City College Property Could Make Room for Buffered Bike Lane on Ocean Ave
A proposed solution has surfaced for one of the most frightening gaps in the Ocean Avenue bike lane at Balboa Park Station, where the existing bike lane disappears and throws uphill bike commuters in front of a high-speed freeway off-ramp. City College of SF has proposed opening up the edge of its main campus property, currently occupied by a retaining wall and undeveloped land, to make room for the bike lane extension, sidewalk extensions, and landscaped medians.
February 13, 2015
Muni Expects to End Operator Shortage for the First Time This Century
Muni officials expect to have a full staff of bus and train operators this spring, finally ending a shortage that has led to canceled runs and excessive overtime spending since at least the 1990s.
February 12, 2015
One Year Into Vision Zero, Advocates Call for Bolder Action From City Hall
A year after City Hall officials first pledged to embrace Vision Zero, safe streets advocates have released a report [PDF] reviewing the state of efforts to end traffic fatalities by 2024. City officials simultaneously released a "Vision Zero Strategy" [PDF] for the next two years. Both documents were released in conjunction with a new program requiring video training for city truck drivers on safe urban driving, announced at a press conference yesterday.
February 11, 2015
See a High-Speed Train Model at Siemens’ “Moving California” Event
Local Sacramento manufacturer Siemens will exhibit a full-size version of its high-speed train on the west steps of the California State Capitol. You can tour the 50-foot long, life-sized mock-up to see the innovations that will reshape the way cities connect and help drive our economy. Visitors will learn about innovations in intelligent traffic technologies, electrified highways and emission-reducing transportation solutions and will also have the opportunity to talk to local engineers and technical experts from our Sacramento manufacturing plant.
February 11, 2015
Fell and Oak Safety Features to Finally Be Installed By April
The final pieces of the protected bike lanes and pedestrian safety upgrades on three blocks of Fell and Oak Streets are now due to be finished by April, according to the Department of Public Works. Assuming this timetable holds up, construction of the project will conclude two years after the originally promised date in spring 2013.
February 9, 2015
Eyes on the Street: 3 Blocks of Bus Lane on Haight — How About One More?
The SFMTA extended the red Muni-only lane on the east end of Haight Street last week, adding a third block to the red carpet rolled out for the 6-Parnassus and 71-Haight/Noriega lines in November. The lane, which includes a contra-flow block connecting directly to Market Street, lets Muni riders headed downtown bypass the queue of cars turning toward the Central Freeway.
February 9, 2015
Will the SFMTA Board Demand Complete Protected Bike Lanes on Polk Street?
The watered-down re-design of Polk Street is expected to go up for approval by the SFMTA Board of Directors in March. But support seems stronger than ever for a bolder plan that includes protected bike lanes along the whole length of the corridor, as many residents and merchants call for safety to be a higher priority than car parking.
February 6, 2015