Fiona Ma: Prop. K Will Fund Transportation Improvements

Ever wonder how San Francisco provides for transportation improvements such as new buses, rail vehicles, street resurfacing, pedestrian crosswalks and traffic signals?

In November, San Franciscans will have the opportunity to ensure that the city's main source of local funds for transportation remains in place. If approved by a two-third vote, Prop. K will continue the current one-half cent transportation sales tax that voters approved back in 1989 (known then as Prop. B). Prop. B has already delivered most of the projects in the original expenditure plan, including some very impressive ones, like the new Embarcadero Roadway, the F-Line historic streetcars and the complete renovation of the Muni bus and streetcar fleet. Prop. B has also delivered other perhaps less impressive, but not less important, projects such as the resurfacing of hundreds of blocks of neighborhood streets.

Prop. K would fund a new expenditure plan that includes projects and programs that respond directly to the needs of District 4 residents and businesses.

For example, the Prop. K plan includes traffic safety projects along 19th Avenue, where the San Francisco Transportation Authority has found that 65percent of accidents involving a pedestrian occur when pedestrians are in the crosswalk.

Prop. K builds upon our "Slow Down, Look Around" traffic safety campaign, funding traffic signs and signals and upgrades at intersections to create safer pedestrian crossings.

In addition, the plan provides for the following District 4 improvements:

· A network of fast and reliable buses and rail transit services to reduce travel times to downtown and other parts of the City, including more vehicles for routes on 19th Avenue and on the N-Judah, L-Taraval and M-Oceanview Muni Metro lines;

· Street resurfacing, repair and cleaning throughout the district;

· Great Highway erosion repair, including bicycle path development;

· Pedestrian safety improvements, such as countdown signals and ladder crosswalks (particularly near schools), street trees, beautification projects and curb ramps for wheelchair users; and

· Neighborhood-scale plans and traffic calming measures including signals and signage to reduce vehicle speeds and protect pedestrians and bicyclists.

Other major capital projects funded by the Prop. K plan include:

· Replacement of the south access to the Golden Gate Bridge (Doyle Drive);

· Construction of the Central Subway from SOMA to Chinatown; and

· Extension of Caltrain tracks downtown to a rebuilt Transbay Terminal.

Transportation Authority staff worked with my office and with local groups such as the Sunset Parkside Education and Action Committee (SPEAK) to develop the new expenditure plan for Prop. K. It's no wonder that the plan actually reflects our priorities in District 4. Prop. K got on the ballot with a unanimous vote of the Board of Supervisors. It has the support of Mayor Willie Brown and the SF Chamber of Commerce, in addition to many other community organizations.

For more information about the new expenditure plan, contact my office or call Tilly Chang (522-4832) at the SF Transportation Authority (tilly_chang@sfcta.org).

San Francisco Supervisor Fiona Ma represents District 4.