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8X/AX/BX Bayshore Expresses (San Bruno/Silver to Geneva/Ocean/Phelan)
Corridor Overview
 Muni’s 8X Bayshore Express bus route carries more than 23,000 daily customers on an average weekday. Over 12,000 of these customers board at stops located within the proposed travel time reduction project study area, located along 5 miles between San Bruno and Silver and Geneva, Ocean and Phelan. Within the study area, the 8X Bayshore Express operates at an average speed of 7.7 miles per hour during peak periods. There are 36 transit stops in each direction. The average transit stop spacing between San Bruno and Silver and Geneva, Ocean and Phelan is 735 feet, with stops located at every two intersections.
The main causes of delay to the 8X Bayshore Express include long passenger boarding and alighting times, general traffic congestion in certain locations, a high number of stop signs along the route and areas of closely spaced transit stops.
Travel Time Reduction Proposal Overview
Travel Time Reduction Proposal Overview
In order to reduce transit travel times and improve reliability, the SFMTA proposes a toolkit of measures within the study area. These proposals include:
- Replacing all-way STOP-controlled intersections with traffic signals or traffic calming measures at five intersections. Currently, the 8X Bayshore Express is delayed by having to come to a complete stop at multiple intersections with stop signs. These stop signs could be replaced with traffic signals equipped with transit signal priority. This would reduce delay at intersections because the signals could be programmed to hold green lights for approaching buses. Alternatively, traffic calming measures such as corner bulbs, raised crosswalks, and sidewalk extensions could be installed to provide improved pedestrian safety by reducing the roadway crossing distance, making pedestrians waiting to cross the street more visible to approaching motorists and reducing the speed of motorists turning from cross streets. Traffic calming measures would have a similar effect of reducing intersection delays for buses, by eliminating the need for the bus to come to a complete stop.
- Optimizing transit stop locations at seven intersections. Relocating transit stops from the near-side to the far-side of intersections at existing traffic signals would allow buses to take advantage of planned transit signal priority improvements. At all-way STOP-controlled intersections, transit stops would be relocated from the far-side of the intersection to the near-side, eliminating the need for buses to stop once for the STOP sign and again for customers to board the bus.
- Establishing one mile of transit-only lanes. Transit-only lanes provide exclusive right-of-way for buses to travel unimpeded by general traffic congestion. These lanes would be established on Geneva Avenue between Santos and Moscow/South Hill and also on westbound Geneva Avenue between Delano and San Jose and between the Interstate 280 freeway ramps.
- Increasing bus stop spacing on average from two blocks to 2.5 blocks. Currently, the 8X Bayshore Express stops at every two blocks between San Bruno and Silver and Geneva, Ocean and Phelan. This proposal moves toward a slightly wider average 2.5 block spacing for most stops. Some stops would be expanded by every three blocks. By stopping fewer times, the bus would take less time to move through the corridor.
- Adding turn pockets at up to six intersections. Turn pockets would reduce Muni delays associated with buses waiting behind left- or right-turning motorists by providing a dedicated space for turning vehicles to queue.
- Adding transit bulbs at 11 intersections. Transit bulbs are sidewalk extensions alongside transit stops that allow passengers to get on and off without having to walk between parked cars and cross a lane of traffic. Transit bulbs enhance the ability of buses to take advantage of all-door boarding. Transit bulbs provide space for transit shelters and other customer amenities. Transit bulbs also improve pedestrian safety by reducing the roadway crossing distance, making pedestrians waiting to cross the street more visible to approaching motorists, and reducing the speed of motorists turning from cross streets.
- Extending transit stops at seven intersections. Extending existing transit stops would accommodate multiple transit vehicles and would improve the ability of transit vehicles to maneuver in and out of stops.
Summary
Together, the proposed changes are anticipated to reduce the travel time of the 8X Bayshore Express bus route by about 7 minutes in each direction (14 minutes total) within the study area (18% reduction), improving the average operating speed to 9.4 miles per hour and improving service reliability. Transit signal priority improvements are anticipated to save an additional 1.5 minutes in each direction. Other changes such as operational improvements and network enhancements would further improve travel times along the corridor and add valuable customer amenities such as NextBus displays. The travel time savings would also reduce operating costs on the route and allow for service to be cost effectively increased.
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