Community Workshop 2 July 8, 2006 Small Group Workbook 1
Basic Improvements on Mission Street Streetscape. Pedestrian-scale lighting; landscaping; community art on utility boxes; more (possibly unique) trash cans. Pedestrian Safety. High visibility crosswalks; more visible traffic signals; pedestrian countdown signals (at a few remaining locations). Transit. Real-time transit information (NextBus); transit signal priority; expanded hours and more frequent service for the 14L-Limited. Parking. Increased double parking enforcement; follow-up study to review location and hours of commercial parking and identify creative strategies for parking management (e.g., shared parking lots). Landscaping details. Fill in existing tree line with small leaf tristania trees. Cluster tall palms on curb extensions or at raised medians Lighting near-term. Implement easy improvements to existing auto lights (e.g., increase wattage) and work with businesses to install lighting on storefronts. Lighting medium-term. Retrofit existing auto lights with pedestrian lights and add new pedestrian only lights in between (about every 30-40 ft). Count-down signals and high visibility crosswalks improve pedestrian safety and make it easier for people to cross the street. NextBus. This study will recommend priority locations for NextBus information. 2
Community Feedback on Improvements What do you like? What would you change? Transit Walking Streetscape If you could only do one thing, what would it be? Is there anything here that we should definitely not do? 3
Three Options for Mission Street Layout OPTION A. Add bus bulbs and curb extension, while maintaining existing 4-lanes. Key Features Add curb extensions and bus bulbs Increase enforcement of double-parking Maintain the current four-lane layout Advantages Provides many pedestrian benefits without major changes to roadway operations Bus bulbs improve transit travel time and reliability Construction can occur in phases Disadvantages Although this option calls for better enforcement of double parking, it will still occur, causing delays to traffic and limiting benefits to transit Option B. Convert Mission to 3-lane street with center turn lane and landscaped median. Key Features Reduce travel lanes from four to two Use extra space for a raised median with left turn lanes at intersections, and a 6-ft "flex space" between the travel lane and on-street Provide fewer curb extensions than Option A Advantages Lane reduction and raised pedestrian refuge at some locations improve pedestrian safety Dedicated turn lanes improve traffic and transit flow Flex space reduces the impact of doubleparking on transit and traffic Disadvantages Transit vehicles may have difficulties pulling into traffic. This can be off-set by a special signal that gives the bus a head start to get in front of traffic (called a queue jump) Option C. Operate bus in the center lane by shifting bus stop to center boarding islands. Key Features Shift transit to center lane and provide center loading platforms similar to Church Street Increase enforcement of double parking Provide curb extensions at locations without bus stops Advantages Faster and more reliable transit because buses avoid right lane conflicts (e.g., right turns, double-parking) Eliminates conflicts between bus passengers and adjacent land uses Disadvantages Waiting on platforms in the middle of the street can be uncomfortable for passengers Some left-turn movements would be prohibited, primarily near bus stops More on-street parking loss than Options A/B 4
Three Options for Mission Street Layout Option A. Curb Extensions This photo shows a similar landscaping treatment on Ocean Avenue. The two levels of trees help to visually narrow the roadway. Option B. Lane Reduction/Median As a first phase, the center turn lane could be striped, with a landscaped median as a second phase. Option C. Transit Platforms Similar transit platforms on Church Street improve speed and reliability for J-Church passengers. 5
Summary of Mission Street Technical Analysis Benefits Impacts Transit Operations & Passenger Experience Traffic & Parking Impacts Transit Reliability Transit Travel Time Waiting/ Boarding Wayfinding Traffic Circulation Parking Capacity Option A + ++ ++ + Option B + ++ ++ + Option A Option B No - Change No - Change Option C ++ ++ No + Change Option C - -- Pedestrian & Bicycle Safety and Access Construction Impacts (Relative Comparison) Crossing Experience Sidewalk conditions Bicycle Access Duration Intensity Timing and staging Option A + + No Change Option A - - - Option B +++ + + Option B -- --- -- Option C ++ + No Change Option C -- -- -- Streetscape Environment (Neighborhood Character) Cost (Relative Comparison) Street Identity Sustainable Land use Integration Landscaping Storm Water Mgmt Capital Operating/ Maintenance Option A ++ ++ ++ ++ Option A $ $ Option B +++ +++ +++ +++ Option B $$$ $$ Option C + No + + Change Option C $$ $ 6
Community Feedback on Improvements What do you like? What would you change? Option A Curb Extensions Option B Lane Reduction/ Median Option C Transit Platforms Overall, which option do you like the best? Why? 7
Persia Triangle Improvements Redirecting San Juan reduces conflicts with pedestrians on Mission Street Providing landscaping around edge of parking lot improves streetscape and gives definition to the sidewalk Moving 49-Ocean stop to Persia, to combine with 29-Sunset and 54-Felton, provides frequent service to Balboa BART Station Straightening Persia improves pedestrian safety and minimizes double parking Providing information about BART at Muni stops helps transferring passengers and better coordinates the two systems Combining bus stops on either side of Persia improves bus travel time and reliability Rerouting the 29-Sunset shortens bus travel time and increases frequency of service from Persia Triangle to BART 8
Community Feedback on Improvements What do you like about the proposed design? What don t you like about the proposed designs? 9
Mission & Geneva Intersection Improvements Providing information about BART helps transferring passengers and better coordinates the two systems. Adding left turn pockets on Mission Street makes turning easier and reduces the amount of traffic that cuts through the neighborhood. Gas Station Rerouting the 29-Sunset allows the wide right turn lane to be eliminated. Investing in landscaping treatments around the gas station gives the sidewalk more definition and makes the intersection feel smaller Adding bus bulbs and larger shelters makes waiting for the bus more comfortable, widens the sidewalk, and shortens the crossing distance for 10
Community Feedback on Improvements What do you like about the proposed design? What don t you like about the proposed designs? Which location is a higher priority for improvements: Persia Triangle or Mission & Geneva? Persia Triangle 2 1 0 1 2 Mission/ Geneva 11
Geneva Avenue Improvements Pedestrian Safety/Streetscape. Curb extensions and bus bulbs; landscaping; visually shield unattractive uses. Transit. Bus bulbs; NextBus panel at Balboa BART showing Ocean & Geneva Avenue buses; remove Delano bus stop; recommendation to expand the fast pass program Traffic. Coordinated signal timing between I-280 off ramp & San Jose Ave; recommendation for traffic signal at Cayuga (currently on-hold because of community concerns). Bicycling. Follow up study to consider bicycle lane between Paris & Alemany. Option A. Trees in Parking Lane Key Features. Add curb extensions and bus bulbs to widen sidewalks in some locations; plant trees in parking lane. Advantages. Relatively low cost; some trees can be planted between driveways that are too close together for parking spaces; trees buffer pedestrians from autos; natural slope of Geneva helps maintenance. Disadvantages. Some parking loss to plant trees consistently; sidewalk remains narrow in many locations. Option B. Landscaped Median Key Features. Narrow auto lanes slightly to expand median to 10 ft; add landscaping in center of roadway; add bus bulbs. Advantages. Medium cost option; adds consistent landscaping without removing parking; median refuge breaks up crossing for pedestrians. Disadvantages. Sidewalk remains narrow in many locations; no buffer provided between pedestrians and autos. Option C. Widened Sidewalk with Trees Key Features. Narrow auto lanes slightly and remove painted median to expand sidewalk on both sides by 5 ft; add bus bulbs. Advantages. Wider sidewalk and consistent street trees buffer pedestrians from autos and significantly improve sidewalk conditions. Disadvantages. Relatively high cost and construction impacts associated with sidewalk reconstruction. 12
Community Feedback on Improvements What do you like? What would you change about the basic improvements for Geneva Avenue? What do you like? What would you change? Option A Trees in Parking Lane Option B Landscaped Median Option C Widened Sidewalk with Trees Overall, which option do you like the best? Why? 13
Ranking Mission Street & Geneva Avenue Options Mission Street Ranking Option A. Curb Extensions 1 2 3 4 5 Option B. Lane Reduction/Median 1 2 3 4 5 Option C. Transit Platforms 1 2 3 4 5 Geneva Avenue Ranking Option A. Trees in Parking Lane 1 2 3 4 5 Option B. Landscaped Median 1 2 3 4 5 Option C. Widened Sidewalk with Trees 1 2 3 4 5 14