L Taraval Improvement Forecast and Project Segment B Update  October 30 - November 18, 2023

In the coming weeks, track work continues with rail installation, and curb ramp work continues with demolition and grading areas in preparation for upgrading boarding ramps. Underground conduit work is being performed to power the streetlights and OCS poles. Water and sewer line work continues, adding conduits and connections. Construction teams will be excavating and jackhammering pavement, which may cause vibrations. Materials are also being temporarily staged nearby. Dust control and housekeeping measures are in place at active construction and staging locations.

New staging has been activated on Taraval Street between 12th and 14th avenues, a location the community previously approved. The area will be used to store and weld rails for installation for the curve work at 15th Avenue, from October through December 4.

Overnight work

Overhead contact system (OCS) pole, overhead wiring and permanent pole placement has started along the L Taraval line from Ulloa and Funston to Taraval and Sunset.  This work will be conducted overnight between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. and is anticipated to start Sunday, October 22 and expected to be complete June 2024. Work on any given block will vary and is expected to take a few hours to a few days per location.

The holiday construction moratorium will be observed from Thanksgiving until January 1, 2024. No construction activity will be performed in the commercial area along Taraval between Sunset and 16th Avenues between 7 am and 10 pm.

Please note the following impacts to travel during track work: 

• By car: Taraval Street will be open to through traffic traveling east- and westbound, however, vehicles approaching areas with active track installation will only be able to access Taraval Street by making right turns. At times, traffic may be stopped briefly to allow large machinery to perform work. Please allow extra travel time.
• By bus: The L Bus may be rerouted around the construction area when heavy equipment is present.
• On foot: Pedestrians will be able to cross Taraval Street in the construction area at 18th Avenue via a pedestrian access during non-construction hours and weekends.

General construction hours are Monday to Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Construction schedules are subject to change. “No Parking” signs will be posted in construction and staging areas, and intersections may be closed to through traffic on Taraval Street.

*Please be advised that the construction schedule may be impacted by material availability and coordination between agencies.

Multiple agencies are performing infrastructure work in the area. This includes work by Public Works on 19th Avenue, Public Utilities Commission at Vicente and Wawona streets and PG&E along Taraval Street.

L Taraval Improvement Project – Segment B

Construction work is scheduled to be performed – October 30 – November 18

Taraval Street

• 15th to 16th avenues: track area, excavating, demolishing and removing rails, remove and grading trackway, pull and install rails (anticipated to begin October 31)
• 16th to 19th avenues: track area, ADA compliant boarding islands, curb ramp work
• 20th, 30th , 33rd avenues: water line work, excavate and back fill
• 19th to 22nd avenues: track area (anticipated start moved to January 2024)
• 22nd to 25th avenues: track area, excavating, demolishing and removing rails, remove and grading trackway, pour track pavement
• 25th to 28th avenues: track work, excavating, demolishing and removing rails, remove and grading trackway, install underground VT and VTS conduits. Right turns only onto Taraval from 26th, 27th and 28th intersections
• 28th - 31st avenues: track area, construct an ADA compliant platform, boarding islands
• 31st to 34th avenues: track area, prepare and pour track slabs and foundation, install underground electrical conduits. Right turns only onto Taraval from 32nd and 33rd intersections

Ulloa Street

• Funston to 14th Avenue: sewer line work
• 14th to 15th avenues: Track work both sides, excavating, demolishing and removing rails, remove and grading trackway, prepare and pour track slabs and foundation (anticipated to begin December 4)

15th Avenue

• 15th avenues between Taraval and Ulloa Streets, including curve: Track work (anticipated to start October 31)

Wawona Street

• 21st to 23rd avenues: assembled rail stored until installation

Permanent staging location

• Taraval between 12th and 14th avenues

Night work

• 19th to 35th avenues: OCS prep work for installation

Upcoming Saturday work

Temporary staging locations

• 14th Avenue west side from Ulloa to Taraval streets
• 16th Avenue west side from Taraval to Ulloa streets
• 22nd Avenue west side from Taraval to Santiago streets
• 24th Avenue east side from Taraval to Santiago streets
• 27th Avenue west side Taraval to Ulloa streets
• 31st Avenue west side from Taraval to Santiago streets
• 33rd Avenue east side from Taraval to Santiago streets
• Ulloa Street south side from 15th to 16th avenues

Temporary bus stop changes

• The inbound bus stop at Taraval and 15th has been relocated across the intersection until fall 2024.

The following 48 Quintara/24th Street bus stops will be relocated during construction through November 14:

Inbound 48 Quintara

• 14th and Ulloa to Ulloa and Forestside, southwest corner

Outbound 48 Quintara

• Ulloa and Lenox to West Portal and Ulloa, southeast corner
• 14th and Ulloa to Taraval and 14th, northeast corner
• 14th and Taraval to Taraval and 14th, northeast corner

The following L Taraval bus stops will be relocated during construction through November 22:

The bus will reroute off Taraval between 35th and 25th avenues and Taraval and 17th and West Portal

Inbound L Taraval / L Special / L Owl

• Taraval and 15th to 14th and Taraval, northwest corner
• Taraval and 17th to Taraval and 17th, northeast corner
• Taraval and 26th to Ulloa and 26th, southwest corner
• Taraval and 30th to 30th and Taraval, northwest corner at the 66 Quintara stop
• Taraval and 32nd to Santiago and 32nd, southwest corner

Outbound L Taraval / L Special / L Owl

• Ulloa and Forestside to Ulloa and Lenox, northwest corner
• 15th and Taraval to 17th and Taraval, southeast corner
• Taraval and 19th to Taraval and 19th, curb lane
• Taraval and 23rd to Taraval and 23rd, northeast corner
• Taraval and 26th to Ulloa and 26th, northeast corner
• Taraval and 30th to 30th Avenue and Taraval, southeast corner
• Taraval and 32nd to Santiago and 32nd, northeast corner

Please encourage all to sign up for email and SMS project updates on the project page.

Please let me know if you have any further questions.

OEWD Announcements: Grants awarded up to $2,500 to bring Shared Spaces into compliance.

Shared Spaces Equity Grant for Design Compliance: 

Apply for a Shared Spaces equity grant for design compliance | San Francisco (sf.gov)

Supporting businesses on Taraval

We continue to support small businesses in the area with current and planned marketing campaigns to support the merchants during construction to drive business to the community:

• The SFMTA Go Local campaign to promote ridership on Muni to merchant commercial corridors, with on-bus ads, bus shelter ads and social media planned to run between October and December, 2023. The initial launch includes the commercial corridors in: Chinatown, Castro and Parkside-Outer Sunset.
• The Mayor’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD), in partnership with Shop Dine SF, are creating a landing page on the Shop Dine SF website to highlight small businesses on Taraval.
• A shop Taraval campaign, including holiday events, Taraval BINGO games and bus ad promotions planned for winter 2023/24.