While the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit is still being built -- train deliveries and testings will not begin until Fall 2013 -- is there a prospect that the main corridor through Marin and Sonoma Counties, Highway 101, become a high-frequency transit corridor? Chances are it could be possible, but with a debate on the pending "divorce" between Golden Gate Transit and Marin Transit, this high-frequency corridor plan could fall apart... unless both sides can renegotiate on a deal that would continue such a partnership that has been in place for the past 40 years.

Ever felt guilty because you wanted to help someone? I had that exact feeling earlier today when I wanted to help a woman get to her bus in San Francisco, but only around 200 feet away from the stop, she lost her balance on the escalator. I was apologetic to her because she did not make it up the escalator, but she told me she was all right.

I would usually start my morning commute as late as 10 or 11am to get to San Francisco. But, since university has already started, I have returned to waking up early and getting a commuter bus as early as 7:45am. However, on the first day of coming back to school early, the commute has been a complete mess -- and a disaster -- from start to end.

Marin Transit started a new pulse transfer point in Olema, in western Marin County, on August 20, 2012 that allows riders for both West Marin Stagecoach Routes 61 and 68 to transfer between services during peak periods, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Initially envisioned for students going to schools in Fairfax, San Anselmo, and San Rafael, hopefully, this service can be extended to workers residing and working in west Marin to travel by transit to and from eastern Marin County.

Marin Transit operates nearly 20 local bus, shuttle, and rural routes around Marin County, serving nearly all inhabited communities in the county. However, in their latest Short-Range Transit Plan, I have noticed that it has still not addressed the key issues of significant service gaps, particularly:

• Areas south of Paradise Cay in East Corte Madera (along Paradise Drive towards Tiburon)
• East of the Montecito Shopping Center (the Loch Lomond and Peacock Gap areas) in San Rafael
• Areas east of US-101 in Novato (particularly the Bel Marin Keys, Black Point, Green Point, and Bahia areas)

I would like to see those service gaps be closed with frequent regular service that allows riders to get to wherever they want, whenever they need the service.

Golden Gate Transit has released an official statement and an official map locating the exact bus boarding areas during the afternoon commute in the Financial District and South of Market areas in San Francisco in September due to ongoing construction at the Transbay Terminal and Tower. Only one of the Fremont Street stops so far (the boarding area for Sonoma County commute trips on Fremont Street nearside Mission Street) is affected by the temporary closure effective September 10, which will result in the temporary relocation of several bus boarding areas for most of the bus routes to Marin and Sonoma Counties. 

As you would notice, comparing the above map to the one I have created, there are several bus routes that will share bus stops with existing routes. For example:

• The current boarding location for Routes 54, 56, and 58 will be temporarily used as the bus boarding location for Routes 72/72X, 74, and 76.
• The current boarding location for Routes 27 and 44 will be temporarily shared with Route 38. Two stops that are located in the same area (boarding areas for Routes 18 and 24) will not be in use for the duration of the closure.

The most difficult transition made for the closure is the transferring of Routes 18 and 24 stops from Fremont Street between Mission and Market Streets to Pine Street between Front and Battery Streets, such that passengers who use these routes should walk two blocks northeast, then north after Market, and crossing towards the northern sidewalk of Pine Street to board their buses, the longest walk being for the Route 18. Bus stop sharing will also be implemented on Pine Street, such that:

• The current boarding location for Route 8 will be temporarily be used as the bus boarding location for Route 24.
• The current boarding location for Route 2 will be temporarily shared with Routes 8 and 18.

Affected passengers who may not want to walk far to get to their bus may consider boarding their buses at the following locations:

• Bus boarding area A - at Fremont Street farside Folsom Street (convenient for South of Market riders)
• Along Sansome Street between California and Washington Streets: a major time point for all commuter bus routes (convenient for transfers from BART and Muni Metro)

As needed, I will update on the status of Muni's bus stop on Fremont Street nearside Mission Street (for Line 76-Marin Headlands) if that particular stop will be closed in September. Should that stop be closed, passengers using Line 76 can board on the bus island on Fremont Street nearside Market Street, which is also shared with the 5-Fulton, 38-Geary, and 38L-Geary Limited lines.

Source:     Golden Gate Transit: Fremont Street Construction

Golden Gate Transit, through its bus schedule updates published today, August 19, 2012, has updated its bus schedules for the coming Fall season starting September 9th, in which the agency has announced that it will temporarily relocate its bus stops along Fremont Street and Pine Street in September due to construction of the new Transbay Terminal along Fremont Street in San Francisco. The relocation of several bus stops in the Financial District and South of Market areas will affect the afternoon (northbound) commute trips only. Morning (southbound) commute trips operate as normal along Battery Street and First Street.