Taraval Street has undergone a complete makeover, from about 10 feet below the street to 30 feet above. The L Taraval Improvement Project was 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 have made pedestrian crossings safer, increased accessibility, improved transit reliability, rehabilitated aging rail, water and sewer infrastructure, enhanced landscaping, and replaced the roadway along the L Taraval line. 

The project was completed on budget and on time. To minimize impacts to the community, construction was divided into two phases.

• Segment A – From San Francisco Zoo to Sunset Boulevard – completed 2021
• Segment B – From Sunset Boulevard to West Portal – completed 2024

Project Purpose

The L Taraval Improvement Project prioritizes safety and accessibility for everyone who uses the corridor. Taraval Street is on the high-injury network, the 12% of streets that account for 68% of the city’s severe and fatal traffic crashes. Before this project, nearly 10 people were hit every year on this corridor, half of those while getting on or off the train. The project made comprehensive safety upgrades and modernized aging infrastructure to better serve the community for years to come.

Project Benefits

• Safer train boarding – New and upgraded safety boarding islands make getting on and off Muni safer and easier.
• Improved pedestrian crossings – New traffic signals, sidewalk bulb-outs, curb ramps and high-visibility crosswalks improve safety and accessibility.
• More efficient transit – New traffic signals prioritize Muni service, reducing delays.
• Smoother & quieter train rides –Newly replaced rails make for a quieter ride, reduce train rocking and will require less future maintenance.
• Utility upgrades – Sewer and water pipes, some over a century old, were replaced to ensure reliability for the next hundred years. And a new Overhead Contact System (OCS) powers our zero-emissions train fleet.
• Streetscape improvements – New trees and landscaping, decorative crosswalks and public art create a more welcoming environment.
• Newly repaved roads – Repaving along the entire corridor makes for a smoother ride for everyone.

These enhancements are making Taraval a safer, more inviting corridor for all who live, work, travel and shop along Taraval Street.