10 Transportation Improvements Coming to Balboa Park

Balboa Park BART/Muni Station is one of the busiest transit hubs in the region, serving more than 24,000 people daily.

After launching the Balboa Park Area Plan 16 years ago to identify the needed improvements for connecting, restoring and enhancing the Balboa Park Station area, we are excited to announce that the Balboa Park Station Area and Plaza Improvements project is breaking ground later this month.

A 49 Van Ness/Mission bus at the Balboa Park BART/Muni Station.

The area includes one of the highest ridership BART stations, the terminus for three Muni rail lines, several Muni bus routes, the I-280 Ocean-Geneva Avenue on- and off-ramps and the kiss-and-ride pick-up and drop-off zone.

With multiple other regional destinations, including City College of San Francisco and Balboa Park to the north, and several other schools within a three-block radius, this is a major commuter area with tons of transportation activity.

We are thrilled to bring these changes, designed to implement safety, accessibility, and transit improvements around Balboa Park Station, enhancing the customer experience in one of the region’s busiest multimodal facilities.

After construction that will take eight months, here are 10 improvements you will see implemented around the station:

1. Sidewalk widening on Geneva Avenue to provide more space for pedestrians.
2. Expansion of the existing median on Geneva Ave, including the installation of landscaping for pedestrian safety.
3. Red transit-only lanes on Geneva Avenue (between Delano Avenue and I-280) to improve transit service and reliability.
4. Improved pedestrian crossing on Ocean Ave near I-280 on-ramp where the K & J lines enter the Green Light Rail Center, to enhance accessibility and improve pedestrian safety.  
5. Pedestrian lighting along the perimeter of the Balboa Park Station to increase transit customer safety and visibility.
6. Flashing beacon system on the I-280 Ocean Avenue off-ramp to improve pedestrian safety by warning drivers of pedestrians crossing the off-ramp.
7. Relocation of the Overhead Contact System poles off the J/K walkway to improve safety and accessibility.
8. Additional signs around the Balboa Park Station to increase customer awareness of transit options in the area.
9. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant curb ramps on Ocean Avenue and Geneva Avenue.  
10. Resurfacing of Geneva Avenue between San Jose Avenue and I-280.

The project map highlights where coming improvements will be located.

To find out more information about the project, please visit the project page. To ensure you are kept in the loop, please subscribe to receive project updates under the “Receive Updates” tab.

For further questions or concerns, please contact Public Information Officer Cristina Padilla (Cristina.Padilla@sfmta.com, 415-701-2474).