SFMTA Board Approves Pilot Program for 5 Fulton Corridor

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), which oversees all surface transportation in the City, including the Municipal Railway (Muni), yesterday approved a pilot project along the 5 Fulton corridor that will introduce limited stop service to improve service reliability and provide quicker travel times. The program will increase bus frequency and reduce crowding with 20-30 percent more capacity during peak periods between Fulton Street/6th Avenue and the Temporary Transbay Terminal. Safety will also be improved by reconfiguring lanes and bus stops.

"With this pilot, we're making a smart investment in the 5 Fulton that will make it easier for riders to get from one end of the city to the other on one of the city's most utilized routes,” said Tom Nolan, Chairman of the Board of Directors.

“The 5 Fulton pilot will help demonstrate how the Transit Effectiveness Project (TEP) will improve Muni's reliability. It takes a smart, thoughtful planning approach to explore new ways to prioritize transit and help it run more effectively, so customers can get where they're going faster and more reliably,” said Ed Reiskin, SFMTA Director of Transportation.

5/5L Fulton Pilot Program Service Improvements

• Providing up to 30 percent more capacity on the most crowded portion of the 5 Fulton between Fulton Street/6th Avenue and the Temporary Transbay Terminal
• Evening/weekend service similar to existing service with all electric buses serving all stops.
• Weekdays until 7 PM, the 5L Fulton Limited electric buses will make all stops between La Playa/Cabrillo streets and Fulton Street/6th Avenue, then limited stops between Fulton Street/6th Avenue and Market/McAllister streets, then all stops between Market/McAllister streets and the Temporary Transbay Terminal.
• Proposed limited stops include Fulton Street at Arguello Boulevard, Fulton Street at Parker Avenue/Shrader Street, Fulton Street at Masonic Avenue, McAllister Street at Divisadero Street, McAllister Street at Fillmore Street, McAllister Street at Van Ness Avenue and McAllister Street at Leavenworth Street (inbound) and Jones Street (outbound).
• Weekdays until 7 PM, the 5 Fulton short line motor buses will provide added capacity at all stops between Fulton Street/6th Avenue and the Temporary Transbay Terminal.

5/5L Fulton Pilot Program Street and Bus Stop Improvements

Planned low-cost projects to improve safety, reliability, and travel time will:

• Extend bus zones to make room for both limited and local buses at shared stops, and to improve safety and accessibility at local stops while allowing limited buses to pass.
• Consolidate bus stops at up to 10 intersections to reduce bus delays associated with closely spaced stops.
• Relocate bus stops across the street at up to seven intersections to reduce bus delays at traffic lights and to improve pedestrian safety.
• Widen travel lanes on Fulton Street between Baker and Stanyan streets to improve safety and provide up to 20 new parking spaces on Fulton Street between Central Avenue and Baker Street.
• Remove up to five parking spaces on the east side of Central Avenue between Fulton and McAllister streets to reduce bus delays on this narrow block from congestion.
• Add right-turn lanes at three intersections to help turning traffic and reduce bus delays.

Lane Changes on Fulton Street from Baker to Stanyan Streets

The new program will reconfigure Fulton Street between Baker and Stanyan streets by removing one lane in each direction and adding a center left-turn lane to provide room for wider travel lanes that will increase traffic safety. Left-turn pockets or pedestrian refuges will also be provided at some intersections.

Transit Effectiveness Project (TEP)

The TEP is a joint effort by the SFMTA and the City Controller’s Office that aims to transform Muni so that people can get where they want to go more quickly, reliably and safely. The SFMTA hosts community workshops to review the TEP travel time reduction proposals, facilitate community input and involvement, and implement final recommendations. For more information on the 5 Fulton Pilot Project go online at www.sfmta.com or call 311 for further details.