Final Project Proposals Up for Approval at SFMTA Board
The M Ocean View Transit and Safety Project is scheduled to be considered for approval by the SFMTA Board of Directors at their Tuesday, February 6 meeting.
The updated proposal closely reflects the proposal shared in Fall 2023, which included improvements like:
Boarding Islands and Transit Bulbs: Expanding boarding islands or the sidewalk to meet the train door would make it easier for riders to step directly between the curb and the train. This is especially important since over the last five years, two people each year on average were hit by cars while getting on or off the M Ocean View train. Providing boarding islands or transit bulbs would also create space for transit stop features community members have requested, like shelters, seating, lighting and landscaping. Adding transit islands or wider sidewalks at train stops would help enact a unanimous resolution passed by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 2021 urging the SFMTA to improve safety and accessibility by removing parking where people currently must walk through parked cars to access Muni.
Stop Location Changes: Combining two existing stops on 19th Avenue and removing the low-ridership stop at San Jose and Mt. Vernon avenues would reduce delay and improve transit reliability because the train would stop less frequently. Additionally, moving the 19th Avenue stops to Randolph Street-north (outbound) and Monticello Street (inbound) would move train riders closer to major destinations and away from vehicles coming on and off the busy Junipero Serra Boulevard intersection. The new stop location on 19th Avenue would provide space for new wheelchair-accessible ramps without impacting traffic while retaining parking at the existing stop locations.
Transit Lane: Adding a transit lane on San Jose Avenue between Niagara Avenue and Broad Street would address two issues: speeding drivers on San Jose Avenue and transit reliability. General traffic would be limited to one lane, which would discourage speeding and keep traffic moving at a calmer, but steady, speed. It would also protect transit reliability by keeping the train moving in its own dedicated right-of-way.
Pedestrian Bulb outs: Adding corner curb extensions at a few key intersections would increase the visibility of people walking, slow turning vehicles and reduce the distance and amount of time it takes to walk across the street.
Traffic Signals and Stop Signs: Adding stop signs at uncontrolled crossings would calm traffic and improve safety on high-injury corridors. Converting a few stop signs to traffic signals with transit-signal priority would mean fewer unnecessary stops on the train and better transit reliability.
Exhibition driving deterrent treatments: The project includes locations for testing tools designed to deter exhibition driving, sometimes called “stunt driving” or “sideshows,” which community members have expressed frustration with.
19th Avenue Feedback and the Final Proposal
During the summer of 2023, we heard additional feedback about the design for the proposed stops on 19th Avenue – specifically concerns about how the previous design would affect passenger and goods loading at the Salvation Army All Nations Corps church.
Our project proposal reflects this feedback by slightly relocating the inbound stop to the east end of the block at 19th Avenue and Monticello Street. This will preserve some parking and curbside access to the front doors of the Salvation Army All Nations Corp while providing an improved, wheelchair-accessible train stop.
In advance of the February 6 SFMTA Board meeting, two new elements of this proposal will be considered at the Friday, February 2 SFMTA Engineering Hearing. The elements include only allowing left-turns for southbound drivers approaching 19th Avenue on Monticello Street and minimal parking removal required by daylighting Monticello Street to make turning movements more visible. This would not increase the overall number of parking spaces removed by the project since it would add back three parking spaces at the northern end of the block. Visit the SFMTA Engineering Hearing webpage for more information on this change and how you can share your feedback.
Together, the project elements will provide significant improvements for the project goals of increasing train reliability, enhancing stop accessibility and amenities and improving safety for people walking.
We will share additional information at the Tuesday, February 6 meeting, and you may learn more by reviewing the proposal elements in the final proposal drawings.
You may share your feedback on the final proposal at the SFMTA Board meeting or by email to MTABoard@SFMTA.com.