Bus System Gets Green Light For SF's Van Ness Avenue
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – One of San Francisco's most congested streets may soon have a new feature that could dramatically improve mass transit on the roadway.
The Van Ness Avenue Bus Rapid Transit Project has received the green light from the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and is expected to improve on-time arrivals on the busy corridor.
The project could include dedicated bus lanes, distinctive boarding stations, real-time bus arrival information and urban design treatments.
KCBS' Jeffrey Schaub Reports:
Walk SF Director Elizabeth Stampe said the improvements are greatly needed after a decade of planning.
"It will calm traffic along Van Ness and it will make conditions safer for everyone," she said.
But Michelle Brandt, who lives nearby, worries about reducing Van Ness from six to four lanes.
"It spills traffic all over the adjoining streets and when they get filled, people go to the quieter streets," Brandt said.
The Bus Rapid Transit Project is expected to receive full approval from the San Francisco Transportation Authority in two weeks. If approved, construction could begin as early as 2015 with service beginning in 2017.
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