Dear members and friends of Market Street Railway,

 

Don't be surprised if no one ever uses 2020 as a description of perfect vision anymore. Because we sure didn't see this coming.  It's more likely to become a synonym for "terrible".  Yet in this Thanksgiving week of Terrible 2020, we do see glimmers of hope, and for that we are thankful and hope you are too.

 

Most important to humanity worldwide, of course, is the development of what appear to be multiple effective vaccines against the scourge of Covid-19. When enough people have been vaccinated, offices and stores and restaurants can resume normal operations. That in turn will restore a higher level of demand for public transit service. And the fares those riders pay will help pull transit agencies, including Muni, back from the brink of insolvency.

 

The need to generate more fare revenue has Muni management putting in extra Plexiglas panels next to bus fareboxes so that riders can start paying cash fares again, while protecting the health of operators. But with all rail service still shut down and ridership slowly increasing, there's a shortage of buses. So, in partnership with Muni's operators' union, Local 250A, we are pushing harder than ever to return at least some F-line streetcar service by installing Plexiglas barriers on the vintage streetcars, starting with the PCCs. This has been a protracted process, but we feel we're developing momentum now. One of the members of the board of directors of Muni's parent, SFMTA, has specifically asked for a report on when the streetcars are coming back, which we believe will be presented December 1. We'll update you in the next newsletter.

 

On the cable car front, check out this sign of hope.

 

Cable cars are now on display at two turntables, three times a week, and thanks to gripman and MSR member Val Lupiz, and his band of elves, including members Frank Zepeda, Jeremy Whiteman, and our board member and secretary James Giraudo, they're gorgeously decorated for the holidays too. This double display stems from our collaboration with the Union Square Business Improvement District and the Fisherman's Wharf Community Benefit District.  Both business groups agree with us that it's very important to "show the flag" -- remind the public that the cable cars are still part of San Francisco, even while remaining out of service. SFMTA boss Jeff Tumlin agrees and has authorized the special display. Normal days of display are Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, 10 am-3 pm at Powell and Market, and 10:30 am-3:30 pm at Aquatic Park (Hyde and Beach). This Thanksgiving week, though, the cars will be out on Friday rather than Thanksgiving Day. Come by and say hi to the cable car crews on duty, get your photo taken, and hear a bell serenade. 

 

You may remember that early in the pandemic, Jeff Tumlin said the cable cars likely wouldn't return "until there's a vaccine".  Well, now there is, and we're optimistic that the little cars could return to service on some basis by mid-2021, though of course it's way too early to put a definitive date on it. As for the vintage streetcars, where operators can be protected with Plexiglas barriers not possible on the cable cars, we're hoping, and advocating for it to be sooner than that.

But we have to make it to there from here, and just like Muni, our nonprofit has a big revenue gap, with our museum still closed. Not only do we have to get service back, we have to rebuild government and public support for the vintage vehicles in what is almost certainly going to be a different long-term environment in San Francisco, with different work, shopping, and tourism patterns. Whether it's this week, as a mark of Thanksgiving, or next week, on Giving Tuesday (the now-traditional day for online giving to nonprofits), we hope you'll reach down and donate something extra to Market Street Railway. Here's the link to do that (or you can send a check to our office, address at the bottom of the newsletter). Every dollar helps.

The new issue of our member magazine, Inside Track is at the printer as we write this, going into the mail soon. (Members who subscribe to the electronic edition are already enjoying their copies.)  This issue is expanded to 16 pages and covers Muni's frustrating 40 years of history in trying to operate the Market Street Subway, plus an in-depth look at the big controversy suddenly erupting about changing plans for Market Street, and much more. Most readers of this email newsletter are already dues-paying members of Market Street Railway, but if you're not yet a member, you can join here to get Inside Track.

 

There's another great reason to become a Market Street Railway member right now. See the next section, below. 
 

One note on streetcar renovation. When we sent Inside Track to press, we noted that the final streetcar in the 16-car order being completely restored by Brookville Equipment Company, Car 1007, had literally gotten into a scrape at a truck stop in Nebraska while being delivered to San Francisco. We've since learned that the damage isn't serious; the car is back at Brookville for a little body work and painting, and should return to Muni in December. 

 

In this Thanksgiving week, we are extra grateful for members and donors who continue to enable us to fight for the streetcars and cable cars.  Thank you. 

 

Looking forward, 

Rick Laubscher
President, Market Street Railway