L Taraval Improvement Project

We're happy to share that the L Taraval Improvement Project has been substantially completed! And we couldn’t have done it without you. Thanks to our community partners, residents and businesses for your support and patience throughout the project design and construction. Your input has helped to build a better Taraval for everyone who enjoys the corridor. Learn more about improvements on Taraval.

Beginning Saturday, September 28, L Taraval trains will resume service between Embarcadero Station and SF Zoo. Board trains at the platform or street instead of using the buses at the curb. L Bus service will be discontinued.  L Taraval trains will come every 10 minutes on weekdays and every 12 minutes on weekends.

View the latest project updates
 

Project Introduction

The L Taraval Improvement project is a multi-agency collaboration with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and the Department of Public Works to improve and upgrade this vital corridor. These much-needed improvements will make pedestrian crossings safer, increase accessibility, improve transit reliability, rehabilitate aging rail, water and sewer infrastructure, enhance landscaping and replace the roadway along the L Taraval line. 

Construction for the L Taraval Improvement Project started in 2019. To reduce the impacts on the community, the project was split into two segments A and B. Segment A started in 2019 and was completed in the summer of 2021, completed on time and on budget. Segment B began in January 2022 and is expected to be completed in the fall of 2024. Once completed, the corridor will boast new transit priority traffic signals, bulb-outs to make pedestrian crossings safer, new trees, high visibility crosswalks, safety boarding islands and increased accessibility. 

Project Purpose

This project is a safety improvement project designed to address the concerns of residents and riders of the L Taraval who find boarding and alighting the train dangerous. Taraval Street, a high injury corridor with a ridership of 30,000 trips daily on the L Taraval, is a Vision Zero priority project that will improve the safety of the street and eliminate preventable collisions and injuries. It will undergo comprehensive changes to feature safety components and bring much needed upgrades to the aging infrastructure.

Project Benefits

  • Transit priority traffic signals for more efficient and time saving Muni trips
  • Sidewalk bulbouts for safer pedestrian crossing and higher visibility
  • Enhanced sidewalks to draw visibility to pedestrian crossings at Taraval intersections
  • Safety boarding islands for safer boarding and alighting of Muni L Taraval customers
  • Infrastructure rehabilitation and replacement of worn rails, overhead wires, water and sewer lines, and repavement of the entire Taraval street due to heavy usage from both cars and light rail vehicles (LRV)
  • Infrastructure upgrades will result in less rocking for riders on board the train and rails will be less noisy for other vehicles when driven over
  • Sewer and water line replacement will allow for longevity of the utility pipes as well as easier access and less disruptive utility work in the future
  • The streetscape style elements include tree selection, decorative crosswalks, trackway accent colors and public art

All of these changes will make Taraval a more inviting place for everyone who lives or travels on Taraval.

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Project Timeline
2014 - 2017
Design and community outreach
Completed
2017
Early implementation and loading zone pilot
Completed
2019 - 2021
Construction Seg A
Pending
2022 - 2024
Construction Seg B
Pending
Project Status
  1. Implementation / Construction
  2. Current
Cost Estimate
$90 Million
Current Phase or Stage
Construction
Predicted Completion
Segment B: Fall 2024
Project Success
On budget
On schedule
Improvements
Muni Metro train
Boarding Islands
SFMTA Accessibility icon
Key Stop Ramps at Boarding Islands
Streetscape
New Trees and Streetscape Elements
Muni Metro train
Transit Only Lanes
walking
Updated Traffic Signals and Crosswalks
Bus Routes and Rail Lines
Streets
Taraval Street

Construction Segments

In order to minimize disruptions during construction and maximize flexibility, the project is split into two construction segments.  there will be bus substitutions for the L Taraval so that crews can work on the rails and infrastructure beneath them. 

Segment A: San Francisco Zoo to Sunset Boulevard

Segment B: Sunset Boulevard to West Portal

Map of Construction Scope and Segments A and B

 

Construction Project Elements

Project elements

  1. Rail track and overhead line replacement
  2. Water and sewer line replacement
  3. Surface repaving
  4. Curb ramp upgrades
  5. Concrete boarding islands and pedestrian bulbs
  6. Traffic signals
  7. New trees and landscaping

The streetscape style elements including tree selection, decorative crosswalks, trackway accent colors, public art was based on community feedback and will make the corridor even more inviting to residents and visitors alike.

 

Project Details, History or Features

Taraval History and the L Taraval Line

The L Taraval has been in service since 1919 and is a vital part of the corridor. Taraval Street itself is both a commercial district with approximately 205 businesses as well as a residential corridor with some 27,200 people living within a one-quarter mile radius of the commercial area.

Overhead Contact System (OCS) Poles 

As part of the project's work to upgrade the corridor's aging infrastructure, new overhead contact system (OCS) pphoto of an overhead contact system poleole foundations will be constructed to replace the existing poles. These poles are essential to providing support and tension for Muni's Overhead Contact System to keep the L Taraval light rail vehicles running. In addition, it also serves the dual function of illuminating the streets of the Taraval corridor and the path of travel for the Muni L Taraval.

The new OCS poles will be approximately 2-3 feet to the left or right of the existing pole. During construction, you may see both the new and existing OCS poles. This is temporary until the construction crew is able to remove the aged OCS pole. 

                

 

 



 

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Transbay Joint Powers Authority
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Contact Information
Sevilla Mann
415.646.4771