Rescue Munis Recommendations for Geary Rapid Transit For

Rescue Muni’s Recommendations for Geary Rapid Transit For PAR 1/30/2003 1/30/03 Page 1

Agenda • • Introduction Why Geary Rapid Transit? Types of Service Expansion Rescue Muni’s Recommendations for Geary Corridor: – Phase 1: Bus Rapid Transit – Phase 2: Subway/Surface Light Rail 1/30/03 Page 2

RESCUE MUNI A Transit Riders’ Association for San Francisco • Volunteer organization pursuing better public transit (400 members, all-volunteer) • Co-sponsor of 1999 Prop. E (Muni Reform) including Service Standards and Protected Funding Annual sponsor of Muni Riders’ Survey measuring service reliability (last year 14% of riders delayed) • Active participants on Citizens’ Advisory Council and in public forums concerning Muni (e. g. recent fare increase discussion) • Join us: www. rescuemuni. org 1/30/03 Page 3

Why Geary Rapid Transit? • Geary Corridor is among most heavily used diesel bus lines in the nation: – – – – 38 -Geary: 38 L-Geary Limited: 38 AX and 38 BX Expresses: total Geary: 31 -Balboa: 31 AX, 31 BX: 2 -Clement, 3 -Jackson, 4 -Sutter: total with neighboring routes: – By comparison: N-Judah LRT 29, 000 daily boardings 18, 000 3, 000 50, 000 10, 000 2, 000 16, 000 78, 000 39, 000 Data from 1999 and 2000. Source: Muni Short Range Transit Plan, 2002 1/30/03 Page 4

Why Geary Rapid Transit? • Time Savings and Higher Service Capacity – 20 minute savings in scheduled time from 48 Av to downtown • Current schedule: 49 min • LRT with Subway: 29 min – 40% time savings = 40% more service with same equipment! (Source: Muni Geary Corridor Study, 1995) – 10 -15 min savings over Local for Bus Rapid Transit? (estimates) – Reduced delays for all services, particularly downtown • 38 was 74% on-time in most recent study (2/02) • In same study, 38 L was 82% on-time, and K-Ingleside rail was also 82% on-time 1/30/03 Page 5 • So fewer stops, subway = fewer delays than current local

Bus Rapid Transit • Exclusive Right of Way • Signal pre-empts • Limited Stops • POP …. Proof of Payment • Ticket machines • Low floor buses • Bus “Stations”, not “Stops”. --amenities include schedules, Next. Bus type systems 1/30/03 Page 6

Good BRT looks like… (1) Miami: Dedicated ROW, Stations, Through Buses to Neighborhoods from Ends of Busway Curitiba: Stations, Paid Area, Special Vehicles 1/30/03 Page 7

Good BRT looks like… (2) Cleveland: Dedicated ROW in Major Boulevard, Signal Pre-Empts Los Angeles: Express Service, Signal Pre-Empts, Reduced Stop Frequency 1/30/03 Page 8

BRT should NOT look like. . . Boston Silver Line: Lanes aren’t really dedicated, signal pre-empts didn’t work! 1/30/03 Page 9

Light Rail Transit • Efficient, high capacity transit for urban corridors 1/30/03 Page 10

Excellent LRT here in SF • Muni’s new Embarcadero service By Eric Haas. Found at www. nycsubway. org. 1/30/03 Page 11

Geary has had modern rail! • for a short stretch (Presidio to Divisadero) c. 1948 By Clark Frazier. Found at www. streetcar. org. 1/30/03 Page 12

Our Plan for Geary • Two phased plan to upgrade transit: • Phase 1: Bus Rapid Transit – To be built ASAP (2007? ) – Upgradable to Light Rail with minimal additional work – Enhanced Transit Preferential Streets inside Van Ness • Phase 2: Light Rail – Includes Geary Subway from Van Ness to Union Sq. 1/30/03 Page 13 – Much longer planning/construction timeline

Phase 1: Bus Rapid Transit 1/30/03 Page 14

Geary BRT Designs (1) Geary and 17 th 1/30/03 Page 15

Geary BRT Designs (2) Geary and 17 th 1/30/03 Page 16

Geary BRT Designs (3) O’Farrell and Jones 1/30/03 Page 17

Phase 2: Light Rail Transit 1/30/03 Page 18

Geary Light Rail Designs (1) Downtown 1/30/03 Page 19

Geary Light Rail Designs (2) Laguna Portal 1/30/03 Page 20

Geary Light Rail Designs (3) Geary and Presidio (Our recommendation) 1/30/03 Page 21

Geary Light Rail Designs (3 a) Geary/Presidio (More expensive choice) 1/30/03 Page 22

Geary Light Rail Designs (4) Geary and 17 th 1/30/03 Page 23

Detail: Outer Geary Now 1/30/03 Page 24

Rescue Muni Idea A (2003) 1/30/03 Page 25

Rescue Muni Idea B (2003) 1/30/03 Page 26

Possible Geary Timeline • BRT: – Construction 2004 -2007 (? ) – Muni cost estimate: $170 M • LRT: – Construction 2009 -2014 (? ? ) – Muni cost estimate: $1. 7 B • New funding will be necessary for both – e. g. extension of existing 1/2 cent sales tax (1989 Prop B), transit oriented development; federal matching $ 1/30/03 Page 27

Issues with Geary Transit? • Parking – 1995 study: parking on Outer Geary can be almost completely conserved via 90 degree on side streets – Some parking lost during BRT phase on Inner Geary • Traffic Flow – Faster bus service = fewer buses in traffic, less traffic • Construction Impact – This is a concern - but well-run projects can have less impact (construct a section at a time, use deep boring techniques) • Cost – Geary LRT will definitely need new funding sources 1/30/03 Page 28

To consider during planning: • LRT Design – Elevated or Surface in middle section? • Street Design – Parking vs. Landscaping vs. Left Turn Lanes vs. Traffic Lanes – Station Location and Type (Low floors preferred!) • Service Planning – Maintain local buses during BRT and/or LRT phases? – Through cars to Chinatown, Ballpark, Embarcadero, ? 1/30/03 Page 29

It’s Worth It! • Many trips on Geary will be cut in half by subway – Geary/Masonic to Transbay by bus: 27 min (3 mi) – Castro to Embarcadero by subway: 13 min (3 mi) • Delays are much reduced by dedicated right -of-way and subway – No traffic lights from Presidio to Embarcadero! (if elevated design used) • Much improved streetscape with rail service – Compare Embarcadero, King, Market, Church. . . 1/30/03 Page 30

Thanks! Questions? RESCUE MUNI: 415 273 1558 www. rescuemuni. org 1/30/03 Page 31

backup 1/30/03 Page 32

2: Muni Idea A (1995) 1/30/03 Page 33

3: Muni Idea B (1995) 1/30/03 Page 34

6: Rescue Muni Idea C (2003) 1/30/03 Page 35