New traffic signals, bike lanes, and bus maintenance planned with $36M grant in San Francisco
San Francisco, California – With a $36 million grant from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), San Francisco’s Mayor London N. Breed recently announced a notable improvement for the city’s transit system and street safety. These money, taken from the Housing Incentive Pool Grants, seeks to improve the city’s transportation system in tandem with encouraging affordable homes.
The $35.8 million grant went to San Francisco in appreciation of their efforts in adding 2,981 affordable homes between 2018 and 2022. This large financial infusion will help to enable a sequence of civic infrastructure improvements. Along with alterations to Powell Street’s streetscape and additions to the Yerba Buena Island (YBI) West Side Bridges, among the scheduled improvements are new traffic signals on Lincoln Way and repairs to Folsom and Howard Streets.
“This funding is essential to continue our work in making transit more reliable and our streets safer for all,” said Mayor London Breed in a news release. “Whether we are maintaining our buses, improving bike lanes, or installing traffic signals to improve traffic flow, we are making transit more efficient, effective, and safer for everyone.”
These infrastructure upgrades should help to reduce some of the traffic and transportation issues facing the city. Joel Engardio, a Sunset District Supervisor, emphasized the effects on local residents—especially those on the westside.
“I know the traffic headaches and transit delays down Lincoln Way and into Golden Gate Park are a significant quality of life issue for westside residents,” said Sunset District Supervisor Joel Engardio. “This critical funding for infrastructure improvements will help Sunset and Richmond residents get where they need to go.”
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The projects funded by this grant include several key initiatives:
- Lincoln Way Traffic Signal Improvements: This project involves the installation of new traffic signals at crucial intersections along Lincoln Way to reduce vehicle delays and enhance pedestrian and bicycle access. These improvements are part of a broader initiative to upgrade transportation infrastructure in the Sunset and Richmond districts.
- Folsom-Howard Streetscape Project: This endeavor aims to transform Folsom Street between 2nd and 11th Streets with new bicycle facilities, shorter pedestrian crossings, transit-only lanes, and raised crosswalks at alleyways, enhancing safety and transit efficiency.
- Powell Street Improvement Project: A comprehensive revitalization of Powell Street from Market to Geary will widen sidewalks, add distinctive paving, and introduce new street furniture and landscaping, greatly improving the pedestrian experience.
- West Side Bridges for Yerba Buena Island (YBI) Multi-Use Path (MUP): Funding will also support the construction of a retaining wall and road improvements necessary for the Yerba Buena Island Multi-Use Path, a project that promises significant safety and connectivity benefits.
- New Flyer Midlife Overhaul Phase I: This project will undertake essential maintenance on the New Flyer buses, which constitute a significant portion of the city’s bus fleet, to ensure they remain in good working condition, thereby reducing breakdowns and service interruptions.
Emphasizing its importance in ongoing essential safety and economic recovery projects, especially as the agency tries to close financial shortfalls in its operational budget, SFMTA Director of Transportation Jeff Tumlin expressed gratitude for the capital award.
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These sponsored initiatives are projected not only to improve San Francisco’s transportation system but also to significantly streamline everyday commutes and quality of living for its citizens.
More details about the grant can be found here.
