The COVID-19 situation in San Francisco may be improving, but transit riders should still expect delays until quarantining bus drivers can get back to work.
San Francisco Municipal Transit Agency workers have experienced more COVID-19 cases since Christmas than during the previous 20 months combined.
Agency director, Jeffrey Tumlin, told KCBS Radio the situation is just starting to improve.
"The COVID case load shot straight up," he said. "It peaked just over a week ago and so it’s now on the downside. But the quarantine period extends the impact for about a week longer than the actual peak. "
All of the operators are vaccinated, but they're encouraged to stay home if they have any virus symptoms. That means when a driver wakes up with a sore throat, the agency is forced to adjust schedules every day.
As a result, Tumlin said they're prioritizing equity.
"For example, we know that this month because of Lunar New Year it’s really important to connect to Chinatown. So our team is working really hard to protect, particularly the 30 Stockton and the 8 Bayshore," he explained.
Another way they are adapting to staff disruptions is by switching from fixed schedules to headway management — asking operators to evenly space out their timing with the bus ahead of them and the bus behind them,.
"It creates the opportunity to spread the service out a little bit," he said. "So you don’t end up with 40 minute gaps in service. Service is not going to be great, but at least it will be somewhat predictable."
He said the reality is they will be asking for patience for a few more weeks.
"Our workforce numbers are improving but it’s going to be in reality a few more weeks before we are able to fully stabilize. So in the meantime, I apologize, we really ask the patience of our riders and of everyone in San Francisco," Tumlin said.
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