Market’s transit lanes get bold finish

San Francisco’s transportation agency recently completed its paint job of red traffic lanes on Market Street between Fifth and 12th streets in an effort to make existing transit-only lanes more visible to motorists.

The $1.8 million project began in July when crews applied a material called thermoplastic, the same material used for roadway markings. The work was done on weekends during the middle of the night.

Crews completed the project over the weekend of Nov. 15, according to San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency spokesman Paul Rose.

Rose said the red transit-only lanes, which can also be seen in other parts of the City, will help improve transit travel times for Muni riders:

“As a Transit First city, we need to be smart about how we improve transit to make it an attractive, reliable choice for San Franciscans. These lanes represent a low-cost measure to decrease travel time by reminding and preventing cars from using transit-only lanes.”

Muni’s F-Market/Wharves, 6-Parnassus, 9-San Bruno, 9L-San Bruno, 71-Noriega/Haight and 71L-Noriega/Haight will benefit from the red transit-only lanes on Market Street, said the transit agency.

The red carpet lanes have already been installed on sections of Church, Third and Geary streets. Motorists will also see them on Lincoln Way and 19th Avenue and on Haight Street between Laguna and Market streets.

Jerold Chinn

Jerold serves as a reporter and San Francisco Bureau Chief for SFBay covering transportation and occasionally City Hall and the Mayor's Office in San Francisco. His work on transportation has been recognized by the San Francisco Press Club. Born and raised in San Francisco, he graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in journalism. Jerold previously wrote for the San Francisco Public Press, a nonprofit, noncommercial news organization. When not reporting, you can find Jerold taking Muni to check out new places to eat in the city.