Matthew Roth
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California Debates Targets for Landmark Anti-Sprawl Bill
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Photo: Mark Strozier As California’s big four metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) run models to determine how much they can influence California’s growth and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, significant questions remain. The state’s Senate Bill 375, typically referred to as the Anti-Sprawl Bill, requires that planners and policy makers develop meaningful solutions to reduce sprawl, reduce […]
Proposed Developments Illustrate San Francisco’s Parking Dilemma
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A simulation of the proposed discount mall on Market Street, City Place. Image: Urban Realty. At another marathon Planning Commission meeting last week, parking was all the rage. Two projects in particular had community members and housing and transit advocates fired up because of the parking that developers proposed to build, or in one case, […]
Sunday Streets Inspires Throngs of Revelers, Business Booms
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Photos: Bryan Goebel. With the fourth Sunday Streets in the Mission over the past two years recently completed, the verdict is in and the community is very happy with the results. In addition to the tens of thousands of people coming out to enjoy the sun and open streets while pedaling and strolling, the events […]
Second Mission Sunday Streets of the Year This Weekend
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Having fun in The Mission. Photo: dustinj Sunday Streets continues to be a huge success in San Francisco, with last month’s event bringing out at least 25,000 cyclists, skaters and amblers. Because of the large size of the crowds, organizers have added Harrison Street from 16th to 26th Streets to the route, which provided ample […]
Eyes on the Street: Traffic Stop for Violating Trial Diversion Zone
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A cautionary tale about violating the personal vehicle diversion on Market Street. Photo: Matthew Roth. As I was riding my bicycle on Market Street to City Hall yesterday, I saw another SFPD sting for vehicles violating the mandatory personal vehicle diversion on Market Street north of 10th Street. I was stopped at Van Ness waiting […]
Bay Area Counties Compete to Curb Solo Auto Commutes
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Yuck. Photo: izahorsky In an effort to curb solo commuting and educate employees at various city and county agencies, and at several touchstone regional employers, 511.org and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District are sponsoring the "Great Race for Clean Air" in August and September. The event is similar to TransForm’s CarFree Challenge or […]
Eyes on the Street: Valencia Streetscape Project Nearly Complete
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The new striping on Valencia Street. Photos: Matthew Roth The near total reconstruction of Valencia Street between 15th and 19th Streets in The Mission over the past year has seemed at times maddening to those who use the street, no matter what mode. From ripped up sidewalks to ripped up pavement, the area has been […]
SFMTA Board Votes to Partially Restore Muni Service That Was Cut in May
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Photo: Myleen Hollero/Orange Photography The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) Board, which runs Muni, voted today to partially restore service that was cut in May, contingent on the Board of Supervisors approving several actions and freeing up a one-time disbursement of county sales tax revenue. The plan to restore up to half of the […]
BART Board Swears in New Police Chief, Approves Livermore Alignment
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Editor’s note: We’re taking Monday off. Enjoy the long weekend and see you back here Tuesday! New BART Police Chief Kenton Rainey and Director Gail Murray celebrate at Rainey’s swearing in ceremony. Photo: Matthew Roth. With concerns mounting about the reaction to the verdict in the Mehserle trial, BART held an official swearing-in ceremony at […]
SF Asks High Speed Rail to Study “Minor or Major Modifications” to I-280
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Portions of I-280 north of Cesar Chavez serve to divide city neighborhoods. Photo: Troy Holden. At the San Francisco County Transportation Authority (SFCTA) meeting on Wednesday, where the public was briefed on various alignment options for bringing high speed rail to the Transbay Terminal and 4th and King station, numerous people living in Potrero Hill, […]
It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s a Flying Car!
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Not quite Doc Brown’s DeLorean, but it flies. Image: Terrafugia. Once relegated to the realm of science fiction books or movies with Michael J. Fox, the flying car could be commercially tenable sooner than you might think. Terrafugia has successfully test-flown the Transition, an airplane with four wheels that folds up into something resembling an […]
Personal Car-Share Insurance Bill Passes Key Committee Test
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The possibility that Californians will be allowed to share their personal cars within car-sharing pools and receive compensation for gas, maintenance, and wear to the vehicle moved a step closer to reality yesterday, as a State Senate committee voted unanimously to approve AB 1871, a bill that would prevent car insurance companies from voiding personal […]