Yee’s bill to protect San Francisco pedestrians finally set to become law 

SACRAMENTO – A legislative effort that began over four years ago to protect pedestrians on San Francisco’s deadly 19th Avenue is now only a signature away from becoming law.   

On a bipartisan 48-21 vote, the California State Assembly today approved Senate Bill 1419 by Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco/San Mateo) to double all motor vehicle fines on the Highway 1 corridor that runs through San Francisco connecting Marin and San Mateo counties.  The bill now only needs the signature of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-Los Angeles) to become law.  The Governor has indicated to the Senator that he is likely to sign the bill as a result of the two offices developing agreed upon language earlier this year. 

Along with a number of traffic safety enhancements, including pedestrian countdown signals and lowering speed limits, state and local leaders are expecting the new double fine zone to help prevent future deadly collisions along 19th Avenue. 

“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 when he was in the Assembly, with one bill that was vetoed by the Governor and two that stalled in committee.   

“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. 

Once the bill is received by the Governor, he will have twelve days to sign or veto the measure. 

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