Transit-Oriented Vision in 19th Avenue Corridor in Southwest San Francisco Advances

The San Francisco County Transportation Authority (SFCTA) has released the Final Report for the 19^th Avenue Transit Study that explores the feasibility of re-locating the Muni M-Ocean View light-rail line from the 19^th Avenue median to the west side of the street through grade-separated crossings. The Study builds on recent transit-oriented land use plans at Parkmerced and San Francisco State University (SF State).

The Study identifies a highest-performing alternative that would take the M-Ocean View underground into a partial subway adjacent to Stonestown Galleria and SF State, travel through Parkmerced at-grade, and then cross Junipero Serra through a new bridge connecting Parkmerced with the OMI neighborhood. This alternative would:

1. Decrease light-rail travel time by 35-45% and improve reliability in the corridor;

2. Allow for a complete re-build and greening of 19^th Avenue, including a new landscaped median with pedestrian refuges, four new pedestrian crossings of the street, a 33% reduction in the distance across the street, wider sidewalks and bus stops, and new cycling facilities;

3. Cost $420-$780 million ($520 million most likely cost), with Parkmerced committed to constructing the segment through the Parkmerced site (valued at $70 million) and $1.83 million committed from SF State.

The next phase of project development will be led by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency in continued partnership with the SFCTA. The project is targeting environmental review between July 2015 and July 2018, in accordance with provisions in the Development Agreement between the City and County of San Francisco and Parkmerced that give San Francisco until that timeframe to decide whether a grade-separated version of the project should move forward. More information is available at www.sfcta.org/19thave or by contacting Liz Brisson (415.522.4838, liz@sfcta.org).

– Liz Brisson, San Francisco County Transportation Authority (SFCTA)
Images credit of the SFCTA