Who We Are
Restore the J is an independent, not-for-profit workgroup focused on restoring direct service to downtown on the J Church route.
Restore the J to Downtown!
End the Forced Transfer!
Listen to the community!
What happened?
SFMTA cut direct service to downtown on the J Church during the pandemic and wants to make it permanent.
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Riders now are forced to transfer at Market St. when going to or coming from downtown.
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M Ocean View direct service was also cut but was restored due to community pressure.
Why did SFMTA cut service?
Service was cut based on old information.
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Pre-pandemic transit usage, with too many trains in the subway, was the basis for cutting service.
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Current transit usage is significantly less because of extensive work-at-home options.
Who did SFMTA involve in this decision?
The cut was made without good-faith community involvement.
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MTA conducted inadequate outreach to community members affected by the service cuts.
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MTA instead had private discussions with eight businesses near the Church/Market transfer point.
Who does this affect?
Everyone, but seniors, families, and individuals with special needs are disproportionately affected.
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The forced transfer at Church and Market St. is dangerous—especially at night or in bad weather.
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Obstacles include heavy traffic, crisscrossing train tracks, and unreliable elevators and escalators.
Why didn’t SFMTA ask the community?
SFMTA knew community members would be opposed if they were asked.
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The community overwhelmingly supports keeping direct access to downtown.
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68% of respondents opposed the forced transfer according to MTA's Transfer Improvement Survey dated September 15, 2021.
SFMTA must:
Create transit options based on current rider patterns.
Involve the community early-and-often, while developing transit options.
Keep community perspectives at the heart of the decision-making process.