Upgrade Lighting at 100 High-Risk MUNI Stops

This project proposes installing high-intensity LED lighting at 100 key transit stops identified as high risk for safety incidents across the San Francisco Municipal Railway system. Better lighting is a specific request from community advocates to improve safety for women and seniors during late-night commutes, particularly along routes in the Tenderloin, Bayview, and Outer Mission neighborhoods. The SFMTA has identified these 100 stops based on incident reports, rider surveys, and input from the Citizens Advisory Council over the past three years. Each stop would receive between two and four pole-mounted LED fixtures rated at 15,000 lumens, replacing older sodium vapor units that currently provide inconsistent coverage. The estimated cost per stop ranges from $18,000 to $35,000 depending on existing electrical infrastructure, bringing the total project budget to approximately $2.8 million. Funding would come from a combination of federal Transit Security Grant Program allocations and the city’s Vision Zero capital budget. The project timeline calls for design completion by mid-2026 with installation phased over 18 months, prioritizing stops with the highest nighttime ridership first. Some neighborhood groups have raised concerns about light pollution affecting adjacent residential buildings, and SFMTA has committed to using directional fixtures that minimize spillover. A 2025 pilot program at 12 stops along the N-Judah line showed a 34 percent reduction in reported safety incidents after lighting upgrades were completed. The agency plans to publish quarterly progress reports and conduct rider satisfaction surveys at each upgraded stop six months after installation.