San Francisco transit agency seeks city’s youth to serve on advisory board

In an effort to better serve needs of youth riders, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency is looking for teens to join its first Youth Transit Advisory Board.

The young voices will better inform the SFMTA Board of Directors as they craft policies that impact youth and children.

Gwyneth Borden, chair of the SFMTA board, said in a statement:

“By specifically amplifying the perspectives of local youth, the SFMTA is investing in the next generation of transit riders, whose experiences can and should shape the development of our transportation system.”

The new board will also design and lead youth community outreach meetings to discuss transportation matters. The group will provide progress reports to transit officials on a biannual basis.

On its website, the SFMTA said the goal is an inclusive and diverse youth-led board.

The SFMTA Director of Transportation Jeffrey Tumlin said in a statement that he encourages The City’s youth to apply, especially those who live in historically and currently marginalized communities, adding:

“We are excited to create an inclusive board that represents the diverse identities, backgrounds and experiences of San Francisco youth.”

All youth between the ages of 14 and 18 who live in The City are qualified to apply for a seat on the youth board. Members will meet twice a month and be paid $25 per meeting, transit officials said. No prior work experience or academic standing is required to apply.

Board members will be selected from each of the 11 supervisorial districts and up to six at-large members may be selected.

The application deadline is Jan. 18 at noon and applicants will be notified of their status in February. For more information about the board and how to apply, click here.

The City’s youth have played an integral role in recent years, leading on issues of climate change, police brutality and a ballot measure last year that would have lowered the voting age in local elections to 16. That proposition ultimately failed, but by a very small margin.

Additionally, younger residents in 2012 pushed for free Muni access for low- and middle-income youth.

Jerold Chinn

Jerold serves as a reporter and San Francisco Bureau Chief for SFBay covering transportation and occasionally City Hall and the Mayor's Office in San Francisco. His work on transportation has been recognized by the San Francisco Press Club. Born and raised in San Francisco, he graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in journalism. Jerold previously wrote for the San Francisco Public Press, a nonprofit, noncommercial news organization. When not reporting, you can find Jerold taking Muni to check out new places to eat in the city.