Next Monday, the SF County Transportation Authority will hold an informational public meetings on the Geary Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project at the Richmond District Recreation Center from 6:30pm until 8:30pm (251 18th Avenue).

The BRT project is designed to speed up buses by creating dedicated bus-only lanes on Geary from Gough Street to 25th Avenue, which could improve service and reliability, as well as improve pedestrian conditions among the busy corridor with new medians, safer crossings, landscaping and countdown signals. View the project fact sheet (PDF)

But the Geary BRT has been dismissed by opponents as being too expensive, too disruptive to residents and local businesses, and unrealistic in its goals.

Still, proponents believe that Geary Boulevard can become the “Great Street” it was always meant to be, and that bus riders will benefit from the service improvements and merchants from the increased ridership into the Richmond District.

BRT is a long way from becoming a reality. Project timelines are long, with construction beginning in 2017 and wrapping up sometime in 2019-2020.

The project is currently developing an environmental study, and next week’s meetings will be a chance for residents to learn about project alternatives under evaluation, view design options being considered for key intersections, and provide feedback to the project team.

There are still 4 alternatives being considered for the project. The first is to leave Geary as is, meaning no new dedicated lanes for buses but improvements would be made to help flow of traffic and increase safety. The second alternative calls for “side-lanes”, or dedicated bus lanes that would hug the curbs on Geary with bulbs added to accommodate vehicle parking. The third and fourth alternatives create center lanes dedicated to the Geary buses, one plan with a dual median, the other with a single.

The BRT project is the source of much debate in the neighborhood. In 2009, we asked two David’s – David Heller of the Geary Boulevard Merchant’s Association and savegearyblvd.com, and Dave Snyder of Streetsblog – to weigh in on the major issues surrounding the project. Read their answers here. And the BRT was one of the key questions up at the mayoral debate hosted in the neighborhood in September 2011.

Sarah B.

Proposed configurations for the dedicated bus lanes on Geary from Gough Street out to 25th Avenue

10:36 am | Posted under Muni, Traffic, Transportation | 22 comments

Unless you’ve been living under a rock this week, you’ve undoubtedly been bombarded with media reports about the demolition of Doyle Drive that is taking place this weekend.

This is equivalent to when Vegas implodes on of their mega hotels, except it doesn’t happen in 60 seconds and we won’t have fireworks and countdowns (but I sort of wish we would, that would be most excellent). The Doyle Drive demo lasts 3 days, will employ over 40 giant hammers to wreck it, and crews will be working 24/7 beginning at 8pm tonight until 5am on Monday morning (view the full advisory).

What that means to locals is that there is only one major thoroughfare that will be open to get onto (and off) the Golden Gate Bridge this weekend – 19th Avenue / Park Presidio.

If you can, avoid heading to Marin this weekend. If you do have to go, you might want to consider taking the Bay Bridge and Richmond Bridge to get there.

And if you plan on coming back to the city via the Golden Gate Bridge, pack snacks and beverages – it could take you awhile. All traffic coming off the bridge will be forced to take Highway 1/19th Avenue or exit off into the Presidio.

If you’re sentimental about Doyle Drive, you have until 8pm tonight to drive on it one last time. Beginning Monday, there will be a temporary roadway in place and one of the new tunnels will be opened to traffic in the southbound direction.

I bid you a fond adieu, Doyle Drive. I’ve logged a lot of miles on you in my years here in SF, and you’ve always been my favorite way to get from here to there. I’m sure your successor, the Presidio Parkway, will be a very worthy replacement.

Sarah B.

10:24 am | Posted under Traffic | 9 comments

Progress continues on the new Presidio Parkway which will replace Doyle Drive. Looming on the horizon is one of the project’s biggest undertakings – demolishing the raised Doyle Drive roadway – in one weekend.

The actual weekend when this will occur has not been identified yetThe actual weekend closure will take place from Friday, April 27 at 8pm until Monday, April 30 at 5am.

There will be a public meeting to discuss the closure on April 16 at the Richmond Recreation Center, 251 18th Avenue, from 6:30pm until 8pm.

The meeting will provide more information on the weekend closure and demolition process, and project organizers will also update residents on the overall progress of the Presidio Parkway project.

Once the Doyle Drive roadway is removed this spring, traffic will be routed onto a temporary bypass comprised of the new southbound bridge and tunnel, and a temporary roadway. View the full advisory

Tearing down the Doyle Drive roadway is no small task. They’ll employ nearly 40 demolition hammers to remove 258,000 square feet of roadway deck and 5 million pounds of steel. Crews will complete the demolition by working 24/7 during one weekend (date TBA).

If you can’t make the April 16 meeting, another will be held in the Marina District on April 23 at the Golden Gate Room (Landmark Building A) in Fort Mason from 6:30pm to 8pm.

Sarah B.

5:14 am | Posted under Traffic | 13 comments

Photo by SF Department of Public Works

Witness the wind at work… The DPW has their hands full removing sand from the Great Highway this week. In a tweet this afternoon they reported that the roadway is still closed in both directions.

Sarah B.

5:12 pm | Posted under Ocean Beach, Traffic, Weather | 6 comments

Susan Francis and her husband had just finished their Valentine’s dinner around 9:30pm on Tuesday night when they heard tires screeching followed by a loud crash outside their home.

The cause? A Dodge had slammed into the corner of their Balboa Street house.

“My husband right away said ‘call 911′ so I did that and then when I came out here other people were already out here pulling the man out of the car,” Francis told ABC 7 News.

Remarkably, Francis says they didn’t feel the home shake when the car crashed into it. The driver was described as dazed and disoriented when he was taken from the vehicle. He was later taken to a hospital.

The impact occurred near the home’s electrical box so PG&E was quickly on scene to turn off the power and gas for the night.

43rd and Balboa is known by neighbors for being a tricky intersection. A few months ago, a car crashed into a laundromat just across the street from the Francis’ house. It’s still boarded up from the incident.

UPDATE: CBS5 reports that the driver, Jovanni Ramirez, 23 was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Sarah B.

10:49 am | Posted under News, Traffic | 25 comments

This weekend, there will be closures on both northbound and southbound Highway 1 near Park Presidio.

On Friday night/Saturday morning between 12midnight and 5am, northbound Highway 1 will be closed starting at Lake Street. To get onto the Golden Gate Bridge, enter the Presidio at 25th Avenue, 14th Avenue or Arguello and wind your way through the Presidio.

On Saturday night/Sunday morning between 12midnight and 8am, the southbound Highway 1 ramp will be closed at Doyle Drive. If you are returning home from Marin, you should exit immediately after the toll booths and wind your way through the Presidio to exit at 25th Avenue, 15th Avenue or Arguello.

The ramp closures are necessary for crews to install signage along the highway. View the full advisory

Sarah B.

1:48 pm | Posted under Traffic | Comments Off

Photo by Crooka

Happy Wednesday to all! Here are some local links to get you going…

• Spring plant sale happening at the Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park this Saturday, 10am to 1pm. Look for alpine strawberries and unusual lettuces, beets and chards, root vegatables and more.
• 7×7 captured this couple’s gorgeous wedding at the Legion of Honor. I particularly like the groomsmen between the columns.
• Tired of Doyle Drive being closed? We’re already being told the new Presidio Parkway won’t be open until 2015. But the wait may be longer thanks to some financial challenges the project is facing.
• Green Apple Books is expanding…sort of. They’ll be spreading out their inventory to cafes across the city so you can drink and eat, and pick up a good used book for just $5. Watch for these mini Green Apples at Bazaar Cafe here in the ‘hood (5927 California at 22nd Ave), and at other cafes in the city.
• Need some zen? Check out the free yoga and meditation workshops this weekend. One is at the Richmond Library on Saturday afternoon at 2pm (351 9th Avenue). The other is at the Westside Art House (540 Balboa) on Sunday morning at 10am (flyer).
• Ah, the luck of the Irish. It even extends to 50% off at the Blarney Stone (5625 Geary) thanks to Scoutmob. “The regulars’ favorite is the Egg and Cheese Sandwich – a roll heaped with two fried eggs, sharp cheddar cheese, and your choice of bacon, sausage or ham.”

Sarah B.

10:37 am | Posted under Business, Health, Museums, Traffic | 2 comments

RichmondSFBlog reader Robyn sent us this photo of a Honda CRV on its keester yesterday.

Robyn reports that the car, holding two teenage girls, was crossing at 44th Avenue around 8:30am on Tuesday when another heading east up Pt. Lobos t-boned it, toppling it over.

Today a speed check was set up by police at the intersection. The maximum speed limit is 25mph but Robyn says, “most people are blazing thru @ 50″ as they drive up from Ocean Beach.

Be careful out there, folks!

Sarah B.

2:22 pm | Posted under Safety, Traffic | 8 comments