Geary mass transit program lurches forward with EIR

By Paul Kozakiewicz

The San Francisco County Transportation Authority voted unanimously May 19 to send a plan for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) for Geary Boulevard for a full environmental review.

The Authority, comprised of members of the SF Board of Supervisors, approved three potential plans: one would use the curbside lanes as the buses on Geary currently do and two versions would create dedicated bus lanes in each direction in the center of the boulevard. This approach is the one favored by the authors of the screening report prepared for the supervisors.

The goal of BRT is to improve Muni service on one of the city's busiest transit lines, with more than 50,000 riders daily. According to preliminary studies, BRT would speed travel times for commuters and would offer them a more comfortable ride. It would also be cheaper for Muni to operate.

However, by removing a traffic lane from Geary or removing parking spaces to accommodate two lanes for traffic, more traffic will use ancillary roads to reach their destinations, potentially impacting pedestrian and bicycle traffic and the ability of customers to visit local businesses. It could also affect businesses on Geary because data from similar systems shows businesses located at transit stops generally do good, while business at stores located between transit stops deteriorates.

An alternative forwarded by the Greater Geary Boulevard Merchants and Property Owners Association called for putting BRT in the curbside lanes, like it is today on O'Farrell Street east of Gough Street, with transit priorities for buses during the morning and afternoon commutes. But, the screening study commissioned by the Transportation Authority called the plan "fatally flawed" and rejected the option.

Another concern was espoused by the Planning Association for the Richmond (PAR), which wanted a better look at the "no build" option, one that would incorporate many of the planned transit improvements.

However, the Authority's Principal Transportation Planner Zabe Bent said some changes to the Muni #38 bus line were already being planned as part of the city's Transit Effectiveness Project, including giving buses traffic signal priority, replacing buses with low floors and hybrid-diesel engines, and upgrading bus stops. She said some changes, like raising bus platforms and installing ticket vending machines, are not included in the no-build option because they are currently not planned or funded. Those features are only included in the options going for environmental study.

The Geary BRT is expected to cost about $200 million and could take two years to complete.