Tuesday, August 26, 2008

San Francisco Culture Bus

I thought I would pass on a bit of news from the Union Square Association Bulletin: In a report to the Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA) Board earlier this week, Executive Director Nathaniel P. Ford, Jr. advised the directors that the MTA will launch a pilot project on September 27 in conjunction with the reopening of the all new Academy of Sciences. The pilot project will provide transit for visitors and residents to some of the City’s wonderful cultural institutions. Known as the “74X Culture Bus,” the service will travel from downtown, including Union Square, and will stop in close proximity to many cultural institutions prior to heading out to Golden Gate Park.

Here are some further details from the San Francisco Examiner:

SAN FRANCISCO – ...San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority chief Nathaniel Ford said his agency is partnering with The City’s cultural institutions and the San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau to have the bus up and running by Sept. 20. Its official launch is Sept. 27, to coincide with the opening of the California Academy of Arts and Sciences.
The two-way route will begin South of Market, stopping at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Union Square and the Asian Art Museum before driving directly to the Golden Gate Park Music Concourse to connect with the California Academy of Sciences and the de Young Museum.
If successful, the bus line will bring more people into shops and museums, and more money into the coffers of The City’s financially strapped transit system. At $7, the bus will cost $2 more than riding a cable car, but is in line with Muni’s “special event fares,” such as express service to Candlestick Park for 49ers games, Ford said.
Muni riders with Fast Passes will have to pay an additional $3 to ride the Culture Bus, as will tourists with Muni Passports, which are all-day passes of up to a week.
The 74 will run from 8:40 a.m. to 5:50 p.m., seven days a week.
The bus line will be marketed through hotel cards and through museum Web sites and brochures.

Culture Bus by the numbers
Hours: 8:40 a.m. to 5:50 p.m.Stops: San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Union Square, Asian Art Museum, California Academy of Sciences, the de Young MuseumPrice: $7 (or $3 with Muni Fast Pass or Passport)
Price comparison
$1.50 Regular bus fare
$5 Cable car fare
$7 Culture Bus and other special events fares
$11 One-day Passport
$18 Three-day Passport
$24 Seven-day Passport
Source: SFMTA

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