Dear Mayor London Breed and San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) Board of Directors,

We call for the immediate resignation or termination of Jeff Tumlin as the Director of SFMTA based on a series of failures and inadequacies in his management of critical transportation projects, including but not limited to: the Valencia Center Running Bike Lane, Geary Boulevard BRT, L Taraval Improvement Project, Frida Kahlo Way Bike Lane, and West Portal Safety Plan, among many other instances of planning failures by our Municipal Transit Agency.  

The Valencia Center Bike Lane project, intended to improve safety and accessibility for cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists alike, has instead resulted in chaos and confusion. Poor planning, lack of community engagement, and inadequate infrastructure implementation have led to increased congestion and heightened safety concerns, directly contradicting the statements of Jeff Tumlin, saying it “basically eliminated the conflicts between double-parking motorists and bikes”. Over 15 businesses have closed, with many more on the brink of collapse, and safety on the corridor has not improved, only giving birth to a myriad of additional problems, including a recent pedestrian death.

Similarly, the mismanagement of the Geary Boulevard Bus Rapid Transit Lane against the pleas of many struggling small businesses and L Taraval project has caused significant disruption to local businesses, residents, and commuters. The failure to address the needs and concerns of stakeholders, who were simply asking for SFMTA to delay the BRT implementation for two years and to work in coordination with DPW to achieve the needed infrastructure improvements, instead of burdening businesses with an already struggling post-Pandemic economy. Taraval similarly, while a needed transportation capital improvement, the ill-timed tear down project provided pennies on the dollar for the small businesses needing financial relief, and paled in comparison to the monumental losses Taraval merchants are facing. 

In addition, the quick build project on Frida Kahlo Way stands as a testament to the administration's disregard for public input and community voices. The rushed implementation without thorough consultation has resulted in the unintended but predictable consequences of further exacerbating existing transportation challenges, particularly for the students and families who drive to City College in pursuit of achieving their dreams of higher education.

Moreover, as West Portal merchants have stated, the proposed West Portal traffic calming measures do nothing to effectively address safety concerns on Ulloa Street, where tragic pedestrian deaths recently occurred. Despite promises of improved safety, these measures will likely prove to be ineffective and cause further economic harm to the West Portal businesses. Using this tragedy to implement unneeded changes that would not have prevented speeding on Ulloa and the tragedy that occurred is purely political and abhorrent. 

As residents and businesses of San Francisco, we deserve a transportation agency that prioritizes transparency, accountability, and effective governance. Jeff Tumlin's continued failed leadership has eroded public trust and confidence in SFMTA's ability to fulfill its mandate of providing safe, reliable, and sustainable transportation solutions for all.

Therefore, we call on the Mayor and SFMTA Board of Directors to take immediate action and request the resignation or termination of Jeff Tumlin as Director of SFMTA. It is imperative that we restore integrity and competence to our city's transportation leadership and ensure that future projects are guided by principles of inclusivity, responsiveness, and sound planning, led with our community members and small businesses.

Valencia Association of Merchants, Artists, Neighbors, and Organizations (VAMANOS)

info@vamanossf.org

reformsfmta@gmail.com