By the time you get to Folsom, you have already passed the VAST MAJORITY
of the Bay Bridge Traffic, and have passed the majority of the delays.
We already often use the far right lane from Folsom to Howard...and it
is often blocked by cars pulling out of the garage into stalled
traffic. The 2nd right lane between Howard and Mission avoids some of
the ? Alley and Mission St right turns, but currently there are two
right turn lanes, so, I'm sure there will be spillover into the transit
lane. Rightmost lane to Market is fine, but we will continue to have
conflicts with right turns off Mission and out the the alley/parking
structure. Of course, pulling away from the bus zone, we will continue
the current practice of pulling out to the 2nd right lane so we can make
the turn to cross Market.
Here's another version of my suggestion that doesn't require drastic
taking of traffic or parking lanes, but would still provide large
benefits.
[ALTERNATIVE A]
Stockton: Geary to Market
Transit Only center lane to existing island at Market
[ALTERNATIVE B]
Stockton: Geary to O'Farrell
Transit Only curb lane (existing transit lane) goes to center lane at
O'Farrell
No Turns center lane goes to left lane at O'Farrell
Left Turn Only left lane
Stockton: O'Farrell to Market
Transit Only center lane to existing island at Market
[ALTERNATIVE C]
Stockton: Geary to Market
Transit Only curb lane (existing transit lane to O'Farrell)
at Market:
No Right Turns at Ellis
Bulb Stop extending to centerline of Ellis
One Lane Only from Ellis joining Transit Only lane across Market
Ellis One Way eastbound from last driveway, diagonal parking north
side Ellis
Fourth: Market to Folsom
Transit/Rt Turns Only right lane
24/7 Right Turn Only curb lane: Jessie to Mission; Natoma to Howard
Bulb Stops: farside Mission, farside Howard, farside Folsom
Fourth: Folsom to Bluxome
existing route
Fourth: Bluxome to Townsend
Transit Only right lane
Bulb Stop: nearside Townsend for dropping passengers ONLY
Preempt to allow buses to cross Townsend to existing Terminals
Townsend: Fourth to Clyde
existing route
Townsend: Clyde to Third
Left Turn Only #1 lane
Transit Only #2 lane
No Turns #3 (right) lane
Preempt OR Left Turn Only signal
[ALTERNATIVE D]
Third: Townsend to Bryant
Transit Only right lane
24/7 Right Turn Only curb lane: South Park to Bryant
Bulb Stops: farside Townsend and nearside Brannan OR midblock
Townsend/Brannan
Third: Bryant to Market
Transit Only curb lane
Curb Stop at nearside Perry, farside Folsom and nearside Howard OR
farside Clementina, nearside Stevenson
[ALTERNATIVE E]
Third: Townsend to Brannan
Transit Only right lane
Bulb Stops: farside Townsend; nearside Brannan
Third: Brannan to Folsom
Transit Only center lane (allowing 2 right turn lanes at Harrison and
Folsom)
Island Stop nearside Harrison
Third: Folsom to Jessie
Transit Only right lane
Bulb Stops at farside Folsom, nearside or farside Howard
Third: Jessie to Market
Transit Only right lane
Bulb Stop at nearside Stevenson
(note this allows buses to leave the zone and cross Market without
merging into traffic at the curve just prior to Market)
Comments:
While this proposal is not particularly auto friendly, it does not
require wholesale removal or traffic lanes or parking spaces.
Approximately 6 blocks of traffic lanes would be used (some of which are
lightly used) and 4 blocks of parking would be used (1/2 of which are
non-peak only). Of course, traffic lanes can be traded for parking
lanes and vice-versa.
Robert Parks
7-Haight tomorrow