SFMTA director reports Great Highway park timeline, higher weekend ridership, and changes to the 30 short; Valencia curbside bike-lane construction under way

San Francisco ' At the March 4 Municipal Transportation Agency board meeting Director of Transportation Julie Kirschbaum summarized a series of operations and construction updates that the agency says are aimed at maintaining safety and traffic flow as the city implements new outdoor and event programming.

Great Highway and traffic signals

Kirschbaum said the permanent closure of the Great Highway from Lincoln to Sloat, approved by voters through Proposition K in November 2024, is expected to be in effect in mid-March, with the Recreation and Park Department set to publish a more detailed timeline. SFMTA staff have coordinated with Caltrans and the Department of Technology to activate three traffic signals to support rerouted vehicles and to keep major through routes moving. "All 3 signals are currently turned on," Kirschbaum said of signal work intended to support diverted traffic on Lincoln, Sunset and Sloat corridors.

Event ridership and service changes

Kirschbaum told the board that Muni carried about 1,200,000 trips across a three-day All-Star and Lunar New Year period, and that the transit agency provided free service on Saturdays and Sundays for those special-event days thanks to support from the Board of Supervisors. The director said the agency views big-event ridership as a tool to attract longer-term riders.

30 short routing and Chinatown outreach

After substantial outreach with Chinatown stakeholders and merchants, SFMTA modified an earlier proposal for the 30 short and related services. Staff said the 30 short will now run to Mission and turn at Folsom to better balance frequency for seniors who travel from South of Market to Chinatown. The agency also piloted Chinese-character destination head signs on the 30 to help riders identify whether a vehicle is the short or long variant.

Valencia side-running bike lane construction

Construction on the Valencia Street side-running bike lane began Feb. 18. Staff said crews have removed the center-running lane, closed work zones, removed delineator posts and are planning repaving early in April. Agency staff said they are increasing signage and outreach to merchants and residents, are evaluating options to reinstate some left turns where feasible, and will return to the board with design refinements. Streets Director Victoria Wise said the planned roadway closure date for the Great Highway is March 14 and the park opening is scheduled for April.

Other items

Kirschbaum also briefed the board on merchant partnerships such as a Hop on Muni business pub crawl that increased local foot traffic, and on a celebration of 90 operators honored for long safe-driving records. She credited agency staff, the union and partners for supporting safety and event coordination.

Ending

Kirschbaum closed by saying staff will continue monitoring traffic changes on Lincoln, Sunset and Sloat and will report further refinements to the board. Several board members thanked the director for the operational updates and asked staff to keep neighborhood stakeholders informed as construction and rerouting work continues.