SACRAMENTO – An effort that began four years ago to create a double fine zone along the deadly 19th Avenue corridor in San Francisco is one significant step closer to becoming law. On a bipartisan 21-13 vote, the California Senate today approved Senate Bill 1419, legislation authored by Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco/San Mateo) to protect San Francisco pedestrians.
Along with a number of traffic safety enhancements, including pedestrian countdown signals, state and local leaders are expecting the new double fine zone to help prevent future deadly collisions along the state highway that runs through San Francisco connecting Marin and San Mateo counties.
"It is simply unacceptable that we continue to lose innocent lives, including children and elders, because of this high speed avenue in our residential area," said Yee. "I am hopeful that with this new double fine zone and continued improvements, we can finally create a safe corridor for drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists."
Yee has been working to create a double fine zone along 19th Avenue since 2004, with one bill that was vetoed by the Governor and two that stalled in committee. Yee has received the commitment from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger´s (R-Los Angeles) office that this year´s effort will be signed into law.
"We have worked diligently with the administration to develop language that all sides can be happy with and that will finally provide the kind of protection that our pedestrians deserve," said Yee.
Senate Bill 1419 will declare 19th Avenue (specifically Highway 1 between the intersection of 19th Avenue and Junipero Serra Boulevard and the intersection of Highway 1 at Lake Street) as a Safety Enhancement-Double Fine Zone for a period of five years. The bill also allows for a double fine zone on another dangerous San Francisco corridor – US Route 101, specifically Van Ness Avenue at Golden Gate Avenue to Lombard Street at Lyon Street.
Base fines for unlawful passing and overtaking, excessive speed, reckless driving, drunken driving, and other similar serious moving violations will be doubled. Current base fines range from $25.00 (for speeding up to 15 mph over the limit) to $500 (for reckless driving causing great bodily injury). Adding local and state assessments and the new double fine, tickets will range from $137.50 (for speeding over the limit up to 15 mph) to $2,750.00 (for reckless driving causing great bodily injury).
The bill also allows the Department of Transportation to collect data to establish permanent statewide criteria for pedestrian safety-double fine zones.
"We praise State Senator Yee for his persistence in pursuing a double fine zone for 19th Ave," said Manish Champsee, President of Walk San Francisco, a pedestrian safety advocacy organization. "Studies have shown that the faster a vehicle is traveling, the more likely and more deadly a crash with a pedestrian will be."
In addition to the double fine zone, new pedestrian countdown signals are being installed at ten intersections along 19th Avenue. The $4 million first phase will replace traffic signal heads and controllers and install new pedestrian countdown signals, poles, light fixtures, curb ramps, and advance stop bar striping.
Phase II of the project is expected to be advertised for bids in spring 2008. The $8 million project will extend improvements to 16 additional intersections and include the majority of fiber optic traffic signal interconnections needed to enable remote-controlled signal coordination along the corridor. Phase III is being initiated for future funding and will include 8 intersections and the remaining fiber optic signal interconnection.
Other recent improvements along the Highway 1 corridor include making crosswalks more visible, better timing of traffic signals, enhances access to bus stops, new signage, and public awareness campaigns.
Between 2000 and 2005, there were 786 accidents on 19th Avenue resulting in 1,205 injuries and 12 deaths, with most of the fatalities being pedestrians. A number of accidents over the past two years have resulted in even more pedestrian deaths, including five fatalities in 2007.
One such fatal pedestrian accident occurred in October 2007 at the intersection of 19th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard which resulted in the installation of a new traffic signal to prevent similar accidents at the location.
SB 1419 will now be considered by the State Assembly before heading to the Governor.
Along with a number of traffic safety enhancements, including pedestrian countdown signals, state and local leaders are expecting the new double fine zone to help prevent future deadly collisions along the state highway that runs through San Francisco connecting Marin and San Mateo counties.
"It is simply unacceptable that we continue to lose innocent lives, including children and elders, because of this high speed avenue in our residential area," said Yee. "I am hopeful that with this new double fine zone and continued improvements, we can finally create a safe corridor for drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists."
Yee has been working to create a double fine zone along 19th Avenue since 2004, with one bill that was vetoed by the Governor and two that stalled in committee. Yee has received the commitment from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger´s (R-Los Angeles) office that this year´s effort will be signed into law.
"We have worked diligently with the administration to develop language that all sides can be happy with and that will finally provide the kind of protection that our pedestrians deserve," said Yee.
Senate Bill 1419 will declare 19th Avenue (specifically Highway 1 between the intersection of 19th Avenue and Junipero Serra Boulevard and the intersection of Highway 1 at Lake Street) as a Safety Enhancement-Double Fine Zone for a period of five years. The bill also allows for a double fine zone on another dangerous San Francisco corridor – US Route 101, specifically Van Ness Avenue at Golden Gate Avenue to Lombard Street at Lyon Street.
Base fines for unlawful passing and overtaking, excessive speed, reckless driving, drunken driving, and other similar serious moving violations will be doubled. Current base fines range from $25.00 (for speeding up to 15 mph over the limit) to $500 (for reckless driving causing great bodily injury). Adding local and state assessments and the new double fine, tickets will range from $137.50 (for speeding over the limit up to 15 mph) to $2,750.00 (for reckless driving causing great bodily injury).
The bill also allows the Department of Transportation to collect data to establish permanent statewide criteria for pedestrian safety-double fine zones.
"We praise State Senator Yee for his persistence in pursuing a double fine zone for 19th Ave," said Manish Champsee, President of Walk San Francisco, a pedestrian safety advocacy organization. "Studies have shown that the faster a vehicle is traveling, the more likely and more deadly a crash with a pedestrian will be."
In addition to the double fine zone, new pedestrian countdown signals are being installed at ten intersections along 19th Avenue. The $4 million first phase will replace traffic signal heads and controllers and install new pedestrian countdown signals, poles, light fixtures, curb ramps, and advance stop bar striping.
Phase II of the project is expected to be advertised for bids in spring 2008. The $8 million project will extend improvements to 16 additional intersections and include the majority of fiber optic traffic signal interconnections needed to enable remote-controlled signal coordination along the corridor. Phase III is being initiated for future funding and will include 8 intersections and the remaining fiber optic signal interconnection.
Other recent improvements along the Highway 1 corridor include making crosswalks more visible, better timing of traffic signals, enhances access to bus stops, new signage, and public awareness campaigns.
Between 2000 and 2005, there were 786 accidents on 19th Avenue resulting in 1,205 injuries and 12 deaths, with most of the fatalities being pedestrians. A number of accidents over the past two years have resulted in even more pedestrian deaths, including five fatalities in 2007.
One such fatal pedestrian accident occurred in October 2007 at the intersection of 19th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard which resulted in the installation of a new traffic signal to prevent similar accidents at the location.
SB 1419 will now be considered by the State Assembly before heading to the Governor.
