Rachel Swan

Here are 10 to 15 stations that could close under BART doomsday scenarios BART has nailed down the 10 stations that could close if voters decline to bail out the rail agency in November, a dire scenario that would gut service across the Bay Area.

Here are 10 to 15 stations that could close under BART doomsday scenarios—Officials at transportation agencies that link to BART worried about ripple effects, if the Bay Area loses parts of its rail backbone. A possible… www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti... @rswansf.bsky.social @sfchronicle.com

Here are 10 to 15 stations that could close under BART doomsday scenarios During the day, trains would run every 30 minutes, as opposed to the 20 or fewer minute waits to which riders are now accustomed.

Scoop: Here are the 10-15 stations that would close under BART doomsday scenario: www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...

The latest plan for California high-speed rail: Connect it to Yosemite Some outdoor enthusiasts said they loved the idea of connecting California’s high-speed rail to Yosemite National Park, citing the ability to rest instead of driving high tension roads.

The latest plan for California high-speed rail: Connect it to Yosemite—The concept would require moving a station from the city’s population center to an area that many people would consider the boondocks. Instead of… www.sfchronicle.com/california/a... @rswansf.bsky.social @sfchronicle.com

This California bill sparked fears of a mileage tax for drivers. Here’s what it actually does Experts see many reasons to explore such a policy. With the shift in new purchases from gas-powered cars to electric vehicles, California stands to lose gas tax revenue that helps fund...

This California bill sparked fears of a mileage tax for drivers. Here’s what it actually does—Experts in transportation and land use see many reasons to explore such a policy. With… www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/s... @rswansf.bsky.social @sfchronicle.com

Super Bowl LX arrives in the Bay Area as America’s political tensions spill into Levi’s Stadium Roughly 130 million people are expected to watch the gladiatorial combat between massive humans wearing armor and iconography. Few sights are more captivating, or more stereotypically patriotic.

Hello! I wanted to share a piece I wrote about holding the Super Bowl, a.k.a. the nation's biggest marketing and entertainment event, biggest expression of Americanism and biggest moment for seven-layer dip ... at a moment when America is so fraught. Gift link: www.sfchronicle.com/super-bowl-l...

S.F. supervisor renews push for $1.4 billion Central Subway extension to Fisherman’s Wharf Supporters believe that with the addition of two or three stations, Central Subway could grow from a stub to a proper light-rail system that could reshape the city’s transportation network.

S.F. supervisor renews push for $1.4 billion Central Subway extension to Fisherman’s Wharf—With a price tag north of $1.4 billion, the Central Subway would be a herculean project… www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/c... @rswansf.bsky.social @sfchronicle.com

Has a gas station near you closed? This California law may be why As of Jan. 1, California is mandating that underground fuel tanks have two protective shells to prevent soil or groundwater contamination. Some station owners are scrambling to comply.

Has a gas station near you closed? This California law may be why—Throughout the state, gas station operators who waited until the last minute… www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti... @rswansf.bsky.social @sfchronicle.com

Imagine a Bay Area without BART. We got two test cases last year, when outages shut down the system down for hours. Many people got in their cars Bay Bridge backups increased by nine minutes, not counting miserable jams on the freeway approaches. Full report here:

Waymo scolded by judge after robotaxi company refuses to discuss details from power outage A judge scolded Waymo during an administrative rules proceeding after the company refused to disclose how many of its robotaxis had stalled during a power outage in San Francisco.

Waymo scolded by judge after robotaxi company refuses to discuss details from power outage—Zoox and Tesla also declined to provide data on vehicles stopped during the outage. Although Waymo’s staff… www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/w... @rswansf.bsky.social @sfchronicle.com

Yes, Muni buses are slow. But they’re also more efficient than you might think New data from the SFMTA proves that Muni buses really do crawl through traffic, but they also carry more riders than almost anywhere else.

I may be the last person to learn that Muni buses travel at under 8 mph. I found this rather staggering. Red lines could help. But are there other solutions? Should SF get rid of some bus stops? www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/m...

California Highway 101 traffic is still a mess, despite upgrades. Could this new fix help? This remedy will be installed next year along a segment called the Narrows, between Novato and the Sonoma County line. Caltrans recently widened those six miles by adding high-occupancy vehicle...

California Highway 101 traffic is still a mess, despite upgrades. Could this new fix help–Caltrans recently widened those 6 miles by adding high-occupancy vehicle lanes for carpools during rush hour… www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti... @rswansf.bsky.social @sfchronicle.com

Bay Area bridge tolls will rise in January. Here’s how much more they will cost The Bay Area Bridge Toll Authority said there are specific reasons for increasing the tolls.

Bay Area bridge tolls will rise in January. Here’s how much more they will cost—At 88 years old, the Bay Bridge needs a lot of repair and regenerative surgery: coats of paint on her peeling towers, new fenders… www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti... @rswansf.bsky.social @sfchronicle.com

Exclusive: Here’s what the Muni parcel tax would cost S.F.’s homeowners The progressive property tax would impose a flat rate for most single-family homes and place a larger burden on big landlords.

Exclusive: Here’s what the Muni parcel tax would cost S.F.’s homeowners—The philosophy, at heart, is to spare middle-class households and small businesses, while asking more… www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/h... @rswansf.bsky.social @sfchronicle.com

Muni tax: Some Boomer homeowners get exemptions. But what about Gen Z renters? Roughly a third of homeowners in San Francisco could be exempt from a parcel tax to save Muni, owing to a provision that spares seniors from having to pay.

Muni tax: Some Boomer homeowners get exemptions. But what about Gen Z renters?—More contentious, still, is the question of whether landlords will have the ability… www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/s... @rswansf.bsky.social @sfchronicle.com

The Bay Bridge is set to undergo a major transformation — and it could improve your commute To anyone who grew up playing a game of sit-and-wait at the Bay Bridge toll plaza, this change could be mind-blowing.

The Bay Bridge is set to undergo a major transformation — and it could improve your commute—It wasn’t until the pandemic hit that state and regional officials removed… www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti... @rswansf.bsky.social @sfchronicle.com

California threatens to ban Tesla sales for 30 days Tesla has 90 days to fix claims in its advertising of self-driving and autopilot features that the state says are misleading, officials at the California Department of Motor Vehicles announced.

California threatens to ban Tesla sales for 30 days—At the heart of the case are four phrases or product descriptions from Tesla’s website that state officials characterize as ambiguous or that amount to false advertising… www.sfchronicle.com/california/a... @rswansf.bsky.social @sfchronicle.com

Muni may raise fees for parking as it stares down a deficit. But some violations will cost less Though small tweaks to Muni’s fare policy may escape notice, these new proposed parking rates will likely stoke controversy.

Muni may raise fees for parking as it stares down a deficit. But some violations will cost less—Some fees could go down, particularly for parking violations that have no impact on public safety. www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/m... @rswansf.bsky.social @sfchronicle.com

Highway 101 carpool hours to change following commuter uproar Pummeled by complaints from North Bay drivers, state and regional transportation officials say they will reduce the carpool lane hours on a recently overhauled stretch of Highway 101.

Highway 101 carpool hours to change following commuter uproar—This fall, Caltrans completed a 30-year rebuild of that corridor, widening a notorious bottleneck… www.sfchronicle.com/california/a... @rswansf.bsky.social @sfchronicle.com

Giant spheres in S.F.’s Union Square aren’t holiday decorations. They’re crime stoppers Rows of the 3,000-pound balls line the curbs at Union Square, resembling boulders affixed to podiums that look like part of a Greek column.

Giant spheres in S.F.’s Union Square aren’t holiday decorations. They’re crime stoppers—The fixtures have a clear purpose. Luxury shops have in the past been vulnerable to ram-raid burglaries, in which thieves… www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/u... @rswansf.bsky.social @sfchronicle.com

Bay Area transportation is at a crossroads: These are the 10 issues to watch in 2026 The next year will be a key period for transportation in the region as BART and Muni grapple with funding, robotaxis continue to expand and traffic remains an expanding issue for drivers.

Bay Area transportation is at a crossroads—At a moment when our whole transportation system could be dismantled and reimagined, here are the top ten stories to look out for. @airresources.bsky.social @mtcbata.bsky.social www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti... @rswansf.bsky.social @sfchronicle.com

Waymo wants to be Big Tech’s nice guy. Will San Francisco buy it? While Tesla’s Elon Musk joined the Trump administration, Waymo won the PR war and forged alliances in San Francisco’s City Hall. Then a tough fall spurred videos pointing out the cars’ faults.

Waymo wants to be Big Tech’s nice guy. Will San Francisco buy it?—Over the next several months Waymo will keep tweaking safety features as it eyes new territory in San Diego, suburban Los Angeles, Sacramento and Wine Country… www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/w... @rswansf.bsky.social @sfchronicle.com

Yes, Muni buses are slow. But they’re also more efficient than you might think New data from the SFMTA proves that Muni buses really do crawl through traffic, but they also carry more riders than almost anywhere else.

Yes, Muni buses are slow. But they’re also more efficient than you might think—Staff at @sfmta.bsky.social seek to tell a story about efficiency, specifically about all the cuts and improvements that Muni is making before… www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/m... @rswansf.bsky.social @sfchronicle.com

This Bay Area prodigy helped pioneer the digital world of chess. It came to torment him The 29-year-old chess grandmaster, who died this month, brought the game into a new streaming era, with sometimes toxic consequences.

Daniel Naroditsky helped pioneer the fast-paced format of online chess. It came to torment him. I spoke to those who watched the young prodigy rise, and start to unravel, for the San Francisco Chronicle. Gift link: www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/d...

Bay Area protesters were ready. But billionaires got to Trump first Bay Area activists thought the moment for strong protest had arrived. But the influence of wealthy individuals appears to have been enough.

Bay Area protesters were ready. But the billionaires got to Trump first. Gift link: www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/t...

San Francisco got $2.3 million in state funding to build a bike lane. So where is it? The delay of this bike lane is significant: San Francisco now risks being assessed negative points on future applications for state housing grants, after blowing its commitments on this one.

San Francisco got $2.3 million in state funding to build a bike lane. So where is it?—Peter Belden, political chair for the San Francisco chapter of @sierraclub.org wonders whether city staff have thought through the… www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/b... @rswansf.bsky.social @sfchronicle.com

Can BART bring a Civic Center-style revival to another dilapidated S.F. station? BART’s Civic Center Plaza was a gauntlet of despair before a revitalization. Now BART wants to achieve a similar transformation at a station that often resembles a “mini police station.”

Can BART bring a Civic Center-style revival to another dilapidated S.F. station–(16th and Mission Street Station) Nearly everyone wants to see a change, and BART management is eager to hear their suggestions… www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/b... @rswansf.bsky.social @sfchronicle.com

Landmark California law would put more housing near BART and Caltrain Cities throughout California may see a perceptible transformation of their urban design in the coming years under a new law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom to authorize dense housing around transit...

Landmark California law would put more housing near BART and Caltrain—Senate Bill 79, which the governor approved Friday morning, will change zoning standards around train stations, ferry terminals and bus rapid transit stops… www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art... @rswansf.bsky.social @sfchronicle.com

Newsom signs law to authorize Bay Area transit sales tax Senate Bill 63 authorizes a tax measure to prevent the near-evisceration of BART, Muni and other systems.

Newsom signs law to authorize Bay Area transit sales tax–With COVID emergency bailouts set to dry up, and ridership largely plateauing after an incremental recovery since the pandemic, officials at agencies say… www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti... @rswansf.bsky.social @sfchronicle.com

Will this YIMBY bill put more homes near transit? Our map shows where housing could be built Housing advocates who viewed SB79 as a potential sea change say it became diluted during the political process. The bill’s primary sponsor calls it a “a remarkably strong bill.”

Will SB 79 fill areas around transit hubs with housing? Here's our map showing which parts of the Bay Area could be affected -- and which may be carved out or delayed. Gift link: www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...

Flattering! Sure!