Parking & Transportation

 

CENTRAL SUBWAY PROJECT

In 1954, MUNI threatened to eliminate the 39-Coit, a bus route that then, as now, weaves its way through the heart of North Beach and Telegraph Hill.  But six local residents successfully organized their neighbors to speak out about the necessity of a public transit option in the neighborhood, and they saved the 39 Coit.  Out of that citizen organizing effort, the Telegraph Hill Dwellers was born.

Ever since, our neighborhood has fought to preserve and expand public transit access to the most dense corner of our intense city.  Even for residents who own cars, having the option to use the 41 Union to get to work on Market Street, the 39 Coit to schlep groceries up the Hill, or the 30 Stockton to make it to a Giants game can make a huge difference on a hectic day.  And less cars cramming onto congested streets is better for all of our health and our environment.

That’s why it is so disturbing that our representatives at City Hall keep slashing bus service and raising fares while continuing to pour good money after bad into the Central Subway project, which one newspaper recently called “one of the most expensive mistakes city officials have ever made.”

Read more in the Summer 2011 Semaphore THD President’s Column:  “Time is ripe to fix the Central Subway”

Read the “Construction Notice” that outlines areas in North Beach that will be disrupted for Central Subway Construction:  Central Subway Construction Notice

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Central Subway News:

S.F. Examiner 9/19/11:  “Central Subway Costs Vary Between San Francisco, Federal Agencies”

S.F. Chronicle 9/11/11:  “Dennis Herrera Central Subway flip-flop hits nerve”

S.F. Chronicle 9/4/11:  “SF Plans a Subway to Somewhere”

S.F. Bay Citizen 9/2/11:  “Top Central Subway Executive Resigns”

S.F. Weekly 8/31/11:  “Central Subway Denounced By Former Supporter, Aaron Peskin”

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A 55 page report by the San Francisco Civil Grand Jury concluded that the proposed extension of the Central Subway to Chinatown and North Beach is fraught with funding uncertainties and will lead to reduced MUNI bus service to North Beach, Telegraph Hill, and other neighborhoods.

The Civil Grand Jury report, entitled “Central Subway: Too Much Money For Too Little Benefit” echoes concerns raised by THD and many others over the last several years.  Although initial construction for the project is underway, the Chronicle reports that the report comes at a “critical time” when key funding decisions have yet to be made.  The Grand Jury report calls for a major redesign of the project, an independent auditor to investigate spending decisions made to-date, and new funding to first go to improving MUNI bus service on existing underserved routes.  Click here to read more.