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THIS PRINT COVERS CALENDAR ITEM NO. : 10.3 SAN FRANCISCO MUNICIPAL TRANSPORTATION AGENCY DIVISION: Sustainable Streets BRIEF DESCRIPTION: Amending Transportation Code Division II, Section 601 to permanently designate a cable car only lane on eastbound California Street from Powell Street to Grant Avenue. SUMMARY: On April 18, 2017, the SFMTA Board of Directors adopted Resolution No. 170418-045 establishing a cable car only lane on eastbound California Street from Powell Street to Grant Avenue which included an expiration date of June 4, 2017, which was in error. The proposed amendment to the Transportation Code will permanently establish a cable car only lane on eastbound California Street from Powell Street to Grant Avenue to keep the trackway clear and improve cable car safety. Only cable cars, other Muni vehicles, and emergency vehicles will be permitted to operate in the lane. The proposed action is the Approval Action as defined by the S. F. Administrative Code Chapter 31. ENCLOSURES: 1. SFMTAB Resolution 2. Transportation Code Division II Amendment 3. Cable Car Safety Map 2011-2016 4. Existing and Proposed Conditions APPROVALS: DATE 7/11/2017 DIRECTOR _____________________________________ 7/11/2017 SECRETARY ______________________________________ ASSIGNED SFMTAB CALENDAR DATE: July 18, 2017 PAGE 2 PURPOSE Amending Transportation Code Division II, Section 601 to permanently designate a cable car only lane on eastbound California Street from Powell Street to Grant Avenue. STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS AND TRANSIT FIRST POLICY PRINCIPLES This action supports the Vision Zero Policy goal to eliminate traffic fatalities and the following SFMTA Strategic Plan Goals and Objectives: Goal 1: Create a safer transportation experience for everyone Objective 1.3: Improve the safety of the transportation system. Goal 2: Make transit, walking, bicycling, taxi, ridesharing and carsharing the preferred means of travel Objective 2.2: Improve transit performance. Objective 2.3: Increase use of all non-private auto modes. Goal 3: Improve the environment and quality of life in San Francisco Objective 3.4: Deliver services efficiently. This action also supports the following sections of the Transit-First Policy: 1. To ensure quality of life and economic health in San Francisco, the primary objective of the transportation system must be the safe and efficient movement of people and goods. 2. Public transit, including taxis and vanpools, is an economically and environmentally sound alternative to transportation by individual automobiles. Within San Francisco, travel by public transit, by bicycle and on foot must be an attractive alternative to travel by private automobile. 3. Decisions regarding the use of limited public street and sidewalk space shall encourage the use of public rights of way by pedestrians, bicyclists, and public transit, and shall strive to reduce traffic and improve public health and safety. DESCRIPTION On April 18, 2017, SFMTA Board of Directors amended the Transportation Code through Resolution No. 170418-045 to establish a Cable Car Only Lane on California Street, eastbound, but this amendment erroneously included an expiration date of June 4, 2017. The proposed Transportation Code amendment corrects this error. SFMTA staff recommends amending the Transportation Code, Division II, Section 601 to permanently designate a cable car only lane on California Street, eastbound, between Powell Street and Grant Avenue. Specifically the SFMTA proposes the following parking and traffic modifications: A. ESTABLISH – CABLE CAR ONLY LANE - California Street, eastbound, from Powell Street to Grant Avenue PAGE 3 STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT The SFMTA sent mailed notifications to about 350 residents and property owners in the project area in February 2017. SFMTA staff made minor design adjustments to the project to address concerns shared by two residents about ongoing construction at 875 California Street. SFMTA staff also met with the Ritz-Carlton Hotel and made minor design adjustments to the project to ensure the hotel’s driveway and loading dock were not impacted. There was no public feedback at an SFMTA public hearing on March 3, 2017, or at the SFMTA Board of Directors meeting on April 18, 2017. ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED The project team explored adjusting the traffic signal timing to provide downhill cable cars a head start over traffic, ensuring that the cable car would not be cut off by left turning vehicles. This plan was determined to cause more delay to both the cable cars and general traffic than the preferred alternative of reserving the left lane for the use of cable cars only. FUNDING IMPACT The total cost of this project is $50,000. Capital funds for this project are from the SFMTA’s FY17 operating budget. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW The proposed parking and traffic modifications are subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). CEQA provides a categorical exemption from environmental review for operation, repair, maintenance, or minor alteration of existing highways and streets, sidewalks, gutters, bicycle and pedestrian trails, and similar facilities as defined in Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations Section 15301. On March 6, 2017, the San Francisco Planning Department determined (Case Number 2017- 002107ENV) that the proposed parking and traffic modifications on California Street are categorically exempt from CEQA as defined in Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations Section 15301. A copy of the CEQA determination is on file with the Secretary to the SFMTA Board of Directors, and may be found in the records of the Planning Department at 1650 Mission Street in San Francisco, and is incorporated herein by reference. The proposed action is the Approval Action as defined by the S. F. Administrative Code Chapter 31. OTHER APPROVALS RECEIVED OR STILL REQUIRED The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed this calendar item. RECOMMENDATION SFMTA staff recommends that the SFMTA Board of Directors amend Transportation Code Division II, Section 601 to permanently designate a cable car only lane on eastbound California Street from Powell Street to Grant Avenue. SAN FRANCISCO MUNICIPAL TRANSPORTATION AGENCY BOARD OF DIRECTORS RESOLUTION No. ______________ WHEREAS, The City adopted the Vision Zero Policy in February 2014 which aims to eliminate all traffic fatalities by 2024; and, WHEREAS, The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency have developed the California Street Cable Car Lane Project to support the City’s Vision Zero Policy; and, WHEREAS, SFMTA staff have proposed traffic modifications as part of the California Street Cable Car Lane Project, a Vision Zero supporting project, as follows: A. ESTABLISH – CABLE CAR ONLY LANE - California Street, eastbound, from Powell Street to Grant Avenue WHEREAS, The proposed parking and traffic modifications are subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); CEQA provides a categorical exemption from environmental review for operation, repair, maintenance, or minor alteration of existing highways and streets, sidewalks, gutters, bicycle and pedestrian trails, and similar facilities as defined in Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations Section 15301; and WHEREAS, On March 6, 2017, the Planning Department determined that the proposed parking and traffic modifications are categorically exempt from CEQA as defined in Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations Section 15301; and WHEREAS, The proposed action is the Approval Action as defined by the S. F. Administrative Code Chapter 31, and WHEREAS, A copy of the CEQA determinations is on file with the Secretary to the SFMTA Board of Directors, and may be found in the records of the Planning Department at 1650 Mission Street in San Francisco, and is incorporated herein by reference; and, WHEREAS, The public has been notified about the proposed modifications and has been given the opportunity to comment through the public hearing process; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the SFMTA Board of Directors amends Transportation Code, Division II, Section 601 to designate a cable car only lane on eastbound California Street from Powell Street to Grant Avenue, and, be it further RESOLVED, That the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Board of Directors approves these traffic modifications as set forth in item A above to implement the California Street Cable Car Lane Project. I certify that the foregoing resolution was adopted by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Board of Directors at its meeting of July 18, 2017. ______________________________________ Secretary to the Board of Directors San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency RESOLUTION NO. [Transportation Code – California Street Cable Car Lane] Resolution amending the Transportation Code to clarify designation of a cable car only lane eastbound on California Street between Powell Street and Grant Avenue. NOTE: Additions are single-underline Times New Roman; deletions are strike-through Times New Roman. The Municipal Transportation Agency Board of Directors of the City and County of San Francisco enacts the following regulations: Section 1. Article 600 of Division II of the Transportation Code is hereby amended by revising Section 601, to read as follows: SEC. 601. DESIGNATED TRANSIT-ONLY AREAS. (a) The locations listed in this Section 601 are designated as Transit-only Areas. Any vehicle operating within a Transit-only Area during times that the Transit-only Area is enforced is in violation of Transportation Code, Division I,