BULB-OUTS / CHANNELIZATION / MEDIAN ISLANDS

2007 / 8
In 2007 / 8 the Traffic Calming Program completed 15 traffic channelization/median refuge islands and 2 bulb-outs. DPT/MTA staff coordinated efforts with DPW Bureau of Street and Sewer Repair (BSSR) and the DPT sign and paint shops. These projects incorporated streetscape amenities such as faux brick stamping and trees.

Traffic Channelization and Pedestrian Safety Islands were installed at the following locations:

• Teresita Boulevard at Bella Vista Way
• Broad Street at San Jose Avenue 
• Marietta Drive at Teresita Boulevard

Traffic Channelization was installed at the following locations:

• 4th Avenue between Parnassus Street and Irving Street
• 5th Avenue between Parnassus Street and Irving Street
• Hudson Street between Ingalls and Cashmere Streets
• Kiska Road west of Dormitory
• Quesada Avenue between Lane Street and Keith Street
• Revere Avenue between Lane Street and Keith Street

Corner Bulbs were installed at the following locations:

• Persia Avenue and Paris Street
• Lisbon Street between Silver and Peru Avenues

Median Pedestrian Refuge islands were installed at the following locations:

• Kansas Street at 23rd, 24th, 25th and 26th Streets

       
Teresita Boulevard at Bella Vista Way (before and after)

        
Teresita Boulevard at Marietta Drive (before and after)

       
Hudson Avenue East of Cashmere Street (before and after)

2006 / 7

In 2006 / 7 the Traffic Calming Program completed 2 traffic channelization/median refuge islands and 4 bulb-outs. DPT/MTA staff coordinated efforts with DPW Bureau of Street and Sewer Repair (BSSR) and the DPT sign and paint shops. Some streetscape amenities, like faux brick stamping and trees, were also incorporated on all these islands. These projects include:

• Corner bulbs on the southeast and northeast corners of Golden Gate and Jones
• Corner bulbs on the southeast and northwest of 24th and Potrero
• Channelization measures at the intersection of Circular and Hearst Avenues
• A pedestrian refuge island at the intersection of Malta Drive and O’Shaughnessy Boulevard

Golden Gate and Jones Corner Bulbs

Hearst at Circular Median Island

2005 / 6

In 2005 / 6, the Traffic Calming Program installed 13 pedestrian refuge islands on Potrero Avenue.  We also implemented the City’s first modern chicane median island on Beacon Street.  We completed the Tiffany/Duncan channelization and pedestrian improvement project; planting at least 6 trees and building a large pedestrian island for people crossing Valencia Street in front of St. Luke’s Hospital.  This project was completed at a large cost savings because of an innovative design crafted by MTA staff and DPW crews that avoided utility relocation.  The large intersection of Holly Park Circle and Elsie Street was built out to narrow the pedestrian crossing and slow turns.  At least 5 trees were planted in conjunction with this project.  We also constructed a traffic chicane on Alabama Street by alternating 90-degree parking on this wide street.  A pedestrian refuge island was installed at the bottom of the hill, adjacent to Precita Park.  This island serves park users and is a gateway treatment to announce a different roadway alignment.

New Duncan Street median at Tiffany Avenue

Beacon Street Chicane, Diamond Heights

The College/Mission/Crescent landscaped median

Rolph/Naples Traffic Island

Potrero Avenue Traffic Islands and New Midblock Traffic Signal in front of SFGH

2004 / 5

DPT/MTA staff facilitated multiple community meetings and designed and installed median refuge islands at various locations. Those locations include; Jordan Avenue at Geary Boulevard, College Avenue at Mission Street, Mission Street at Murray Avenue, Beacon Street, Potrero Avenue, Santos Street and Brookdale Avenue. DPT/MTA staff has been working to develop and encourage low-cost surface texture and tinted color enhancements to improve the cosmetic appearance of these fixtures.

Many of the median islands constructed this past year have included landscaping. Trees have been planted at the Jordan/Geary location and are scheduled for installation at College Avenue at Mission Street and Beacon Street locations.

DPT/MTA staff facilitated multiple community meetings and, based on community input and engineering review, designed a number of bulb outs and channelizations at various locations. Those locations include; Baker Street at Chestnut Street, Tiffany Avenue/Duncan Street/Valencia Street, and the Alabama Street Chicanes.

As part of the Potrero Avenue Livable Streets Corridor Project, several median refuge islands were constructed in conjunction with the lane restriping.  Potrero Avenue was restriped from six traffic lanes to four through traffic lanes and bicycle lanes.  We were able to make room for median refuge islands, some as wide as 12 feet at the T-intersections, to assist pedestrians crossing this wide street.  A median island was constructed as both a gateway treatment and a slow point device at the Geary Boulevard and Jordan Avenue intersection.  Another major highlight was the construction of the City’s first traffic island chicane on Beacon Street.   Some streetscape amenities, like faux brick stamping and trees, were also incorporated on all these islands.

Construction on the permanent channelization islands at Tiffany Avenue, Duncan Street and Valencia Street began this year.   A similar island was constructed at Baker and Chestnut Streets.  The design for channelization at Holly Park Circle and Elsie Streets and for the chicanes on Alabama Street in Bernal Heights were finished this year, ready for construction in 2006.

Pedestrian Refuge Island at Potrero Avenue and 20th Street

Traffic Island at Geary Blvd and Jordan Avenue

TRAFFIC CIRCLES / INTERSECTION ISLANDS
A traffic circle is a raised island in the middle of an intersection. It helps control the right of way through the intersection and forces drivers to slow down. The circle also provides an opportunity to increase landscaping in the neighborhood.

2005 / 6
In 2005 / 6, the Traffic Calming Program installed four traditional traffic circles at the following locations:

• Earl/Kirkwood
• Cambridge/Trumbull
• College/Genebern
• Benton/Genebern

While we had plans to construct four additional circles, intersection geometry and community preference for other treatment dictated that we implement traffic islands that in effect serve the same purpose as traffic circles in reclaiming street space for pedestrians and streetscape opportunities.  These traffic islands were installed at the following locations:

• Harbor/Northridge
• Virginia/Coleridge
• Rolph/Naples
• Fitzgerald/Ingalls

Planting at the College/Genebern Traffic Circle

Finished Traffic Circle at Benton/Genebern

 
Earl/Kirkwood Traffic Circle

2004 / 5

DPT/MTA staff facilitated multiple community meetings to identify the location and design of traffic circles at various locations throughout the City. Traffic circles have been installed at the following locations where large open intersections encourage higher speeds; Harbor Road at Northridge Road, Middle Point Road at West Point Road and Cambridge Street at Trumbull Street. Temporary traffic circles have been installed at Benton Avenue and Genebern Way and College Avenue, at Genebern Way, with permanent construction scheduled for early February.

Existing traffic circles were brought up to current standards at Urbano Drive at Victoria Street, Urbano Drive at Corona Street, and Excelsior Avenue at Vienna Street  This was accomplished by installing up-to-date signage and pavement markings.

Traffic circles were built at Middle Point and West Point Roads, Harbor and Northridge Roads, and Trumbull and Cambridge Streets. 

Traffic Circle at Middle Point and West Point Roads

Traffic Circle at Genebern Way and Benton Avenue, Bernal Heights

Urbano Drive, Ingleside Terrace