Assemblywoman Fiona ma: Improvements for Highway 1

Pedestrian safety has long been a top priority for me, beginning when I was on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. As your state Assemblywoman, I have continued working to ensure the safety of our families and neighbors on 19th Avenue and Park Presidio Boulevard (CA Highway 1).

Last December, my office conducted a resident survey. The response was overwhelming and the message clear: more enforcement, stiffer fines and countdown pedestrian signals are all needed to make 19th Avenue safer.

Over the past year, you may have noticed a fair amount of construction on 19th Avenue. The busy intersections where cars whizzed by at dangerous speeds have been going through a much needed "facelift." These improvements are expected to ensure pedestrian safety and piece of mind for San Francisco residents.

Thirty-four traffic signals along the 19th Avenue corridor are expected to be upgraded. Improvements include replacing the aging signal infrastructure, installation of pedestrian signals with countdown features, improved signal visibility, and new curb ramps built to current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.

The 19th Avenue upgrades are to take place in three phases and I'm pleased to share that Phase 1 of construction is half finished. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of The SF Department of Parking and Traffic and Caltrans, upgrades to 10 high-priority intersections are nearly complete. Phase 1 is expected to be finished in June 2009.

Phase 2 of the upgrade is expected to begin within the next few weeks. The second phase will modernize 16 intersections as well as install a communications network to keep signals coordinated along the busy thoroughfare.

In addition to these changes, the speed limit along 19th Avenue from Lincoln Way to Lake Street was reduced from 35 m.p.h. to 30 m.p.h. in June and Sen. Leland Yee's SB 1419, which enacted a double fine zone along 19th Avenue, was signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

I will continue to work with Caltrans, the SF Department of Parking and Traffic and San Francisco Transportation Authority to make sure improvements to Highway 1 keep moving forward.

Fiona Ma is the majority whip at the California Assembly.