We now have new proposals to improve the 29 Sunset as part of the 29 Sunset Improvement Project – Phase Two.
These proposals are designed to achieve several goals:
- More reliable bus service, with fewer service gaps and pass ups,
- Shorter travel times,
- More well-furnished and visible bus stops, and
- Improved traffic safety for everyone who travels on the corridor.
After reviewing the proposals, share your feedback in the survey by September 15 or learn more at upcoming events.
Key proposals:
Improved Bus Stops for Riders
Shelters
Shelters would be added at several bus stops. Shelters can provide seating, real-time arrival displays, Muni maps and shelter from weather. Some locations where shelters might be added, pending further analysis, include:
- The westbound (inbound) stop at Ocean Ave/I-280 On Ramp. Riders on both the 29 Sunset and 49 Van Ness/Mission could use the shelter at this busy stop next to the Balboa Park BART station.
- The westbound (inbound stop) at Persia Ave and Mission St. This shelter would be added at the proposed new bus stop location across the intersection.
- The eastbound (outbound) stop at Mansell St and Visitacion Ave. This shelter would offer some protection from windy weather at the top of the hill near McLaren Park. We’ve heard that this bus stop is well-used by students transferring between the route and the 56 Rutland.
Bus stop lighting pilot
As part of our Muni Stop Lighting Project, we would pilot new solar lighting at three to four bus stops. Improving lighting at Muni stops has been found to improve safety and increase feelings of safety. Instead of proposing locations for new lighting, we are requesting suggestions from the community on where lights are most needed in the survey. There are limitations to where solar lights can be added. For example, they need enough sun exposure to charge the light.
Bus stop signage
Metal signs will be added at all 29 Sunset bus stops in the project area. Some bus stops are currently only marked by a band of yellow paint on nearby utility poles, or on the street. Signage would help new or infrequent riders find bus stops more easily.
Dedicated street space at bus stops
Transit bulbs
Transit bulbs would be added at up to eight intersections, and lengthened at one more. The bulbs extend sidewalks at bus stops into the curbside parking lane. This allows buses to avoid having to pull back into traffic, which improves reliability and travel time. They also allow buses to pull closer to the curb, making loading and unloading more accessible. Additionally, they improve safety for people walking by making them more visible, narrowing the crossing distance and slowing turning vehicles. Each transit bulb would remove approximately one to three parking spaces.
Transit boarding islands
Transit boarding islands would be added at two bus stops on Mansell Street. Similar to transit bulbs, they allow buses to avoid pulling back into traffic. That improves reliability and travel time. The boarding islands are proposed instead of transit bulbs on Mansell Street because of the existing bike lane, which would be between the island and the sidewalk, and would no longer have buses stopping in it. Each transit boarding island would remove approximately three to four parking spaces.
New or longer bus zones
At five intersections, we would add or lengthen bus zones. Bus zones are the dedicated space at the curb where buses can pull over to let passengers on and off. These zones improve accessibility by allowing riders to step or roll directly between the bus and the sidewalk instead of loading or unloading in the street. Each new or longer bus zone would remove between zero and four parking spaces.
One of the lengthened zones would be at Ocean Ave & Cayuga Ave, where we are collaborating with the Cayuga Slow Street 2.0 team. The Slow Streets Team is working with neighbors and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission to propose traffic calming and green infrastructure upgrades for this intersection, which includes closing a short segment of Santa Ynez between Cayuga and Ocean Ave. Outreach will continue through the summer, and draft proposals will be shared with the community for feedback this fall.
Improved traffic safety
New crosswalks and traffic calming
At four intersections, we would paint new high-visibility crosswalks. These markings help improve safety by making people walking more visible. At three intersections, we would add median dividers. These small, raised islands improve safety by narrowing the crossing distance and encouraging drivers to slow down.
San Bruno Avenue lane removal
On San Bruno Avenue between Mansell Street and Paul Avenue, we would remove one northbound lane of traffic. Removing a lane would allow us to increase the width of the remaining lanes, allowing buses to more easily pass through. Additionally, bike lanes might be added. Both north and south of this section of San Bruno Avenue, there is only one lane of northbound traffic, but in this section, there are two lanes. It would also not affect parking or southbound traffic on San Bruno Avenue.
More efficient transit priority
Transit Signal Priority
Transit signal priority reduces the amount of time that buses spend at red lights by extending the green light when a bus is approaching. The project would add transit signal priority for the 29 Sunset at traffic signals on Bayshore Boulevard, Ocean Avenue and Holloway Avenue.
Bus stop moves
Bus stop removals
At thirteen intersections, we would remove bus stops. Many bus stops on the 29 Sunset are closer than the 800-foot minimum distance recommended by the SFMTA’s bus stop spacing guidelines. The distances between almost all of the remaining bus stops would be under the 1,360-foot recommended maximum for relatively level areas. The recommended distances are shorter where grades are steep. Most bus riders would not be affected because most are not the closest stops to major destinations like schools, senior centers, groceries, or transfers to other lines. All riders benefit from improvements to reduce transit delays, improve travel times and reliability and reduce overcrowding. Stop removals will not require parking removal.
One bus stop proposed for removal, on Mansell Street at Goettingen Street, is on a steep grade, but the nearest bus stops are only around 260 to 300 feet away.
Bus stop relocations
At several locations, we would adjust the spacing of the bus stops to reduce delays or provide a more comfortable waiting environment.
Red curbs
At two locations in the Bayview, red curb no-parking zones would be added or extended to allow buses to access the sidewalk or more easily turn.
Share your feedback
Learn more by watching a recorded presentation and share your feedback in our survey by September 15.
Share your questions at an upcoming event or to Better29@SFMTA.com or 415.646.2410.