Muni Subway Expansion project
Railvolution October 10, 2016
1 Agenda
• SF rail history and context • Existing conditions • Proposed project and benefits • Status and next steps
2 Agenda
• SF rail history and context • Existing conditions • Proposed project and benefits • Status and next steps
3 Rail has been a part of SF history for 100+ years. Major early investments: Twin Peaks Tunnel, Sunset Tunnel, Stockton Tunnel
4 Mayor Rolph at the controls of Streetcar 117 for the opening of the Twin Peaks Tunnel | February 3, 1918 Like most cities, we removed most of our streetcars…
Why not all? 1940 1960
Images courtesy Chris Arvin, “Where the streetcars used to go” sfstreetcars.co
Tunnels! 5 Fast forward to 1970s, introduction of BART
6 Muni Metro hybrid system is born - creating complex operational conditions
• Running in both subway and on street in mixed traffic • Multiple lines merging into one subway tunnel, entering/exiting through three portals
• Five-car modern high-floor station platforms in new subway stations 7 Fast forward to 2016: now we are bursting at the seams!
8 We’ve made a lot of improvements and have more on the way
• “Red carpet” transit only lanes for Rapid Network (rail + bus) and expanded transit signal priority • Maintenance campaigns have driven up on-time performance • Replacement and expansion of light-rail vehicle fleet – “The Game Changer.” First new vehicles arrive the end of the year. • Central Subway – first tunnel in SF since BART, opens 2019
9 But more is needed and there’s a renewed effort to think BIG and visionary
10 Agenda
• SF rail history and context • Existing conditions • Proposed project and benefits • Status and next steps
11 Agenda
12 Then and Now
Source: San Francisco’s West of Twin Peaks; Arcadia, 2006, p. 61
th 19 Avenue 13 19th Avenue Today
14 What problems are we trying to solve?
15 Rail Crowding
Source: Metropolitan Transportation Commission Core Capacity Transit Study Briefing Book 16 Transit-car conflicts: re-current delay
17 Transit-car conflicts: non-recurrent delay
18 Median station access a safety challenge
19 Conditions for people walking in need of improvement
19th Avenue is part of 12% of miles of street Where 70% of all severe and fatal collisions in San Francisco occur
20 Growth is coming
Planned New Housing Units
21 Image Credit: San Francisco Planning Department data as cited in SFCTA, San Francisco Transportation Plan 2040 Agenda
• SF rail history and context • Existing conditions • Proposed project and benefits • Status and next steps
22 We started by studying partial grade separations
23 And then came up with the Full Subway proposal
To Daly City
24 What are the benefits?
25 Increased rail capacity due to 4-car trains
New stations built for 4-car long trains would allow 2x as much capacity for each slot in the tunnel
Stations platforms long enough for 5-car trains
Stations platforms long enough for 3-car trains
Where platforms existing, 2-car long. Challenges to surface operation of 3+ long trains
26 Increased rail capacity due to improved reliability
27 Safety and public realm improvements
Existing
Proposed
28 Benefits and costs
A less crowded train $2.5-$3 Billion
Faster, more reliable trips on Muni Metro Must compete for Safe station access limited funding
Safe comfortable street against other worthy projects. Improve environment/ quality of life
29 Ongoing community engagement since 2012
30 Positive media coverage!
31 Agenda
• SF rail history and context • Existing conditions • Proposed project and benefits • Status and next steps
32 Where we are in process: very early.
Project Prioritization via Connect SF Project Approval
2011 2012 - 2018 2018 - TBD TBD TBD expected duration ~ 4-5 years expected duration ~ 2-3 years expected duration ~ 3-10 years
Preliminary Construction Planning Engineering Detail Design (includes environmental Inception review – NEPA/CEQA)
• Technical work completed includes: – Conceptual alignment – Conceptual profile – Conceptual station designs – Caltrans project initiation document – Preliminary environmental assessment
– Capital cost estimates 33 Thank you. Questions?
I am also presenting tomorrow Tuesday 10/11 7:30-10pm
“Battle of the Modes” Tuesday 7:30-10pm during Pecha Kucha Slam, Great American Music Hall 859 O’Farrell Street
Liz Brisson [email protected] 415.701.4791
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