Julie Kirschbaum Named Permanent SFMTA Director of Transportation

Julie Kirschbaum has been named permanent director of transportation for the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), the first woman appointed to the position. She has served as acting director since Jan. 1, 2025, succeeding Jeffrey Tumlin.

Kirschbaum joined SFMTA in 2007 to lead the Transit Effectiveness Study, which evolved into the Muni Forward Program. She most recently led the agency’s largest division as director of transit from 2018 to 2024. Prior to SFMTA, Kirschbaum was a senior transportation planner with the San Francisco County Transportation Authority.

Kirschbaum is a member of the APTA Board of Directors and serves on the Planning and Program Development Committee, Light Rail Technical Forum, and Transit Operations Planning and Scheduling Subcommittee. She is a graduate of the Leadership APTA Class of 2008. Kirschbaum is a recipient of the Women’s Transportation Seminar 2024/25 Katherine G. Johnson Trailblazer Award.