Call to Action: Save Geary Bus Lane

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The SFMTA Board will vote on Tuesday, August 15 whether or not to extend Geary bus improvements west of Stanyan to 34th. From a statement from the San Francisco Transit Riders:

Improvements east of Stanyan gave us a Geary that is faster, with 18 percent faster travel for the 38/38R, and safer, with an 81 percent drop in excessive speeding. The Geary Boulevard Improvement Project extends the work of the Geary Rapid Project, which was completed in 2021. It adds four major components to Geary, from Stanyan to 34th Ave.

As explained on the FasterSaferGeary advocacy website, the major components are:

1. Dedicated bus lanes – so busses don’t get stuck in traffic
2. Bus stop changes – moving stops to the far side of intersections so that traffic signals can be timed to prioritize transit
3. Pedestrian bulb-outs – making it safer and easier to cross the street by improving visibility and shortening crossings
4. Bus bulb-outs – improving the ease, safety, and speed of boarding

Advocates want people to sign up to speak at the SFMTA board meeting and to write in to support the project. Unfortunately, merchants, backed by Supervisor Connie Chan, are already angling to roll back the project to preserve parking at the expense of bus riders. Chan also voted to oppose funding for transit improvements, claiming that increased tolls will hurt the poor (who apparently drive, but don’t take the bus?).

Again, be sure to write a letter in support of Geary bus rapid transit. And comment at the SFMTA board if you can. Tuesday, August 15th. The meeting starts at 1 p.m., City Hall Room 400, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco.