Shared Spaces Lights Up Skybridge on Stevenson

Shared Spaces Lights Up Skybridge on Stevenson
By Nehama Rogozen

The Shared Spaces program has imagined new ways to utilize public spaces around the city. Skybridge on Stevenson, a unique partnership between SFMTA, OEWD, the San Francisco Parks Alliance, the Mid Market Community Benefit District, and Zendesk in an alley in SoMa illustrated how coming together, we can support communities.

Dancers were just one part of the programing for the Skybridge Shared Space

While completing its ten week run, the Shared Spaces program  event served as a launchpad to reimagine community building in the diverse neighborhood where SOMA Pilipinas, the Transgender District, Theatre District and Mid-Market mix. Dense neighborhoods like SOMA often lack access to open spaces and community gathering locations, making this project even more important.

Every Thursday evening, Stevenson Street was shut down between 6th and 7th streets for performances by area musicians, dancers and artists. Food from area businesses like Montesacro Pinseria Romana SF and The Grilledcheezguy were available free of charge to attendees, many of whom are residents of nearby SROs. Even with the required masks, physical distancing and other safety measures, the event provided an evening of normalcy during these challenging times.

The Skybridge project showed how we are working to be nimbler and provided needed services during the pandemic. The Parks Alliance had already planning a lighting installation and pop-up events to activate the Stevenson alleyway. However, the Shared Spaces program expedited permits and gain support that otherwise might have taken years so that the community could enjoy the space more quickly.

The Skybridge on Stevenson team made it a priority to understand what the community was looking for, both before and after COVID-19 hit. Behind the lighting installation was a desire for increased safety as well as foot traffic to local businesses. Theater and music groups were looking for an outdoor space to practice and perform. Local residents sought opportunities to connect with each other safely.

“As someone who comes into these communities, you are the least knowledgeable,” says Mark Bonsignore of the SF Parks Alliance. “Really listen to what needs to be done. There’s always a way. You can’t always build a park so we look at underutilized areas of the city and utilize them so they can be for the public benefit.”

With several SFMTA projects like Mission Street SoMa, Better Market Street, the 6th Street Pedestrian Safety Project, and Safer Taylor Street either underway or starting soon, we are exploring opportunities to utilize public space and/or side streets for community-building during construction. For example, the 6th Street Pedestrian Safety Project will ensure that Skybridge on Stevenson can continue during construction. We look forward to plans aiming to restart the event this spring.  

Thank you to all the partner organizations and people that made this project a huge success.

Published November 25, 2020 at 06:32AM
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Twin Peaks for All: Survey Results

Twin Peaks for All: Survey Results
By Benjamin Barnett

Last month, the SFMTA and San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department released a survey seeking public feedback regarding five proposed roadway options for Twin Peaks Boulevard. San Franciscans responded to the survey, ranked support for each alternative and shared opinions about how the different options met their needs. 

The Twin Peaks for All survey was open for almost three weeks and received more than 1,700 responses. This number reflects the high level of interest for this San Francisco park and its future access.  

Survey Background

Conditions on Twin Peaks Boulevard between Portola Drive and Barnett Avenue before COVID street closures.  

The Twin Peaks Boulevard gates were closed early in the pandemic to reduce crowding at the lookout point parking lot. The gates were closed on the north, at Burnett Avenue, and the south, at Portola Drive. Since then, Twin Peaks Park use by hikers, joggers and people on bicycles has increased significantly, with an average of more than 800-weekday visitors and more than 1,100-weekend visitors.  

While the new park access configuration received support, there are also significant community concerns. Our goal with the new design proposals and survey is to find a solution that balances all the various needs of the community including people with disabilities, neighbors and everyone that enjoys this iconic park. 

Survey Options:

1. Burnett Avenue - Burnett Avenue gate is open 24 hours, with parking and a vehicle turnaround available on Christmas Tree Point Road.  
2. Portola Drive - Continue keeping the Portola Avenue gate open, extending the hours from noon to midnight daily.  
3. One-Way Southbound - One-way, southbound vehicle traffic, from the north gate at Burnett Avenue to the south gate at Portola Drive. Reserve the northbound vehicle travel lane for people walking and bicycling.   
4. One-Way Northbound - One-way, northbound vehicle traffic, from the south gate at Portola Drive to the north gate at Burnett Avenue. Reserve the southbound vehicle travel lane for people walking and bicycling.  
5. Pre-COVID - Open both the north and south gates, as were conditions pre-pandemic. The east side of the figure eight is reserved for people walking and biking and the west side of the figure eight is reserved for two-way traffic.   

Overview of Results:

Map representing the Burnett Avenue Option, the most preferred option according to the survey. 

• The Burnett Avenue Option was most preferred with 52 percent of people ranking it highest in comparison to the other four options 
• The Pre-COVID Option was the most divisive of the five options, it ranked as the second most preferred with 30 percent but also most respondents ranked it as less preferred with 64 percent of the vote.
• Mode of transportation to Twin Peaks was associated with responses, with visitors traveling by non-motor vehicular modes favoring the Burnett Avenue Option and visitors traveling by motor vehicular modes favoring the Pre-COVID Option 
• Many respondents commented that they prefer some form of car-free space on Twin Peaks 
• Survey respondents are concerned about sharing the road to the top of Twin Peaks with tour buses and motor vehicle traffic 
• Crime, vandalism and litter are concerns associated with all options 

What We Learned from You

Many people who filled out the survey are regular visitors to the area; almost 50 percent of the respondents typically visit Twin Peaks one or more times per week with another 27 percent of people who visit once per month. People who took the survey tend to reside near the park. The highest percentages of respondents came from zip codes immediately adjacent to the park and of the more than 1,700 responses, 50 respondents were from outside of San Francisco. In total, 52 percent ranked the Burnett Avenue option as their preferred choice. The next closest preference was the Pre-COVID option, with 30 percent.  

Other data demonstrating Option 1 was the most preferred include:  

• Trip frequency did not have an impact on preference, from the respondents stating that they rarely/never visit Twin Peaks to those visiting 1-4 times a week, Option 1 was preferred.  
• Most respondents 64 years of age or younger preferred Option 1.Those 65 years of age or older preferred Option 5.  
• Option 1 was the top preference across races/ethnicities.

More to Come

Access to Twin Peaks is important to San Franciscans and this was reflected by the large number of responses and the range of responses to the Twin Peaks for All survey. Responses reflected that both personal and property safety is important as is access to the beautifully scenic resource. For a much more detailed analysis of our survey data please visit our Survey Report.

SFMTA staff will continue to review the options, working with project stakeholders to develop a project that is feasible and meets the needs of the public based on the survey results. Staff will develop a final proposal to share with the community and present to the SFMTA Board of Directors for potential approval in the coming months.   Twin Peaks is a beautiful and unique destination for San Francisco residents and visitors alike and everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy it. For more information or to sign up for an email update, visit our project page.  

Published November 20, 2020 at 04:48AM
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Central Subway: Slowed by COVID-19 But Still Making Progress

Central Subway: Slowed by COVID-19 But Still Making Progress
By Phillip Pierce

The Central Subway is a transformational transportation project that will extend the T Third underground to Chinatown through some of the busiest and densest parts of our city. While this mega-project is nearing completion, we are unfortunately delayed a few months due to COVID-19 and other complexities. 

Before the pandemic, we anticipated that construction would be finished by the end of next month, with customers riding trains at the start of revenue service a year later. Our current projections put the completion of construction this spring and the start of service in the following spring of 2022. 

View of the sleek concourse at the Yerba Buena/Moscone Station. 

The main reasons for this delay: 

• Moving to remote work and instituting necessary safety measures and procedures during COVID-19 

• Quarantining multiple contractor crews when, despite safety measures, some of the team tested positive for COVID-19 

• Difficulties and delays in getting materials from suppliers during COVID-19 

• Ongoing design changes throughout the project due to the differing site conditions discovered deep underground 

These delays will likely have impacts on the overall project budget, and we are working closely with our construction contractors to get the project completed as safely and prudently as possible. 

Highlights and Making Progress  

Granite etchings of photographs by artist Catherine Wagner installed at Yerba Buena/Moscone Station 

Most importantly for our neighbors, the most disruptive construction is far behind us. The streets and sidewalks along Stockton Street in Union Square and Chinatown are reopened and most work is now deep underground. The last remaining closed street – one block of Washington Street in Chinatown - will be reopened around the end of the year.  

The vast majority of the project is now completed. The tunnels and tracks are done with crews now working on the final finishes, installing art and systems like automatic train control cabling, traction power and communications.  

We even added a ceremonial “Golden Spike” on 4th Street joining the new Central Subway railwith the existing T Third rail line. A golden spike was first used to celebrate when the rails from the east and west come together on the First Transcontinental Railroad – a tradition that many projects follow to this day. 

The project is a finalist for two International Tunneling Association Awards. The Chinatown–Rose Pak Station is a  "Project of the Year” contender. The Union Square/Market Street Station’s innovative design for the battered drilled shafts support system are also nominated.  

Crews have installed some of the public art  – including a kinetic sculpture at 4th and Brannon station, granite etchings inside Yerba Buena/Moscone (photo above) and a light installation at Union Square/Market Street.

Some of the final decorative panels being installed at the platform level in Chinatown–Rose Pak Station 

Central Subway Facts 

Once in operation, the Central Subway will greatly reduce travel times and increase capacity along the congested Stockton Street and 4th Street corridor while enhancing connections to BART, Muni Metro, Chase Center, Oracle Park and Caltrain.  

The Central Subway route starts across from Caltrain at King Street, runs along 4th Street on surface, transitions into underground tunnels with a portal under the I-80 freeway, the tunnel crosses under the BART and Muni Metro tunnels beneath Market Street, and continues under Stockton Street to Washington Street. With an above ground stop in SoMa at 4th and Brannan, and subway stations at Yerba Buena/Moscone Center, Union Square/Market, and Chinatown – Rose Pak, the Central Subway will vastly improve transit access for the residents in areas of the city, such as Chinatown, that have limited transportation options. 

By extending the T Third line, the Central Subway will not only make new connections, but will also increase overall service in Visitacion Valley, the Bayview, and Dogpatch neighborhoods.

Lots of natural light and exposed concrete from the skylights for the entrance underground at Yerba Buena/Moscone Station. 

Floors, ceiling panels, finishes and color-changing LED light art installation by Erwin Redl 

Platform level with finished floors and transit information signs up at Union Square/Market Street 

Published November 13, 2020 at 04:31AM
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New Bayview-Hunters Point Bus Express Route Alternatives: Vote by November 15

New Bayview-Hunters Point Bus Express Route Alternatives: Vote by November 15
By Enrique Aguilar

In response to deep community engagement, the SFMTA's FY 2021-22 Muni Service Equity Strategy and the Southeast Muni Expansion Project recommended adding express service from the Bayview to Downtown. The disproportionate impacts of COVID-19 on people of color and low-income people has made fast-tracking this service even more important. We are asking for feedback to help us identify the future route of this crucial new service. 

This new express bus service aligns with our transportation priorities as we respond to and recover from the pandemic. Adding capacity to routes that help San Franciscans make essential trips and prioritizing neighborhoods with high concentrations of essential workers and those most impacted by the pandemic are goals in SFMTA’s Transportation Recovery Plan (TRP). This effort also minimizes travel time to reduce how long customers are in our vehicles, which are goals in our SFMTA’s Transportation Recovery Plan. 

The proposed route options are estimated to take about 36 to 45 minutes one-way from end to end. The new express route from Bayview-Hunters Point would improve access to downtown, provide shorter travel times and reflect the priorities of neighborhood residents. 

 

Proposed route alternatives for Bayview Hunters Point Express 

How We Came Up With the Options 

Due to the pandemic, the SFMTA project team formed a virtual Working Group that was instrumental in shaping the three route options.  Members of the Working Group were: 

• Alyssa Jones Garner (CCSF)  

• Earl Shaddix (Economic on Third, EDoT)  

• Emily Rogers-Pharr (PUC)  

• Frank Martinez (BMAGIC)  

• Juanita Washington  

• Lyslynn Lacoste (BMAGIC)  

• J.R. Eppler  

• Nicole Christian (SFMTA)

• Raina Johnson  

The Working Group identified key priorities, downtown destinations customers wanted access to and providing other critical information to help the project team engage the greater Bayview Community to make a final decision.   

  

Signs posted at neighborhood businesses and Muni bus stops on 3rd Street. 

Please take our survey and vote on your preferred route alternative. The survey will be open until Sunday, November 15. Project staff will review feedback from the Bayview community and a final route identified. 

Bayview Express Survey (English) 

Bayview Express Survey (Spanish) 

Bayview Express Survey (Chinese) 

Bayview Express Survey (Filipino) 

Please visit the Bayview-Hunters Point Express page for more information. 

Published November 13, 2020 at 01:11AM
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Can't pay your fare? We Can Help.

Can't pay your fare? We Can Help.
By Bradley Dunn

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit people hard.  Millions of people across the country have lost their jobs or lost their incomes.  When times are tough, even paying for the bus can be a challenge.  During times like these, the SFMTA has programs to help get you where you need to go, like Free Muni for Youth, Seniors and People with Disabilities, the Lifeline and Clipper START reduced fare program and our Essential Trip Card. 

Reduced Muni Fares for Low-Income San Franciscans 

 

Lifeline is a Muni-only monthly pass for customers on a limited income. Lifeline customers get unlimited access to Muni service for a calendar month at a 50% discount off the standard adult monthly pass price. Individuals with a gross annual income (before taxes) at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level are eligible to receive the Lifeline pass.

Federal Poverty Level:

Household Size	1	2	3	4	5	6
Annual Household Income	$25,520	$34,480	$43,440	$52,400	$61,360	$70,320

 

Currently, Lifeline program applications and requests for replacement cards are being accepted online or by mail, and expired Lifeline passes have been extended until April 2022.  

Lifeline pass holders may also qualify for the Clipper START fare program, a new regional discount program that provides a 50% single ride fare discount to those who qualify for Lifeline, which is a great option if you qualify for Lifeline, but don't ride enough to need a monthly pass.  

You can apply for a Lifeline pass: 

• Online - Complete the online application; OR  

• By Mail - Download an application and mail it to SFMTA Customer Service Center, ATTN: Lifeline Application, 11 South Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94103; OR 

• In Person - Bring a completed application to  SFMTA Customer Service Center at 11 South Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94103 

Free Muni for Youth, Seniors and People with Disabilities 

This program provides low- and moderate-income youth, seniors and people with disabilities residing in San Francisco free access to Muni service when using a Clipper card.  

All San Francisco seniors, ages 65+, youth ages 5 to 18, and people with disabilities with a gross annual family income at or below 100 percent of the Bay Area median income level are eligible for the program according to the chart below:

Qualifying Income

Household Size	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Annual Household Income	$89,650	$102,500	$115,300	$128,100	$138,350	$148,600	$158,850	$169,100

 

 

 

You may apply by filling out the program application online or if you are unable to complete the online form, please mail a completed Program Application to: 

SFMTA Customer Service Center 
11 South Van Ness Avenue 
San Francisco, CA 94103 
ATTN: FREE MUNI 

Essential Trip Card 

The Essential Trip Card (ETC) – a discount program to help seniors and people with disabilities make essential trips in taxis during this crisis.  

The ETC will subsidize about two to three round trips by taxi per month for older adults (persons 65 and older) and people with disabilities. Eligible participants will pay 20% of the cost of a regular cab ride fare for essential trips.  The program uses taxis to take people on essential trips like going to the grocery store, pharmacy or another necessary medical trip during the shelter-in-place period. Customers who pay $12 will receive $60 value for taxi trips on a debit card.   

Together all these programs help make sure that every San Franciscan can access transportation during this difficult time. Even if you don’t qualify for one of these programs you can tell someone you know who would qualify for any of these programs and, make sure they apply. 

Published November 10, 2020 at 11:55PM
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Parking Meter Pilot Coming to Dogpatch

Parking Meter Pilot Coming to Dogpatch
By Phillip Pierce

A small but exciting pilot project at parking meters on Indiana Street in the Dogpatch is starting Monday, November 9. For the past couple of years, all metered surface parking lots have been equipped with “pay-by-license-plate” functionality. Now we want to test the “pay-by-license plate” function for on-street parking meters as well.

The only change is that you’ll enter your plate number instead of a parking space number. Drivers may PayByPhone or at the multi-space paystation, just like always. Nothing will change about the forms of payment accepted: drivers will still be able to pay with coins, credit/debit or SFMTA parking card.  

Here are the benefits:

• You can pay at any paystation on the block, even if it’s across the street. So drivers may head in the direction of their destinations, pay at the nearest meter, and be on their way. 
• If you pay for parking but have to leave early, you may return to the same block and park without having to pay again, as long as you are within the original time frame you paid for.

For the SFMTA, we are using this pilot to test if the system can help:

• Streamline enforcement, allowing parking control officers more time to focus on safety issues like double-parking and neighborhood concerns including Residential Permit Parking enforcement
• Remove the need for space numbers and markings on the street that are costly to install and maintain
• Allow for more vehicles to fit on each block when space markings are removed
• Reduce the number of meters needed, freeing up sidewalk space and saving the cost of installation and maintenance

Example of signs to be installed in the pilot area explain how to pay and provide a zone number.

Location and Privacy Details

The pilot is planned for Indiana in part because multi-space paystations already exist between Mariposa and Cesar Chavez streets on the on the following address blocks: 600, 800, 900, 1000, 1100 and 1500.  We plan to install permanent metal signs on the pilot blocks to indicate that customers must enter their license plate to pay, and temporary signs in the early stages of the pilot to notify drivers of the new payment process.

To connect payments with plates for enforcement purposes while preventing anyone from tracking specific plates, we will be masking license plate numbers in our database so that only a limited number of characters from each license plate will be stored.

How to Pay-by-license plate at a Paystation:

• Enter license plate number at the closest or most convenient pay station
• Choose the amount of parking time
• Pay with coins, credit/debit or SFMTA parking card

How to Pay Using a Smartphone

• Download or open the Pay-By-Phone app
• Enter zone number found on nearby meters or pay stations
• If it’s your first time in the app, enter your license plate number
• Choose the amount of parking time
• Pay with credit/debit or SFMTA parking card
• You can extend your meter time through the app, if needed

How to Pay Over the Phone 

• Call the number posted on signage
• Respond to the prompts
  
  • Existing users will be prompted to enter the 4- or 5-digit location number, license plate number and parking time required
  • New users will be guided through a registration process
• Pay with credit/debit or SFMTA parking card
• Extend your parking by calling the same number

 How to Pay Online

• Visit the PayByPhone website
• Create a PayByPhone account and use it to pay for parking.
• Enter location number, license plate number, and amount of parking time
• Pay with credit/debit or SFMTA parking card
• Extend your parking by visiting the website again

Published November 07, 2020 at 01:54AM
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Vision Zero - Safety It’s Your Turn: Funding Opportunity for Community Based Organizations Around Traffic Safety Education and Outreach

Vision Zero - Safety It’s Your Turn: Funding Opportunity for Community Based Organizations Around Traffic Safety Education and Outreach
By

In San Francisco, left-turns are one of the top three crash factors in severe and fatal collisions for people walking and biking. In 2019, almost 40% of all traffic fatalities in the city involved a left-turning vehicle. To encourage safer behavior, the SFMTA is announcing the Vision Zero Safety – It’s Your Turn Community Grant opportunity for community-based organizations (CBO) to share traffic safety information that compliments street changes.

Speed is the most dangerous factor when turning left. At 30 mph, a person is twice as likely to die if hit by a car. That’s why in October 2020, the SFMTA announced (pdf link) the Left-Turn Traffic Calming Projects and the Safety—It’s Your Turn campaign. Left-Turn Traffic Calming Projects place traffic calming devices such as painted safety zones, delineators, and left-turn guide bumps at street intersections in order to reduce the speed at which a car can make a left-turn.

The Safety—It’s Your Turn campaign is a traffic safety education campaign designed to raise awareness about the dangers of unsafe left turns, to promote better driving behavior and to encourage walking and bicycling. In October, street teams began conducting door-to-door merchant and resident outreach, car-to-car outreach and posting Safe-Spot posters around the Left-Turn Calming Projects.

An outreach worker puts up a poster Safety – It’s Your Turn poster. 

To complement the Safety—It’s Your Turn campaign’s citywide outreach starting January 2021, the SFMTA is announcing a grant opportunity for community-based organizations (CBO) to conduct traffic safety education and outreach within the community. The Safety – It’s Your Turn Community Grant includes up to three $20,000-$30,000 grant awards and up to four awards between $10,000-$20,000.

The SFMTA recognizes that CBOs are often closer to the communities they serve, have a better understanding of community needs and are better positioned to share relevant health and safety messaging with their communities. The SFMTA is awarding up to seven funding opportunities to CBOs in the form of community grants to share information related to safer left-turn driving behavior and encouraging walking and bicycling with historically underserved communities in San Francisco. CBOs currently providing emergency COVID-response and serving Black, Indigenous, People of Color, the disabled, the unhoused, elderly, youth and/or non-English speaking communities are encouraged to apply. Transportation experience is not necessary!

Community Grants Key Dates

• Informational Meeting: November 10, 2020. Register here for the Information Session!
• Application Deadline: November 20, 2020
• Applicants Notified: December 2020
• Grant Kick-Off Meeting: January 2021
• Project Implementation January 2021-March 2021Final Project reporting: April 2021

More information on the grant application, terms and FAQ can be found here.

For any questions regarding the Safety It’s Your Turn campaign or the Community Grants, please email VisionZeroSFLeftTurns@sfmta.com

Published November 06, 2020 at 06:50AM
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Slow Streets Takes it to the Streets

Slow Streets Takes it to the Streets
By

As the Slow Streets program develops plans for its fourth phase, the team is headed directly to historically under-served neighborhoods to conduct outreach. Most of the current Slow Streets have come from community suggestions from the over 6,500 responses to our online questionnaire. For this next phase, the program will go to those neighborhoods that don’t yet have Slow Streets to see if there is interest and support.

Map of Slow Streets showing the seven neighborhoods where conversations with residents will determine if there is interest and support for Slow Streets corridors there.

Looking at the questionnaire responses received, we heard a lot from residents in some neighborhoods and very little from others.   While there were many great suggestions for Slow Streets, including some that aren’t yet implemented, we want to improve the process for a more equitable citywide program that is representative of the city as a whole.

From Tuesday, November 10 through Thursday, December 10, the Slow Streets team will take to the streets and engage residents on a neighborhood planning level for the next phase of Slow Streets. The team will be working with stakeholders in:

• Western Addition
• SoMa
• Inner Sunset
• Oceanview/Parkside
• Outer Mission
• Visitacion Valley
• Bayview

Throughout the month staff will talk to residents in each of these neighborhoods to share what Slow Streets are and find out about whether residents would like Slow Streets in their community. Additionally, the SF Parks Alliance will help broaden our outreach and engage with neighbors that we’ve yet to hear from, utilizing local knowledge to empower communities and develop solutions that respond to the unique needs of each neighborhood. Several suitable candidates for Slow Streets in each neighborhood have been identified preliminarily, and we’ll be collecting feedback through area-specific online questionnaires, community meetings, limited physically distant on-the-ground outreach with residents and live online office hours. Following the month-long community input process, SFMTA staff will prepare corridors for review and approval of the fourth phase of Slow Streets at the MTA Board of Directors in early 2021. For more information on our Slow Street Program please visit our project page.

What is Slow Streets?

Slow Streets is a temporary, emergency response program designed to limit through traffic on certain residential streets and allow them to be used as a shared space for people traveling by foot and by bicycle. Throughout the city, 25 corridors have been implemented as Slow Streets. On these Slow Streets, signage and barricades have been placed to minimize through traffic and prioritize walking and bicycling. The goal of the Slow Streets program is to provide more space for physically distant essential travel and exercise during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Published November 05, 2020 at 06:02AM
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