T-line too slow (as everyone knows)
As all T-Third riders know, despite the City spending over $600 million on the T-Third line, it runs far slower than it could and is no faster than the buses it replaced, according to an editorial in today’s Examiner. The Examiner calls for MTA to apply common-sense changes to the service to allow it to run faster.
One obvious change would be to reverse the design decision to put the section around Oakdale into mixed traffic, and instead mark a dedicated mass transit lane on the whole length of Third Street. Also, several areas with very low speed limits (e.g. the Islais Creek bridge) need to be looked at again. And if/when the Central Subway is ever built (it’s delayed AGAIN) the Fourth and King intersection absolutely must be redesigned to reduce the massive delays that every T and N rider experiences today.
Fix #1: tell all the train operators to floor it and go 35 on this mostly straight street. Speed up the bridge maybe. Amtrak goes 40-50 mph over drawbridges, why can’t Muni do at least 25?
Fix #2: re-do the light timings at 4th/King. It just makes no sense right now and is a massive source of delay for the trains and frustration for the riders (who can’t get on a train that’s technically pulled out of the station to wait for the light).
Fix #3: And now we can talk about separating the mixed traffic. I will admit to never having been there during rush hour, but it seems to me like the other things can be done for more bang per buck.
Fix #4 is to fight every stupid lawsuit filed by a driver who RUNS A RED LIGHT and gets hit by an LRV. Auto (and truck) drivers need to follow the restrictions and not block the tracks!
It boggles the mind that SF can spend MILLIONS on a brand new bridge that can’t be crossed by an LRV at faster than a walking pace. It’s really amazing how stunningly bad some SF construction is.
We would be better off scrapping this bone-headed train. 3rd street has ample lanes, and the old bus service ran express service.
We would be better off scrapping this bone-headed train. 3rd street has ample lanes, and the old bus service ran express service.
We would be better off scrapping this bone-headed train. 3rd street has ample lanes, and the old bus service ran express service.
We would be better off scrapping this bone-headed train. 3rd street has ample lanes, and the old bus service ran express service.
We would be better off scrapping this bone-headed train. 3rd street has ample lanes, and the old bus service ran express service.