Traffic Runs Smoothly at GG Park Garage

By Dmitry Kiper

Prior to the Oct. 15 grand opening of the M.H. de Young Memorial Museum, Richmond District residents had more than art on their mind - there was also the issue of traffic.

The $55 million parking garage, at half-capacity with 400 spaces, opened on the morning of Saturday, Oct. 15 to accommodate the museum's grand-opening crowds. The only open entrance and exit to the garage, which had opened to the public just days earlier, was at the intersection of Fulton Street and 10th Avenue, which led some to forecast bumper-to-bumper traffic, especially on 10th Avenue. But no such thing happened.

The traffic flow was well planned out for all four corners of the intersection. Entering the garage from 10th Avenue was not an option. Throughout the afternoon, 10th Avenue, between Cabrillo and Fulton streets, was closed to all vehicular traffic, except to residents.

According to Mike Ellzey, executive director of the Golden Gate Park Concourse Authority, such a closure will take place only during special events. Ellzey could not comment on how often that will be because "it's going to be an ongoing day-to-day management effort," he said.

"We probably won't experience any such special event of that magnitude," said Ellzey, referring to the grand opening, which is estimated to have drawn 50,000 people over the weekend.

Pedestrians and drivers alike probably noticed several new signs on the intersection of the garage entrance. Vehicles exiting the garage can either make a left or a right onto Fulton Street, but are not allowed to enter 10th Avenue. For those headed to the garage westbound on Fulton Street, there was a left-turn-only traffic signal. Eastbound traffic on Fulton can simply make a right turn into the garage but left turns onto 10th Avenue are no longer allowed.

Since residents will also not be allowed to make a left turn onto Fulton Street, the effectiveness of the new sign is being evaluated, said Ellzey.

The North Park Neighbors Association, a Richmond District neighborhood group, has been working with the City and is responsible for proposing some of the traffic measures.

Construction for the parking garage, which began March 2004, is ongoing. It will be fully operational, with 800 spaces, by Dec. 1, said Ellzey, and if Proposition G passes, it may even open by mid-November.

On Nov. 8, San Franciscans will decide on Proposition G, which would allow the parking garage to have an extra exit-entrance inside Golden Gate Park, via Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, in addition to the current exit-entrance on Fulton Street. Dedicated access lanes to the south exit-entrance would not be required from outside of the park.

The proposition, if passed, would also limit the number of lanes of vehicular traffic to a single lane in each direction - with an additional lane in each direction designated for parking - both on MLK Drive and Ninth Avenue between Lincoln Way and Concourse Drive.

According to Ellzey, if Prop G is rejected, dedicated access lanes will have to be painted, signs posted and neighbors alerted of the changes. Ellzey, along with city supervisors and Mayor Gavin Newsom, supports the proposition and cites traffic studies which refute the possibility of a major traffic increase near the south entrance.

Proponents also state the importance of not increasing the number of cars in the park.

Some opponents remain unconvinced and, according to the voter information pamphlet, insist that the Concourse Authority is trying to "override the will of the voters, which is clearly spelled out in the former Proposition J."

In 1998, voters approved Proposition J, which led to the creation of the Golden Gate Park Concourse Authority to oversee construction of the privately-funded garage. After a heated court battle, a Superior Court judge ruled that a southern entrance to the garage, which is inside the park, is allowed only if there are dedicated lanes leading traffic to and from the structure.

The ballot measure would override the decision.