SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) -- San Francisco Municipal Railway service continued to run smoothly Monday, after widespread service changes went into effect over the weekend, Muni spokesman Judson True said.
"The commute went well," True said. He said there no delays related to the changes, which were implemented Saturday.
More than half of Muni's bus lines are affected, as well as one rail line, the N-Judah, which will no longer run from the Embarcadero station to the Caltrain depot on the weekends and holidays.
The moves were intended to increase efficiency and help close the agency's $129 million budget deficit.
The changes include the elimination of six bus lines including the 26-Valencia, decreased service on sparsely used lines such as the 67-Bernal Heights, and increased service on lines with higher ridership, such as the 41-Union and 44-O'Shaughnessy.
Many of the reductions are on lines where Muni buses or light rail vehicles are infrequently used, or where duplicate service runs nearby.
"We know that some customers are having to find new ways to travel on Muni," True said, "but we also hope that customers are finding less-crowded vehicles on some of our busiest routes, and on new routes" such as the 9L-San Bruno Limited, which travels between the Visitacion Valley neighborhood and downtown San Francisco.
About 100 orange-clad Muni service ambassadors have been deployed throughout the system at bus stops and on bus lines to inform riders about the changes and answer questions.
"We're still working to get the word out," True said. "This is the first weekday commute, so it's just the beginning."
For more information, visit www.sfmta.com or call 311.
The changes, which were announced last month, are the most extensive the system has seen in more than 30 years, SFMTA executive director Nathaniel Ford said.
Ford said the changes will be reviewed over a six-month period, and that the agency is open to adjustments recommended by riders.
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