Weekend Roundup: Regional Transit Measure Update, More Art at Sunset Dunes…

Streetsblog will be off starting Friday afternoon, returning Tuesday, April 7 after the Easter Holiday. Here are three Streetsblog news nuggets to start the long weekend.

Regional measure signature list growing fast

Transit agencies around the Bay Area have been spelling out their doomsday scenarios if the the regional transit measure doesn’t get on the November ballot (and approved by voters, of course). From a Caltrain statement on Thursday about what a failure of the measure would lead to:

• Closing more than one-third of stations; 

• Eliminating all weekend service; 

• Reducing train frequency to once an hour; 

• Ending service by 9 p.m.; and 

• Cutting segments of services 

Meanwhile, advocates took advantage of last week’s “No Kings” demonstrations to connect with friendly minded people who care about transit. Not only was it the largest demonstration to date, but the number of signatures grew ever closer to qualifying the measure for the ballot. From the Transbay Coalition’s statement:

Not only are we closer to our goal of 186k signatures, we also welcomed dozens of new volunteers. Let’s keep this momentum moving to get the measure on the ballot. Come out and signature gather, we have events all across the bay! Bring your friends, family, coworkers and neighbors too, the more the merrier.

On Saturday, over 250 grassroots signature gatherers hit the streets. The fight is far from over, however. If you want to get involved in saving Bay Area transit, be sure to volunteer.

Sunset Dunes getting more art

Sunset Dunes continues to attract thousands of joggers, cyclists, skaters, and people just out to enjoy a wonderful, coastal, car-free space. Supporters of the park continue to add attractions. From a release from Friends of Sunset Dunes about its newest rotating art and play installation:

Sea Cycles is a gift from the Bay Area Discovery Museum, which originally commissioned the installation from local artist collective Five Ton Crane. The exhibit features five custom-built, sea creature-inspired sculptures that incorporate pedal- and pump-powered mechanisms, allowing visitors to activate moving parts through physical interaction.

Originally created to “discover the depths of our imagination with pedal-powered wonders of the deep blue sea,” the installation blends art, motion, and storytelling. Each creature is designed with a distinct, child-inspired personality that celebrates creativity, inclusion, and environmental awareness.

After spending time in storage, the pieces have been given new life at Sunset Dunes through a partnership with the Bay Area Discovery Museum and Friends of Sunset Dunes. Now situated along the park’s oceanside path, Sea Cycles offers a kinetic, tactile experience that encourages exploration and play at San Francisco’s third-most popular park.

Sunset Dunes is also about to turn one year old. A big first birthday is planned, April 12, 12-4 p.m. Be sure to get it on your calendar.

Details matter/thank you Oakland DOT

And last but not least, another tiny bit of progress in Oakland.

In February, Streetsblog attended a rainy ribbon-cutting of Chinatown Oakland’s first protected intersection, located at Jackson and 10th. This is the kind of safe intersection that needs to be installed all over. However, Streetsblog pointed out that the concrete blocks between the crosswalk and bike space, designed to keep drivers out, need to be painted. At night, especially after a rain (which darkens the concrete–see picture, above right), they’d be easy for a cyclist to crash into or a pedestrian to trip over. Note the scratches across the top.

Oakland DOT director Josh Rowan made some inquiries and discovered that it was an oversight: those curbs were supposed to be painted white during the original installation. Streetsblog was happy to see that the painting/fix was done sometime this week. Thanks, Oakland.

Streetsblog wishes its readers a happy little break and a good Easterover for those who celebrate. Look for headlines and syndication tomorrow, April 3, back to full publishing on Tuesday, April 7.