Mayor says SFMTA bicycle strategy backed by $40 million in project applications, pledges task force to set priorities

Mayor Edwin Lee told the Board of Supervisors on Feb. 12 that the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency’s draft bicycle strategy will be backed by substantial project funding in the coming years, including more than $31 million in local project applications and an additional $10 million from regional partners.

“Most recently, the SFMTA applied for three major bicycle projects on Masonic Avenue, Second Street and in McLaren Park,” the mayor said, adding the three projects alone “total more than $31,000,000 in improvements.” He also said the Transbay Joint Powers Authority had applied for an additional $10 million in funding that would support bicycle infrastructure. Taken together, the mayor said the projects amount to “more than $40,000,000 in improvements,” and that SFMTA now projects five-year bicycle funding rising from $17 million to $37 million.

Lee said he will convene a San Francisco Transportation 2030 Task Force, jointly chaired by Gabe Metcalf at SPUR and the Office of the City Comptroller, to coordinate priorities across regional agencies, the SFMTA and community stakeholders. The mayor described the task force as a consensus-building body that will report recommendations to him, Board President Chu and the SFMTA board.

Supervisors raised concerns about the disparity between the draft strategy’s ambitions and the existing capital budget share for bicycle projects; Supervisor Marr noted bicycle projects previously comprised “just 0.46%” of MTA capital and asked how the city will secure adequate funding. The mayor and supervisors agreed that the bicycle strategy should guide capital planning and that the task force would aid in setting funding priorities across modes.

The Board did not take formal action on the mayor’s remarks; the presentation was delivered during a scheduled policy discussion and will inform future budget and transportation committee work.