When UCSF Transportation reviewed more than 4,000 open-ended responses from the 2024 Commute Survey, one theme stood out: stronger connections to regional transit.
“We saw an interest in connections to BART and ferry service, and specific calls to connect to the San Francisco Ferry Building,” shared Transportation Demand Manager Tyler Dewey, who helps review survey feedback.
According to responses from both UCSF Health and Campus staff, commuting could become easier with smoother transfers and better coordination with regional systems.
From Feedback to Route Design
Tyler Dewey, transportation demand manager
The transportation team analyzed survey comments through a combination of manual review and AI-supported sorting to identify clear patterns.
“That level of review allowed us to identify common themes,” Dewey said.
Once demand for stronger regional connections became clear, the team began designing what would become the Lilac Shuttle.
Route development required careful planning — including service hours, frequency, stop locations, driver availability, and vehicle resources. Using transit planning software called Remix, the team modeled the future Lilac route alongside regional transit schedules to improve transfer coordination.
“Other regional transit agencies use the same software, which allows us to reference their timetables and design the smoothest transfers possible between public transit systems,” Dewey explained.
A Growing Success
“The Grey, Blue, and Gold shuttles are the backbone of the UCSF shuttle system, but the Lilac is quickly becoming a UCSF favorite.”
Tyler Dewey
Transportation Demand Manager
The Lilac is quickly becoming one of UCSF’s top-performing routes.
Ridership continues to increase, and our performance metrics are showing steady month-over-month improvement.
“The Grey, Blue, and Gold shuttles are the backbone of the UCSF shuttle system, but the Lilac is quickly becoming a UCSF favorite,” Dewey said.
The Lilac Shuttle didn’t start in a conference room. It started with feedback from the 2024 Commute Survey.
“This is not a survey that is put on the shelf,” Dewey said. “The more people who respond and the more honest the answers, the better we can craft commute programs that work for all of us at UCSF.”
The 2026 Commute Survey is open now through March 20, 2026. Share your input and help shape what comes next. Take the survey.
