On Saturday, January 7, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency's T Third line starts its historic new route, providing a direct Metro connection between Sunnydale and Chinatown-Rose Pak Station. Service runs Mondays through Fridays, 6 a.m. to midnight every 10 minutes, and Saturdays and Sundays, 8 a.m. to midnight every 12 minutes.
To help celebrate the occasion, San Francisco Board of Supervisors President Shamann Walton's office will hold an event that afternoon from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at Sunnydale Avenue and Bayshore Boulevard.
According to an email announcement from the District 10 supervisor, there will be a ribbon cutting, program, performances, and giveaways.
The new T Third line vastly improves transportation to and from some of San Francisco's most densely populated areas and major shopping corridors, expanding transit options and new connections, an SFMTA news release stated.
The new T Third route will travel north to the new Central Subway from the Fourth and King platform. It will no longer turn onto King Street or run along the Embarcadero and the Market Street subway. Also, the K Ingleside will now travel between Balboa Park and Embarcadero Station, the release noted.
Customers traveling to stops along the Embarcadero and Oracle Park at Second and King streets should transfer to the N Judah, according to the release. Customers should transfer at Powell Station to Union Square/Market Street Station for the T Third going to Sunnydale.
To transfer to the new T Third at Union Square/Market Street Station from the J Church, K Ingleside, M Ocean View, N Judah or BART at Powell Station, people can connect entirely underground. From the Powell Station platforms, take the elevator or follow signs to concourse level, then follow signs to the Union Square/Market Street Station.
Customers on the T Third connecting to other Muni Metro routes or BART should follow signs on the Union Square/Market Street Station platform toward Stockton/Ellis streets.
The Central Subway stations have many new features, including long escalators — the longest in the United States west of the Mississippi — and two glass elevators at every level for more accessibility, the release stated.
Customers who need to use the elevators to the platform should bypass the fare gates near the street entrances at Union Square/Market Street Station. Instead, use the fare gates in the center of the concourse.
MuniMobile and Lifeline customers may use any fare gate at the Union Square/Market Street Station.
During events at Chase Center, SFMTA will run special event service about every 10 minutes in addition to normal T Third service. The additional special event trains — with "S Shuttle Mission Bay" head signs — will serve all stops between Chinatown-Rose Pak Station and UCSF/Chase Center. From end to end the ride takes only 20 minutes. The event ticket is the Muni fare; no additional Muni fare is needed, according to the release.
Customers traveling past Chase Center during this special event service should check train head signs and only board "T Third" trains for a one-seat ride to their destination.
For more information, see the frequently asked questions.
Horizons opens applications for donor engagement program
Horizons Foundation is now accepting applications for its LGBTQ Donor Engagement Program. According to an email announcement, the program provides support to large LGBTQ-primary organizations (annual budget over $1 million) based within the nine counties of the San Francisco Bay Area. Award funds can be used for annual fundraising events(s), but if an organization does not have an annual fundraising event, it may be eligible for efforts that engage donors through alternative events (e.g., house parties, annual donor thank-you events, etc.).
Horizons, an LGBTQ philanthropic organization, will also consider applications from an LGBTQ-primary organization with a budget under $1 million that is celebrating a special anniversary year (e.g. 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, etc.). Please contact [email protected] before submitting an application for a special anniversary celebration.
The current round of applications is for donor engagement events that take place between February 1 and June 30. Funds are limited; therefore, Horizons encourages organizations to apply as early as possible to allow for application review and grant processing. Applications will be accepted through January 31.
Please note that applications will only be considered from LGBTQ-primary organizations whose home office is based in one of the nine counties of the SF Bay Area and whose event will take place within one or more of the nine counties (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma). An LGBTQ-primary organization is defined as an organization whose mission includes the LGBTQ population as the primary focus of the work; whose staff and board predominantly reflect the LGBTQ community; and which primarily serves LGBTQ people.
For more information and to apply, click here.
Santa Clara County unveils new camping reservation system
The Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department has launched a new online reservation system to help campers search and select a campsite tailored to their preferred outdoor activities.
The site, gooutsideandplay.org, now offers the convenient online reservation system. The newly enhanced website enables visitors to create, modify, and cancel reservations; pay most park fees; and buy day and annual passes.
"We want to provide our customers with a frictionless user experience when making arrangements to stay at our parks," Don Rocha, director of the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department, stated in a news release. "Our website, which is available on all mobile devices, streamlines the reservation process and allows customers to choose their ideal campsite in just a few simple steps. Assembling a tent can be difficult; reserving your campsite should be easy."
Updates to the website also include a section dedicated to boating, which includes information on vessel launching, inspection, and annual passes for purchase and an enhanced and searchable customer history.
In addition to the new customer features, the Parks and Recreation Department now accepts donations to the Parks Programs online, the release stated. This service allows campers to show their support for the department while helping to maintain and improve the natural areas of Santa Clara County for future generations to enjoy.
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