Supervisor Carmen Chu: Safety, Transportation Update

Pedestrian Safety
Pedestrian safety continues to be one of my top concerns as your district supervisor.

Recently, at the SF Board of Supervisors, I called for a public hearing to review trends for citywide pedestrian fatalities and to examine what the City is doing to improve pedestrian safety so we can begin to address what areas need improvement. Some of the statistics are alarming, as highlighted by members of the SF Police Department, Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA), and SF Department of Public Health, which reported on pedestrian fatality trends at the hearing Feb. 14.

Among the more concerning statistics is the increase in fatalities and deaths among pedestrians older than 65 years of age. According to the police department's Traffic Division, there was a 50 percent increase from 2006 to 2007.

My office will continue to work with city and state agencies to ensure that our most dangerous intersections receive the upgrades and improvements needed to help pedestrians feel safe on our streets.

After hearing concerns from residents about 19th Avenue in particular and the need for increased enforcement along this busy corridor, we raised those concerns with the police department. As a result, there are two additional officers enforcing the speed limits along 19th Avenue. Taraval Police Station Capt. Paul Chignell and his officers have also been very active by deploying plain clothes officers on the streets and making sure that drivers don't put pedestrians in harm's way.

At the urging of the Judah merchants, I asked MTA's Department of Parking and Traffic (DPT) to install crosswalks at 44th and 45th avenues at Judah Street. Those crosswalks will be installed in the coming weeks.

We also worked with DPT to repaint many of the faded crosswalks along Sunset Boulevard. In March, installations will begin along 19th Avenue at 10 intersections to improve pedestrian safety. These upgrades and improvements include more visible traffic signals, interconnected fiber optic cables to coordinate signals for predictable speeds to avoid red light running, pedestrian countdown signals, curb ramps and advanced stop-bar striping.

A second phase is expected to begin construction this summer.

Phase I intersections include 19th Avenue at Crossover Drive/Lincoln Way; Irving Street; Judah Street; Noriega Street; Quintara Street; Taraval Street; Vicente Street; Eucalyptus Drive; Holloway Avenue; and Junipero Serra Boulevard.

Transportation
Frequently listed as one of the main complaints among residents is the need for a reliable transportation system.

The Municipal Transportation Agency is in the process of evaluating the city's transit routes through the Transit Effectiveness Project (TEP). This is the first time in 25 years that the MTA has reevaluated the city's transportation system.

I wanted to make sure that our district residents provided their input before MTA officials came out with a set of recommendations for transportation route changes and thus asked Muni to come out to the district at the end of January to hear their concerns. Dozens of residents participated and we heard many great suggestions that the MTA will take into consideration in its planning.

My office will be hosting another Muni forum in March where the MTA will be presenting its recommendations for route changes to District 4 residents. The forum will be held on Saturday, March 22, from 10 a.m. to noon, at the Dianne Feinstein Elementary School auditorium, located at 2550 25th Ave. (between Ulloa and Vicente streets).

Office Hours
I am holding district office hours on Saturday, March 22, between 12:30 - 2 p.m., at the Island Cafe, located at 901 Taraval St. (between 19th and 20th avenues). Stop by to share suggestions or to say hello. You can also contact my office at (415) 554-7460 or chustaff@sfgov.org.

Carmen Chu is a San Francisco supervisor representing District 4.