I-280 Ocean Avenue Off-Ramp Project Design Nearly Complete

Interstate 280’s southbound off-ramp that feeds vehicles onto Ingleside’s stretch of Ocean Avenue, often at high speeds, may soon get an upgrade after years of planning.

San Francisco County Transportation Authority staff, along with a consultant from Civic Edge, presented the I-280 Ocean Avenue Off-Ramp Project at a town hall meeting held at City College of San Francisco on Thursday.

The off-ramp, currently a single lane that only requires drivers to yield to pedestrians, bicyclists and westbound traffic, is a contributor to Ocean Avenue’s designation as a dangerous street.

Transportation planners want to fix that by giving the off ramp a second lane and a traffic signal while also improving pedestrian and bicycling amenities on Ocean Avenue.

Proposal map. — Transportation planners have wanted to improve the off-ramp for decades. | San Francisco County Transportation Authority

“We’re looking to improve safety for pedestrians, looking to improve the connection for bikes, and then addressing all those merging conflicts,” said Aliza Paz, a planner with the transportation authority.

Paz said the proposed traffic signal and second lane would allow for safe crossings and provide room for vehicles when the light is red, so that exiting vehicles do not back up over onto the freeway.

At the pedestrian crossing, the transportation authority proposes new ADA curb ramps and striping so bicyclists know where to go and to raise visibility for drivers. The bike lane will be protected with soft-hit posts.

Another element of the proposed design is widening the sidewalk in front of City College for a pedestrian and bike path as recommended in the Ocean Avenue Mobility Action Plan.

Members of the public raised concerns about the project. Alyssa Cheung was concerned that plastic posts as protection for bicyclists were not enough. Staff referenced the plan of providing more protection as part of a multi-use widened sidewalk in the future.

Aliza Paz, left, at Thursday's town hall, where about a dozen neighbors heard the proposal and asked questions. | Alex Mullaney/Ingleside Light

Amy O’Hair asked what plans were made about a recommendation made in the 2014 Balboa Park Circulation Study that recommended changing the off-ramp to a T intersection.

After working with Caltrans, which has jurisdiction over the off-ramp, senior engineer Mike Tan said there was reconsideration of the T intersection design to provide more room for trucks and Muni buses that make wider turns. He added there was also concern that it could impact the K-Ingleside light rail line.

Over the past two decades, planners have proposed three visions for the off-ramp. The 2008 Balboa Park Station Area Plan called for a single-point urban interchange, and the 2014 Balboa Park Station Area Circulation Study recommended that the off-ramp be reconfigured to create a T-intersection. Both would have been costly by requiring work on the overpass, which likely needs to be retrofitted for earthquake safety.

The project's estimated cost ranges between $14 million and $17 million, though funding has not yet been secured. Funding the design phase of the project was approved by the SFCTA board in 2021. Planners did not explain why it took four years since the funding was secured to present the plan.

Paz said the next step is to use the feedback from the public to complete the final design by next year. Additionally, the transportation authority will work on securing funding and permits for the project in 2026, with construction anticipated to begin in 2027.