SF Cuts Geary Bus Times 20% With New Transit Lanes

SFMTA completes first phase of Geary corridor upgrades, reducing travel times 20% for 50,000 daily riders

SFMTA Cuts Geary Travel Times 20% in Phase 1

San Francisco's busiest bus corridor is getting faster. The Municipal Transportation Agency completed the first phase of Geary corridor improvements in August 2024, cutting travel times by 20% for the 50,000 daily riders who use routes 38 and 38R. The agency installed transit-only lanes between Stanyan and Gough streets, added safety upgrades, and improved accessibility along the six-mile corridor. Officials said the changes are part of the broader Muni Forward program to modernize the city's transit system.

Three-Phase Project Targets Regional Transit Hub

The Geary corridor improvements follow a three-phase timeline that began with planning in 2011, according to the transit agency. Phase 1 work wrapped up last August with new transit-only lanes in the central corridor. The $300 million project aims to bring bus rapid transit features to one of the Bay Area's most heavily used routes. Officials said the improvements include dedicated lanes, signal priority, and enhanced stations that follow federal transit administration best practices for urban corridor enhancement. The agency expects the upgrades to attract additional riders, though specific projections weren't provided.

Additional Lanes Coming by September 2025

Phase 2 work will add more red transit-only lanes and safety upgrades by September 2025, transit officials said. The improvements extend the dedicated bus lanes beyond the initial Phase 1 segment, though the agency didn't specify exact street boundaries for the new sections. Officials said the work includes intersection redesigns to improve pedestrian safety and bus movement through congested areas. The project is funded through a combination of local, state, and federal sources, though a detailed breakdown of funding wasn't available. Phase 3 improvements in the Richmond District are expected to wrap up in 2026.

Richmond District Work Scheduled for 2026

The final phase of improvements will reach the Richmond District by 2026, according to the transit agency. Officials said Phase 3 will complete the corridor-wide upgrades that began three years ago. Jeffrey Tumlin, SFMTA's director of transportation, oversees the project as part of the agency's system-wide service improvements. The agency hasn't released specific details about which Richmond District blocks will see construction first or how long the work will take.

Riders Can Track Progress Through Moovit

The Geary improvements represent one of San Francisco's largest transit infrastructure projects in recent years. Transit advocates have long called for corridor upgrades, though specific reactions to the current phase weren't immediately available. Riders can expect continued construction activity through 2026 as the agency completes the remaining work. Moovit provides real-time updates for SFMTA routes including the 38 and 38R lines serving the Geary corridor.