Task 10: Community Meeting Notes & Comments

San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency One South Van Ness Avenue, Seventh Fl. San Francisco, CA 94103 | Tel: 415.701.4500 | Fax: 415.701.4430 | www.sfmta.com

SUSTAINABLE STREETS Planning and Policy Subdivision ENTRIPS – Community Meeting #1 - Minutes Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Meeting Location: Recology Community Room Golden Gate Disposal & Recycling Co. 900 7th Street, San Francisco , CA 94107 Project Team Attendees: Timothy Papandreau – SFMTA - SSD Erin Miller – SFMTA - SSD

Jerry Robbins – SFMTA - SSD Bonnie Nelson – Nelson/Nygaard Mike Eiseman – Nelson/Nygaard Steve Wertheim – SF Planning Jon Swae – SF Planning Presentation:

a) The Eastern Neighborhoods Plan – Steve Werthiem spoke about the planning that took place in the Eastern Neighborhoods from 2000 – 2008. This included plans for East SoMa, Mission, Showplace Square/Potrero Hill, and Central Waterfront. Steve explained how the 2035 projections show a large portion of the housing growth and the vast majority of the job growth taking place in the Eastern Neighborhoods.

b) EN TRIPS Context – Erin Miller spoke about the need for transportation planning

to catch up to the land use planning in the Eastern Neighborhoods. She gave a brief overview of EN-TRIPS as an evaluation of circulation impacts from anticipated future growth. EN TRIPS will focus on key corridors of concern and develop conceptual transportation and street design alternatives. EN-TRIPS will also identify challenges throughout the study area so that they are included in on-going SFMTA programs.

c) Technical Analysis – Bonnie Nelson presented on the EN TRIPS work to date. Their work to date includes two detailed reports, the Existing Conditions and the Future Conditions, as well as the initial corridor analysis and prioritization.

Bonnie went on to share some of the key findings from the Existing and Future Conditions Report. Without changes to the system, but assuming the anticipated growth, this would include a 70% increase in travel demand, a significant increase in vehicle traffic, a strained transit system, a more complete bike network, continued pedestrian/vehicle and bicycle/vehicle collisions, particularly in SoMa. Bonnie presented 13 corridors that have been preliminarily designated as a “high need.” Moving forward, the goals are to select the highest priority corridor segments for the development of conceptual alternative circulation modifications and streetscape improvemetns for selected corridor segments. The possibility to develop design guidance for future improvements for the remainder of the study area was also briefly discussed.

Break Out and Regroup

a) After the presentation, community members were instructed to give feedback. They did this by writing their comments on the maps around the room. The maps included “high need” corridors and general Eastern Neighborhoods maps. Community members were also given stickers to indicate their highest priority areas. Red stickers represented the highest priority (see attached images).

b) Everyone reconvened to discuss the break out session. Bonnie Nelson led the discussion by reviewing the community input given on each corridor map.

c) Mission Street – There were a couple requests for more express buses. Lighting

was also cited as an issue. d) 16th Street – A main concern was the transit connection to the waterfront. There

was a request for better pedestrian/transit/bicycle improvements. The railroad crossing was cited as part of the connectivity problem. There was also concern about vehicle and transit access to the new hospital in Mission Bay.

e) Division Street – Community member reported this area to be poorly lit and

unsafe for pedestrians and bicyclists. There is especially high pedestrian activity near the Townsend Circle. The community finds the general environment and street angle make it easy to lose one’s sense of direction in this area.

f) 2nd Street – This corridor was cited as good for pedestrians, the community would

like to keep it that way. There was also some interest in potential conflicts with the proposed 2nd Street bike lanes.

g) 3rd and 4th Streets – Fourth Street was cited as being very unfriendly for bicyclists.

A community member commented that 3rd Street transit only lanes are not being properly enforced.


h) 5th Street – There was a request for stronger transit along this corridor. Community members also cited missing street crossings.

i) 6th Street – Nelson/Nygaard rated this corridor highly for its need to improve

pedestrian, bicycle, and traffic conflicts. A community member commented that cars are turning into alleys off of 6th to go to parking garages – creating a safety problem.

j) 7th and 8th Streets – There were some concerns about the pedestrian

environment. In particular there were request to change 7th Street to 2-way traffic flow, reduce lanes, and add sidewalks that are currently missing.

k) Folsom Street – There was some concern about the absence of the 7th-11th Street

portion of the Folsom Street corridor. Community members expressed their favor for a 2-way Folsom Street. They also want to make sure that this corridor maintains good transit service and bicycle priorities

l) Townsend Street – It was stressed that this corridor is an important pedestrian

and bicycle connector for the Caltrain Station. Multiple community members noted the poor pedestrian environment, which includes missing sidewalks. They suggest extending design treatment for Townsend all the way to traffic circle at 8th. They also noted that buses that stop in the middle of street are hazardous for bike riders and the design of new bike lanes at intersections may also cause a safety hazard for cyclists.

m) Potrero Hill – Multiple people advocated for additional transit service for residents.

Issues include the redevelopment of the public housing project and the need for improved transit for this traveling up and down the hills.

n) Rincon Hill – Community members spoke about transportation improvements not

keeping pace with new growth in the area.

o) Central Waterfront – Community members are concerned about the impacts Pier 70 and Salesforce will have on traffic conditions.

p) Area Wide – Community members had a few general comments about the

Eastern Neighborhoods. They wanted to make sure EN TRIPS would not forget about areas not officially included as part of the Eastern Neighborhoods, that private shuttles were being tracked, that something was done to improve east/west vehicular crossing through 101 and 280, that America’s Cup impacts are mitigated, and that transportation improvements are made before growth takes place.


EN TRIPS Community Meeting #1 CommentsTransposed from maps and diagrams

Comment Focus Issue

Need added E/W vehicular crossing through US 101 and I 280 AutoLack of lighting for peds. When roll-up windows are down, it makes walking at night scary. It's a disincentive for MUNI use. Pedestrian -

Sidewalks - Crosswalks

More express buses. The fun parade on Giants Night was fun as well. TransitBRT - Mission/Van Ness OVERDUE! The 14 is the pitts re congestion. Increase capacity with BRT. Transit

Please consider vehicular travel for hospital/medical center for patients who may not be able to take transit or bike. AutoInterim solution for E/W transit between 16th St. BART and Mission Bay by 2014 when Childrens' Hospital opens.

INTERIM - not a 10 year solution that relies on Caltrain or High Speed Rail outstanding issues.

Land Use & Transit

16th Street east of Potrero is dangerous! No traffic controls from DeHaro to Mission Bay along 16th. Traffic SignalsNeed strong transit connection on 16th to Waterfront. TransitNeeds Transit - the only street that connects Bay [?] and Market. (not just Mission) TransitDevise a way to go over or under the railroad tracks. Then solutions for transit on 16th would be easy. Transit16th BART to Mission Bay! TransitNo transit NETWORK south of Market Street.

Need to inform projects already approved (Rincon Hill), and on HILLS.

Transit

Take down Central Freeway! AutoDifficult segment. Lacks sense of direction. Shadowed by overpass. Bikers feel unsafe. BicyclesWhat about Showplace Square/Potrero? NeighborhoodAgree with Traffic Congestion issues projected for 8th &Townsend and Division & Bryant. There is a lot of pedestrian activity at these locations (food and shopping).

Pedestrian - Sidewalks - Crosswalks

Consider areas that are not immediately affected by High Speed Rail as alternatives. Waterfront Connection

Mission Street - Mission District

16th Street - East of Potrero - Mission District

16th Street - East of Potrero - Mission District

CM#1 February 2, 20111


Comment Focus Issue

Take down Central Freeway! AutoDifficult segment. Lacks sense of direction. Shadowed by overpass. Bikers feel unsafe. BicyclesWhat about Showplace Square/Potrero? NeighborhoodAgree with Traffic Congestion issues projected for 8th &Townsend and Division & Bryant. There is a lot of pedestrian activity at these locations (food and shopping).


Consider areas that are not immediately affected by High Speed Rail as alternatives. Waterfront Connection

16th Street BART to Waterfront! Can't wait for HSR TransitPublic Transit for concentrated area of residents without cars - #53 bus route.

[Note: 53-Southern Heights discontinued TEP 2009]

Transit

Need increased capacity up the Hill [24th Street?] TransitPublic Transit to City College - Evans Campus. Transit

America's Cup traffic (all modes): How do we mitigate impacts on Rincon Hill? America's Cup2nd Street bike lanes must be reviewed with Neighbors to look at potential conflicts. BicyclesWe need a 2-way Folsom with 11-Downtown connector bus from 11th to the Embarcadero. Folsom Street

What about Muni 20 bus route too (CPMC to SF General)?

[Discontinued 20-Columbus TEP Nov 2009]

Transit

Need to return 12-Folsom to Embarcadero. $20 M/year in property taxes each year paid by Rincon Hill plan area residents and our transit service gets cut?!

Transit

Circulation Corridor Secgment Evaluation Map

2nd Street - Market to Bryant - SoMa

Division Street - Mission District



Comment Focus Issue

4th Street corridor is very unfriendly for bikes. BicyclesWhat is the visibility to neighbors of the plans for 4th Street traffic flow where the new Central Subway goes underground after Brannan?

Get constituent input early in the process, please.

Central Subway

Add new E/W crossing through 101 Pedestrian - Sidewalks - Crosswalks

Need stronger transit connection down 5th Street. #27-Bryant too short. Transit

Segment rated very highly overall as important for pedestrians and traffic conflicts (also bikes). Pedestrian - Sidewalks - Crosswalks

Reduce lanes and slow down traffic on 7th. AutoCan 7th Street be 2-way between Harrison and Bryant? Auto7th Street should be a priority because of:

-elementary school-truck conflicts-bike & ped issues

Neighborhood

Need sidewalks on 7th between 16th and Townsend (west side) Pedestrian - Sidewalks - Crosswalks

Illegal truck parking on 7th. Trucks

6th Street - Market to Brannan - SoMa

7th and 8th Streets - Market to Bryant - SoMa

3rd and 4th Streets - SoMa

5th Street - Market to Brannan - SoMa



Comment Focus Issue

Folsom important bt 7th and 11th for cyclists. BicyclesFolsom between 7th and 11th should be a priority corridor. PlanningEvery study always calls for Folsom 2-way for Muni already!

Implement priority with bike lanes and pedestrian protection for entire length of corridor!

Planning - all modes

Any change to transit on Folsom should not sacrifice the service it provides. It really connects SoMa and Southpark to the Mission - absolutely replaces driving.

Transit

Why Folsom 2nd to 7th? Proposed Neighborhood Commercial Transit (NCT) district is from 6th to 10th Street.

Highest proposed housing density is clustered around Folsom in [ ].

TEP proposed enhanced transit for this area. That's why Western SoMa Plan upzones the neighborhood. If there is no ehnanced transit, the upzoning should be put on hold.

Transit

Too many parked traffic control cars. Interferes with Bus and Trucks. AutoBikes and parked [ing] cars vie for space in the current bike lane. Still dangerous as doors open into bike lane. BicyclesTerrible walking environment west of 4th Street Pedestrian -

Sidewalks - Crosswalks

Townsend St. does have some sidewalks on the north side. If it is to be an encouraged walking corridor (no crossing of 6th St. needed), the completion of sidewalks from 4th to 7th should be a priority.


Integrate Townsend Street Planning with 4th & King and HSR/Caltrain planning Planning

Townsend Street - 3rd to 5th and 5th to 7th - SoMa

Folsom Street - 2nd to 7th - SoMa


Task 10: Community Meeting Notes & Comments

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Transcript of Task 10: Community Meeting Notes & Comments