Express Muni buses make long-awaited return to service

Muni passengers and city leaders ventured to Visitacion Valley Monday to welcome back the 8AX-Bayshore and 8BX-Bayshore express.

The express buses that serve the residents in the southeastern part of The City have been out of operation for the more than two years since the Covid-19 pandemic. Board of Supervisors President Shamann Walton, who represents Visitacion Valley, stressed the importance of the bus lines during a press conference, saying:

“This is a very vital and important bus line because it’s a rapid express bus service from here in Visitacion Valley and southeast to Chinatown so our folks can get to work, folks can get to childcare. Folks can really have a quick time and avoid all the traffic to get across town.”

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency said 8AX and 8BX will run its pre-pandemic route on weekdays, which is inbound service from approximately from 6 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and outbound service from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

SFMTA Director of Transportation Jeffrey Tumlin thanked Walton and the community for making the service priority clear as the agency continues to restore pre-pandemic Muni routes, adding:

“It is very clear that we need to be prioritizing fast, frequent connections to our communities that are needed the most.”

SFMTA board Director Sharon Lai said:

“With this restoration, it truly expresses our commitment to the community and to the equity needs of our neighborhoods and our communities.”

The express buses enable residents to connect to workplaces and Chinatown shopping centers. Rex Tabora, executive director of the Asian Pacific American Community Center, said:

“Many of our fixed income seniors also use the 8AX to go get their groceries to Chinatown so they can access lower food prices. You won’t see them at Whole Foods or Safeway. It’s just too expensive for them.”

The 8AX and 8BX were originally scheduled to return in March, but an operator shortage exacerbated by the omicron variant forced SFMTA officials to delay several service restoration plans. 

Transit officials have announced tentative plans to restore the next round of Muni service in July.

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.