Geneva Towers, the two 20-story buildings located at the corner of Schwerin Street and Sunnydale Avenue, will be demolished by implosion on Saturday afternoon, May 16 at 2:30 p.m. This will be an historic occasion: the first implosion in San Francisco, symbolic of progress being made in the redevelopment of Visitacion Valley.

Over the past months there has been much discussion about how to demolish Geneva Towers, which culminated in an exciting community vote that overwhelmingly supported implosion as the most effective method of demolition.

All Visitacion Valley residents are invited to attend an Implosion Information Meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 11 at the auditorium of the Church of the Visitacion, 655 Sunnydale Avenue. Chinese and Spanish translation will be available during this meeting.

At the meeting, experts from Aman Environmental and their subcontractor CDI will describe in detail what to expect the morning of the implosion and define the 600-700-feet radius of areas designated as safety and security zones. They will answer any questions about the implosion, indicate the best viewing sights and address any worries about dust and vibrations.

CANDLELIGHT EVENT

Neighbors will join past Geneva Towers residents at the twin high rises on Thursday, May 14 at 7:30 p.m. in a special candlelight remembrance to those who once lived there.

PRE-IMPLOSION EVENTS

Special pre-implosion ceremonies will be conducted at Visitacion Valley Middle School (VVMS) at 1:30 p.m. with special guest, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, Eighth Congressional District. She will speak on the partnership with and commitment to the community of Visitacion Valley.

Art Agnos, HUD's Secretary Representative, will recognize the extraordinary community commitment of HUD and its partnership with the City and County of San Francisco and the Mayor's Office of Housing.

Special awards an recognition will honor the commitment of former Geneva Towers residents, the contributions of community organizations and the role of Geneva Valley Development Corporation, John King Senior Center, Mercy Charities Housing California, and Housing Conservation and Development Corporation.

VVMS and higher areas surrounding the Valley such as McLaren Park are considered good viewing sights for the implosion.

IMPLOSION QUESTIONS

Q: How long will it last?

A: Under the expertise of Aman/CDI implosion specialists, the implosion itself will last less than 15 seconds.

Q: Will it affect me?

A: Aman/CDI will work individually with those residents in the area immediately adjacent to Geneva Towers and they will be asked to leave for approximately two hours as a normal precaution. Those residents within a two-block radius of Geneva Towers will be encouraged to close their windows, turn off air conditioning or other air intakes, place plastic sheeting over louvers or vents in their buildings to ensure that fine particle dust, immediately generated after the implosion, doesn't enter their structures. All other residents of Visitacion Valley just need to be aware of the timing on the implosion and that certain areas surrounding Geneva Towers will be blocked as part of security precautions during the implosion.

Q: Will I hear it?

A: You will hear for at least 15 seconds the air blast from the detonation of the strategically placed demolition charges that cause the building to collapse inward.

Q: Can I watch it?

A: All immediate areas around Geneva Towers will be closed for safety and security purposes. For the best viewing, there are outstanding sites located on the hills surrounding Visitacion Valley. The implosion will be quick and dramatic.

For the latest information on the implosion, or to leave messages regarding implosion questions or concerns, call the HUD-sponsored Geneva Towers demolition hotline at (415) 831-8338. 

Groundbreaking for New King
Housing Moved to September

Groundbreaking for the new John King Senior Housing on Raymond Avenue, originally scheduled for May 1998, has now been moved to September, according to Mercy Charities Housing.

The proposed project would construct 90 units of low-income senior housing, a senior service center and child care facility, and a manager's unit along the north side of the 500 block of Raymond Avenue on a 2.3 acre site subdivided from a 12.5 acre lot.

Valley Has New Day of Neighborhood Celebration

Visitacion Valley's first annual Neighborhood Day will be held May 16 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Visitacion Valley Elementary School on Schwerin Street, with basketball tournaments also taking place at the Village Recreation Center and Kellogg Velasco Park.

Exhibits, displays, games and entertainment will precede a 1:30 p.m Implosion Ceremony at Visitacion Valley Middle School, 450 Raymond Ave., followed by the 2:30 p.m. demolition of Geneva Towers.

For more information, call (415) 469-4590. 

Valley's Candidates for Democratic Committee

Candidates for the Democratic Party's County Central Committee, 12th District on June 2 include two Visitacion Valley residents, Ann Williams and Marlene Tran.

Williams, a job development manager, has been a San Francisco resident for more than 50 years after a 30 year career with the federal government.

"Now is a time for a well-balanced foundation to be built in the Central Committee so that we will be qualified and fortified to move successfully into the 20th Century," she explained.

Tran, a dedicated instructor for 27 years who earned praise as being a "modern day woman warrior" from major local Asian newspapers, succeeded in her effort to greatly expand ESL classes in the Valley while helping many become U.S. citizens.

As spokesperson for the Visitacion Valley Asians' Alliance who conducted surveys and chartered buses to bring residents to safety meetings, her years of persistence have now resulted in a more responsive neighborhood police substation located in Sunnydale and a proposed change in police boundaries to better serve the neighborhood.

Celebration  50 Years in the Making

by Gerry L. Galvan

Conrad and Herminia Oller recently exchanged renewed marriage vows during celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary at Temple Baptist Church on 19th Avenue.

Relatives and friends of the Ollers were on hand to witness and participate in the ceremony, performed by Rev. Dr. Jerry O. Resus, pastor of St. James Presbyterian Church in Visitacion Valley. Herminia is choir director at St. James, and Conrad is music and choir director at Grace United Methodist Church on Taraval Street.

Rev. Arturo Capuli led the crowd in prayer before meal during the reception while Rev. Leonard Autajay, retired pastor of Geneva United Church, delivered a mealtime grace.

Three Oller children played major roles during sanctuary rites. Conrad Oller, Jr. delivered a welcome note, while Grace Oller Calman and Lina Oller Marchman read words of Christian wisdom and Bible passages. Both Conrad, Jr. and wife Lorrie are members of Temple Baptist Church.

Coming from a family of musical talents, Lina also performed a splendid version of Roger Williams' Autumn Leaves on piano.

A national safety review panel of the American Public Transit Association (APTA) recently gave San Francisco's transit system a favorable rating.

Concluding the S.F. Municipal Railway operates "in a safe and responsible manner," the report was issued on April 23 after Muni chief Emilio R. Cruz requested the APTA peer review last December.

"The Panel found the transit vehicles to be operated in a safe and responsible manner," the final report declares. "Furthermore, Muni employees were found to be very customer-oriented, friendly, and focused toward safety."

Panel members, brought in from transit agencies around the nation, "found evidence of a positive and professional attitude at all levels within Muni, with managers and employees who fully understand the importance of providing safe and reliable on-time service."
Cruz requested the on-site safety peer review in an effort to better identify ways to improve Muni's safety oversight and operations as the agency approaches a major reorganization of its management structure, scheduled for completion by July 1.

APTA's Rail Safety Review Board provides independent reviews of transportation systems around the nation, conducted by teams of transit professionals with extensive experience in operations, training and safety. The panel spent five days on-site at Muni examining the agency at all levels.

As promised, the APTA panel's final report included a list of specific recommendations for improved service and safety. The 50 recommendations were accepted by Muni and in many cases are already in progress, as a result of dialogue between Muni and the APTA panel during its visit in February, and of the on-going restructuring of Muni management. Some recommendations will require additional funding, which Cruz said will be incorporated in Muni's 1998-99 Budget Request.

With the peer review's final report in hand, the general manager said Muni will develop an action plan to address all 50 specific recommendations--similar to the agency's response to Board of Supervisors Budget Analyst Harvey Rose's audit in 1996.

"This is a very thorough report--exactly the kind of peer guidance we were looking for from our colleagues around the nation," Cruz said. "Many of the panel's recommendations highlight areas we've already targeted at Muni and will only help us take the agency in the positive direction we're headed."

"In many cases, the panel confirmed what we've been emphasizing for some time; the need for more training, more street inspectors, investments in new technology," Cruz said. "Those things require funding, and I hope this report helps us get the resources we need."

The Muni general manager was pleased with the APTA's findings: "Ultimately, I am responsible for the safety of Muni, which is why I called for the review," Cruz said. "But I'm very proud of our employees and how they fared in this report."

According to its final report, the APTA panel "was impressed with the caliber and dedication of the employees of the Municipal Railway. All of the Muni employees with whom we had contact expressed a strong desire to learn from the experiences of the panelists to further enhance and supplement existing Muni programs."

"With such team commitment and spirit Muni will be able to accomplish its objective," the report states.

By continuing Muni management's reorganization efforts and adopting APTA recommendations, the panel concludes Muni "will assure the continued delivery of safe public transportation service... [and become] an industry leader in the delivery of public transit service of the highest possible quality." 

Two Church Groups Merge into One

by Gerry L. Galvan

Spearheaded by the pastor's wife, an emotional merging of two St. James Presbyterian Church organizations took place during an April 26 coffee hour.

Merged together were the Men of St. James and Women of St. James. Quickly christened Men and Women of St. James, the unified arm of the Church can rightfully be called a brainchild of Araceli Resus, who broached the idea of merging the two organizations to Men of St. James leadership one week earlier, assisted in the process by husband Rev. Jerry O. Resus.

Officers were immediately nominated and elected with a rapid stroke of the pen quickly pushing duly elected officers into oblivion while elevating others to their new posts. New officers include: Bernice Bidwell, president; Ray Esplana, vice president; and Araceli Resus, secretary.

Located at 240 Leland Ave., St. James Presbyterian Church is one of five local congregational denominations. Rev. Resus has been pastor of church, one of the Valley's oldest, since September, 1990. 

Proposed Ballot Initiative Again
Targets Central Freeway

A proposed ballot initiative to stop the retrofit and widening of the Central Freeway and to replace it with a landscaped boulevard on Octavia Street (alterative 8B) will soon be submitted to the Board of Elections for review.

If approved by the Board and the City Attorney, petitions will be circulated to put a measure on the November ballot. About 15,000 signatures are needed by the middle of July for the initiative to be brought before San Francisco voters. 

Propositions on Ballot to Save Taxpayers Money

by State Senator Quentin L. Kopp

"Truth is always the strongest argument."--Sophocles

If you haven't facts with which to fight, your only weapon is rhetoric and personal invective. That's why invective is rampart in opposition to Propositions F, G and K, initiatives which tens of thousands of citizens and I have placed on the June 2, 1998 ballot to save taxpayers money.

The necessity of Propositions F, G and K (pertaining to City Hall, aides to the Board of Supervisors and Treasure Island, respectively)) is backed by factual documentation, not fanciful tales emanating from opponents.

And just who are the opponents? Not surprisingly, they happen to consist primarily of City Hall bureaucrats. Proposition F, for example, which simply requires that all departments which occupied City Hall prior to the Loma Prieta earthquake reoccupy City Hall, is opposed by a group of City Hall insiders led by a former employee of Supervisor Leslie Katz and Assemblywoman Carole Migden. Others who have hit the campaign trail in opposition to the measure are Mr. Tony Irons, the City Hall project director, City Attorney Louise Renne, and, of course, the Board of Supervisors, which signed the official ballot argument for the Voter Information Pamphlet against it. (Bear in mind that the original City Hall plan contained vastly expanded offices for the Mayor, Board of Supervisors, and City Attorney. Thus, it's not surprising that the City Attorney and supervisors have joined the campaign to defeat Proposition F. Without it, they'll be able to evict City services from City Hall to provide more room for themselves!)

Another ballot argument against Proposition F was submitted by Mr. Edgar Lopez on behalf of the American Institute of Architects. Lopez happens to be an employee of the City who's assigned to the City Hall project. Of course, that's not mentioned in the argument. Opponents such as Lopez would like the public to believe they're disinterested citizens working for the public good, instead of City Hall officials working to appease the Mayor and retain their jobs.

Proposition G, to eliminate 15 additional aides to the Board of Supervisors, saving taxpayers approximately $1,000,000 annually, is opposed by--you guessed it--the 15 additional aides and their supervisor bosses. (I guess they manage to find ample time to campaign, despite the escalating job duties which supervisors claim necessitate the additional positions.)

If Proposition G is approved, each supervisor will continue to have two aides, the number each supervisor was allotted before they voted to increase their staffs to three. Proposition G also eliminates four "legislative analyst" positions to the Board. The Board's chief clerk questioned whether hiring analysts would be useful and suggested hiring only one, and only if approved by a nearly unanimous vote of the Board. The actual vote was 7-4, but the Board blithely hired four analysts anyway.

Shortly thereafter, our supervisors decided to give themselves a raise. So, they voted to place a measure on the June ballot, Proposition B, requesting a 57.1 percent salary increase. (Not surprisingly, our supervisors are also the official proponents of that one!)
Finally, the campaign against Proposition K, to provide checks and balances on the development of Treasure Island, is led by none other than the chairperson of the Treasure Island Development authority, which Proposition K aims to disband, and an individual promised a plum appointment to the Treasure Island Citizens Advisory Committee.

This June, reject the pleas of lickspittles motivated by political paybacks and cronyism. San Franciscans deserve good, honest government. Approving Propositions F, G and K ensures they get it. 

Kops and Kids Family Day at Serra Bowl

Gateway Kops and Kids Family Day invites kids from 3 to 15 and their parents to meet their community police, firefighters, sheriffs, paramedics and other emergency services officers Saturday, May 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Serra Bowl in Daly City.

This event is the largest of its kind in California with more than 40 agencies participating. Last year, more than 1,700 kids bowled with 350 public safety officers. This year's activities will include free bowling, landing and take-off of the CHP's helicopter, pancake breakfast, face painting, Humvee and pony rides, demonstrations of emergency procedure, and even an antique car show.
Serra Bowl is located at 3301 Junipero Serra Blvd. in Daly City. 

Community Beacon Invites the Neighborhood

Hello Visitacion Valley Community! Your Beacon invites your family, friends and neighbors to come visit and join our programs.
We offer Sewing & Cooking, Kung Fu Martial Arts, Swimming, Tutoring, Dance, Tai Chi, Arts & Crafts, Open Recreation, Baking, Boy Scouts, Adult ESL classes and many more soon to come.

Remember to look for our Summer Program Schedule. If you have any questions or would like to register, please call us at (415) 452-4907. 

 May Day for Dog Spay

The San Francisco SPCA is offering free spay and neuter surgery for all San Francisco dogs on Friday, May 29, plus a $10 reward for the person who brings in the dog.

Appointments are necessary, as are current vaccinations. Same day drop off and pick up. Dogs must be 4 months or older. Call 554-3084 to take advantage. Cats needing surgery are also welcomed on May 29. 

Hope and Help in the Early
Stages of Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is often associated with severe memory loss--but in the beginning of the illness, people experience only mild forgetfulness and confusion.

Family Caregiver Alliance and the Alzheimer's Association are offering a new support group in San Francisco for people with early stage AD and a separate, concurrent group for their family members. Discussion will focus on challenges as well as capabilities in coping with the disease, and adjusting to the changes so that "life goes on."

Participants must be aware that they have AD, and be willing and able to discuss their experiences. A pre-enrollment interview is required. For more information, call (415) 434-3388. 

Bay Area Student Film Festival at Exploratorium

The Second Annual Bay Area Student Film Festival will be held at the McBean Theater at the Exploratorium on Sunday, May 10. There will be two showings at 1 and 3 p.m.

This festival is a current forum for high school students to exhibit their work in the film/video medium. Put together by two students from University High School in San Francisco, Dan Frost and Taubu Auerbach, the festival includes work from Bay Area schools such as: School of the Arts in San Francisco, Arrowsmith Academy in Oakland, Marin Academy, and Crystal Springs Uplands.

Admission is free, and free food and drinks will be provided. An informal Q&A session with filmmakers will follow presentation of films and videos. 

Seven students from the S.F. Unified School District were some of 16 high school students who won scholarships in the Today & Tomorrow Scholarship Program Essay Competition organized by the World of Knowledge Foundation. They received their awards at a recent reception in San Francisco.

Students were asked to write 1,000-word essays titled, "Contrast your immigrant ancestors' life in America compared with your life of today." Each student won a $2,000 scholarship to fund future studies at a chosen university. Students were evaluated by a national panel of judges to be among the 16 best essays submitted from high schools in the City and selected high schools in Middlesex and Mercer counties in New Jersey. These districts were chosen because of their high Asian and Indian student populations. 

St. Luke's Diabetes Program Wins
Prestigious Merit Award

St. Luke's Hospital has been awarded the prestigious American Diabetes Association (ADA) Certificate of Recognition for a "quality diabetes patient education program."

"St. Luke's offers high quality diabetes education, which is an essential component of effective treatment," the ADA award committee wrote. "Programs that achieve recognition status have a staff of knowledgeable health professionals who can provide participants with comprehensive, state-of-the-art information about diabetes management. And, of course it helps consumers to identify quality programs."

The participants in an ADA "Recognized" program will be taught self-care skills that will promote better management of his or her diabetes treatment, according to ADA officials. "The ADA recognition program is based on the National Standards for Diabetes Education Programs."

St. Luke's program covers general facts, psychological adjustment, involvement of the family, nutrition, exercise, medications, relationship between nutrition, exercise and medication, monitoring, hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, illness, complications (prevention, treatment and rehabilitation), hygiene, benefits and responsibilities of care, use of health care systems and community resources.

"The bottom line is fewer emergency room visits, fewer hospitalizations and a better quality of life," said Sylvia Recinos, RN, CDE, manager of St. Luke's program.

St. Luke's cares for approximately 400 diabetics each year.

Currently, the insurance industry is willing to pay for treatment for chronic complications, but is not always willing to reimburse for the education that might have prevented these complications. The ADA reports that its recognition process helps secure reimbursement for patients who often pay out of their own pockets for education.

For those interested in being tested for diabetes, St. Luke's has established a physician referral line, (415) 821-3627. To contact St. Luke's Diabetes Center, call (415) 641-6826.

St. Luke's, a non-profit community hospital, has been serving South of Market residents since 1871. 

Mother's Day Concert at Russian Center

Songs and dances by Russian and American composers will be part of a special Mother's Day Concert at the Russian Center, 2450 Sutter St. on Saturday, May 9 at 2 p.m. For more information, call (510) 525-7950 or (510) 235-8299. 

Plan to Enhance Bike Transit in the City

A Bicycle Transportation Enhancement Plan consisting of amendments to the Traffic Code, Administrative Code and Planning Code and based upon suggestions made by the City's Bicycle Advisory Committee, San Francisco Bicycle Coalition and other related organizations was recently introduced to the Board of Supervisors by Supervisor Leslie Katz.

"This legislation consists of some very reasonable and proactive measures which will enhance the City's approach to bicycle transit," said Katz. "If we are committed to reducing smog and increasing the use of alternative transportation, we must ensure that there are safe routes and safe parking facilities for cyclists."

Among other things, the legislation would prohibit vehicle parking in bicycle lanes and would authorize permitting authorities to require monitored bicycle parking at large permitted public events.

The legislation amends the Planning Code by requiring bicycle parking in all city-owned and privately-owned parking garages. It also requires shower and locker facilities in new commercial and industrial buildings and in existing building undergoing major renovations. (Under this section, building owners who make arrangements to provide free access to showers and lockers at health clubs or other such facilities within close proximity to the building are exempt from having to install showers and lockers in the building.)

The Plan also contains several resolutions:

*Urging the Department of Parking and Traffic to establish a bicyclist injury reporting hotline which would enable the City to maintain a centralized reporting and record-keeping system that would serve as a resource for rectifying unsafe conditions;

*Urging the Mayor to direct the Director Of Human Resources to propose that the City should provide reimbursement for use of privately-owned bicycles by City employees and officials, and urging the Department of Parking and Traffic to work with the City purchaser to develop a feasibility study and purchasing plan regarding the purchase and maintenance of a pool of City bicycles to be used for City business;

*Urging the Department of Parking and Traffic to work with the Department of Public Works in designating No Parking Zones on certain streets during rush hours and coordinating street cleaning schedules accordingly in order to facilitate safe bicycle commuting on City streets; and

*Urging the Planning Department to include bicycle information in draft Environmental Impact reports that contain information on transportation impacts.

"The Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC) spent a great deal of time laying the groundwork for this legislation," said Bert Glenn, past chairman of the BAC. "We consider this legislation to be an important part of our overall efforts to enhance bicycling in San Francisco."
After the expiration of a 30-day waiting period, the Plan will be scheduled for public hearing before the Economic Development, Transportation and Technology Committee.

Supervisor Katz has previously authored legislation to authorize the Department of Parking and Traffic to grant permits to install bicycle racks on City sidewalks. The legislation makes it possible for local businesses to obtain and install bicycle racks on sidewalks outside their establishments at no charge to the business owner. The program has been a success, and currently has more than 200 pending requests for rack installations. 

Survey Finds Muni Reforms
Not Improving Performance

Recent S.F. Municipal Railway reforms have not improved on-time performance, while the Muni Metro has become even less reliable in the last year, according to a recently released survey by Rescue Muni, a transit riders' advocacy group.

This independent survey, now in its second year, attempts to measure the transit system's on-time performance from the perspective of the average rider. Muni lines were monitored by 147 volunteers for the first two weeks in February, tracking more than 3,000 vehicles.

The survey gave letter grades to bus and streetcar lines based on how long riders were forced to wait. Ten of the 36 lines in the sample, including all major above-ground Muni Metro lines, received either a D or F. Muni as a whole was rated C, with 28 percent of riders experiencing a delay, slightly more than in 1997.

"If you ride the Muni Metro to work, you'll be late almost every day," said survey coordinator Andrew Sullivan. "If you take the bus, you'll be late every other day."

Streetcar lines performing particularly badly were the L-Taraval, J-Church, N-Judah and K-Ingleside, all rated F with at least 41 percent of riders waiting longer than the frequency advertised on Muni's street map. The Metro as a whole was rated D, with 35 percent of riders delayed, significantly more riders than in the 1997 survey, when it was rated C. During the evening rush hour, 57 percent of Metro riders were forced to wait. Many riders also spoke of long delays in the tunnel to Embarcadero, with some short rides taking as long as 60 minutes.

"No wonder people drive to work, even when they live on the streetcar line," said Rescue Muni member Joan Downey, who sat for 40 minutes on an N-Judah car stuck in the tunnel. "If you need to get somewhere on time, the Metro is useless at rush hour."

For bus riders, Muni appears not to have improved since last year. As was the case in 1997, most bus lines were graded C, with riders delayed between 20 and 30 percent of the time. Overall, 28 percent of express riders, 27 percent of trolley coach (electric bus) riders, and 23 percent of diesel motor coach riders were delayed. Particularly troublesome lines included the 14-Mission, one of the City's most traveled lines, and the 41-Union, both graded F.

Some lines showed signs of improvement, however. Last year's worst performers, the 1-California and the 22-Fillmore, were both graded C this year. Most improved was the F-Market historic streetcar, graded D in 1997 and B in 1998. Two lines, the 2-Clement and 44-O'Shaughnessy, received a grade of A with fewer than 10 percent of riders delayed.

Many participants reported a positive experience with Muni customer service, commenting that Muni operators and staff were more courteous than they had been in the past.

"My driver was nice--he called out all the stops and other bus routes," reported participant Gene Hwang. "Even though I don't always get to work on time, it's nice to be treated professionally."

The survey results raised important questions about the effectiveness of Mayor Brown's renewed focus on Muni and the reforms of Muni Director Emilio Cruz. The results for some bus lines and the historic streetcars suggest that the Mayor's emphasis on traffic control may be making a difference, particularly on lines like the 1-California and 30-Stockton that experience delays due to gridlock.

But the Muni Metro's disappointing results suggest that San Francisco's multimillion-dollar investment in new streetcars, tracks, and the Advanced Train Control System have yet to make a difference and may even be making matters worse.

"Of course, the E-Embarcadero did fine," said Sullivan, noting that the newly opened Muni Metro extension was graded B. "But hardly anyone took it." 

Draft EIR Available on
Third Street Light Rail Project

A Draft Environmental impact Report (EIR) concerning Muni's proposed Third Street Light Rail project is available at the San Francisco Planning Department.

Copies of the Draft EIR are also available for review at the Main Library at Larkin and Grove Streets, and the Anna E. Waden Branch at 5075 Third St.

Written comments will be received at the Planning Department, 1600 Mission St., 94103, until 5 p.m. on May 19, 1998. Comments should be sent to Hillary E. Gitelman, Environmental Review Officer.

The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on this Draft EIR and other matters on Thursday, May 7 in Room 428, temporary City Hall (War Memorial Veteran's Building), 401 Van Ness Ave. beginning at 1:30 p.m. Call 558-6422 for a recorded message giving a more specific time. Anyone may appear at the hearing to give testimony regarding the accuracy and completeness of the Draft EIR.

The San Francisco Public Transportation Commission/Municipal Railway (Muni), in cooperation with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), proposes to construct a new light rail transit (LRT) line into the southeastern quadrant of the City. The EIR/EIS analyses the potential environmental impacts (physical changes to the environment) of three alternative projects: the No Project alternative, the No Build/Transportation System Management (TSM) alternative and the Light Rail alternative.

Implementation of the proposed project may require approval and/or permits from several federal. state and local public agencies.
The No Project alternative would perpetuate existing conditions in the Third Street Corridor; the No Build/TSM alternative would meet increased transit demand via expanded bus service; and the Light Rail alternative would extend Muni light rail service in two phases. An Initial Operating Segment (IOS) would extend light rail from King Street to the Bayshore Caltrain Station via Third, Fourth and Bayshore Boulevard. A later Central Subway phase would extend service northward to Chinatown via Third/Fourth, Geary and Stockton Streets.