San Francisco America's Cup plan calls for transit boost

The so-called People Plan for the America's Cup calls for keeping as many cars as possible out of the city and, especially, away from the waterfront where most of the race activity will be situated.

To haul the crowds on transit, the proposed plan calls for increasing service with no new construction planned. Bike sharing would be encouraged and new bike routes established. A multiuse path would take up one lane of the Embarcadero to make more space for pedestrians, bicyclists and folks using other means of non-motorized transportation.

A new Muni line - the E line - would run from Caltrain to Fisherman's Wharf on existing tracks using historic streetcars but would not be extended west to Fort Mason in time for the Cup. Muni would also add an F-line shuttle between the Ferry Building and the Wharf, and an Embarcadero-to-West Portal shuttle in the Market Street subway.

Extra service, including limited-stop and express buses, would be added on routes connecting BART stations and other regional transit centers with waterfront viewing spots. Lines getting extra service would include the 30-Stockton, 47-Van Ness, 22-Fillmore, 28-19th Avenue, 48-Quintara-24th Street and 108-Treasure Island.

In addition, Golden Gate Transit will route buses headed to and from the Golden Gate Bridge through the Financial District and along the waterfront, making local stops and picking up and dropping off riders traveling within San Francisco, something that's not done now. AC Transit will add service between the East Bay and Treasure Island.

"People will be driving cars, we know that," said Peter Albert, a planner for the Municipal Transportation Agency working on the plan. "We want to intercept them outside San Francisco."

The plan calls for capturing them at regional park-and-ride hubs at transit centers and sticking them on BART, Caltrain, Capitol Corridor, ferry and bus lines into San Francisco. Drivers will be steered toward satellite facilities including the lot at AT&T Park; the Fifth and Mission, Civic Center, Lombard Street, and 12th and Kissling garages; and sites west of Divisadero Street.

Parking near the waterfront will be restricted to race organizers and other priority users. Cost estimates are still being developed, but the plan is to pay for the increased service by fundraising.

- Michael Cabanatuan