San Francisco Citizen

Well, this is news to me. See below.

I’m not seeing a path for victory for the SaveMasonic people, just saying. I mean the SFMTA wants to spend money, the money was gotten, so why would the SFMTA change its mind all of a sudden now that it’s gotten what it wanted?

A recent window sign seen on, where else, on Masonic:

All the deets:

“Metropolitan Transportation Commission
101 – 8th St
Oakland CA 94607
Re: Agenda Item 9(a) – OBAG – Masonic Avenue Complete Streets — MTC,
September 25, 2013

Dear Ms Worth:

The Coalition for San Francisco Neighborhoods (CSFN) is an “umbrella” organization comprised
of 48 individual San Francisco neighborhood associations representing thousands of the city’s
residents.
At its September General Assembly delegates from the CSFN member organizations voted
unanimously in support the following resolution.
Resolved, that the CSFN urges that elected officials, the SFMTA, the
SFCTA, and the MTC must
1. rescind and withdraw their approval and support of the current
Masonic Ave redesign plan,
2. adopt an alternate plan that maintains traffic flow,
3. retain curbside parking on Masonic Ave,
4. establish a better, alternate bicycle route on nearby streets, and
5. install pedestrian safety improvements.
The proposed Masonic Avenue Complete Streets project is estimated to cost $18 million at a
minimum. This money could be better spent. Many affected residents did not receive notice of the
project; adequate EIR has not been performed.
The Coalition for San Francisco Neighborhoods, which reflects citywide neighborhood concerns,
passed this motion unanimously. We urge you to take into account deeply-felt neighborhood
concerns about this. A large part of the city will be negatively impacted by this ill-thought-out
plan. These plans for Masonic Avenue would thwart neighbors’ efforts for real improvement.
In reviewing the plan that you now have before you, we found that there will be significant
impacts that warrant careful inspection and consideration.
CSFN respectfully and very strongly urges you to withdraw the Masonic Avenue
Complete Streets project from OBAG funding until such time as it can be
meaningfully studied, reviewed, and presented to the public.
Thank you for your careful deliberations in this matter; we appreciate your support and
action.

Sincerely,
Judith Berkowitz

President

Cc: Vice Chair Dave Cortese, Alicia C. Aguirre, Tom Azumbrado, Tom Bates, David Campos,
Bill Dodd, Dorene M. Giacopini, Federal D. Glover, Scott Haggerty, Anne W. Halsted,
Steve Kinsey, Sam Liccardo, Mark Luce, Jake MacKenzie, Joe Pirzynski, Jean Quan,
Bijan Sartipi, James P. Sperling, Adrienne J. Tissier, Scott Wiener; Kimberly Hughes,
Georgia Lambert

Coalition for San Francisco Neighborhoods Resolution Regarding Masonic
Avenue Complete Streets

Whereas, Masonic Avenue is an arterial road used daily by 32,000 vehicles, 13,000 bus riders,
over 1,000 pedestrians; and
Whereas, the proposed Masonic Avenue redesign will permanently remove two traffic lanes during
rush hours resulting in increased not reduced congestion on Masonic and surrounding
streets; and
Whereas, pedestrian safety will be lessened, not strengthened; pedestrians boarding the bus or
crossing the street must step over the bicycle lane; and
Whereas, EMS response time will be reduced; new traffic lanes are inadequate for wide emergency
vehicles; and
Whereas, the loss of 167 parking places will adversely affect residents, disabled, seniors, visitors
and others; and
Whereas, MTA counted 31 bicyclists during peak hours on Masonic Ave; nearby Baker St. with
less than 10% of Masonic Ave traffic provides an alternate bicycle route; therefore be it
Resolved, that the CSFN urges that elected officials, the SFMTA, the SFCTA, and the MTC must

1. rescind and withdraw their approval and support of the current Masonic Ave
redesign plan,
2. adopt an alternate plan that maintains traffic flow,
3. retain curbside parking on Masonic Ave,
4. establish a better, alternate bicycle route on nearby streets, and
5. install pedestrian safety improvements.