September 2024
Note: These responses reference the project’s revised proposal, which was approved by the SFMTA Board in July 2024.
Why is the SFMTA focused on improving safety at this intersection?
The project was launched both in response to tragic collision that killed four pedestrians in March 2024 and in consideration of a broader context of community requests and City and agency priorities for the area including:
- Community requests to improve the intersection of West Portal Avenue and Ulloa Street to provide a more intuitive and simpler intersection
- Community requests for beautification and place-making within the West Portal station area
- The importance of minimizing delays to Muni Metro in this location which can create cascading delays in the subway
Can you add a traffic signal at West Portal Avenue and Ulloa Street?
Due to the complexity of the intersection, we found that installing a traffic signal would increase delay for all users, and result in unintended consequences. The length of the traffic signal cycle (the total amount of time the traffic signal needs to show each movement their green light) would be about twice as long as a typical traffic signal cycle in San Francisco. When we implement traffic signals with significantly longer cycle lengths, we tend to find that they result in lower pedestrian and driver compliance, which defeats one of the goals of signalizing. In addition, a signal would increase in delay for all people traveling through the intersection.
This delay would be worsened when multiple trains need to be served back-to-back, which is a common occurrence considering that the intersection serves upwards of 40 trains per hour during peak periods now that the L Taraval service is restored.
Can you add a stop sign at the intersection of Ulloa and Wawona streets?
The project will install pedestrian crossing beacons (also known as Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacons) in this location. This treatment allows people walking who want to cross Ulloa Street to push a button that activates flashing lights to alert drivers to yield.
Stop signs are recommended when there is a need to help designate right of way and not as a traffic calming device. We evaluated a stop sign at Ulloa Street and Wawona Street based on community feedback. We do not recommend using a stop sign in this location because stop signs require a driver to come to a complete stop at all times of day, even when there is no cross traffic or pedestrians crossing.
In locations like Ulloa and Wawona streets, where it would be common for there to be no cross traffic or pedestrians crossing at many times of day, there is a tendency for drivers to not comply, which could result in the stop sign having the opposite of the intended effect. In addition, it would require Muni trains to stop twice back-to-back, which would delay trains and general traffic.
Our analysis shows beacons will better solve the underlying community requests to improve safety in this area, and we are committed to continuing to monitor the location and completing our project evaluation, after which we can consider additions or changes to the project if needed.
Why can’t you move the 48 Quintara/24th Street and 57 Parkmerced bus stops into the tunnel entrance?
At times, the SFMTA has used the horseshoe for bus stops and/or terminal space for various bus lines (and is currently used as the terminal for the 91 3rd Street/19th Ave Owl when rail is not in service). This location is no longer used as a daytime terminal due to the following considerations:
- Using this location for buses requires a U-Turn-like maneuver to exit the station, which is difficult to safely execute in front of multiple active rail lines, as well as heavy volumes of people walking and some vehicle traffic.
- Conflicts between buses and people transferring to and from buses and trains. Passengers exiting the station may try to run to catch a bus as it is pulling out of the horseshoe, making it more difficult for rail operators to efficiently enter or exit the station.
- People transferring between the bus and the train commonly walk throughout the horseshoe area making it difficult for bus operators to have clear visibility. In addition, the current project proposal would reclaim this space to improve and channelize the flow of people walking into the station.
Instead, planned project improvements include re-designing this space with a road mural, bikeshare station and planters that serve to discourage pedestrians from crossing the tracks outside of the designated crossing and to beautify the area.
If you add a transit lane on West Portal Avenue, what would happen if someone double parks in the general travel lane?
If a general travel lane is obstructed (e.g. by a double-parked truck), drivers in that lane would be allowed to use the adjacent transit lane to safely navigate around the obstruction. They would not be required to wait in the general travel lane until that obstruction has passed.
What is the status of SFMTA’s plans to calm traffic at the five-way intersection of Madrone Way, Vicente Street and Wawona Street?
In response to neighborhood requests for traffic safety improvements here, the SFMTA installed painted safety zones and safe hit posts to decrease the size of the intersection, slow down traffic and improve the visibility of people walking in 2020. In August 2023, these treatments were temporarily removed during a Vicente Street roadway re-construction project. These improvements have now been upgraded with concrete traffic islands in the painted safety zones to further enhance safety and calm traffic here.
It’s disruptive when a train exits the tunnel onto Ulloa Street and then stops next to the West Portal Library for several minutes before re-entering the tunnel. What are you doing about that?
In early 2024. we received a letter from the Greater West Portal Neighborhood Association raising this same concern. In response, we are trying to minimize the frequency with which we turn trains in this location, and we instituted a new practice in the spring of 2024. Our Muni Operations Staff has been given new operating procedures to minimize the duration and impacts caused by using the crossover. Any time that use of the crossover is planned, our Transportation Management Center (TMC) will coordinate communication with both the train operator making the move and an Inspector from our mobile response unit stationed nearby. The TMC will instruct the operator not to wait for time at the crossover, but to change ends and leave immediately. The Inspector will make sure the move is made quickly and safely and help direct westbound traffic to safely use the eastbound lane if needed. With the L Taraval rail service having recently resumed, we expect the frequency we use this crossover will further decrease.