UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies

This report directly supports San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA)’s equity goals by identifying past inequities in service delivery, planning, and community engagement––particularly during the city’s transition from private railway companies to publicly funded municipal transit. This report focuses on the priority neighborhoods Lakeview, Oceanview, Merced Heights, and Ingleside Terraces (LOMI), home to multigenerational communities of color. Many residents in these areas are homeowners but may have limited disposable income, which can create financial challenges. To understand how access to public transportation has been shaped by past SFMTA decisions, a qualitative analysis of historical documents, books, and digital archives was conducted to analyze public transit developments in LOMI neighborhoods between 1938 and 1971. This research was complemented by ten interviews with current and former residents capturing personal narratives often absent from institutional records. Archival research revealed limited engagement between SFMTA and LOMI residents during planning decisions within this time period. Interviewees for the study shared their concerns on accessing basic needs, safety while boarding buses, and the decline of Black residents in LOMI. Interviewees did highlight the improvement in reliability, frequency, and cleanliness of Muni service over the past few decades. Several policy recommendations were identified to improve community engagement going forward. We recommend SFMTA (1) send representatives to interact with community members at intercept events, (2) implement a ‘no-wrong door’ approach, (3) expand accessibility efforts for elderly and disabled residents, (4) increase accessibility to essential services, and (5) improve engagement with non-English speakers.