A Bold Addition to 'Transit-First' San Francisco Streets

In an effort to improve on-time performance of Muni, San Francisco has begun painting transit-only lanes a shade of Golden Gate Bridge red.

1 minute read

March 18, 2014, 11:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Jessica Kwong reports on the city’s new look for transit-only lanes: a deep shade of red that will alert drivers to the proper use of the lanes.

The first red lanes actually appeared almost a year ago “as part of a pilot project on Church Street between 16th Street and Duboce Avenue to improve the movement of J-Church trains and 22-Fillmore buses.”

The city is currently painting on Third Street between Townsend and Jessie streets, with additional work scheduled for “on eastbound Market Street between Fifth and 12th streets, westbound Market Street between Eighth Street and Van Ness Avenue, and Geary and O'Farrell streets between Market and Gough streets, except for the segment between Powell Street and Grant Avenue.”

SFMTA Transportation Director Ed Reiskin is quoted in the story making a telling statement about how San Francisco prioritizes the use of its public right-of-ways: "As a transit-first city, we need to be smart about how we improve transit to make it an attractive, reliable choice for San Franciscans." 

Tuesday, March 18, 2014 in San Francisco Examiner

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Worker in yellow safety vest and hard hat looks up at servers in data center.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power

Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

July 18 - Inside Climate News

Former MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood standing in front of MARTA HQ with blurred MARTA sign visible in background.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns

MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

July 18 - WABE

Rendering of proposed protected bikeway in Santa Clara, California.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant

A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.

July 17 - San José Spotlight