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Murderous Intersection Tamed with a Turn Signal
Where the hell is 19th and Sloat? Oh, it's in, like, Southie. Near the Golf Course District. Anyway, the intersection is getting a left-turn arrow, hooray! Nineteenth is an insanely deadly stretch. A young lady died at this particular intersection a month ago; meanwhile, negotiations between the MTA and Caltrans to improve the intersection languished in their SEVENTH YEAR.
The traffic on 19th is so fast and so thick that it's like an interstate highway; and in fact, the state considers it exactly that, and claims ownership of the road. Leland Yee's attempts to make it more safey have been stymied by Caltrans foot-dragging and the Governor's veto of speeding-fine hikes. Until now! Apparently October's death was the tipping point, because Caltrans is finally getting to work on making things a little less manslaughtery.
A bunch of intersections will be getting better traffic signals and countdown timers (full list, plus more details, after the jump). And it only took seven years of negotiating, plus a lot of dead people. We're in SUCH good hands.
Here's a press release with details, if you believe in that sort of thing:
SFMTA Announces Traffic Upgrades to 19th Avenue
After seven years of negotiations, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) will make further improvements to the intersection of 19th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, November 1, 2007.
The SFMTA will add a left-turn arrow for eastbound motorists on Sloat Boulevard at 19th Avenue. This addition builds upon previous improvements, such as red light cameras installed in 1997, more visible mast arm signals in 2000, and pedestrian countdown signals in 2004. Additionally, a radar speed limit sign was also installed in 2004.
This green left-turn arrow will assist vehicles making a left turn that do not complete this turn during the regular green interval for Sloat Boulevard. This eliminates the conflict of left-turning traffic with pedestrians and oncoming through traffic.
The State Department of Transportation (Caltrans) approved the SFMTA's proposed change at the intersection of State Highways 35 (Sloat Boulevard) and 1 (19th Avenue) on October 18, 2007. The work was done by SFMTA staff as part of an agreement between the two agencies to expedite implementation of the signal change. Changes of this nature are normally done by Caltrans.
SFMTA Executive Director/CEO Nathaniel Ford stated, "We are committed to improving safety on 19th Avenue and at intersections around The City. Our traffic engineers work diligently to improve pedestrian and traffic safety. Thanks to their continued efforts, San Francisco has seen a reduction in injury collisions on 19th Avenue of more than 25% in the past five years."
Further, the SFMTA, in conjunction with Caltrans, received on Wednesday, October 31, three responding bids for signal upgrades throughout 19th Avenue and Park Presidio Boulevard, beginning with 10 targeted intersections on 19th Avenue. The lowest of these bids ($2.95 million) came in 30% below the engineer's estimate of $3.8 million. The improvements will replace the aging signal infrastructure and include pedestrian countdown signals and new mast arm signals. The contract will be awarded in early 2008 and the work will be completed by early 2009.
Targeted 19th Avenue Intersections
1. 19th Avenue and Crossover Drive/Lincoln
2. 19th Avenue and Irving Street
3. 19th Avenue and Judah Street
4. 19th Avenue and Noriega Street
5. 19th Avenue and Quintara Street
6. 19th Avenue and Taraval Street
7. 19th Avenue and Vicente Street
8. 19th Avenue and Eucalyptus Street
9. 19th Avenue and Holloway Avenue
10. 19th Avenue and Junipero Sera Boulevard