Indicator ST.2.g Proportion of households within ½ mile of a location selling Muni Lifeline Fast Passes

ST.2.g Proportion of households within ½ mile of a location selling Muni Lifeline Fast Passes

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Data Source

Data on the number of households obtained from Applied Geographic Solutions, Inc. Spring 2007 Update: Current Year Estimates. Methodology available at: http://www.appliedgeographic.com/library.html.

Data on MUNI Lifeline Fast Pass retail locations obtained at: www.munilifeline.org.  Accessed September 2009.

Map and table created by San Francisco Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Section using ArcGIS software.

Table data is presented by planning neighborhood. While planning neighborhoods are larger geographic areas than census tracts, census tracts do not always lie completely within a planning neighborhood. SFDPH used ArcGIS software and a 'centroids within' methodology to convert census blocks to geographic mean center points. We then assigned census blocks to planning neighborhoods based on the spatial location of those geographic mean center points and calculated the planning neighborhood totals for the table.

Detailed information regarding census data, geographic units of analysis, their definitions, and their boundaries can be found in the HDMT at the following links:

http://www.thehdmt.org/etc/Geographic_Units_of_Analysis.pdf

http://www.thehdmt.org/data_map_methods.php

Explanation and Limitations

Muni Lifeline Fast Passes are discounted MUNI monthly fast passes for qualified low-income San Francisco residents, administered by the San Francisco Human Services Agency.  Muni Lifeline fast passes cost $30 for unlimited monthly use of any MUNI bus, train, or trolley (not valid on BART or cable cars).  Qualified residents can buy one Lifeline Fast Pass each month for their personal use.  To qualify, applicants must prove they live in San Francisco and have an income at or below 200% of the Federal poverty level.  Detailed information regarding documentation and how to apply is available online at: munilifeline.org.

The above map indicates the three locations where Muni Lifeline Fast Passes can be purchased.  An important caveat in interpreting this data is that passes can only be purchased on the last and first two business days (Monday - Friday) each month, during regular business hours.  As of September 2009, the locations and hours were as follows: 

Human Services Agency office at 170 Otis (8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.)

San Francisco One Stop located at 3120 Mission (8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.)

MTA Customer Service Center located at 11 South Van Ness (8 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.)

Notably, the cost of the pass was lowered in July 2009 from $35 to $30.

Why is this a Community Health Indicator?

Lower income communities are more likely to rely on public transportation to meet their daily needs, particularly for longer trips. Public transit is therefore a key means of ensuring people have access to essential goods and services, including medical and dental services, food and other basic goods, banking, education, and jobs that are vital for both physical and mental health. The affordability of public transit - and whether people can readily access discounted transit fares - is one important factor in hether people are able to meet these daily needs.a

  1. Litman T. Public Transportation and Health (Chapter 3). In: Healthy, Equitable Transportation Policy: Recommendations and Research. PolicyLink, Prevention Institute, Convergence Partnership. Ed. Shireen Malekafzali. 2009. Accessed online September 2009.