A report proposing recommendations to make the Geneva Avenue Interstate 280 off-ramp safer for pedestrians and reduce vehicles queuing into the freeway traffic lanes was completed last month.
San Francisco County Transportation Agency staff presented the Interstate 280 Northbound Geneva Avenue Off-Ramp Study to the SFCTA board Sept. 10. The report offers three recommendations, including one near-term recommendation that was implemented last year by collaborating with Caltrans and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency.
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Mike Tan, a senior engineer with the SFCTA’s capital projects program, said the first recommendation already implemented in August 2023 included making changes to the traffic signal timing and phasing at the ramp intersections. The changes helped reduce the left lane flow rate of traffic by 29% and 16% in the right lane, clearing up blocked intersections.
“Traffic was moving better compared to the previous configuration,” Tan said.
District 11 Supervisor Ahsha Safai, who requested for the study, said improvements are needed since the opening of the Kapuso affordable housing complex and new Balboa Park BART station plaza.
Data showed 120 northbound I-280 crashes near the Geneva Avenue interchange, 54 of which involved injuries and one reported fatality. On Geneva Avenue between the I-280 offramp intersections and San Jose Avenue, there were a total of 44 crashes with 11 of those crashes involving pedestrians.
“There needs to be significant clarity so we do have pedestrian safety so that cars do understand that the traffic flow and signals,” Safai said.
District 7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar highlighted how dangerous it is for people to cross Geneva Avenue near the off-ramp with vehicles making a right turn into the crosswalk as people waiting to cross near the BART elevator with staff acknowledging the issue.
The last two recommendations require funding and the cooperation of Caltrans, which has control over the off-ramp. No dates were given on when the last two recommendations could be completed and funding could come from various local and state sources.
The report’s second recommendation is meant to make traffic signal mass arms longer, upgrading the traffic signal system and pedestrian safety upgrades that were based on recommendations from the SFCTA’s Community Advisory Committee.
Some of the pedestrian safety recommendations from the CAC include having leading pedestrian intervals that give pedestrians a head start before traffic starts moving, reflective back plates for traffic signals and making sightline improvements for pedestrians and bicyclists waiting at the corner of curbs.
The total cost to implement the second recommendation is estimated between $4 million to $5.5 million.
The report’s third recommendation advises that another study examine either lengthening or straightening the off-ramp. The study would cost of $150,000 to $250,000.
Jerold Chinn
