During the February 10 Transportation Authority Board meeting, board members approved the District 4 Community Shuttle Study Final Report. The Transportation Authority Board gave final approval at the February 24 meeting.
The District 4 Community Shuttle Study builds on the District 4 Mobility Study and was requested by former District 4 Transportation Authority Board member Gordon Mar to look at whether an on-demand shuttle could improve access for residents to key destinations, including seniors and persons with disabilities, and reduce driving trips in the Outer Sunset and Parkside neighborhoods.
The project team conducted:
- Peer review of comparable on-demand services across U.S. cities;
- Analysis of local demographics, land use, and travel behavior;
- Demand projections, service design, cost estimates, funding, and implementation strategy; and
- Community outreach to validate needs, refine service design, and inform funding strategy.
The study found that an on-demand shuttle could offer a more convenient option for getting around the district without a car, and that required operating subsidies would be similar to those supporting SFMTA’s Bayview Shuttle, a similar micro-transit service being initially funded by state grants. Based on these findings, the study recommends pursuing funding for a pilot.
The proposed pilot service design includes:
- Service throughout District 4, extending to Stonestown Galleria and San Francisco State University;
- On-demand rides requested through a smartphone app or multilingual call center;
- Average wait time of 15 minutes between a ride request and vehicle arrival, and an average in-vehicle travel time of 10 minutes;
- Nearest intersection pick-up and drop-off, with door-to-door access for seniors and people with disabilities;
- 16 hours of weekday service and 12 hours on weekends and holidays;
- Fares equivalent to Muni rates, with Clipper integration; and
- Wheelchair-accessible vehicles.
The study estimates ridership of up to 100,000 annual trips, with annual operating costs of $2.5 to $3 million and first-year pilot costs of $3.1 to $3.6 million. A third-party vendor would operate the service, and the pilot would be evaluated on goals such as improving local mobility, expanding transit coverage, and delivering cost-efficient service.
Funding a pilot would require a combination of sources, including business partnerships or sponsorships, state or federal funding, and local sources such as Prop L or the City's General Fund. If a pilot is successful, longer-term funding tools would need to be developed, such as a Business Improvement District or Parking Benefit District.
The Westside Network Study will assess the role of a District 4 shuttle alongside other mobility programs and inform its priority for future funding.
View the full District 4 Community Shuttle Study Final Report (PDF) and the presentation to the Transportation Authority Board (PDF)
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