1/30/03 Page 1 Rescue Muni’s Recommendations for Geary Rapid Transit For PAR 1/30/2003

1/30/03 Page 2 Agenda Introduction Why Geary Rapid Transit? Types of Service Expansion Rescue Muni’s Recommendations for Geary Corridor: –Phase 1: Bus Rapid Transit –Phase 2: Subway/Surface Light Rail

1/30/03 Page 3 RESCUE MUNI A Transit Riders’ Association for San Francisco Volunteer organization pursuing better public transit (400 members, all-volunteer) Co-sponsor of 1999 Prop. E (Muni Reform) including Service Standards and Protected Funding Annual sponsor of Muni Riders’ Survey measuring service reliability (last year 14% of riders delayed) Active participants on Citizens’ Advisory Council and in public forums concerning Muni (e.g. recent fare increase discussion) Join us:

1/30/03 Page 4 Why Geary Rapid Transit? Geary Corridor is among most heavily used diesel bus lines in the nation: –38-Geary: 29,000 daily boardings –38L-Geary Limited: 18,000 –38AX and 38BX Expresses:3,000 –total Geary:50,000 –31-Balboa:10,000 –31AX, 31BX:2,000 –2-Clement, 3-Jackson, 4-Sutter:16,000 –total with neighboring routes:78,000 –By comparison: N-Judah LRT39,000 Data from 1999 and Source: Muni Short Range Transit Plan, 2002

1/30/03 Page 5 Why Geary Rapid Transit? Time Savings and Higher Service Capacity –20 minute savings in scheduled time from 48 Av to downtown Current schedule: 49 min LRT with Subway: 29 min –40% time savings = 40% more service with same equipment! (Source: Muni Geary Corridor Study, 1995) –10-15 min savings over Local for Bus Rapid Transit? (estimates) –Reduced delays for all services, particularly downtown 38 was 74% on-time in most recent study (2/02) In same study, 38L was 82% on-time, and K-Ingleside rail was also 82% on-time So fewer stops, subway = fewer delays than current local service

1/30/03 Page 6 Bus Rapid Transit Exclusive Right of Way Signal pre-empts Limited Stops POP ….Proof of Payment Ticket machines Low floor buses Bus “Stations”, not “Stops”. --amenities include schedules, NextBus type systems

1/30/03 Page 7 Good BRT looks like… (1) Miami: Dedicated ROW, Stations, Through Buses to Neighborhoods from Ends of Busway Curitiba: Stations, Paid Area, Special Vehicles

1/30/03 Page 8 Good BRT looks like… (2) Cleveland: Dedicated ROW in Major Boulevard, Signal Pre-Empts Los Angeles: Express Service, Signal Pre-Empts, Reduced Stop Frequency

1/30/03 Page 9 BRT should NOT look like... Boston Silver Line: Lanes aren’t really dedicated, signal pre-empts didn’t work!

1/30/03 Page 10 Light Rail Transit Efficient, high capacity transit for urban corridors

1/30/03 Page 11 Excellent LRT here in SF Muni’s new Embarcadero service By Eric Haas. Found at

1/30/03 Page 12 Geary has had modern rail! for a short stretch (Presidio to Divisadero) c By Clark Frazier. Found at

1/30/03 Page 13 Our Plan for Geary Two phased plan to upgrade transit: Phase 1: Bus Rapid Transit –To be built ASAP (2007?) –Upgradable to Light Rail with minimal additional work –Enhanced Transit Preferential Streets inside Van Ness Phase 2: Light Rail –Includes Geary Subway from Van Ness to Union Sq. –Much longer planning/construction timeline (2015??)

1/30/03 Page 14 Phase 1: Bus Rapid Transit

1/30/03 Page 15 Geary BRT Designs (1) Geary and 17th

1/30/03 Page 16 Geary BRT Designs (2) Geary and 17th

1/30/03 Page 17 Geary BRT Designs (3) O’Farrell and Jones

1/30/03 Page 18 Phase 2: Light Rail Transit

1/30/03 Page 19 Geary Light Rail Designs (1) Downtown Subway

1/30/03 Page 20 Geary Light Rail Designs (2) Laguna Portal

1/30/03 Page 21 Geary Light Rail Designs (3) Geary and Presidio (Our recommendation)

1/30/03 Page 22 Geary Light Rail Designs (3a) Geary/Presidio (More expensive choice)

1/30/03 Page 23 Geary Light Rail Designs (4) Geary and 17th

1/30/03 Page 24 Detail: Outer Geary Now

1/30/03 Page 25 Rescue Muni Idea A (2003)

1/30/03 Page 26 Rescue Muni Idea B (2003)

1/30/03 Page 27 Possible Geary Timeline BRT: –Construction (?) –Muni cost estimate: $170M LRT: –Construction (??) –Muni cost estimate: $1.7B New funding will be necessary for both –e.g. extension of existing 1/2 cent sales tax (1989 Prop B), transit oriented development; federal matching $

1/30/03 Page 28 Issues with Geary Transit? Parking –1995 study: parking on Outer Geary can be almost completely conserved via 90 degree on side streets –Some parking lost during BRT phase on Inner Geary Traffic Flow –Faster bus service = fewer buses in traffic, less traffic Construction Impact –This is a concern - but well-run projects can have less impact (construct a section at a time, use deep boring techniques) Cost –Geary LRT will definitely need new funding sources

1/30/03 Page 29 To consider during planning: LRT Design –Elevated or Surface in middle section? Street Design –Parking vs. Landscaping vs. Left Turn Lanes vs. Traffic Lanes –Station Location and Type (Low floors preferred!) Service Planning –Maintain local buses during BRT and/or LRT phases? –Through cars to Chinatown, Ballpark, Embarcadero, ?

1/30/03 Page 30 It’s Worth It! Many trips on Geary will be cut in half by subway –Geary/Masonic to Transbay by bus: 27 min (3 mi) –Castro to Embarcadero by subway: 13 min (3 mi) Delays are much reduced by dedicated right-of-way and subway –No traffic lights from Presidio to Embarcadero! (if elevated design used) Much improved streetscape with rail service –Compare Embarcadero, King, Market, Church...

1/30/03 Page 31 Thanks! Questions? RESCUE MUNI:

1/30/03 Page 32 backup

1/30/03 Page 33 2: Muni Idea A (1995)

1/30/03 Page 34 3: Muni Idea B (1995)

1/30/03 Page 35 6: Rescue Muni Idea C (2003)