8 Bayshore: Visitacion Valley Stop Improvements

The 8 Bayshore: Visitacion Valley Stop Improvements project is a Muni Forward proposal to improve transit access and safety along the 8 Bayshore route. The project proposes building seven transit bulbs. These transit bulbs will be built at 8 Bayshore bus stops near the Sunnydale HOPE SF development site.

Transit bulbs are sidewalk extensions at bus stops. They give transit riders more space to wait for buses and make boarding and exiting the bus easier and more accessible.  

The 8 Bayshore Improvement Project is funded by an Affordable Housing & Sustainable Communities grant. These bulbs will support the growing needs of the Visitacion Valley and Sunnydale neighborhoods.

Project Goals

• Provide more comfortable transit stops with improved bus stops and widened sidewalks
• Improve accessibility by allowing buses to deploy ramps at curbs
• Improve safety by reducing crossing distances and increasing visibility
• Reduce transit travel time by reducing time to board

Project Details

Transit bulbs would be built at the following intersections:

 

• Geneva Avenue & Santos Street: One full-length boarding island with protected bike lane
• Santos Street & Velasco Avenue: One front door-only bulb
• Visitacion Avenue & Sawyer Street: One front door-only bulb
• Visitacion Avenue & Schwerin Street: Two front door-only bulbs
• Visitacion Avenue & Rutland Street: Two front door-only bulbs 

At some of the intersections, we will install two transit bulbs. One for each direction of the 8 Bayshore. Most of the bulbs will be smaller, front-door-only bulbs. The bulb at Geneva Avenue and Santos Street will be a full-length boarding island. It will be separated from the sidewalk to create a protected bike lane.

Transit bulbs improve accessibility, reduce crossing distances, and provide more space for bus shelters. They will make boarding easier for people with mobility challenges and improve overall transit efficiency.

The project is designed to minimize parking impacts by using front door-only bulbs where possible. 

FAQ

How will the project improve bus stops?

At the upgraded stops there would be more space for shelters, signs and bus stop lighting. The project would install: 

• A new Muni sign at each bus stop  
• New bus shelters at up to four stops if space allows
• Solar transit stop lights to provide light for riders waiting for the bus after dark, if space allows

What are bus bulbs?

Bus bulbs are areas where the sidewalk is wider next to a bus stop. Bus bulbs can:

• Provide more space for riders waiting for the bus
• Make it easier for riders to get on and off the bus without stepping between cars
• Provide level boarding to people using mobility devices

Would this project remove parking?

This project would build mostly “front-door” bulbs. Front-door bulbs are shorter than typical full-length bus bulbs. This means fewer parking spaces would need to be removed. One parking space per stop would be removed at seven stops in total.

How were stops selected for the proposed bulbs?

• We looked at ridership levels, existing stop conditions, and destinations in the project area. We found:
• Most of these bus stops serve at least 150 riders daily
• Some do not have shelters and are on narrow sidewalks
• These stops serve popuar destinations, such as the Cow Palace, Visitacion Valley Elementary School and the Visitacion Valley Branch Library 

What will the full-length boarding island and protected bike lane at Geneva Avenue and Santos Street look like?

At Geneva Avenue and Santos Street, we would build a bus boarding island. The Geneva Avenue bike lane would be between the island and the sidewalk. Over 400 riders board the bus here each day. The new island would provide more space to wait with a bus shelter and sign. To limit parking removal, the island would move west of the current bus zone, to a mid-block location closer to Carrizal Street. One parking space would be removed to fit the island.

Project Timeline