TO: Mayor London Breed, SFCTA Board, SFMTA Board, Supervisor Connie Chan, Supervisor Aaron Peskin, Supervisor Matt Dorsey, Supervisor Catherine Stefani, and Supervisor Dean Preston,

We are writing to urge you to support the Geary Boulevard Improvement Project. We are asking the SFMTA Board to approve the full and timely completion of the project as recommended by SFMTA staff, including the completion of transit lanes as part of the initial quick-build in 2023.

Improvements completed in 2021 along the eastern stretch of Geary made the 38/38R faster, with 18% shorter bus travel times. This work also made Geary safer for everyone, with an 81% drop in excessive speeding. We support SFMTA’s plan to bring these benefits to the next section of Geary, from Stanyan to 34th Ave. The project includes transit lanes and bus stop improvements, as well as pedestrian bulb-outs and other adjustments to make Geary safer for walking. 

Transit Justice: While not sufficient, this work is a critical step toward transit justice in San Francisco. Over 37,500 people currently ride the 38 and 38R every day—over twice the ridership of the entire Caltrain system. The 38/38R is an essential corridor connecting San Franciscans from the Richmond to the Fillmore, Japantown, Union Square, Market, and SOMA, as well as to BART and other transit connections. 

This project directly serves the SFCTA Equity Priority Community north of Geary between 19th and 33rd Ave, and the entire corridor is home to a disproportionate number of seniors, a group that includes many residents with disabilities and mobility needs. The 2023 City Survey found that our lowest-income residents use Muni most frequently. These San Franciscans deserve fast, reliable transit.

Vision Zero and Climate Goals: Between 2010 and 2021, 578 people were injured and five people were killed along this project’s stretch of Geary, most of which is on the High Injury Network. With 145 pedestrians injured, that’s an average of one person each month getting injured while walking. We know that transit lanes on other stretches of Geary have reduced crashes and that this project, which also includes pedestrian safety improvements, will save lives. 

More broadly, progress on our citywide climate and vision zero goals requires that we make transit and active modes of transportation competitive with cars across the city. We can not maximize parking and meet San Francisco’s broader goals.

Merchants and Economic Recovery: Most people traveling on Geary are not in private cars, and those who walk, bike, or take transit have been found to visit Geary businesses more often than those who drive. Numerous studies have found that pedestrian street improvements in dense urban shopping areas tend to result in improved business performance, and that business owners “often become vocal supporters of further enhancements to the public realm.” This is the economic revitalization that our city needs! 

It is also worth noting that the current proposal responds to input from small businesses by limiting and mitigating parking loss. Whereas an earlier design required removal of 60 spaces along the corridor, the current plan sees a net reduction of just 31 parking spaces, or an average of 0.9 spots per block. 

Fiscal and operational resilience: Faster transit times improve efficiency: the same number of buses can provide more service. Alternatively, fewer buses can be used to offer the same headway times and a substantially quicker overall trip for riders. This operational efficiency creates flexibility and improved service at a time when the SFMTA is under financial constraints.

The vision to create transit lanes on Geary was approved 20 years ago when Prop K passed. Let’s finish the job, and give San Franciscans a faster, safer, Geary.

Thank you,
Faster Safer Geary