#l taraval

[sfmuniphotos]

A two-car L-Taraval train traveling West on Taraval Street towards the San Francisco Zoo.

[jamisonwieser]

The end of the line. In truth, the L-Taraval line ends in a loop a few blocks away. This is a spur used for storing trains with problems out of the way.

[sfmuniverse]

When Muni doesn’t stop at the grocery store

San Franciscans are told constantly that we should get out of our cars and ride Muni instead. But a recent decision by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency to remove a light-rail stop across from the Safeway on Taraval Street could force some who have been taking Muni to the store to drive there instead.

SFMTA is consolidating and eliminating closely spaced stops as part of the L-Taraval Rapid Project. The most controversial has been a well-used inbound stop at 17th Ave, directly across the street from a Safeway, but which sits only around 600-feet or so from other nearby stops.

Agency staff noted that there would still be stops inbound at 19th and 15th Avenues. People can just get off at one of those and walk a few extra blocks to the grocery store. No big deal.

However, for a senior or a person with disabilities, walking a few blocks — especially when it’s raining and the sidewalk is slippery — can be a big deal.

For a senior or a person with a mobility problem, a stop across the street doesn't help if you can't climb the steep steps.

For any rider who requires a ramp to get on or off the trains, the new one which will be installed at 19th Ave cut the distance to Safeway from the nearest accessible stop from over 1,200-feet to a little over 500-feet.

[sfmuniphotos]

A two-car L-Taraval train arriving at Forest Hill Station in San Francisco.

[sfmuniphotos]

A sign onboard a westbound L-Taraval train showing upcoming stops on the way to the San Francisco Zoo.

[sfmuniphotos]

Muni trains at Church Station.

[sfmuniphotos]

[sfmuniphotos]

A two-car L-Taraval train turning off Taraval Street towards the SF Zoo.