This Week: More Chances to Speak Up For a Transit-First Budget

By Aaron Bialick
Mar 12, 2012

This week, the SFMTA holds two more town hall budget meetings and considers two traffic circles at its engineering hearing. Meanwhile, neighbors and advocates convene to make sure the agency doesn’t forget about implementing safety improvements on 2nd Street (again). Here are all the highlights from the Streetsblog calendar:

Tuesday: The SFMTA Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee meets. The committee will hear updates on pedestrian safety efforts from the SFPD Traffic Company and SFMTA Livable Streets staff as well as an overview of the Better Market Street Project. 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday: Bike to Work With Supervisor Mar. The SF Bicycle Coalition writes: “Talk policy points or trade political gossip with Supervisor Eric Mar on this jolly monthly tradition — catch a rocking Richmond District bike bus and roll downtown with Eric and a merry band of D1 velocitizens. Top up your tires and get on the bike bus!” 8 a.m.
Also Wednesday and Thursday: SFMTA Town Hall Budget Meetings. The SFMTA holds two more public meetings this week to field input on proposals to reduce the agency’s budget deficit over the next two years. Show your support for much-needed measures like extending parking meter hours and enforcing garage ordinances instead of service cuts for Muni riders. This week’s meetings are at the main SF Public Library and the SFMTA’s Presidio Division Building. 6 p.m.
Thursday: Great 2nd Street Community Meeting. Frustrated with the city’s flop on implementing 2nd Street safety improvements? Join architects David Baker + Partners and Van Meter Williams Pollack, Public Bikes, and other 2nd Street residents and businesses for “a casual community get-together” to talk about the city’s plans for bike, pedestrian, and streetscape improvements on 2nd Street between Market and King Streets. 5:30 p.m.
Friday: SFMTA Engineering Hearing. On the agenda are two traffic circles in the Sunset and the Richmond, where traffic-calming islands on Lake Street are also proposed, along with a re-opened crosswalk on Arguello Boulevard. In Potrero Hill, daylighting and perpendicular parking are proposed on 18th Street, and 8th Street in SoMa could see the speed limit reduced to 25 mph and a bus stop moved across Howard Street. 10 a.m.
Saturday: SF Bicycle Coalition Family Biking Series: On Road With Your Children. Get your kids ready for Bike to School Day with the SFBC’s on-road biking course, where instructors will teach parents and children “how to prepare and ride to school, including practice on a car-free space and on regular city streets with biking facilities.” 10 a.m.

Keep an eye on the calendar for updated listings. Got an event we should know about? Drop us a line.