Fulton Street Safety and Transit Project

implementation / construction

Fulton Street Safety and Transit Project Share this: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn SFMTA.com/FultonInnerRichmond Project Introduction Fulton Street is a main traffic and transit thoroughfare in the Richmond District, bordering the northern edge of Golden Gate Park. Every day, residents and visitors cross Fulton Street by foot and bicycle to access the park, for commute and for recreational trips. Two of Muni’s busiest routes also serve this area, the 5 Fulton and 5R Fulton Rapid, which together averaged more than 22,000 combined boardings per weekday before the pandemic and has seen ridership recover to over 10,000 people per day in recent months . Through a number of safety improvements, the Fulton Street Safety and Transit Project’s goal is to improve safety and accessibility between Golden Gate Park and the Richmond District across Fulton Street, as well as help reduce travel time for the busy 5 Fulton and 5R Fulton Rapid and make boarding easier for customers. Project Update After conducting an online survey in October and November 2019, the SFMTA used the survey results to develop an initial plan to improve safety and transit on Fulton Street. The initial plan was presented at a community open house in February 2020. Following revisions based on community feedback, the final plan was presented at an SFMTA Public Hearing in July 2020 and included sidewalk widening for new transit bulbs, daylighting, and changes to the San Francisco Bike Network. As of November 2021, key portions of the project have been completed, including improving or lengthening daylighting at 34 intersections and installing 13 painted safety zones along Fulton Street between Stanyan and La Playa streets, and relocating the inbound (eastbound) bus stop at Park Presidio from the near (west) side of the intersection to the far (east) side. Temporary transit bulbs on 6th Avenue eastbound and 8th Avenue westbound were installed to provide the benefit of the bulbs in the interim while we design the permanent bulbs. Permanent construction is scheduled to begin in summer 2023, with completion anticipated by early 2024. Additional funding for the project was identified in September 2021 with the help of State Assemblymember Phil Ting, who helped secure $1.6 million from the California budget to implement transit and safety improvements on Fulton Street between Arguello Boulevard and 25th Avenue. Next Steps Additional safety and transit improvements that were developed based on community feedback and that will continue to be implemented along Fulton include: Relocate from 23rd Avenue to 22nd Avenue the bike route between Cabrillo and Fulton streets Establish a bike route on 10th Avenue between Fulton and Cabrillo streets Through the SFMTA Traffic Calming program: Install westbound speed radar sign between 40th and 41st avenues Install eastbound speed radar sign between 38th and 39th avenues Through Muni Forward: Build transit bulbs at 10th, 8th, and 6th avenues and Arguello Boulevard This project is made possible by the San Francisco County Transportation Authority through a grant of Proposition K Local Transportation Sales Tax Funds. Project Timeline Fall 2019 Online Survey & Planning Completed Winter 2020 Community Feedback Completed Spring 2020 Project Recommendations Completed Spring 2021 - Winter 2024 Safety and Transit Project Implementation Pending Current Phase or Stage Safety and Transit Project Implementation Predicted Completion Winter 2024 Project Status Detailed Design Implementation / Construction Bus Routes and Rail Lines 5 Fulton 5R Fulton Rapid Neighborhoods Outer Richmond Inner Richmond Golden Gate Park Haight Ashbury Transit Proposed Improvements Muni is proposing to build “transit bulbs” - wider sidewalks at stops - at six stops on the 5 Fulton and 5R Fulton Rapid, along Fulton Street between Arguello Boulevard and 10th Avenue. Transit bulbs provide a range of benefits, including: Reduced travel times on Muni and improved schedule reliability, as buses can stop in the travel lane, and aren’t delayed waiting to merge back into traffic Easier boarding for passengers in wheelchairs, riders with strollers and others who may have difficulty getting on or off, as buses can more easily pull up to the curb More space for both waiting passengers as well as people walking by (and passenger amenities such as shelters) Enhanced safety for people walking, as the distance required to cross the street is reduced From east to west, the locations where transit bulbs will be built are: Westbound Arguello Boulevard Eastbound 6th Avenue Westbound 6th Avenue Westbound 8th Avenue Eastbound 10th Avenue Westbound 10th Avenue Changes made as part of the project benefit thousands of Muni riders and people walking. Fulton Street, meanwhile, is a wide, busy street that can be challenging to cross – Fulton Street between 6th and 11th avenues is part of the City’s Vision Zero “High Injury Network”, the 13% of city streets where 75% of San Francisco's severe and fatal collisions occur - and each of the four locations where the crossing distance would be reduced is a pedestrian entrance to Golden Gate Park. The changes would require removal of just two auto and three motorcycle parking spaces, on the park side of the street at 6th Avenue. These changes are being proposed in coordination with the SFMTA’s Fulton Street Safety Project. From 7th Avenue to Arguello Boulevard 3 transit bulbs would be built on: Westbound Arguello Boulevard Eastbound 6th Avenue Westbound 6th Avenue 1 pedestrian bulb on: Eastbound 6th Avenue Remove 2 parking spaces on: Eastbound 7th Avenue Remove 3 motorcycle spaces on: Eastbound 6th Avenue Relocate 2 ADA parking spaces on: Eastbound 6th Avenue From 14th Avenue to 8th Avenue 3 Transit bulbs would be built on: Westbound 8th and 10th avenues Eastbound 10th Avenue Improvements for 14th Avenue, Park Presidio Boulevard and Funston Avenue were legislated and approved by the SFMTA Board of Directors in 2017 Remove 4 Parking Spaces on: Eastbound Funston Avenue Relocate 2 ADA parking spaces on: Eastbound 14th Avenue, Funston Avenue Relocate bus stop Eastbound Park Presidio Boulevard to the far side of Funston Avenue Past Improvements to the 5 Fulton and 5R Fulton Rapid These improvements are the final phase of a larger, long-term project to make major improvements to Muni's 5 Fulton and 5R Fulton Rapid. Over the past decade we have made a series of improvements to both routes, including: Extended evening service on the 5 Fulton from McAllister and Jones streets to the Transbay Terminal in 2009 Converted McAllister Street from a one-way to a two-way street between Hyde and Market streets in 2011, eliminating a detour that added an average of three minutes per trip Launched 5 Fulton Limited (later Rapid) service in 2013, reducing travel times by up to seven minutes per trip and reducing collision rates on Fulton between Masonic Avenue and Shrader Street Improved frequency in 2015 to reduce crowding Introduced larger buses on the 5R Fulton Rapid, further reducing crowding in 2016 Made a series of improvements in 2017 and 2018 between McAllister and Larkin streets and Fulton and Cole streets, including bulbs at Rapid stops, new traffic signals, and traffic circles in place of stop signs Safety Improvements Completed La Playa Street to 31st Avenue Daylighting was improved or lengthened at 12 intersections: La Playa Street, 47th, 46th, 44th, 42nd, 40th, 39th, 38th, 37th, 36th, 34th and 32nd avenues Painted safety zones were installed at five locations: The northeast corners of 46th, 43rd, 40th, and 37th avenues The south side of the 39th Avenue intersection 30th Avenue to 14th Avenue Daylighting was improved or lengthened at 12 intersections: 30th, 28th, 26th, 25th, 24th, 22nd, 21st, 20th, 19th, 18th, 17th and 16th avenues Painted safety zones were installed at five locations: The northeast corners of 26th, 25th, 24th, 22nd, and 18th avenues Improved pathway access at 22nd Avenue into Golden Gate Park Park Presidio Boulevard to Stanyan Street Daylighting was improved or lengthened at 10 intersections: Funston Street, 12th, 11th, 10th, 8th, 7th, 5th, 4th and 2nd avenues and Willard North Painted safety zones were installed at four locations: The northeast corners of 10th, 8th, and 4th avenues Bicycling connection improvements to Golden Gate Park were made at 10th Avenue Updated the walking speed for the signal at Fulton and Stanyan to increase crossing time for people walking Contact Information Brian Haagsman, Public Information Officer Brian.Haagsman@SFMTA.com