Photo by SFMTA Photography Department
The SFMTA has substantially completed the Lake Merced Quick-Build Project, which implemented traffic calming, bicycle safety, and pedestrian safety improvements, including new protected bike lanes, on sections of Lake Merced Boulevard from John Muir Drive to Skyline Boulevard.
Quick-build projects are quick-to-deliver, adjustable traffic measures designed to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety, which may include painted safety zones, protected bike lanes, transit islands, parking and loading changes, and more.
The project was initiated and coordinated by Transportation Authority Chair and District 7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar, with extensive public outreach including community members and local community-based organizations. SFMTA conducted outreach for this project, as well as the preceding Lake Merced Bikeway Feasibility Study and Lake Merced Pedestrian Community Based Transportation Plan that informed the project.
The Transportation Authority supported this quick-build project with $1.64 million in funding from the half-cent sales tax for transportation, Prop AA, and the TNC tax to fund the construction phase of this project.
Two principal goals of the project include improving traffic calming to reduce collisions and enhance comfort for all travelers along Lake Merced Boulevard, and implementing safe pedestrian and bicycle connections around Lake Merced Boulevard.
Safety improvements for the Lake Merced Quick-Build project include:
- Reallocating parking and traffic lanes to enable the installation of upgraded pedestrian, bicycle, and transit infrastructure
- Narrowing travel lane widths to lower motor vehicle speeds
- Installing a new loading zone
- Installing on-street protected bikeways
- Implementing neighborways
- Installing transit boarding islands with associated ramps and dedicated passenger waiting areas
- New curb ramps and ramp upgrades
While this project did involve tradeoffs in how limited roadway space is allocated, including parking removal, outreach events, and survey results helped the project team site loading zones to maintain flexibility for passenger pick-up and drop-off.