Improved Transportation
We know that traffic congestion and parking are big problems in Parkmerced, along 19th Avenue, and in the adjacent neighborhoods. In an effort to better understand the area, we distributed surveys to 16,000 Parkmerced households and neighboring residences and received an overwhelming response. From those surveys and our own studies we learned:
The surrounding roads are congested now and are expected to get worse regardless of what happens at Parkmerced. With little change in the area, traffic volumes still tripled in the past 40 years, during which no significant transportation improvements to the existing roadways were made. The current situation will worsen unless we act as a neighborhood to affect change.
Pedestrian safety needs improvement. Recent accidents also serve as grim reminder of how poorly the high volume and speed of traffic on 19th Avenue mixes with pedestrians.
Public transit is underused and inconvenient. The closest Muni light rail station is overcrowded and too far away for most Parkmerced residents. Muni buses are few and far between, move slowly through the area, and don't serve enough of our residents' desired destinations.
The complete lack of amenities and neighborhood serving retail within Parkmerced forces residents to drive to nearby neighborhoods for their basic needs and services.
With these challenges in mind, we will provide innovative ways to actually improve street and transit conditions for not only Parkmerced's residents, but the area as a whole.
Reduce Car Use
Our vision is to create a neighborhood where car use is an option, not a necessity.
By adding neighborhood serving retail and office uses we will create a "social heart" for Parkmerced. This puts all of the conveniences of a great neighborhood within a comfortable walking distance for all of our residents, eliminating the need to hop in the car to access groceries, dry cleaning, and other services.
We will further reduce the need to commute to and from Parkmerced by providing an onsite business center that supports telecommuting and encourages residents to work from home.
Rerouting the Muni Metro M-Line light rail line through and adding two stops in Parkmerced will provide safer, convenient access for all of our residents and neighbors and help relieve congestion on 19th Avenue.
Innovative Programs
Our plan will include creative and sustainable programs to encourage smarter travel, including:
- A direct shuttle to Daly City BART
- A full-time transportation coordinator
- Coordinated carpool/vanpool program
- Car-share hubs, real-time transportation web-site, and commute planning service
- Discounted transit passes
- An on-site bicycle library and extensive bicycle and pedestrian routes
- One-to-one parking ratios, satellite parking lots, and permit or metered-only parking on the streets
Improve Streets In and Around Parkmerced
Our plan will help improve existing transportation problems noted by many of the survey respondents with:
- New and improved access into Parkmerced from Lake Merced Boulevard and 19th Avenue that will ease traffic congestion on neighborhood streets
- Major enhancements to the Brotherhood Way/Junipero Serra Boulevard interchange to improve traffic flow
- Upgrades to the Chumasero Drive entrance into Parkmerced for more direct access
- Traffic calming measures along Brotherhood Way
Other District-wide Improvements
As mentioned, this side of town has seen minimal transportation improvements in the past 40 years. And aside from a current plan to upgrade traffic signals on 19th Avenue, not much is set to happen. That's where Parkmerced comes in.
As the single owner of the largest rental community in San Francisco, we have the people and the resources to work with the appropriate agencies to develop long-term solutions to the area's problems, including:
- Relocating the Muni light rail line to the west side of 19th Avenue
- Completely rebuilding the Brotherhood Way/Junipero Serra Boulevard interchange to meet current standards
- Reconfiguring the confusing access point to Northbound I-280 at Alemany Boulevard
- Providing a direct connection from Southbound I-280 to Northbound Junipero Serra Boulevard
Parkmerced is ready to commit the resources necessary to push for these improvements, giving San Francisco a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make these ideas a reality.