SFist: SFgo Still Going, Probably

zippy_monster

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 12:30:54 -0800

Why is the Central Subway a disaster? The proposed alignment is expensive and inefficient -- severe bottlenecks will be created. Because they're proposing one stop in Chinatown, and that's about it. Because it's not making it easier to transfer to the Market St. metro. Because the station(s) will be too small. There is a need for increased transit capacity along the 30's route, sure. This isn't the answer. Transbay blog has a good writeup: http://transbay.wordpress.com/2007/11/13/a-series-on-the-central-subway/

T.E. Lawrence

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 03:09:35 -0800

Based on my hazy recollection of a conversation I had with a jaded engineer that's working on this project, SF's traffic light system dates back to the mid 50s and has not been upgraded since. With the exception of parts of Hayes, Fell and Market Streets and of course the 3rd Street line. The Gavster gave a press conference last year and I believe he said the new system wouldn't be up and running for the entire city until 2020 and would cost around 200 million. For more info, you might want to check out a story ABC 7's Vic Lee did about it last year. Unless it has moved, SFgo is based on the 2nd floor of 25 Van Ness Avenue. Not much of a command center, but it's worth a gander if you're in the neighborhood.

DC1974

Sun, 30 Dec 2007 20:55:05 -0800

In the remake to the Italian job hacking LA's computer controlled traffic system is central to the caper. That being said, LA and Tokyo both have class leading centralized traffic control systems. And they've made a huge improvement. SF (and every other major U.S. city) needs them too. The rest of the country has an even worse time centrally managing traffic. And why will the Central Subway project be a disaster? I know SF loves it streetcars -- but in the long run? Subterranean systems make the most sense. They offer the most speed, per mile, getting people to their destinations faster. In that part of the city there really should be even more subways. I'm going on record now that in the end -- it's going to be a huge success for density, transportation and quality of life.

Sal

Sun, 30 Dec 2007 16:46:48 -0800

Watched the original ITALIAN JOB (1969) the other night. Disabling computer controls for the traffic signals was integral to the caper. Will TPTB ever learn? Use that computer money to upgrade Muni's computers. ...