>David Powers mentions that someone has discussed running a branch of the N
>Judah in by the GG Park museums. Seems like a typical hardware heavy
>approach. I would suggest looping the 7 Haight through the park, or
>perhaps a branch of the 5 Fulton. This could be done relatively
>inexpensively. Then if this transit approach is a success in 5 or 10 years
>we could start promoting an extension of the N.
>
>Deep irony here going back to Mclaren's heated but successful battle to
>keep streetcars out of the park. He didn't see cars coming and was willing
>to have roads (for horses and carriages) as long as the noisy streetcar and
>cable car lines were kept out. Kind of too bad he won that one.
The 5 Fulton goes so close to the De Young it's not even funny. Take it
to 8th ave and walk 100 feet. The N is only a little bit further away.
The bigger problem, I think, is that while the 5 goes to the park (and
along the park) that is only useful for those who live along it - and
other nearby routes like the N, 33, and 44. People who don't live on
those routes will drive because it's much, much faster. Ask Ken, who
lives in the outer Sunset - 29 to 5 or N would double or triple a car
trip.
This is not to say that transit shouldn't be taken to the park - it
should. But the park, and the de Young in particular, have a MARKETING
(not construction) job to do if they want to get their visitors that way.
Building more streetcar lines might help a teeny, weeny bit, but I find
it hard to believe that such a project would be cheaper than a good ad
campaign for what already exists.
Andrew