SFMTA Rolling Out “Red Carpet” Transit-Only Lanes on Market

San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency crews are rolling out the “red carpet” starting tonight as part of a new transit-only lane project on Market Street, an SFMTA spokeswoman said.

The installation of new red transit-only lanes will begin tonight at 11 p.m. and continue over the weekend on Market Street between Fifth and 12th streets, according to SFMTA spokeswoman Kristen Holland.

Crews will bond red thermoplastic on existing lanes as part of a pilot project to clearly mark transit-only lanes to keep motorists off areas designated for public transit vehicles and taxis.

The visual marker aims to improve rider experiences on Muni’s F-Market and Wharves street car line, 6-Parnassus, 9 and 9L-San Bruno, and 71 and 71L-Haight/Noriega bus lines.

Red lane installations have already gone up on Church, Third, Geary and O’Farrell streets.

After Market Street, the red lanes will go up on Judah Street in early 2015, Holland said.

The Market Street portion of the pilot program is estimated to cost $1.8 million, while the entire project is about $4.9 million, she said.

The installation on Market Street will occur during weekend nights, according Holland said.

Sasha Lekach, Bay City News

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