Three big urban planning moves that could transform San Francisco.

Replacing I-280 with a surface boulevard would create many opportunities for improvement, including the creation of new green spaces that would help to link many neighborhoods together.

read more: SPUR’s report in the Urbanist, Issue 524 • June 2013.

previously: Ben Caldwell, a masters student at UC Berkeley’s Dept. of Urban Design, has a project analyzing the removal of the 280 Fwy. In place of the freeway, he proposes a new gracious Potrero Boulevard. 13.02.13.

Work on California’s $68-billion high-speed rail line is due to start in six weeks, but the construction team that came in with the lowest bid also came in with the lowest-ranked “design quality, safety plan, and engineering,” according the LA Times (28.05.13). Excellent.

Tutor Perini’s $985-million bid to build the first section of the line, through the Central Valley, won the day after several rule changes that practically guaranteed the cheapest option would prevail; they came in way under the $1.4-billion bid made by a Spanish team with the highest technical marks. But Tutor Perini chief exec Ron Tutor wants to assure us all that his firm is totally up to the job, and definitely did not underbid for the work only to gouge taxpayers later. See how reassuring he sounds?

la.curbed, 28.05.13.

Similar battles are being waged all across the sharing economy as municipal and state governments wrestle with questions about what kinds of licensing, taxes, and oversight make sense for businesses that operate virtually and “employ” a rotating group of regular citizens.

Last year, Airbnb found itself in hot water in a dispute over whether the company should be subject to the city’s 14 percent hotel tax, a battle it fought—and lost. After being hit with the CPUC fines, both Lyft and SideCar refused to comply and adopted the Airbnb argument: that the old rules need to be updated instead of reining in the new companies. “Asserting that we are operating a transportation carrier,” SideCar founder Sunil Paul posted on the company’s blog, “is like saying that Airbnb is a hotel chain, that Travelocity is an airline, or that eBay is a store.”

sfmag, 29.04.13.

i believe that ridesharing is an integral part of a working transportation system—one that increases people’s mobility options.

i hate taxis (esp. when cycling around in SF; and they’re expensive), the bus may never come, BART closes after midnight, outside of walking distance, i may not have my bike with me or am not going somewhere with a bikable route… immensely thankful for rideshare. LYFT! in particular.

i have, three times, hitchhiked for rides to get home after music shows because those cities i was in didn’t have rideshare.

also, i still believe it’s “The revolution will not be motorised.” but yeah, rideshare’s pretty awesome.

Should San Francisco extend the Central Subway to Fisherman’s Wharf? Or cable cars to Japantown? Should we prioritize bus-rapid transit on Geary or to Potrero/Bayshore? Should we focus our limited resources on maintaining our system, or get new resources to help expand service where Muni is most crowded?

Answering these questions is part of the task of the San Francisco County Transportation Authority, who will use this forum explore the tough questions and unveil different scenarios for transportation investments to support the city’s growth.

Liz Brisson + Rachel Hiatt of San Francisco County Transportation Authority 

annie alley (between market st. and 645 mission).
tues. 21.05.13. 12:30pm. free. ok to bring lunch.

and 

City Picnic: Annie Alley

The Yerba Buena Street Life Plan identifies Annie Alley as a key opportunity for a new open space within San Francisco’s downtown. What better way to explore the idea than a pilot project transforming the alley into a temporary public promenade, complete with planting, seating and activities?

Help SPUR and the Yerba Buena Community Benefit District jumpstart a week of outdoor events in Annie Alley by spending lunch with us. We’ll provide a grand banquet table. You, the exciting ideas. Grab some lunch from a local eatery or food truck, and join us for a picnic and discussion about the future of alleys in our urban environments.

mon. 20.05.13. noon @annie alley.