Today’s Headlines

  • Mayor, Wiener, and Breed Highlight $48M Increase in SFMTA Funds This Year (SFGate, SFBay, KTVU)
  • Some SF Neighbors Yell at Churches for Sunday Parking Giveaway, Others Take Advantage (KQED)
  • Supervisor Farrell on His Bid to Reduce Parking Occupied By Construction Permits (Marina Times)
  • Bike to School Week Had 90 Schools Participate, Setting Another Record (SFBike)
  • Car-Free 1050 Valencia Condos Halted: Judge Reverses Reversal of Downsize Decision (SocketSite)
  • More on the SFMTA’s Decision to Keep the 21-Hayes Stop at Central for a Coffee Shop (Hoodline)
  • Concrete-Like Permeable Pavement Installed at Base of Castro Street Trees Causes Confusion (BAR)
  • More on Caltrain’s New Online “Bike Bump” Form (CBS)
  • Marin County’s Largest Cab Company Closes (ABC)
  • Mini Cooper Inexplicably Found on Rocks of Yerba Buena Island (CBS)

More headlines at Streetsblog USA

  • mike_napolis_beard

    Honestly, Supervisor Farrell’s opinion piece offers some good recommendations for mitigating construction-related inefficiencies. I think it’s a little reductive to simply call it a “quest for more parking.”

  • Fair enough, I’ll change it.

  • Elias Zamaria

    To whom it may concern: the SocketSite link is broken. I am guessing that it should maybe point here: http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2015/05/superior-court-judge-halts-valencia-street-development.html

  • lunartree

    Wow… The Mission is seriously run by the worst human beings in this city…

  • SFnative74

    The DG around the trees on Castro doesn’t look good. Although it’s not concrete, it looks like concrete to 99.9% of the people out there and makes it seem like the city advocates pouring concrete around a tree. If it was done for aesthetics, it backfired. If it was done to make more of the sidewalk walkable, then I think leaving even a small ring of dirt around the tree trunk would look much better and still achieve the walkable surface goal.

  • murphstahoe

    The permeability is an important part of the goal. So much of the city have been paved over that the sewer system takes a beating – if water can soak into the ground that’s a big help. The traditional “ring of dirt” isn’t as effective as a bigger rain catchment.

  • Jame

    I can’t believe people are worried about (car) traffic for a 12 unit development in a neighborhood well served by transit where most people walk, bike or take transit. It is ridiculous there is this much controversy over a tiny project.

  • Chris J.

    One option to address the confusion would be to put signs explaining what the material is. I’ve seen that done before, e.g. in the case of things built with recycled plastic.

    Also, what happens as the diameter of the tree expands. Does it just crack away / give way at the edge?

  • Car traffic has nothing to do with it, it’s just your typical concern trolling from NIMBY obstructionists.

  • gary

    Maybe paint it some color.

  • njudah

    LOL typical Ed Lee – brag about a funding increase he opposed on the ballot and threatened “retribution” against anyone who supported it. Typical.

  • mike_napolis_beard

    Wasn’t necessary, but thank you anyhow!

  • runn3r85

    It’s actually above and beyond prop B money (something only the Chronicle seems to be reporting, how very ironic): “MTA officials are intent on changing that — and the unplanned $48.1 million, on top of millions more in funding from ballot measures and city revenue growth, gives them more to work with than they’ve had in decades.” http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Mayor-Ed-Lee-unveils-1-billion-transportation-6241811.php

    He’s only doing this because he has an election this year. I wish someone would run against him, but sadly no one seems to want to. We should definitely hold him accountable to those threats though, that’s no way to run this “world class” city.

  • lunartree

    The Mission wants 100% BMR housing, and no street upgrades. Any housing that isn’t a slum is “luxury” and shouldn’t be build. They seriously believe that the Mission is best off as a ghetto. It’s incredibly backward.

  • hp2ena

    SF Citizen reports those who collected signatures to preserve a bus stop on Hayes may have been paid for their efforts: http://sfcitizen.com/blog/2015/05/04/demockracy-a-full-blown-political-campaign-to-save-a-muni-bus-stop-complete-with-paid-signature-gatherers-london-breed-fooled/

  • Andy Chow

    If getting street upgrades and developments mean that they would be priced out in the community, then they’re just trying to protect themselves.

  • lunartree

    Regardless of street upgrades prices are rising because they’re not building. Fighting the street upgrades is just a mob mentality to simply do the opposite of what would be positive in the hopes it drives people away. Personally, I’m losing a lot of sympathy for people who refuse to work together. We live in a city. Cooperation is what makes this work. If you’re not onboard go to the suburbs.

  • SFnative74

    I agree…there should be something permeable there and you can keep most of the DG, but just removing the DG around the immediate area around the trunk and exposing some dirt would make it look less like concrete was dumped right up to the tree trunk.

  • NoeValleyJim

    It is unclear to me how Christians get to park free to worship, but not Muslims, Jews or Seventh Day Adventists. This seems like a violation of religious freedom to me.

  • Chris J.

    Also, if it’s permeable, why are there also mini grates?

  • Jim

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/fieldsofdreams/17198085639/ (Not my photo, credit to owner)

    Car-centric design at the Girard/Marina on-ramp for the Presidio Parkway. That right-turn slip lane is just asking for future collisions between impatient drivers and pedestrians + bicyclists.