SFMTA's L Taraval Improvement Project 'segment b' geared up for early 2022

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency's (SFMTA) L Taraval Improvement project is full steam ahead to the next phase of work, segment b, with a notice to proceed issued last week to NTK Construction. 

The first segment of the project was completed on schedule and within budget. Project staff is now gearing up for work slated to begin in January 2022.

What is the L Taraval Improvement Project?

The L Taraval Improvement Project is a multi-agency collaboration partnered with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and the Department of Public Works to improve and upgrade the aging infrastructure. The project will make pedestrian crossing safer, increase accessibility, improve transit reliability, rehabilitate water and sewer infrastructure, enhance landscaping and replace road pavement along the L Taraval line. To lessen the impact to the community, the project was split into two segments: Segment A and Segment B.

Segment A included 46th Ave. to Sunset Blvd. and was completed in July 2021.

Segment B will begin in January 2022 and take place along the L Taraval line from Sunset Blvd. to 15th Ave., and on Ulloa St. near West Portal. Work is expected to last through 2024.

Permanent stop changes will be added to improve safety and reliability:

• Taraval St. and 17th Ave. (eastbound) will be relocated from the near side to the far side of the intersection once the new island is constructed.
• 15th Ave. and Taraval St. (eastbound) will be removed once the boarding island at 17th Ave. is constructed.
• Ulloa St. and Forest Side Blvd. (westbound and eastbound) will be relocated to Ulloa St. and 14th Ave.

What to expect during segment b construction

• Construction is scheduled to begin in January 2022 and will occur in phases to minimize long-term disruptions.
• Work hours are scheduled for Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. with occasional weekend work*
• Substitution of Muni rail service with bus shuttles during portions of the project*

* subject to change based on construction or operational needs

Using community input, equipment staging locations were identified:

• Santiago St. between 22nd and 24th avenues
• 20th Ave. between Ulloa and Wawona streets
• Wawona St. between 21st and 23rd avenues
• 36th Ave. between Taraval and Ulloa streets
• Taraval St. between 12th and 15th avenues

Additional temporary staging locations will be identified over the course of the project

The project team will be hosting three open houses in the coming weeks, as well. 

The nearly five-mile-long corridor from West Portal to the Zoo will boast new transit priority traffic signals, bulb outs to make pedestrian crossing safer, new trees, high visibility crosswalks, safety boarding islands and increased accessibility. Once completed in 2024, the Taraval corridor will be more inviting and welcoming for all residents and visitors.