June 23, 2026
SFMTA
City Hall
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 400
San Francisco, CA 94103
(Via email: MTABoard@SFMTA.com)
RE: Temporary Reduction of Service 39 Coit Bus Route
Dear Chair Tarlov and SFMTA Board Directors, San Francisco Supervisors, and Community Stakeholders,
The Telegraph Hill Dwellers urge SFMTA and City leaders to work with the Telegraph Hill community on an immediate, practical solution to the temporary reduction of the 39 Coit bus route.
The 39 Coit is not simply a convenience. For many Telegraph Hill residents, it is a lifeline. It connects people to groceries, medical appointments, pharmacies, senior programs, social services, work, and the rest of the Muni system. Its reduction until at least December 2026, due to maintenance needs for the 30-foot buses that serve the route, will leave many residents, especially low-income seniors, without a reliable way to meet basic daily transportation needs.
Telegraph Hill is a steep neighborhood, and that geography matters. Walking several blocks to another route is not a realistic substitute for many older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers, or residents carrying groceries or medical supplies. Approximately 1,600 seniors aged 65 and older live in Telegraph Hill, representing about 23% of the neighborhood’s population. Many live independently, many are on fixed incomes, and many depend on neighborhood institutions such as the Telegraph Hill Neighborhood Center for hot lunches, classes, technology support, and social connection.
The economic impact is also serious. Households headed by someone age 65 or older in Telegraph Hill have a median annual income of approximately $28,688, far below the neighborhood’s overall median household income. For these residents, taxis and ride-hailing services are not realistic everyday alternatives. The Essential Trip Card may help in limited circumstances, but it is not a replacement for regular, dependable bus service.
It is especially concerning that the route reduction appears to have been made without adequate community outreach or a fully developed replacement plan. Residents who rely on the 39 Coit should not be left to solve this problem individually, especially when the consequences fall hardest on seniors, people with mobility limitations, and lower-income households.
The 39 Coit serves both a high-need residential community and Coit Tower, one of San Francisco’s most significant tourist destinations.
We ask SFMTA and City leaders to pursue a community-based solution immediately. At a minimum, this should include one or more of the following:
Restore the 39 Coit route while developing a more workable maintenance schedule for the buses.
Provide a temporary substitute service using smaller vehicles, including paratransit-style buses or other appropriately sized vehicles that can safely serve the route.
Hold an urgent community meeting with Telegraph Hill residents, senior advocates, neighborhood organizations, and elected representatives and administrators to design a workable interim plan.
A maintenance issue should not be solved by cutting off one of the neighborhoods that most depend on small-bus service. Telegraph Hill’s seniors, low-income residents, and people with limited mobility deserve the same level of consideration as riders elsewhere in San Francisco.
The 39 Coit is essential infrastructure for this neighborhood. We urge SFMTA and City leaders to restore service, provide a meaningful substitute, and work directly with the community before implementing changes that so deeply affect daily life.
Sincerely,
Peter Swords Stevens
President, Telegraph Hill Dwellers
CC: Director of Transportation Julie Kirschbaum Julie.Kirschbaum@sfmta.com
Board Secretary Christine Silva Christine.Silva@sfmta.com
Acting Director of Transit Brent Jones Brent.jones@sfmta.com
Board of Supervisors board.of.supervisors@sfgov.org
District 3 Supervisor Danny Sauter Danny.Sauter@sfgov.org
