San Francisco’s First Female Director of Transportation Department Born

On February 18, 2025, Mayor Daniel Lurie and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) Board announced the appointment of Julie Kirschbaum as the new director of the city’s transportation department. This marks the first time a woman has been officially appointed as director of the agency in San Francisco.

Julie Kirschbaum brings with her 20 years of experience in transportation management. Since January 1, 2025, she has been serving as the acting director of the SFMTA. Her track record of accountability and outstanding leadership during challenging financial times for Muni (San Francisco bus and light rail system) played a significant role in her selection as the new director.

From 2018 to 2024, Kirschbaum led the transportation department, the largest division within SFMTA. She successfully navigated the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, oversaw multiple reconstructions of the Muni transportation system, and improved the speed and reliability of Muni, resulting in historically high satisfaction rates among the 500,000 daily passengers.

Furthermore, she implemented proactive maintenance measures that reduced subway delays by 70%. Despite financial pressures, she maximized the efficiency of limited resources under her purview.

During her tenure as acting director, Kirschbaum was recognized with the “2024-2025 Katherine G. Johnson Pioneer Award” for her ability to build consensus and her pragmatic problem-solving skills.

Residing in Ingleside with her husband and two children, Kirschbaum shared that she frequently walks, bikes, drives, and takes Muni to shuttle her kids. Her personal experience with various modes of transportation in the city has provided her with a deep understanding of urban transit, enabling her to strive for better services for residents and enhance road safety.

Mayor Daniel Lurie emphasized that Kirschbaum is the kind of leader that the SFMTA needs at the moment. He commended her for elevating Muni to new heights in terms of speed, reliability, cleanliness, and safety, attributing her success to her collaborative spirit with residents and the business community.

Kirschbaum acknowledged San Francisco’s world-class transportation system and highlighted the vital role of public transit in the city’s economic recovery. Despite facing severe financial challenges, she pledged to ensure the continued progress of Muni, advocate for transportation funding, rebuild trust between the transportation agency, and the community. She also promised to seek consensus from all stakeholders in crafting transportation policies that benefit everyone.

Chair of the SFMTA Board, Janet Tarlov, stated that they needed a leader who could hit the ground running, and the board unanimously agreed that Kirschbaum was the best candidate for the job.

Marisa Rodriguez, Executive Director of the Union Square Alliance, emphasized the significance of Union Square as a crucial transportation hub in the city, attracting residents from across San Francisco and the Bay Area. Rodriguez expressed her anticipation of collaborating with Kirschbaum to ensure a stable, efficient, and vibrant transportation system that benefits all.