On September 26, 2024, Mayor London Breed and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at McCoppin Square to announce the completion of the revitalization of the L Taraval light rail line in San Francisco.
After five years of work, the San Francisco MUNI’s L Taraval light rail line is set to resume service this Saturday with the aim of creating a safer pedestrian crossing environment, improving accessibility, and enhancing traffic reliability along the Taraval Street commercial corridor. This project, a result of collaboration among various agencies, has enhanced over two miles of the L Taraval light rail line and local infrastructure, benefiting residents, small business owners, and tourists traveling to and from West Portal and the San Francisco Zoo through public transportation.
Mayor London Breed stated at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, “The L Taraval light rail project is a transformative engineering project, an investment for a generation that will benefit the community for decades to come. I am proud that we were able to complete this project within budget and on time, and we will continue to build on this foundation to provide passengers with a safer, faster, and more reliable transportation system. We thank all the city and regional partners for their cooperation in successfully delivering this world-class transportation project, and most importantly, we thank the surrounding community, especially the business owners, for their patience and guidance throughout the process.”
Since 1919, the MUNI’s L Taraval light rail line has been a vital east-west transportation route serving residents in the Sunset and Parkside districts, as well as the Taraval Street commercial corridor.
The revitalization project, which began in 2019, includes enhancements to sidewalks to improve pedestrian visibility, the installation of new safe boarding islands, and significant infrastructure upgrades such as replacing worn tracks, overhead cables, water pipes, and sewer lines, along with the resurfacing of the entire Taraval Street to address wear and tear from years of automobile and light rail traffic. The project also added trees and landscape elements and installed 71 upgraded LED streetlights to provide a safer and more comfortable experience for passengers and pedestrians.
Starting this Saturday, the L Taraval light rail line will resume operations between Embarcadero Station and the San Francisco Zoo. MUNI passengers will board at platforms or on the street, eliminating the need to catch buses on the roadside as before.
According to a press release from the Mayor’s Office, Taraval Street is considered a high-risk roadway, comprising only 12% of the city’s streets but accounting for 68% of severe and fatal traffic accidents citywide. Prior to the project’s commencement, nearly 10 individuals were injured annually along the corridor. The efforts made by the city government over the past year to ensure a more reliable, safe, and rapid MUNI service have been recognized by passengers and international organizations.
Earlier this month, the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) announced that the rapid bus improvement project on Van Ness Avenue received the highest level of certification among national transportation projects. In June of this year, Mayor Breed and SFMTA officials announced that after over twenty years, MUNI received its highest passenger rating.
Research shows that 72% of MUNI passengers rate its service as good or excellent, a figure that has increased from 66% last year and represents the highest rating since the annual passenger survey began in 2001.
Jeffrey Tumlin, Director of Transportation at SFMTA, stated, “We are focused on safety, and this is the most significant upgrade the L Taraval line has undergone in 50 years, with passengers no longer needing to alight or board in traffic. Before the project began, about five individuals were struck by vehicles annually while alighting or boarding.”
Councilmember Joel Engardio remarked, “I believe the Sunset district will experience a renaissance with the return of the L Taraval light rail line, ushering in a prosperous new era. Residents, businesses, and visitors will all benefit from this important light rail line, offering more people the opportunity to experience the culinary, artistic, cultural, and recreational offerings of the Sunset district. Infrastructure improvement was necessary, and now we have a light rail system that meets the needs of the next century.”
The Taraval Street commercial corridor in the Sunset district stretches from the Parkside community to the Pacific Coast, known for its dumpling cuisine and a variety of retail, personal, and professional services. To minimize the impact on the community, the L Taraval light rail line improvement project was divided into two parts; Segment A runs from the San Francisco Zoo to Sunset Boulevard, while Segment B runs from Sunset Boulevard to West Portal. Segment A began in 2019 and was completed on time and within budget in the summer of 2021, while Segment B commenced in January 2022.
In support of businesses along the corridor, Mayor Breed collaborated with Councilmembers Joel Engardio and Myrna Melgar to provide $1 million in relief funds for small businesses on Taraval Street. SFMTA also partnered with the Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) and the Small Business/Economic Development team of “Self-Help for the Elderly” organization to assist small businesses in accessing resources provided by the city government, such as training and one-on-one consultations.
The OEWD collaborated with the community to launch retail events like “Take Time for Taraval” and “Shop Dine SF Taraval,” showcasing an online directory of beloved local restaurants, shops, and services, and introducing a bingo-style game in partnership with “Parkside People” organization to encourage community support for local businesses.
Councilmember Melgar stated, “Taraval Street is one of the main traffic arteries in the western district and an economic engine. Now, the L line can bring residents from the west to the downtown area, offering our local businesses development opportunities. Seniors, children, workers, and families can efficiently travel from the Bay Area to the city center.”
Chairman of the Transportation Authority and District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman said, “Public transportation is the backbone of San Francisco’s economy and a key factor in creating a more equitable, accessible, and livable city. We are proud to provide $19 million in funding for Segment B through the voter-approved sales tax (Prop K) and vehicle registration fee (Prop AA) plans, constituting approximately 25% of the total funding. Congratulations to SFMTA, San Francisco Public Works, and all partners for delivering this important and beautiful project successfully.”