, clean and reliable restroom access for staff working in the field throughout the city. And that is exactly what the team members represented by nearly every agency division, including members of Transport Workers Union Local 250A have been doing.

Since 2012, the group has been successful in delivering additional access at key locations, bringing the total number of available restrooms location to 151. This includes securing licenses and free restroom agreements with businesses, buildings, and organizations, portable units and permanent SFMTA dedicated operator restroom facilities.

Completing A Refresh of Older Operator Restrooms

Between 1990 and 2005, 17 standalone restrooms were constructed to kickstart supporting operators out in the field.

Geneva Avenue and Munich Street Operator Restroom built in 1990

Geneva Avenue and Munich Street Operator Restroom built in 1990

Throughout 2020, the Operator Restroom Taskforce sought out additional restroom facilities to compensate for those that had been closed. They also procured and located portable restrooms. Additionally, the group’s maintenance team members began updating 21 restroom facilities, which include the first set of operator restrooms that were built, as well as more recently-built facilities.

This refresh consisted primarily of replacing worn or rusted electrical conduit and plumbing fixtures. Repairing or replacing the Instahot Instant Water Heater was also a top priority because handwashing is essential to safety and hygiene. Paper towel dispensers are also being replaced with electric hand dryers in all of our operator restrooms.

Main and Mission Restroom Refresh October 2020

Main and Mission Restroom Refresh October 2020

Powell Station Staff Restroom Refresh August 2020

Powell Station Staff Restroom Refresh August 2020

The team also built a restroom trailer to support the 30 Stockton bus route to Crissy Field.

Restroom Trailer at the Sports Basement-Crissy Field

Restroom Trailer at the Sports Basement-Crissy Field

By providing reliable restroom access, the SFMTA is working to meet the health and safety needs of our transit operators and other agency field staff, an often-overlooked aspect of improving Muni’s reliability.

Learn more about the project and subscribe to project updates by visiting SFMTA.com/OperatorRestrooms.

Published February 26, 2021 at 11:32PM
https://ift.tt/2ZS4yht

Comments

New top story from Time: ‘It’s a Catastrophe.’ Iranians Turn to Black Market for Vaccines as COVID-19 Deaths Hit New Highs

https://ift.tt/3AODY94 In January, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made the sudden announcement that American and British-made COVID-19 vaccines would be “forbidden” as they were “completely untrustworthy.” Almost nine months later, Iran is facing its worst surge in the virus to date — a record number of deaths and infections per day with nearly 4.2 million COVID-19 patients across the country , and a healthcare system near collapse. “It’s a catastrophe; and there is nothing we can do,” said an anesthesiology resident in one of Tehran’s public hospitals who due to the current surge is tasked to oversee the ICU ward for COVID-19 patients. “We can’t treat them nor help them; so all I can ask people to do is to stay home and do whatever it takes to not get exposed.” The doctor requested anonymity in order to speak freely; others interviewed by TIME asked to be identified only by their first name. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] The scale of the crisis is such ...

BRT Service on Van Ness to Begin Tomorrow

BRT Service on Van Ness to Begin Tomorrow By Jiaying Yu Tomorrow, April 1, we will cut the ribbon on San Francisco’s first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor on Van Ness Avenue. The public is invited to join and celebrate this historic moment in front of the War Memorial. The ribbon-cutting will include speeches from local and state leaders, performances from local musicians and giveaways. After the ribbon is cut, there will be an inaugural ride on the new Van Ness BRT corridor to North Point where the celebration continues with live music. BRT service on Van Ness is part of Muni’s Rapid Network, which prioritizes frequency and reliability for customers. Muni and Golden Gate Transit customers are expected to experience 32% shorter travel times. With dedicated transit lanes in the middle of the road, enhanced traffic signals with Transit Signal Priority and new platforms and shelters, the Van Ness BRT corridor will be the fastest way to travel north-south in this part of...

Ride to Chase Center Events Along the New T Third

Ride to Chase Center Events Along the New T Third By Christopher Ward Starting January 7, take the S Shuttle Mission Bay on the new T Third line via Central Subway to Chase Center events. Service on the new T Third Line from Chinatown Rose-Pak to Sunnydale starts January 7. With it , new event service to Chase Center will also start via Central Subway on the S Shuttle Mission Bay. During events at Chase Center, shuttles will operate between Chinatown-Rose Pak Station and UCSF/Chase Center every 10 minutes. These shuttles will start approximately two and a half hours before an event and continue for two and half hours after an event. From Chinatown to Chase Center, riding the S Shuttle Mission Bay takes about 20 minutes. Best of all, your Chase Center event ticket is your Muni fare. No additional Muni fare needed ! Both electronic and physical tickets for events – including Warriors games, concerts and other events – will serve as proof of payment for Muni serv...

Supreme Court to hear plea against UGC guidelines today as students oppose circular on final year exams https://ift.tt/30023ug

The Supreme Court on Monday is set to hear petitions challenging the UGC guidelines, which made it mandatory for universities to conduct their final year exams by September 30. The petitions would be heard by a three-judge bench of the top court, comprising of Justices Ashok Bhushan, R Subhash Reddy and MR Shah. The plea was filed by 31 students across several universities in India. The students, in their petition, had challenged the UGC guidelines for being arbitrary as it would compel students to appear for exams amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Replacing Parking Meters with (Actual) Bike Parking

Replacing Parking Meters with (Actual) Bike Parking By Eillie Anzilotti Did you know you can submit a request for new bike parking? Anyone who rides a bike in San Francisco knows: A parking meter is not just a parking meter. Like street sign poles, meters are also a place to lock your bike when you’re out running errands and exploring the city. As an agency, we’re working towards the goal of making bike racks and corrals available across the city, wherever people need them. In the meantime, we recognize that informal bike and scooter parking options, like parking meters, meet people’s needs. So, when we announced a campaign last year to remove existing parking meters and replace them with pay stations, this brought up a question: what does this mean for bike parking? We strive to install bike racks to replace parking options wherever meters are removed. Right now, our bike parking team is focused on identifying locations for new racks in high-demand areas ...

FOX NEWS: Intermittent fasting may cause muscle loss more than weight loss, study says Intermittent fasting might not be as healthy as some may have thought.

Intermittent fasting may cause muscle loss more than weight loss, study says Intermittent fasting might not be as healthy as some may have thought. via FOX NEWS https://ift.tt/2ShpJp3

New T Third Connecting Chinatown to Sunnydale Starts Saturday

New T Third Connecting Chinatown to Sunnydale Starts Saturday By Christopher Ward New Muni Metro map. This Saturday the T Third starts its long-awaited new route connecting Chinatown-Rose Pak Station from 4th & King in Central Subway, Mondays through Fridays, 6 a.m. to midnight every 10 minutes and Saturdays and Sundays, 8 a.m. to midnight every 12 minutes. The K Ingleside will now travel between Balboa Park and Embarcadero Station. Customers using Embarcadero & Folsom, Embarcadero & Brannan and 2nd and King platforms should transfer to the N Judah at Powell Station or 4th & King. Watch the new Muni Metro service map animations . The following bus service changes also start this Saturday: The T Third Bus will now run along 3rd and 4th Streets in SoMa and on Stockton Street north of Market Street to align with the new T Third rail line and will no longer travel on the Embarcadero and Market Street. The 6 Haight/Parnassus will now...

How To Navigate Transfers on the New T Third

How To Navigate Transfers on the New T Third By Mariana Maguire SFMTA Ambassadors are helping customers navigate the new Central Subway stations and Metro service changes. As we prepare for the start of new T Third service on Saturday, January 7, between Sunnydale and Chinatown-Rose Pak Station, here are some important travel tips to help you plan your new connections. New T Third service via Central Subway starts January 7 with service between Sunnydale and Chinatown-Rose Pak Station. For J Church, K Ingleside, M Ocean View Customers For stops along the Embarcadero and King Street including 2nd & King (Oracle Park) and 4th & King (Caltrain), take the N Judah. For service north to Chinatown-Rose Pak Station or south to Yerba/Buena Moscone Station, 4th & King streets (Caltrain), UCSF/Chase Center and beyond to Sunnydale, transfer at Powell Station to Union Square/Market Street Station and take the new T Third. The N Judah will also continue to serve 4th & King ...

FOX NEWS: Top baby names list for 2021 reveals familiar trends For the second year in a row, these two names are the most popular for girls and boys – leading BabyCenter's Top 100 Baby Names list.

Top baby names list for 2021 reveals familiar trends For the second year in a row, these two names are the most popular for girls and boys – leading BabyCenter's Top 100 Baby Names list. via FOX NEWS https://ift.tt/CFenBRh

New top story from Time: George Floyd Was ‘Terrified, Scared,’ Says Witness Who Recorded Derek Chauvin Kneeling on His Neck

https://ift.tt/3dcqgTi Darnella Frazier, the teenage witness who took the famous video of George Floyd being crushed into the ground by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin on May 25, 2020, took the stand in Chauvin’s trial on Tuesday and described Floyd as a “man terrified, scared, begging for his life.” Frazier, who was 17 when the incident took place, was not shown on camera and only her voice was heard during her testimony. In the midst of her testimony, Frazier was soft-spoken and at times wept she when she recounted the events of that day. She told the prosecutor that on May 25, she was walking to the Cup Foods grocery store with her 9-year-old cousin to get some snacks. Outside the store, she saw Floyd on the ground with Chauvin on top of him and told her cousin to go inside the store so that the younger child would not see what was happening. “I heard George Floyd saying I can’t breathe, please get off of me. I can’t breathe. He cried for his mom. He was in ...

My precise view

Search This Blog