New Bus Only Lane Overcomes Opposition in San Francisco

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Board of Directors recently approved a controversial bus-only lane on Geary Boulevard, after two decades of planning, despite the protests of local business owners. Transit planners in the city expect the project to save time for bus riders on a popular route through the city’s Richmond District as well as converting an estimated 7,000 car trips into transit rides. The project’s Environmental Impact Report was approved in 2017.

“Starting this fall, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency will add transit-only lanes between 33rd Avenue and Stanyan Street, a heavily traveled corridor that also encompasses much of the city’s Richmond District,” reports Ida Mojadad. “In addition to turn restrictions and curb extensions for easier bus boarding, the project will change the angled parking between 28th and 15th avenues into parallel parking to make space for the bus lanes.”

“The agency estimates that these improvements will save over five minutes for 38-Geary riders on that segment each day, adding up to nearly 23 hours a year and easing operational constraints,” adds Mojadad.

The project overcame substantial controversy, including histrionic protests, to gain approval. The day before the approval, a group of Geary Boulevard businesses held a mock funeral to draw attention to their perceived plight. The opposition did accomplish substantial revisions to the plan, including a reduction in the number of parking spots removed for the lane, and a switch from a center-running configuration, similar to the bus rapid transit route along Van Ness Avenue, to a side-running configuration.

“Supporters of the project touted safety benefits for pedestrians. Geary Boulevard, with three lanes of traffic in each direction plus parking, is one of the city’s widest thoroughfares. On average, one pedestrian is injured by a traffic collision in the area each month, according to the SFMTA,” reports Mojadad.

More details on the project, and the public support for the project, are included in the source article below.