The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency has announced that for the 24th consecutive year, free rides will be offered on Muni from 8 p.m. Sunday, December 31, through 5 a.m. Monday, January 1. Additionally, extra Muni subway service will be provided from 8 p.m. Sunday to 2:15 a.m. Monday.
Extra buses will run on Muni's overnight Owl bus routes until 5 a.m., a news release stated.
"We are committed to do our part so San Franciscans can ring in the new year safely," stated Julie Kirschbaum, SFMTA director of transit. "We are excited to again offer free Muni service on New Year's Eve as part of the city's Vision Zero goals, and we encourage locals and visitors alike to get out, enjoy, and safely celebrate."
Vision Zero is the city's plan to improve safety and save lives on city streets. The San Francisco Standard reported earlier this month, however, that pedestrians are still dying in spite of the city spending millions of dollars to end traffic deaths.
Many area bars and restaurants will be open on New Year's Eve, including those in San Francisco's LGBTQ Castro neighborhood. Additionally, the city will host the free fireworks show at midnight along the waterfront. Best viewing is south of the Ferry Building, along the Embarcadero between Mission and Folsom streets, according to Fun & Cheap SF.
Meanwhile, BART will have an extended closing time on New Year's Eve, and have six trains running when service ends at 1 a.m. A news release stated that Yellow Line and Orange Line trains in all directions will be timed to meet at MacArthur Station at 1:47 a.m. in a "Grand Meet." This is the transfer point for riders coming from San Francisco heading toward Richmond or Berryessa or riders coming from the East Bay heading toward San Francisco.
Yellow Line and Orange Line trains will be timed to meet at 12th Street in downtown Oakland.
San Francisco and Oakland airports will not be served by these special trains, the release noted.
For more information, go to bart.gov and check out the trip planner feature, which has the extended service trains included.
Spahr Center relocates
The Spahr Center, which serves Marin County's LGBTQ and HIV communities, will relocate January 1 to a new building in San Rafael. Currently, the center is in Corte Madera.
A news release stated that the move will increase the center's physical space by approximately 30%, allowing for designated program areas for the food pantry, community support gatherings, case management, harm reduction, and mental health services.
Located in the heart of San Rafael's Canal District, the new building positions the center to better serve the priority population of LGBTQ+ Latino/a youth and families, according to the release.
"The Spahr Center is prioritizing mental and behavioral health support for LGBTQ+ Latinx youth and families," stated Renato Talhadas, chief programs officer. "Similarly, we are increasing our efforts around HIV prevention and education in the Canal District because the Latinx community has the greatest need for these services in Marin.
"We have a lot to accomplish, and moving to this new building in San Rafael will effectively increase the work we do for this community," Talhadas added.
The center will be physically closed from January 2-5, and the staff will be working online as the new space is prepared. The center, which will be located at 1575 Francisco Boulevard, East, will open Monday, January 8, with limited programs. It is expected that the center will be fully open January 15.
"This move is part of our strategic plan," stated Joe Tuohy, a gay man who took over as executive director last spring. "Our center is expanding and so we need more space and more staff. We are thrilled for this move and we look forward to sharing our new and improved space with our community."
For more information, go to thespahrcenter.org.
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