Muni mulls changes for Laurel Heights routes

The Municipal Transportation Agency’s Board of Directors will decide Tuesday on whether to make changes to the 1-California, two California express routes, and the 2-Clement in the Laurel Heights neighborhood.

All four of the Muni routes travel through the Laurel Heights neighborhood carrying a total average of 30,500 daily riders. Five bus stops serve the area, which is used by over 2,000 Muni riders.

Buses travel an average of 13 miles per hour in the area in both directions because of bus stops located nearside at traffic lights and bus stops that are not long or wide enough to accommodate buses pulling in and out, according to SFMTA documents.

In order improve reliability and reduce transit travel times, the transit agency is proposing to move two stops from the nearside to the farside, adding transit bulbs at two intersections and increasing bus stop spacing from one block to two blocks.

Construction would take place during the same time the Department of Public Works plans to pave California Street in 2017.

Happening nearby, transit officials are proposing changes to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety on Arguello Boulevard between Fulton Street and West Pacific Avenue.

Proposed changes include adding a 2-foot buffer next to the existing bike lane, daylighting at intersections, green paint to enhance the bike lanes, paint bike boxes, continental crosswalks and a left turn restriction of cars turning left onto eastbound McAllister Street from southbound Arguello Boulevard.

Work for the project will again coincide with a Public Works paving project in 2017. Officials said it will work on near-term improvements such as positions of the project that requires paint.