The 22 Fillmore bus line, a vital artery for over 20,000 daily riders in San Francisco, once faced significant slowdowns, particularly along 16th Street where speeds could drop below 4 miles per hour. Recognizing the need for improvement, the 16th Street Improvement Project was launched. This community-informed initiative aimed to transform the 16th Street corridor, making the 22 Fillmore service faster, safer, more accessible, and more reliable for everyone. The project, a cornerstone of Muni Forward’s ongoing efforts, introduced key upgrades including transit-only lanes, transit bulbs, modernized traffic and pedestrian signals, and enhanced streetscape amenities, all designed to create a better transit experience in the heart of the Mission District.
The 16th Street Improvement Project unfolded in two key phases. Phase one, stretching from Potrero Avenue to 3rd Street, reached completion in 2020. Following this success, phase two, encompassing the area between Church Street and Potrero Avenue, concluded in 2023. Looking ahead, the addition of distinctive red transit-only lanes is scheduled for the latter half of 2024, marking a further enhancement to the project’s scope.
Project Objectives and Timeline: Transforming 16th Street
The 16th Street Improvement Project was guided by a clear set of objectives, all aimed at significantly enhancing the urban environment and public transportation along this crucial corridor in the Mission. The primary goals included:
- Improving 22 Fillmore Reliability: Aiming for a nearly 25% improvement in travel time reliability for the 18,000 daily riders within the project area, ensuring more predictable commutes.
- Enhancing Safety on 16th Street: Prioritizing safety for all road users – pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers – through infrastructure upgrades and traffic calming measures.
- Upgrading Bike Routes: Creating a better and more connected bicycle route linking the Mission District to Mission Bay, promoting sustainable transportation options.
- Modernizing Infrastructure: Addressing aging infrastructure by upgrading sewer lines and, in Phase 1 east of Potrero Avenue, incorporating essential water infrastructure improvements.
- Supporting Zero-Emission Transit: Facilitating the transition to a greener future by enabling zero-emission transit service to connect Mission Bay and the Mission District efficiently.
To maximize the impact of public funds and minimize disruption, the project also incorporated the replacement of aging underground water lines during Phase 1, specifically on 16th Street between Potrero Avenue and 3rd Street, showcasing a holistic approach to urban renewal.
To support zero-emission transit into the growing Mission Bay area, the project extended the overhead contact system (OCS) for trolley buses along 16th Street from Kansas Street to Third Street. This extension was crucial for enabling the 22 Fillmore route to serve Mission Bay directly. Complementing these transit improvements, new bike lanes were also established on 17th Street, creating a seamless and continuous cycling route between Mission Bay and the Mission Neighborhood, encouraging multi-modal transportation.
Alongside the physical improvements to 16th Street, the eastern terminus of the 22 Fillmore route was adjusted to better serve the expanding job market, residential areas, and healthcare facilities in Mission Bay. To ensure continued service for the Potrero Hill and Dogpatch communities, a new route, the 55 Dogpatch, was introduced through a community-driven process, maintaining comprehensive transit coverage in the area.
Key Benefits of the 16th Street Mission Project
Enhanced Transit Reliability and Faster Travel Times: The introduction of dedicated transit lanes is a game-changer, allowing buses to effectively bypass traffic congestion, significantly reducing delays and ensuring a smoother, quicker ride for passengers. Furthermore, sidewalk extensions at bus stops, known as bus bulbs, not only provide additional space for waiting passengers but also streamline boarding by allowing buses to remain in the travel lane, minimizing dwell times and improving overall efficiency. Strategic adjustments to bus stop locations, including the removal of closely spaced stops and the relocation of others to the far side of intersections, contribute to further reductions in travel time and enhanced service reliability along 16th Street Mission.
Improved Street Safety for Everyone: Safety enhancements are a cornerstone of the 16th Street project. Pedestrian bulbs, which are sidewalk extensions at intersection corners, play a crucial role in shortening pedestrian crossing distances, making streets safer and more walkable. These extensions also encourage vehicles to make turns at slower speeds, further protecting pedestrians. The addition of new high-visibility crosswalks enhances pedestrian visibility, alerting drivers and reinforcing safer street crossing environments throughout the 16th Street Mission corridor.
Revitalized Streetscape and Public Spaces: The 16th Street Improvement Project goes beyond mere functionality, significantly enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the corridor. New trees and landscaping elements have been integrated, creating greener and more pleasant public spaces. Unique sidewalk designs add character and visual interest, while upgraded bus shelters, adorned with locally themed images, provide comfortable and attractive waiting areas for transit users. Addressing previous issues with street trees, the project replaced unhealthy or unsafe trees, increasing the tree canopy by an impressive margin of over 3-to-1, resulting in a total of 101 new trees along the 16th Street Mission, contributing to a more vibrant and environmentally friendly urban landscape.
Essential Utility Upgrades: Recognizing the importance of infrastructure modernization, the 16th Street Improvement Project incorporated vital utility upgrades. In close collaboration with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), the project addressed aging infrastructure by replacing outdated sewer mains from Dolores Street to South Van Ness Avenue. This proactive approach not only leverages public resources effectively but also minimizes future construction-related disruptions to the neighborhood, ensuring long-term benefits for the 16th Street Mission community.
Background: Muni Forward and Transit Transformation
Muni Forward Initiative
The 16th Street Improvement Project is a key component of the broader Transportation Effectiveness Program (TEP), now known as Muni Forward. This comprehensive initiative is designed to enhance the overall effectiveness of the Muni system throughout San Francisco. Originally identified as the “22 Fillmore Transit Priority Project,” the 16th Street project exemplifies Muni Forward’s system-wide approach. It recognizes that for public transit to function optimally across the city, high-demand routes like the 22 Fillmore require strategic improvements to maximize efficiency and better serve riders. Muni Forward’s holistic perspective ensures that upgrades to key routes contribute to a more reliable, faster, and ultimately more effective public transportation network for the entire city, with projects like the 16th Street initiative leading the way in transit modernization and urban improvement.
