The Van Ness Bus Rapid Transit project is designed to bring rapid transit services to the thoroughfare from Mission Street to Lombard Street. Dedicated bus lanes for the 47 Van Ness bus, 49 Van Ness–Mission trolleybus, and Golden Gate Transit are to be constructed along the median with 6-inch (152 mm) side platforms for boarding and alighting passengers away from the curb. Additionally, underground water and sewer replacement and landscaping will take place on Van Ness Avenue.
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History
Van Ness had previously hosted trolley service in the form of the H Potrero streetcar line starting in 1915. The trolley poles used for that service were deemed too deteriorated to be retrofitted for modern use.
Construction began in 2016 with an expected completion date of 2019.
Controversy
There has been much community backlash pertaining to the change in traffic patterns and loss of parking along the corridor. Concerns that trees would be removed were met with plans to plant more trees on the route.
The use of low platforms with a high-floor buses has been criticized as bus rapid transit creep.