Geary BRT Is Changing Lights Built by the Army Between 1910 and 1912, Fort Scott Was Intended Primarily to Expand the Geary Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Fleet by 2015
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Presidio Trust Fall 2019 tables plans for Fort Winfield Scott Fort Winfield Scott is described by the Presidio Trust as “a place of scenic beauty Planning Association with a strong sense of history. Set in a historic forest of cypress and eucalyptus trees in the for the Richmond western Presidio, Fort Scott has commanding PAR views of the Pacific Ocean and the Golden Gate Bridge.” Geary BRT is changing lights Built by the Army between 1910 and 1912, Fort Scott was intended primarily to expand The Geary Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) fleet by 2015. Presidio facilities by adding an independent project began its planning stage more Equipment was also installed to allow artillery post with responsibility for all the than 15 years ago. Last year, the more intersections to communicate with each seacoast defense batteries, torpedoes, or mine recent change was the decision to sepa- other, so an intersection could provide an facilities, principally along the northern and rate the project into two parts—east of estimate of an approaching bus’s location western lands. Stanyan Street (the Geary Rapid Project) to a downstream signal, that is, the next The stucco buildings with red-clay tile and west of Stanyan Street (the Geary signal-controlled intersection in the roofs, called Mission Revival style, were Boulevard Improvement Project). direction the bus is traveling. designed by the Army with respect to the The longer-term Geary Boulevard Together, this equipment formed an Southwest’s regional style. The name, Fort Improvement Project includes center- “Active” TSP system to detect approach- Winfield Scott—reassigned from what is running, bus-only lanes from Palm ing buses and try to adjust the signal’s Avenue to 27th/28th Avenue. Current and current timing within its constraints (e.g., now known as Fort Point—honored Lt. Gen. upcoming work on that project includes pedestrian clearance duration, signal Winfield Scott (1786–1866), who, as the first design and approvals, public outreach, phase sequence, green light extension lieutenant general since George Washington, preliminary engineering, detail design limits) to provide the vehicle the best commanded the US Army from 1841 to 1861. and advertisement and award of the chance of getting a green light. For more than 100 years, Fort Scott was construction contracts. Construction is Active TSP adjusts Geary’s green used primarily for housing and training troops scheduled to start no earlier than 2021. window (bringing it on earlier or extend- who converged here from all over the country. Construction of the Geary Rapid ing it later) to make it more likely that a Until 1994, it was a crowded and lively place, Project (the eastern phase) has been detected transit vehicle gets a green light, especially during both world wars and the going on for several months. To date, that while maintaining coordination of vehicle Korean and Vietnam conflicts. work has consisted of water and sewer progression with other intersections. Since the US Army left, it has remained line replacement by the San Francisco An editorial comment is appropri- empty and mostly unused. One building is Public Utilities Commission in coordina- ate here—one PAR board member has rented to the World Economic Forum. The tion with the Municipal Transit Agency been riding the 38R regularly for at baseball field is popular with neighbors and (MTA). The next stage of work is to least as long as the Active TSP system continued on back page replace water mains on Geary Street east has been in effect and has often had a of Van Ness Avenue; this has begun and green signal change to red when the Fall 2019 PAR Meeting is being coordinated with San Francisco bus was approaching within 100 feet of featuring Public Works. Work is on schedule and it. In response to this concern, Daniel anticipated to be complete in 2021. Mackowski, an engineer at MTA, said A discussion of The most significant transit-related that the situation described above is Propositions A through F changes of the Geary Rapid Project are exactly what MTA is trying to avoid. on the dedicated transit-only lanes and a traf- The current system, Active TSP, can fic signal priority (TSP) system. TSP only modify the green time within certain November ballot allows the bus to communicate with traf- parameters (listed above), so some buses • • • fic signals on its route and hold a green may be trying to extend the green light, signal long enough for the bus to make it hit a limit and then need to turn red, just Wednesday, October 16 through the intersection—theoretically. as the bus is approaching. 7 to 9 p.m. The MTA installed equipment along To improve this performance, MTA Richmond Recreation Center the 38 Geary route in 2014 to allow each will be adding “Passive” TSP so the cor- 251 18th Avenue intersection’s traffic signal controller to ridor will have both systems. Optimizing (between Clement & California Streets) communicate with radio and GPS equip- the active system in conjunction with Limited street parking is available. ment on buses, and bus-mounted equip- implementation of Passive TSP (based • Muni: 1 California and 38 Geary • ment was installed on the entire Muni continued on page 3 Join, contribute or pay your dues the easy way—online at sfpar.org/site/join-par-via-paypal.html. Letter from the President ear PAR Members, ed the four candidates for San Francisco appreciated the developer’s effort to keep I hope everyone is enjoying a District Attorney, Chesa Boudin, Leif us informed as the plans were modified in Dsunny and pleasant start to fall. Datuch, Suzy Loftus and Nancy Tung. The response to neighborhood input. The summer and early fall mean lots of race has no incumbent for the first time The board also heard from Andy activities in the neighborhood, and we’ve in 100 years and has been generating sig- Thornley, MTA senior analyst (and former enjoyed a number of opportunities to meet nificant interest, as indicated by the great PAR board member). Andy updated us our neighbors and support great events. turnout at our meeting. I was impressed by on MTA’s projects regarding bike share, • We’ve been set up at the Clement the thoughtfulness of both the audience’s car share, mopeds and scooters. Several Street Farmers Market every second questions and the candidates’ responses. new bikeshare parking spots have been Sunday of the month. It’s a great chance Our October 16 membership meeting approved in District One, and we encour- for us to meet our neighbors, spread the will feature speakers on a number of the aged MTA to increase its community out- word about PAR and also to chat with our local ballot initiatives, including Prop A reach and communication with the members and connect names with faces (all on an affordable housing bond, Prop C on neighborhood. while loading up on great produce). Please vaping products, and Prop D on a rideshare And, no doubt everyone has been say hello if you see us. tax. We hope to see you there. reading about the murals at Washington • In August, we had a table at the The PAR board has also been follow- High School. The PAR board is educat- Richmond Police Station for National ing a number of important issues affecting ing itself regarding this complicated issue Night Out. We were happy to support such the neighborhood. You may have seen that’s brought national attention to our an important event and to meet more of the that the Planning Commission recently local high school. officers who keep the Richmond safe. approved the housing development at As always, there’s a lot going on the • We also had a table at the Autumn 3333 California Street, the UCSF campus Richmond, and we welcome your thoughts Moon Festival on Clement Street on and former Fireman’s Fund site. We have on these issues and anything else that September 14. This is the second year heard several times from both the devel- might be on your mind. we’ve attended, and it’s a great new oper and the neighbors, including most Kate Lazarus neighborhood tradition. recently this summer. While not everyone [email protected] And while the US presidential vote may was happy with the project, the PAR board still be more than a year away, it’s local election season in San Francisco. At our PAR monitoring and reporting on Geary BRT July general membership meeting, we host- In addition to our report on Geary the full project (phase 1) is completed corridor signals, we provide this general in 2021 (the project is currently on Officers & Directors update on the BRT. schedule). Geary Street and Boulevard is one of The Geary Rapid Project is part of the Officers San Francisco’s busiest transit corridors, SFMTA’s Muni Forward program, and to Kate Lazarus, President spanning from bustling downtown to the date the agency has approved more than Nicholas Belloni, Vice President Pacific Ocean. But its popularity also 50 miles of projects, such as transit-only Mary Dee Beall, Secretary means that buses can experience crowding lanes, bus bulbs for faster boarding and Christopher Wright, Treasurer or uneven wait times. traffic signals that make green lights more Directors Work is underway on the Geary likely for transit. Jean Barish Jason Jungreis Dan Baroni Natalia Kresich Rapid Project, which the San Francisco Meanwhile, the Geary Boulevard Richard Correia Brian Larkin Municipal Transportation Agency Improvement Project—the second phase Paul Epstein Zachary Nathan (SFMTA) believes will bring transit, of improvements on Geary Boulevard Robert Fries Berit Pedersen safety, utility and roadway upgrades to west of Stanyan Street to 34th Avenue— Sharon Gadberry Marjan Philhour three miles of Geary between Stanyan and is still in the preliminary design phase.