Two of the most heavily used bike lanes in San Francisco intersect in the city’s Mission District, at Valencia and 17th streets, where there’s a taqueria, a police station, an upscale furniture store and a famous sex shop. 

One set of lanes cuts east-west, from the giant rainbow flag in the nearby Castro across the Mission into Potrero Hill. As with most bike lanes, these flank the parking lane, are generally unprotected from cars and, for the most part, don’t offend anyone. The other, running north-south through the ever-trendy neighborhood, has lately become a cultural flashpoint, a fight on par with the conflict over tech shuttle buses. 

Four months ago, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency relocated the north-south bike lanes along Valencia between 15th to 23rd streets from the sides of the street to the center, zipping them together for the span of eight blocks before unzipping them again. In the process, several dozen parking spaces were eliminated, too.

On that section of road, plastic bollards and firm barriers separate cyclists from vehicular traffic, with a buffer zone on either side. In itself, this “cycle track” configuration might be little more than a procedural tweak by a city that’s always tinkering with its streetscape, from lane-narrowing “road diets” to mileslong rapid transit projects for buses.

But something about this change in this place just hits different, as they say, perhaps owing to its perpetual popularity as a destination and its convenience as a through route. Here, solo drivers, Ubers, Lyfts, robotaxis, cyclists and delivery vehicles are ceaselessly jockeying for asphalt across Valencia’s 82 feet, 6 inches of width. 

Kevin Ortiz, co-president of the San Francisco Latinx Democratic Club, spoke during a protest this week criticizing Valencia Street’s center-striped bicycle lanes. | Source: Courtesy Roger Rudick/Streetsblog

Grumbling about this eight-block stretch has been building since summer. But the anger erupted Tuesday when several dozen small business owners occupied the street, chanting and holding signs calling on the city to remove the lanes, as Streetsblog first reported. 

The protest came just a few days after the bar and live-music venue Amado’s closed, with its owner claiming that sales dropped 80% after the bike lane was installed and created a hassle for musicians due to a lack of parking.

Opponents have seized on the bike lane as more evidence that the city runs roughshod over the small businesses that fill its coffers with tax revenue and give it character. But how does moving a bike lane by a few feet destroy a business? 

More Than Just a Bike Lane

Walk down Valencia, and it’s impossible to miss the pink-and-white signs in the windows of many shops that read, “This Bike Lane Is Killing Small Businesses and Our Vibrant Community.” 

Yasmin, a Middle Eastern restaurant that already endured arson and a legal imbroglio with its landlord, has one. So do two auto shops, businesses with something of a direct interest in car culture. Ditto for Curio and Amado’s, restaurants and live-music venues that serve alcohol.

“Everybody’s focused on the bike lane, but it’s really about a bureaucracy,” said Bill Dickenson, who sits on a steering committee of the San Francisco Small Business Coalition, which organized Tuesday’s protest on Valencia. “The SFMTA is a government agency that has gone rogue in many ways.”

Several businesses along Valencia Street have posted signs in their windows that read, “This Bike Lane is Killing Small Businesses and Our Vibrant Community,” with a QR code for the San Francisco Small Business Coalition. | Source: Astrid Kane/The Standard

In Dickenson’s view, the powers that be have pit cyclists against small businesses unnecessarily, and it’s a canard that the center-running bike lanes are part of a flexible pilot program that can be tweaked based on public input, which is the city’s current position. The transit agency giveth, and the transit agency will never, ever taketh away.

“It’s not a pilot!” he told The Standard. “There were millions and millions in there, and the [San Francisco] Bike Coalition kept pushing for more infrastructure. This is a misuse of public funds. A ‘quick-build’ would be chalk and paint.”

An April 2023 planning document appears to put the cost at $590,000, funded by several previous ballot measures, but SFMTA confirmed to The Standard that $1.5 million had been spent so far, with the total amount yet to be determined.

From the perspective of Valencia merchants, the past three years have been an unending nightmare of public-health restrictions, rising costs and a likely permanent reduction in people eating out. Now the same city government whose transit agency radically altered Van Ness Avenue to the consternation of merchants there and whose Department of Public Works has a multiyear corruption scandal has rammed through a project nobody seems to want. 

Asked if he and other small-business owners would prefer the previous bike lanes or no lanes at all, Dickenson demurred. But he claimed many people are unhappy with the current configuration, like senior citizens now forced to circle the block while trying to find parking near the corner grocery store. Or residents who live just off Valencia and are finding more cars parked on their streets these days. 

When pressed, Dickenson said he merely wants something that’s better-designed. Ticking off features, he described something much like Valencia’s previous iteration.

“Something with two directions on either side that allows public-safety first responders to move the way they used to, that allows cars to pull out,” he said. “Why did they put the curbs in there? A sixth-grader can look at this and say this doesn’t work.”

The center-striped bike lane—technically a cycle track—is part of a pilot program by the SFMTA that is subject to community feedback. | Source: Gina Castro/The Standard

Voicing a fairly widespread belief, Dickerson said he believes ride-share companies like Uber paid the city to remove parking spaces to free up room for pickups and dropoffs.

Reached for comment, a spokesperson for Uber told The Standard, “The SFMTA regularly reaches out about issues impacting safety and efficiency around the city. We did not discuss the removal of parking spaces.”

For its part, the transit agency says it’s heard business owners’ concerns and has restored some of the 70 parking spaces that were removed.

“We temporarily adjusted the type and duration of many of the loading zones on Valencia Street between 15th and 23rd streets and on several side streets (18th, 19th, 20th, 22nd) to create more general parking availability in the neighborhood,” SFMTA spokesperson Stephen Chun told The Standard in a statement. 

From October until this month, Dickenson was the interim operations director of Amado’s, the now-closed bar. But the bike lanes weren’t the only challenge for that longtime home for underground music and performance this year. In June, Amado’s suffered a flood, resulting in $500,000 in damages. A crowdfunding campaign that aimed to raise $50,000 toward repairs has garnered just half that.

Asked how many Amado’s patrons drove to a venue with, at most, a handful of parking spaces on the block, Dickenson responded with statistics about an unspecified competitor’s bottom line in the period during and after Covid. 

A cyclist passes Amado’s, a recently shuttered bar and music venue at 998 Valencia St., whose owner attributed its closure to the new bike lanes. | Source: Gina Castro/The Standard

“We reached out to a number of businesses and—I won’t name them—but one well-known business owner has a restaurant on Valencia and a restaurant somewhere else in the city,” he said. “The other place saw a 3% dip, and Valencia saw a 50% reduction when the bike lane went in.”

Already a Compromise

Despite the business owners’ complaints, study after study shows that bike lanes typically yield positive economic outcomes for businesses along their corridors. 

During Covid, when Valencia Street was temporarily pedestrianized, Yelp’s data concurred. But the idea that bike lanes are bad for business has entered the cultural bloodstream, seemingly as axiomatic as the erroneous belief that homeless San Franciscans mostly come from somewhere else. 

Pedestrians enjoy wide open space on Valencia Street in 2020, when it was closed to vehicles on weekends under the city’s Slow Streets program. | Source: Paul Chinn/SF Chronicle/Getty Images

The transit agency could strengthen its case by releasing promised metrics on the Valencia Street pilot project, but Chun said that it’s going to be a while.

“The data-gathering started later than anticipated,” he said. 

This opacity is clearly infuriating to small-business owners. But it is also a challenge for advocates who want to know if cyclists are using the street less or if drivers are zooming through intersections. 

“It’s incredibly frustrating that the SFMTA hasn’t given us the evaluation data they promised us at quarterly milestones,” said Claire Amable, a Tenderloin native and the director of advocacy for the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition. “We’re four months in, and we were supposed to get it at three, six and nine months.”

The bicycle coalition hears feedback from its members, who seem to be evenly divided on the current state of Valencia, and the organization has offered suggestions for improvement while allowing the fire department to maintain emergency access. Amable says bike lanes are most successful when everyone embraces them but notes that the existing configuration on Valencia was the product of a protracted back-and-forth.

“This design was already a compromise based on merchant feedback from 2020,” Amable said. “It was presented as the only solution by the city because it preserved the most parking options, and SFMTA recently converted loading zones back into parking spaces, which we hope alleviates merchant concerns. But the answer is not more cars, but more people-centered spaces.” 

No Amount of Parking Can Solve the Problem

John Oram, a tech worker and sometime blogger known as Burrito Justice who came up with his own “Burrito Plan” for Valencia Street, sees a simple explanation for the business owners’ grievances.

“They based their business on double-parking, and now, they can’t do that. As soon as somebody double-parks, it blocks traffic,” he told The Standard, adding that since the changeover, some opponents have shown their hand. “Every single complaint about the bike lane, the next thing they say is, ‘Oh, I have $200 in tickets.’”

To him, Valencia Street’s primary issue is one of scarcity, with too many types of users competing for too little space. 

“There’s no number of parking spots you can add to solve this problem,” Oram said. “We’re in a city, and by the way, there are several 200- to 300-parking spot garages right off Valencia.” 

In 2022, Oram penned an opinion piece for The Standard, outlining his Burrito Plan as an “equitable way to distribute the three main road users—cars, pedestrians and cyclists—that involves minimal disruption and low-cost barriers.”

It called for converting Valencia to a one-way street, with bike lanes moved to one side and fully protected, and the remaining space allotted to ride-shares, delivery vehicles and people running errands—the users who shout, “I’ll just be here for a minute!” when parking enforcement turns around the corner. 

Over the summer, the cycle track’s buildout was criticized for being slow and haphazard, but some brave riders used it despite the warning signs. | Source: Jeremy Chen/The Standard

“In study after study, time after time, city after city, in any dense area, business owners grossly overestimate the number of people who are driving,” Oram said. “Who says, ‘Oh, I’m going to drive to Valencia because parking’s really easy’? It’s always been difficult! It’s just a little more noticeable 1702069577.”

Even as many locals push back on the idea that the city is in a doom loop, they’re quick to suggest the city seems to be creating one in the Mission. As Oram wryly noted, the cry that “Valencia is dead!” may be a poor marketing strategy, and some merchants seem intent on alienating the potential customers who are pedaling past their establishments twice a day. 

It’s worth noting that most of the major streets that parallel Valencia have been reconfigured in some way. Folsom Street was narrowed and restriped a decade ago, South Van Ness Avenue not long ago went from four lanes to two, with pocket lanes for easier left turns. For its part, Mission Street got mandatory turn-offs and “red carpet” lanes meant to give packed buses the right-of-way—and small businesses hated that, too.

Valencia Street is one of several major north-south thoroughfares in the Mission District whose layout has been remade in recent years. | Source: Justin Katigbak/The Standard

Why Do People Hate Cyclists So Much?

People hate bike lanes, at least in part, because people hate cyclists. And in fairness, many cyclists give non-cyclists more than a few things to hate. They pedal against traffic. They blow red lights. They wear expensive-looking Lycra jerseys that feel like flashy overkill on city streets. The stereotype skews toward six-figure-earning, middle-aged neckbeards mansplaining about derailleurs. And there’s that eternal whiff of superiority embodied by those “One Less Car” signs sometimes taped to the backs of bike seats, which manage to pack eco-smugness and a grammatical error into three syllables. It should read, “One Fewer Car,” if you want to be like that.  

At the same time, San Francisco is home to many physically fit, environmentally conscious people, plus the city charter’s explicit transportation policy is to prioritize alternatives to driving. And, whatever elitism may cling to cyclists, it’s simply true that every ride in a San Francisco bike shop will be cheaper than any new car at the dealership. 

Ostensibly, the changes to Valencia were largely undertaken for the benefit of cyclists. Several riders The Standard spoke with seem to appreciate the rejiggering of a heavily trafficked, high-injury corridor. In particular, the terror of being “doored” has been minimized.

But just as it’s possible to lament how all cars look alike while mocking the Cybertruck, it’s possible to be a daily cyclist while hating the Valencia Street cycle track, which was so haphazardly installed that pranksters installed guerrilla signage. 

Valencia’s current configuration has received mixed reviews from riders, including Sohan Murthy, right. | Source: Gina Castro/The Standard

Even fully built, many riders dislike the new layout, with its awkward flow, overdesigned signals and a general feeling like they need to crane their necks in an owl-like, 270-degree fashion in order to make a left. When ambulances use it—and it’s pretty hard to argue they shouldn’t—it’s difficult to get out of their way safely. 

“I’ve still seen some crazy stuff, like a car hopping over and doing a U-turn, or swerving in here,” said Sohan Murthy, a West Oakland resident who was riding to a friend’s house. “I don’t know if this is better than before.”

The post San Francisco Valencia Road Bike Lanes Unhealthy for Enterprise? appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Hundreds of protesters calling for a ceasefire in Gaza shut down the westbound lanes of the Bay Bridge Thursday morning, just east of Treasure Island, causing a traffic jam and delays, California Highway Patrol said. 

CHP said the demonstration unfolded shortly before 8 a.m. and that there was no estimated time of reopening. CHP Chief Ezery Beauchamp told reporters at a news conference at about 9:45 a.m. that the agency hopes to reopen one lane in about 30 minutes.

Approximately 50 people were arrested and 15 vehicles have been towed, authorities said. Beauchamp said some people abandoned their cars and tossed their keys off the bridge.

Live video from KTVU and NBC Bay Area showed officers detaining about a dozen protesters with zip ties and towing them away in sheriff’s buses. The protest and arrests appeared to be peaceful. Several protesters chained their arms together inside of tubes to make removing them more difficult. 

Prior to the arrests, videos posted to social media showed demonstrators rallying with bullhorns, chanting slogans and waving large signs reading “stop genocide” and “no U.S. military aid to Israel,” facing a line of officers dressed in riot gear. Some protesters were lying down on the bridge, covered in white sheets, pretending to be dead. Pro-Palestine protesters claimed responsibility for the shutdown in a post on Instagram, saying they were sending a message to President Joe Biden to demand a ceasefire in Gaza.

The protest led to transit delays and bumper-to-bumper traffic for nearly two hours. The Transbay bus line was detoured to the West Oakland BART station, AC Transit said. 

Mayor London Breed tweeted that her office was in contact with CHP and the California Department of Transportation, “who are working to remove the protestors that are blocking traffic.” 

Commuters trapped in traffic expressed their frustration on X, formerly called Twitter.

“Was hoping to make our flight at SFO but looks doubtful now,” Jason Swartz wrote.

Mudit Goyal wrote on X that he was “missing the most important” doctor appointment because of the protests blocking the bridge. “Don’t terrorize the whole public. Go make noise near Moscone instead,” Goyal tweeted.

Moscone has been the site of several protests since the start of the APEC summit, and it’s where President Joe Biden was expected to give a speech Thursday morning. 

Protesters tangled the streets around the conference center on Wednesday to voice opposition to the ongoing Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference being held at the heavily barricaded Moscone Center. Tensions mounted as demonstrators confronted police, blocked APEC attendees from passing and chanted slogans about political causes that included climate change, economic inequality and Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip.

Later on Wednesday, supporters of Chinese President Xi Jinping clashed with a group of pro-Tibet protesters outside the Hyatt Regency San Francisco, where Xi was set to appear following his meeting with Biden at the at the Filoli estate in San Mateo County.  

The meeting of Biden and Xi spawned smaller protests throughout the city and set picketers streaming down Market Street, where traffic was halted several times Wednesday due to demonstrators’ activities. 

This is a developing story. Check back for updates at sfchronicle.com 

Michael Cabanatuan contributed to this report. 

Reach Reach Nora Michanec: nora.michanec@sfchronicle.com. Reach Jessica Flores: jessica.flores@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jesssmflores. Reach Dominic Fracassa: dfracassa@sfchronicle.com

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SAN FRANCISCO — New bike lanes are planned to emerge in one of San Francisco’s busiest corridors, but instead of traditional bike lanes to the right of traffic, these lanes will run right down the middle of Valencia Street in the city’s Mission District.

The new bike lanes will begin at the intersection of 15th Street and Valencia and extend eight blocks south to Valencia and 23rd. This is a pilot program that will last at least a year.

The city believes moving bike lanes to the middle of the street will improve safety by helping cyclists avoid any cars and trucks that stop to load and unload on that stretch of street. However, many cyclists fear the lanes will create new safety issues.

This reporter spoke to a local cyclist about what she thought of the project. Caetie Ofiesh has been cycling around San Francisco since she moved here 10 years ago.

“I use this bike to get to the grocery store, to work, to wherever I go, to restaurants, almost every day,” Ofiesh said, adding that she loves how convenient cycling is, not to mention that it’s just fun too.

“Sometimes, especially when I’m on my way home from work, that’s the best part of the day,” she said.

But San Francisco is a busy city. cars, buses, trams and pedestrians; They all have to share the road with cyclists, which can cause some problems.

“I avoid something almost every day,” Ofiesh said. “I’ve been hit by a car before. Luckily only once.”

For years, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) has tried to find creative solutions to keep everyone on the streets safe.

In April, the SFMTA approved a new pilot project that will move the Valencia Street bike lanes from the curb to the middle for eight blocks.

“If we just look across the street from here. Instead of the bike lane I’m currently standing on, which in turn is often full of double-parked cars, the bike lane will be where the bus is currently parked,” said SFMTA Streets director Tom Maguire.

He says the project will not only help cyclists but also pedestrians, as cars will no longer be allowed to turn left after the bike lanes join the centre.

“It’s going to get cyclists away from parked cars and ban left turns so we protect pedestrians from those turning vehicles,” Maguire said.

But not everyone is convinced the plan is a good idea. Ofiesh said she and many of her cyclist friends had concerns.

“You know at the intersections, if a car has to turn left or a cyclist has to turn right, what does that traffic sequence look like and is everyone prepared at each and every intersection?” said Ofiesh. “The other thing I worry about with the middle bike lanes is that cyclists clash without much margin for error and you know we’re not locked in steel boxes, we’re just on our bikes.”

Maguire says he just hopes everyone gives the project a shot.

“We’re committed to going back to our board and coming back to the public with a lot of transparency and robust data on what’s working and what’s not working,” Maguire said. “We would not be proposing this unless we felt it would represent a significant improvement in safety over the way the road looks today.”

Ofiesh says she understands SFMTA is trying and despite her concerns she will still try the new lanes once they are built.

“I’d like to be wrong. I’d love for this to work and be an improved experience for everyone, but I’ll definitely be careful,” Ofiesh said.

The city says construction on the project is expected to begin in late April, with lanes due to open to cyclists in mid-May.

The post Bike lanes coming to center of busy Valencia Avenue in San Francisco appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency is considering a plan to move bike lanes on busy Valencia Street.

It’s one of the busiest spots in the Mission District and is currently the focus of a proposal to move sheltered bike lanes to the middle of the street.

“Here’s what we’re excited about: left-turn restrictions for vehicles, use of sturdier materials like the K-79 bollards and 4-inch high rubber curbs over the usual dual soft-hit posts typically included in the quick build projects. said Janelle Wong, executive director of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition.

The plan calls for the elimination of 70 parking spaces along the eight-block stretch in favor of loading zones.

Many entrepreneurs and employees in the area had serious concerns about the proposal.

“I think it makes it more dangerous for cars and bikers,” said Eiad Eltawil, owner of Rossi Galley.

He said Valencia already had a shortage of parking spaces, which became even more extreme when parklets were added during the pandemic.

He said his customers, who come from all over the city, are already having a hard time finding a place to park and shop.

Other business owners say erecting bollards and raised curbs in the middle of the street and restricting vehicles from turning left will make navigating Valencia all but impossible for delivery drivers — especially since busy parallel streets already have left-turn restrictions.

Not only companies raising questions about the setup of the bike lanes in the middle of Valencia Street, but also cyclists are critical.

“I don’t think the space has any way of accommodating that many types of lanes and it just sounds very dangerous to put people in the middle of traffic,” said cyclist Joseph Roseberry.

“As a cyclist, I don’t want to be in the middle because traffic comes and goes, and to do that would basically be pinning a person,” said Debbie Wiggins.

The proposal was presented to the SFMTA board on Tuesday and drew many public comments – both for and against.

The post San Francisco Considers Plan to Transfer Bike Lanes to Heart of Valencia Avenue – NBC Bay Space appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — Intense storms that battered the San Francisco Bay Area for more than a week caused flooding, downed trees and power outages. After another weekend of rain and strong winds, some dry days are ahead this week, but another storm is expected Wednesday. Even with a break in the rain for now, the region is still facing residual effects as a result of the strong storm.

Jan. 16, 2023

11 p.m.
People head outside to enjoy the sunshine for 1st time in weeks as storm cleanup continues

After a seemingly never-ending stretch of storms, the sunshine is finally back in the Bay Area.

In San Francisco, a still soaked Crissy Field was alive with people.

“We didn’t have to bring our umbrella. We just kind of walked out of the house and didn’t have to worry about getting drenched,” said Kate Costello.

But it wasn’t bright skies for everyone. Earlier in the day, The Golden Gate National Recreation Area tweeted a photo of an old military structure on the beach of Fort Funston after it slid down a nearby bluff.

“I believe that what rolled out of the hill this morning was a piece of the rifle range, apparently dated to the 1930s,” said retired National Park Service Curator, John Martini.

The structure tumbled off the cliff around 10 a.m. Monday, likely due to the saturated land according to park officials.

“We actually did a study to see could we stabilize in place some of these structures, especially some of the gun positions, and it was just so prohibitively expensive,” said Martini.

Fort Funston is home to several such military structures, some of which played roles during the second world war.

Due to time and erosion, several have fallen over the years.

No one was injured in the slide, but park staff reminded visitors to be cautious of their surroundings in the area.

4 p.m.
Hwy 13 expected to reopen Monday evening after closure for mudslides

Caltrans crews are still working Monday afternoon to remove mud from a stretch of of southbound Highway 13 in Oakland, where a fallen tree and mudslides closed the road late Sunday night.

The road is expected to reopen between 5 and 6 p.m. Monday, according California Highway Patrol Officer Adib Zeid.

3:40 p.m.
Southbound lanes of Hwy 1 reopen after rockslide near Tom Lantos Tunnels

The southbound lanes of Highway 1 near the Tom Lantos Tunnels have reopened after a massive boulder and rockslide blocked part of the roadway.

3:30 p.m.
South Bay reservoirs spilling following storms

This series of atmospheric storms filled many Santa Clara County reservoirs to the point of spilling.

“Uvas Reservoir in South County has been spilling for a good week, Almaden Reservoir on and off, Coyote Reservoir been spilling,” said Bassam Kassab, Water Supply Operation Manager for Valley Water.

The most recent to spill has been Lexington Reservoir near Los Gatos.

Crews have been working to clear debris and blockage throughout the county but one of the most important jobs for those who manage the local waterways will be to draw down the reservoirs to stop the spilling.

They expect spilling at Lexington to stop in the next three days and the other reservoirs within a week or two.

This time of year, Valley Water says the reservoirs can’t stay completely full in case more storms come, so they will be releasing some of the water until the spring when we typically don’t expect as much rain.

2:15 p.m.
WWII bunker slides off bluff onto beach at Fort Funston

Golden Gate National Recreation Area officials are urging visitors to be attentive to their surroundings and follow trailhead signs after a WWII bunker slid off a bluff and onto the beach below.

1:10 p.m.
Both directions of Hwy 37 reopen after flooding

The California Highway Patrol tweeted Monday afternoon that both directions of Highway 37 are open and only the right westbound lane remains closed for safety reasons. It will reopen once CHP deems it to be safe.

1 p.m.
Massive boulder, rockslide blocking part of Hwy 1 near Devil’s Slide

A massive boulder and rockslide are blocking part of Highway 1 near the Tom Lantos Tunnels. Video taken from ABC7 reporter Gloria Rodriguez shows cars are still able to make it around the boulder but traffic is slowed in the area.

12:30 p.m.
19 homes evacuated along Kirker Creek in Pittsburg

Pittsburg PD confirms they asked families in at least 19 homes along the Kirker Creek to evacuate overnight, along with four units in the Fox Creek Apartment complex. Twelve people were rescued via boat by a swift-water rescue team.

12 p.m.
Rushing water at the Lexington Reservoir

Video shows the Lexington Reservoir spillway outflow at the base of the dam. The water goes into Los Gatos Creek.

8:20 a.m.
NB 101 in Redwood City closed

Lanes are blocked on Northboound 101 in Redwood City due to emergency pothole repairs at Woodside Road. Dozens of cars have been damaged by the large pothole.

CHP says to expect delays and advises using alternate routes. There is no estimated time of opening.

8:15 a.m.
Berkeley mudslides shutdown roads, cause evacuation warnings

Several areas in Berkeley have seen mudslides Monday morning.

The spiral between Wildcat Canyon and Middlefield, Middlefield North of the crossways, and Wildcat Canyon between Sunset and Park Hills Road are closed due to a mudslide.

Berkeley police are advising residents in the area to be prepared to evacuate, and say some already have.

UC Berkeley police also say to avoid the area of Sports Lane at the Clark Kerr campus because of a mudslide.

Read more here.

Jan. 15, 2023

9:40 p.m.
Santa Clara County extends evacuation warning to include more areas

The County of Santa Clara announced an extension to existing evacuation warnings to include community members residing in the watershed areas along the Bloomfield Avenue Area – between Highways 25 and 152, and south of Bloomfield Avenue to the county line – due to the weather conditions and potential risks of flooding to the general public and property.

SCC said the prior evacuation warning zone is being expanded due to two levy breaches in San Benito County, which is adjacent to the expanded zone area.

The county’s office of emergency services recommends that community members living in the marked areas should gather their household members, pets, personal items, important documents, prescription medications, change of clothes, non-perishable foods, water, extra batteries, flashlights, and phone chargers in preparation for potential evacuations.

The county also announced a Local Assistance Center at San Martin Lion’s Club, located at 12415 Murphy Ave. in San Martin. This shelter is accessible and all service animals are welcome.

4:35 p.m.
Caltrans announces several storm-related highway closures

The latest winter storm system to move through the Bay Area region has resulted in various highway closures in the following locations due to road hazards on the highway, says Caltrans:

East Bay:

Alameda County — SR 84 (Niles Canyon) from Main Street in Sunol to Mission Boulevard in Fremont is closed.

North Bay:

Sonoma County — SR 1 near Coleman Gulch Road. One-way traffic control in place.

Sonoma County — SR 1 at Russian Gulch to Meyers Grade Road. One-way traffic control in place.

Marin County — Full closure of SR 37 between U.S. 101 and Atherton Avenue, including connector ramps from U.S. 101

Napa County — Westbound SR 128 near Lower Chiles Valley Road. One-way traffic control in place.

South Bay:

Santa Clara County — Eastbound SR 130 near Quimby Road. Local Traffic Only.

San Mateo County — SR 92 from upper SR 35 to Pilarcitos Creek Road, Half Moon Bay. One-way traffic control.

San Mateo County — Lane reduction in place on southbound U.S. 101 near Broadway Street.

San Mateo County — Northbound SR 1 near Pescadero Road. One-way traffic control in place.

4:15 p.m.
More slides prompt new, continued closures to parts of Hwy 1, Caltrans says

Caltrans says it continues to make assessments in its recovery efforts for numerous locations on Highway 1 that have been impacted by the series of California storms.

Multiple locations continue to be closed:

• Roads just south of Mill Creek are closed both ways due to a recent rockslide
• Crews are responding to an area north of Lucia, where a lane has accrued over one foot of debris and sediment over the last two days
• A new closures is in place at the location known as Morning Glory
• The southern closure of Highway 1 will remain at the elephant seal viewing area, four miles north of San Simeon.
• A significant slide, one mile south of Ragged Point, extends over both lanes of travel. As a result, the highway is impassible at this location and is expected to restrict access to Ragged Point from the south for several weeks.

Caltrans crews will be onsite at these locations over the next few days to help clear the roadways.

12:50 p.m.
Hwy 37 in Novato to remain closed indefinitely, Caltrans says

Highway 37 between Highway 101 and Atherton Ave. in Novato will remain closed indefinitely, Caltrans said in a tweet.

11 a.m.
Both directions of Hwy 37 in Novato to remain closed until Monday, Caltrans says

Highway 37 between Highway 101 and Atherton Ave. in Novato will remain closed until Monday, Caltrans said. The area closed after water rose from the Novato Creek Saturday afternoon.

Caltrans is continuing to pump out flood water, but crews say, more water is coming from downstream.

10 a.m.
Muir Woods in Mill Valley reopens Sunday

After being closed Saturday due to storm, Muir Woods is expected to reopen Sunday, but at a later time, at 10 a.m.

9 a.m.
Both directions of Hwy 37 closed in Novato due to flooding, CHP says

Image of flooding at Highway 37 in Novato, Calif. on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023.

California Highway Patrol

The California Highway Patrol says both directions of Highway 37 from Atherton Ave. to U.S. Route 101 in Novato are closed due to severe flooding.

Crews are trying to pump out floodwater.

No word when the highway will reopen.

8 a.m.
Highway 92 near Half Moon Bay partially reopens, crews continue to repair sinkhole

Caltrans has partially reopened state Highway 92 near Half Moon Bay as of Saturday evening.

One-way traffic control went into effect just after 8 p.m. Saturday on eastbound Highway 92 at Highway 35 (Skyline Boulevard) to Pilarcitos Creek Road in Half Moon Bay.

Westbound Highway 92 remains closed from Highway 35 to Pilarcitos Creek Road in Half Moon Bay.

The closure remains in effect while work crews continue to make repairs on a sinkhole.

Jan. 14, 2023

8 p.m.
Golden Gate Bridge reopens both directions after big rig overturn: Caltrans

Golden Gate Bridge is opening back up in both directions, according to Caltrans. Drivers should expect traffic delays, consider alternate routes, and allow for additional travel time.

7:15 p.m.
SR 37 near Atherton Avenue in Marin Co. closed in both directions due to flooding: Caltrans

Caltrans in coordination with the California Highway Patrol has closed State Route 37 in both eastbound and westbound directions near Atherton Avenue in Novato due to storm related flooding.

Motorists are encouraged to use U.S. 101 to I-580 Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, then eastbound I-80 to travel from Marin County to Solano and other North Bay destinations.

7 p.m.
Golden Gate Bridge closed in both directions due to overturned big rig: Caltrans

The Golden Gate Bridge closed in both directions early Saturday evening due to an overturned big rig. Emergency crews and the California Highway Patrol are on scene. Motorists can expect traffic delays.

4 p.m.
Flood Advisory in effect in Santa Cruz Co., NWS says

The National Weather Service issued a Flood Advisory in Santa Cruz County until 6 p.m.

1 p.m.
Evacuation orders for Holohan, East Lake and College in Santa Cruz County, officials say

Evacuations are underway along Holohan, East Lake and College areas in Santa Cruz County, officials say

11:30 a.m.
Hundreds without power in West Marin after giant tree knocks down power lines, blocks road

PG&E is trying to restore power after a giant Cypress tree fell on the road knocking down power lines on Highway 1 in Point Reyes in West Marin.

The tree fell at Mesa Rd. and Cypress Rd. shutting down the road. Caltrans is working to clear the tree, according to ABC7’s Cornell Barnard who’s at the scene.

At last check, nearly 900 customers in the area are without power.

10:40 a.m.
Muir Woods in Marin County closed Saturday due to weather, park says

Officials with Muir Woods say the park will be closed Saturday as a result of the morning’s storm. “Due to severe storm impacts, weather forecast, and road conditions, we have decided to close Muir Woods today.”

They say reservations will be automatically canceled and refunded. They will monitor Sunday’s weather conditions to see if the park will reopen.

10:35a.m.
Parts of Cloverdale Road in Pescadero in San Mateo County closed due to mudslide, CAL FIRE says

Parts of Cloverdale Road in Pescadero in San Mateo County is closed due to mudslide, CAL FIRE CZU said on Saturday. Officials say the closure is near Butano State Park Road. Drivers should avoid the area. There is no estimate of reopening.

9:25 a.m.
Flood Watch undegraded to Flood Warning for Sonoma County, Santa Rosa fire officials say

The National Weather Service has upgraded a Flood Watch to a Flood Warning for Sonoma County through 2:30 p.m., Santa Rosa fire officials said. The NWS could change the time of the warning based on weather conditions, officials added.

8.30 a.m.
Report of power lines down in Berkeley, firefighters say

The Berkeley fire department is advising residents to avoid the area of Clairmont Ave. between Stonewall, Tanglewood and Avalon until further notice due to multiple power lines down in Clairmont. More info here.

8 a.m.
Evacuations underway in Felton Grove in Santa Cruz Co. due to major storm, officials say

Emergency evacuations are underway in Felton Grove because of the relentless weather.

“Deputies are in the area. If you live in the neighborhood, please leave now,” Santa Cruz County officials tweeted Saturday morning.

They’re concerned about possible flooding along the San Lorenzo River later today.

There are two evacuation centers open for this community.

One is at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville.

Another is set up at Cabrillo College in Aptos.

Both areas are pet friendly and have RV parking.

This is an area that has already been hit hard.

The town of Felton has been pummeled with rain — leaving a swampy mess for people living in the Felton Grove neighborhood.

Residents have had to evacuate multiple times since the start of the new year due to major flooding.

And this morning, Santa Cruz County officials urging residents to get out once again.

7:45 a.m.
Pregame flyover over Levi’s Stadium canceled

Saturday’s scheduled pregame flyover over Levi’s Stadium has been canceled because of weather.

The wild-card playoff game will still continue.

The 49ers are set to play against the Seattle Seahawks at 1:30 p.m.

6 a.m.
High Surf Warning in effect for coastline until 10 a.m.

A High Surf Warning is in effect for the coastline until 10 a.m. Saturday due to the heavy rain and strong wind. Waves are expected to be 20 – 25 feet tall. Officials say people should stay out of the water because of life-threatening swimming and surf conditions.

5:30 a.m.
Wind Advisory in effect for Bay Area Saturday morning, Solano Co. until 6 p.m.

There is a Wind Advisory in effect for the entire Bay Area this morning. The advisory will be in effect longer for Solano County from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.

5a.m.
Flood Watch in effect for entire Bay Area this weekend through Monday with more rain, strong winds

There is a Flood Watch for the entire Bay Area through Monday at 4 p.m. with flooding possible as strong Level 3 Storm makes way to the Bay Area Saturday morning.

Jan. 13, 2023

11 p.m.
Marin Co. first responders gear up for the weekend, while still recovering from Friday’s storm

At an apartment complex in Fairfax, a mudslide crashed into the building from an adjacent hill, displacing 19 residents along with their pets.

“I got woken up this morning by a loud knock on the door. It was the fire department saying the whole hill was coming down,” said one of the evacuees.

Another slide happened down the road in Lagunitas, where one family was left to clean up the mess in their backyard.

While Friday was a busy day for first responders around Marin County, fire officials tell ABC7 News they’re also gearing up for what’s to come this weekend.

At the Marin County Fire Station in Woodacre, Battalion Chief Graham Groneman showed us some of the search and rescue equipment he and his team are getting ready for the coming days.

“We’re going to see trees down, power lines down. People are going to be out of power. And I think it all comes down to where the storm impacts the Bay Area,” he said.

He says that there will be several teams on standby throughout the county, ready to respond in a moment’s notice.

“We’ve had multiple deployments of our urban search and rescue team and our water team in preparation for these storm events,” said Groneman.

But after weeks of heavy rain and wind, Groneman says he thinks everyone is ready for a little break.

“I think we’re all ready for the sun to come out and things to dry out a little bit.”

8 p.m.
North Bay under Flood Advisory until 10 p.m.

The National Weather Service issued a Flood Advisory for portions of the Northern Bay Area, including Sonoma County until 10 p.m. this evening. NWS says urban and small stream flooding caused by additional rainfall on already saturated soil is expected.

This will have an impact of :

• Minor flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas
• Rises in small streams
• Dangerous flows over low-water crossings
• Water over roadways
• Overflowing poor drainage areas
• Some impassable low-water crossings
• Elevated river or stream flows
• Ponding of water in urban or other area

“Turn around, don’t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles,” said NWS in its announcement.

The agency also recommends the public to:

• Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.
• Do not attempt to cross flooded roads. Find an alternate route.
• Please report observed flooding to local emergency services or law enforcement and request they pass this information to the National Weather service when you can do so safely.

5:45 p.m.
Evacuation warnings issued for parts of Santa Clara County

Santa Clara County has issued evacuation warnings for watershed areas of the Uvas Reservoir, Pacheo Pass River basin and Highway 101 and Bolsa Road due to potential risk of flooding and weather conditions.

Pacheco Pass River Basin for those living in the areas of:

• El Toro Rd South of HWY 152 to Bloomfield Ave
• Lovers Lane between Shore Rd and HWY 152

Watershed Areas of the Uvas Reservoir include those living:

• South of Uvas Reservoir including Thousand Trails RV Park and Uvas Pines RV Park
• South of Sycamore Drive and Watsonville Rd
• Homes south of Lions Peak
• South of Day Road and Geri Lane
• Watsonville and HWY 152

HWY 101 and Bolsa Rd.:

• South of Hwy 152, East of Hwy 101.
• South of Pacheco Pass (Hwy 152) and East of Hwy 101.
• South of Luchessa Ave. and East of Thomas Rd.
• East of Santa Teresa Blvd. to Castro Valley Rd.
• North of Castro Valley Rd. to Luchessa Ave.
• North of Hwy 25 between Hwy 101 & Bloomfield Rd.
• West of Bloomfield Ave. between Hwy 25 & Pacheco Pass (Hwy 152)
• East of Hwy 101 to Pacheco Pass (Hwy 152)

The county is encouraging resident to stay off the roads, creek beds, waterways and fast moving waters. For more information, go to www.PrepareSCC.org/Flood.

5 p.m.
Santa Clara County braces for more storms

In Santa Clara County, clean up and repairs continue after the region was hit with flooding and mass power outages.

Now, officials are preparing for the next round of storms and working to make sure the public is ready too.

“Crews, as you’re well aware, are working around the clock for the past few weeks to remove debris and other blockages from those portions of creeks and streams throughout Santa Clara County,” said John Varela, Valley Water board chair.

The emergency order has been extended throughout the county to provide necessary resources.

Varela says nearly 52,000 homes and businesses in Santa Clara County are within the FEMA special flood hazard area.

County officials say the circumstances are challenging, but they’re ready for the worst.

“This season, we’ve been coordinating all year through hot weather and cold weather,” said Darrell Ray, deputy director of Santa Clara County’s Office of Emergency Management, “So we got plenty of practice throughout the last 12 months.”

Officials also urge everyone to sign up for local reverse 911 alerts like SCCalerts in Santa Clara County.

Other reminders include making sure you have an emergency plan with family and friends and have an emergency supply kit.

1 p.m.
Comcast opens free WiFi hotspots to help residents during storms

Comcast announced Friday that more than 147,000 public Xfinity WiFi hotspots throughout Northern and Central California are now available and free for anyone, including non-Xfinity customers, to use during the storms. For a map of public hotspots visit Xfinity.com/wifi.

12:45 p.m.
Wind Advisory issued for entire Bay Area on Saturday

ABC7 News Meteorologist Drew Tuma says a Wind Advisory has been issued for the entire Bay Area from 4 a.m.-Noon Saturday for wind gusts up to 50 mph.

6 a.m.
Caltrans running limited convoy operations to closure area of Hwy 1

Caltrans is running a limited convoy operation on Friday in order to allow for access in and out of the closure area of state Highway 1 for resupply runs.

This is limited access to allow for resupplies during this window of milder weather before a more intense storm passes over the region this weekend.

Convoy schedule for Friday:

• Convoy will depart from Ragged Point at 12 noon and arrive just south of Deetjen’s Inn at approximately 1:30 p.m.
• Convoy will depart from just south of Deetjen’s Inn at 3 pm and arrive at Ragged Point at approximately 4:40 p.m.

Jan. 12, 2023

6 p.m.
North Bay prepares for next round of storms

In the North Bay, a break between storms Thursday meant a chance to cleanup, dry out and assess the damage from the last storm.

Chain saws were working overtime, trying to remove a giant 100-foot Pine tree from Janine Wilson’s backyard in Santa Rosa where it toppled around 3 a.m. Thursday, after heavy storms this week.

“We heard a big boom, saw hole in the ceiling, got out and called 911,” said Wilson. Remarkably, no one was hurt but about that hole in the bedroom ceiling – it’s about 12 inches wide.

Across town, Robert Cepeda’s tree trimming crew was more than busy, he says they’ve working non-stop since New Year’s Eve.

On the fast moving Russian River, levels were holding steady at Forestville.

Flooding could happen possibly Sunday. Sonoma County Fire District Captain Shawn Johnson was watching the river and taking advantage of a break in the weather to do some swift water rescue training.

3:05 p.m.
Oakland Zoo to remain closed

Oakland Zoo tweeted on Thursday that it would remain closed due to reconstruction delays from massive sinkhole damage caused by the Bay Area storms.

2:30 p.m.
Niles Canyon Road reopens after repairs, flooding

Caltrans tweeted Thursday afternoon that Niles Canyon Road (Highway 84) between Fremont and Sunol has reopened after repairs to a guardrail and flooding.

12 p.m.
Santa Clara Co. leaders urge residents to sign up for Emergency Alerts

After devastating flooding across Santa Clara County, leaders are calling on the public to make potentially life-saving preparations on our last day of dry weather before the rain returns this weekend. The best way they say people can do this is by signing up for emergency alerts from SCCAlerts.org.

More than one million residents have signed up for the personalized alerts for where you live in the county. 166 thousand texts and made 462 calls have been sent out over our recent winter storms. This includes when the Uvas Creek Flooded in Gilroy. With flooding a possibility this weekend, Santa Clara County wants everyone to be ready for all possibilities.

“Knowledge can save lives,” Santa Clara Co. Board of Supervisors President Susan Ellenberg said. “Information can help you avert personal disaster. Connectivity allows you to protect your loved ones.”

8:30 a.m.
Flood Watch issued for entire Bay Area this weekend

ABC7 Meteorologist Drew Tuma says a Flood Watch has been issued for the entire Bay Area this weekend. While we’re getting a break from the rain Thursday, he forecasts it returning with a chance of thunderstorms Friday. An even stronger storm, a Level 3 on the exclusive ABC7 Storm Impact Scale, is expected to hit the region on Saturday, with the worst of it hitting between 6 a.m. and 12 p.m.

8:30 a.m.
Sinkhole closes both directions of Highway 92 near Half Moon Bay, CHP says

Highway 92 in San Mateo County has been shut down again in both directions due to a sinkhole that formed overnight, CHP says. Latest here.

7 a.m.
CA extreme drought virtually eliminated after January storms, Bay Area sees ‘huge gains’

A new drought monitor is out and the extreme drought category (second highest) has been virtually wiped out across California. A small sliver still exists on the California/Oregon border but that only accounts for 0.3% of the state. Full story here.

Jan. 11, 2023

5 p.m.
Hwy 92 reopens with alternating one-way traffic controls due to unsafe road conditions

Authorities say Highway 92 has reopened with alternating one-way traffic controls from upper Highway 35 west to Pilacritos Creek Road.

Earlier Thursday, CHP shut down the highway due to unsafe road conditions caused by the wet weather. CHP tweeted out a picture of the dip in the road that they said could turn into a sinkhole if cars continue to drive on that portion of the road.

2:20 p.m.
Flood Advisory issued for San Francisco, parts of Marin, San Mateo counties

ABC7 Meteorologist Drew Tuma says Flood Advisory has been issued for San Francisco, southern Marin County and northern San Mateo County.

1 p.m.
CA water officials give update on parade of storms

Officials with the California Department of Water Resources and forecasters give an update on the parade of storms that continue to cause problems across the state.

11:18 a.m.
State Route 92 in Redwood City closed in both directions at State Route 35 in Redwood City, CHP says

State Route 92 in Redwood City is closed in both directions between upper and lower State Route 35 due to unsafe road conditions caused by the wet weather, the California Highway Patrol says. They say drivers should take alternate routes.

11:12 a.m.
Eastbound lane of Bolinas Road in West Marin closed due to landslide

Marin Public Works says the eastbound lane of Bolinas Rd is closed near Sky Oaks Rd intersection in West Marin due to a landslide. Traffic controls says measures are in place allow for alternating two-way traffic through the other lane until the road can be repaired.

Jan. 10, 2023

2:15 p.m.
Gov. Gavin Newsom and CA officials give update on storm damage in Bay Area, state

Governor Gavin Newsom and California officials gave an update on the storm damage that slammed the Bay Area and state.

He says around 34,000 people across California are currently under evacuation orders and 163,000 people are without power in the state.

Gov. Newsom says the wind has been a disproportionate factor in terms of downed power lines and fallen trees.

He is reminding the public “just because it looks clear, doesn’t mean it is clear,” to take precautions with the weather.

Newsom also addressed the five-year-old San Luis Obispo boy who is missing after he was swept away in floodwaters on Monday.

“It’s at moments like this, we just pray for a miracle. That young boy child whose lives now danger having been missing for some time, down in Paso Robles.”

He also addressed how we’re in a drought. “We’re in the third year of the driest drought conditions that we’ve experienced in recorded history going back to 1896.”

Newsom also says “the dryers are getting a lot drier in the last three years and the wets are getting a lot wetter. This weather Whiplash is that new reality?”

He says the focus should be on how the state manages these challenges and how it deals with hydrology going forward. “In terms of storm water capture, rainwater capture, and how we address these floods in terms of banking the water for the future.”

1:45 p.m.
Flash Flood Warning downgraded to Flash Flood Watch

A Flash Flood Warning has been downgraded to a Flash Flood Watch for the entire Bay Area until 4 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.

1:21 p.m.
Tree falls on Muni bus in San Francisco

A big tree fell on a Muni bus in San Francisco on Tuesday, according to ABC7’s Lyanne Melendez who shot video of the incident. It happened at Stockton and Sutter. Melendez says live power lines also fell. No word yet on any injuries.

12:40 p.m.
Thunderstorms expected at parts of the Bay Area this afternoon, National Weather Service says

The National Weather Service says thunderstorms are expected to hit portions of the Bay Area throughout the afternoon on Tuesday. They are advising residents to take precautions, saying “when thunder roars, go indoors.”

Officials say Sutro Tower in San Francisco suffered a lightning strike as a thunderstorm moved across the city.

12:20 p.m.
Flash Flood Warning issued for SF, Daly City and South San Francisco, NWS says

A Flash Flood Warning has been issued for San Francisco, Daly City CA and South San Francisco until 3:30 p.m., the National Weather Service tweeted on Tuesday.

10:00 a.m.
SF sees half a year’s worth of rain in last 2 weeks

ABC7 News Meteorologist Drew Tuma says San Francisco has seen half a year’s worth of rain in the last two weeks. Since Christmas Day we have only experienced two completely dry days.

9 a.m.
These State Routes are closed in Santa Cruz County, CHP says

SR-9 at Keystone way

SR-9, between Glen Arbor Rd. and Holiday Ln.

SR-9, north of SR-236

SR-9 at Lazy Woods Rd.

SR-35 at Bear Creek Rd.

SR-236 at Little Basin Rd.

9 a.m.
Nearly 100,000 power outages in Bay Area

PG&E is reporting over 93,000 power outages on Tuesday, with most coming from the South Bay.

PG&E says that over 53,000 outages are in the South Bay and over 19,000 outages are on the Peninsula.

Downed trees and power lines have caused issues Tuesday morning.

4:45 a.m.
Flood Warning canceled for Russian River

The flood warning along the Russian River has been canceled as cresting moved just below the 32-foot flood stage.

However, there remains significant flooding and damage in the area. The parking lot at Steelhead Beach on the Russian River is underwater.

John Cordes says his friend’s entire yard in Guerneville flooded and his only way out was by boat.

Two cars submerged in flood waters at Slusser and River Roads just outside Santa Rosa.

Fire crews also helped rescue the driver trapped in a Mercedes.

4:30 a.m.
Southbound Hwy 17 has reopened

Following a landslide that blocked the road on Monday, Highway 17 at Glenwood Dr. in Los Gatos has reopened.

Before reopening the highway, CHP officers were out checking the roadways, which were lined with downed trees.

Jan. 9, 2023

7:45 p.m.
All lanes reopened on Highway 101 in Gilroy

The northbound and southbound lanes of Highway 101 in Gilroy have reopened, according to a Caltrans tweet. Both directions closed following major flooding on the highway and homes flooding.

Video shows homes, highways near Gilroy flooded following major storm

6:15p.m.
Southbound Highway 101 in Gilroy reopens

ABC7’s Amanda del Castillo said the southbound direction of Highway 101 in Gilroy has reopened.

5:30 p.m.
The following roads remain closed or experiencing flooding in Gilroy:

Northbound-one lane is open, all southbound lanes are closed. Closure anticipated through at least 6 p.m. For updates, visit here.

The City of Gilroy said drivers need to avoid Silva’s Crossing and the Christmas Hill Park area due to high flood waters and dangerous conditions.

As of 5:30 p.m., the following roads are now open to traffic:

3:30 p.m.
Evacuation warnings issued for parts of Santa Clara Co. due to flooding

Evacuation warnings have been issued for residents living in the areas of Highway 101 and Bolsa Road due to flooding and other severe weather impacts.

The areas include:

• South of Hwy 152, East of Hwy 101.
• South of Pacheco Pass (Hwy 152) and East of Hwy 101.
• South of Luchessa Ave. and East of Thomas Rd.
• East of Santa Teresa Blvd. to Castro Valley Rd.
• North of Castro Valley Rd. to Luchessa Ave.
• North of Hwy 25 between Hwy 101 & Bloomfield Rd.
• West of Bloomfield Ave. between Hwy 25 & Pacheco Pass (Hwy 152)
• East of Hwy 101 to Pacheco Pass (Hwy 152)

12:50 p.m.
Stretch of southbound Hwy 101 closed near Gilroy due to flooding

A stretch of southbound Highway 101 is closed near Gilroy on Monday due to flooding, police said.

Southbound lanes at Mesa Road, just south of Monterey Highway, are closed, according to an advisory sent shortly before noon.

Bolsa Road is also flooding between Travel Park Circle and Carnadero Avenue, police said.

Motorists are asked to avoid the area and use alternate routes.

11:50 p.m.
San Jose reporting several road closures due to flooding, landslides

The City of San Jose is reporting several road closure throughout the city due to flooding and landslides. Officials say Bailey Road between McKean Road and Santa Teresa is closed due to flooding and slides. Gardendale Drive, south of Hillsdale Avenue is closed due to “water levels overtopping.” Lastly, Mill Pond Drive under Highway 87 is closed due to flooding.

11:45 a.m.
Santa Cruz. Co bridge collapses into Carrolitos Creek

Fire officials are warning drivers to use another route in Santa Cruz County after the Browns Valley Road Bridge collapsed into the Carrolitos Creek. They say crews have responded to the scene and made contact with residents in the area.

11:30 a.m.
San Jose airport parking lot closed due to flooding

Officials at Mineta San Jose Int’l Aiport say Parking Lot 2 is currently closed due to flooding. Officials say that it does not impact cars already in the lot but the entrance to the lot. Travelers are being advised to use an alternative lot if you are parking at the airport today.

11:10 a.m.
Flooding reported on Crossover Drive through Golden Gate Park

Residents are encouraged to avoid the stretch of Crossover Drive that runs through Golden Gate Park due to flooding, according to an alert notification from AlertSF.

Emergency crews are working to clear the road between Fulton Street and Lincoln Way.

Drivers can expect additional travel time, and should consider alternative routes, said the notification.

Life traffic updates can be found at https://511.org/.

10:50 a.m.

All westbound lanes of Hwy 37 in Marin County closed due to flooding

Caltrans says all westbound lanes of Highway 37 at Atherton Drive in Marin County are closed due to flooding. For live traffic conditions head to https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov.

10:45 a.m.
Road closures reported in Fairfield due to flooding

Flooding in Fairfield resulted in some road closures Monday morning, police said.

The closures include the on- and off- ramps to: Webster Street from Highway 12 and from Jackson Street to Highway 12. In addition, Abernathy at Suisun Valley Road are closed due to floods, according to police.

Residents were advised to never drive through flooded roadways and if possible, to avoid traveling.

Flooding can be reported to the Fairfield Police Departments dispatch at (707) 428-7300.

10 a.m.
Southbound Highway 17 closed due to landslide

The California Highway Patrol tweeted out Monday morning that southbound Highway 17 is closed south of Glenwood Drive due to a landslide.

8:50 a.m.
Several Petaluma roads closed due to flooding

Roads across Petaluma has been closed due to flooding that has stranded several drivers. Authorities advise residents to avoid flooded roads and use detours. They say the rain is subsiding in the area but runoff from the Petaluma River watershed will continue for the next few hours.

• Petaluma Blvd North between Corona Road and US 101.
• Old Redwood Hwy between North McDowell and US 101.
• The intersection of Petaluma North and Industrial Drive/Stony Point Road is closed.
• Stony Point Road between Petaluma Blvd North and Pepper Road.
• Rainsville Road between Stony Road and Liberty Road.
• Lakeville Hwy (SR-116) between Stage Gulch Road and Frates Road.
• Westbound Lakeville in the 100 block, near Madison Street.
• Northbound North McDowell at Redwood Way.

8:15 a.m.
An Evacuation Warning has been issued for parts of Vacaville

Authorities have issued an Evacuation Warning for residents in the Southwood Place area in Vacaville. Officials say anyone living South of Marshall Road, East of Peabody, North of Alamo and West of the Putah Canal is advised there is a potential threat to life and property.

6:40 a.m.
Santa Cruz County evacuations

There are evacuations happening Monday morning in Santa Cruz County as the San Lorenzo River is at flood stage.

Aptos Beach Flats are under evacuation orders, as well as people in Felton Grove and Paradise Park.

You are also asked to leave if you are in Soquel Wharf Road.

People evacuating in the county can go to the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville and Cabrillo College in Aptos. Both areas are pet friendly and have RV parking.

Santa Cruz County provided this link to check on evacuations. You can also call 831-454-2285 for details on evacuations and shelters.

5:00 a.m.
President Biden approves California Emergency Declaration

The White House has approved Governor Gavin Newsom’s request to declare a federal emergency in California due to floods and storms.

This allows the state to get more federal funds and resources.

That includes Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Sonoma, and Santa Cruz counties.

This comes after Newsome announced the state government has mobilized resources.

Jan. 8, 2023

5:30 p.m.
Several Sonoma Co. schools will remain closed due to severe weather

As of Sunday night, some Sonoma County schools will remain closed on Monday due to severe weather. Here’s a list.

2:45 p.m.
Gov. Newsom discusses statewide efforts on flood safety amid severe winter storms

In a press conference, Governor Gavin Newsom and state, local and federal officials provided updates on the ongoing severe winter storms impacting California. The Governor highlighted flood preparations and discuss statewide efforts around flood safety.

He says the state government has mobilized resources to respond to flooding, power outages and major disasters.

Gov. Newsom is urging the public to use common sense and avoid putting yourself in dangerous situations.

“Just a foot of water and your car is floating. Half a foot of water and you’re off your feet. Half a foot of water you’re losing control of your vehicle. We’re seeing people go around these detours. because they don’t see any obstacles. they think everything is fine. putting their lives at risk and putting first responders lives at risk.

The California National Guard has mobilized troops and has four rescue helicopters on standby- including one here in the Bay Area.

Ambulance strike teams have also been activated around the state.

Drivers are being asked to postpone travel, if possible.

11:45 a.m.
A High Wind Warning issued for the entire Bay Area starting tonight through Monday morning

A High Wind Warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for the entire Bay Area starting at 8 p.m. tonight lasting through tomorrow morning, ABC7 meteorologist Drew Tuma tweeted on Sunday. Winds could gust as high as 60 mph around the Bay shoreline with 80 mph gusts possible along the coast and in our hills. Expect more trees down and power outages.

The National Weather Service says south winds 20 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph expected in the valley locations. 35 to 50 mph with gusts up to 80 mph above 1000 feet.

Local gusts to around 80 mph along the coast and highest peaks.

The High Wind Warning is issued for Marin Coastal Range, Sonoma Coastal Range, North Bay Interior Mountains, Coastal North Bay, Including Point Reyes National Seashore and North Bay Interior Valleys.

The NWS says damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.

9:30 a.m.
Flood Warning issued for Guadalupe River in Santa Clara County on Monday

The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Warning for the Guadalupe River in Santa Clara County above the Almaden Expressway on Monday.

“The next in a series of strong storms will move into the area tonight into Monday. Excessive rainfall will lead to increasing flooding concerns through the day on Monday as the heaviest rain is expected to fall between the hours of 4 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Monday,” the NWS wrote.

8:30 a.m.
Muir Woods closed Sunday as park officials asses wind damage

Park officials say Muir Woods in Mill Valley will be closed on Sunday as they will assess the park from high wind damage. They said all parking reservations will be automatically canceled and refunded.

Bay City News contributed to article

Watch the latest AccuWeather forecast and take a look at recent weather stories and videos.

If you’re on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live

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The post San Francisco Bay Space storm dwell updates: Southbound lanes of Hwy 1 reopen after rockslide close to Tom Lantos Tunnels appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

REDWOOD CITY (KPIX) — New express lanes along Highway 101 running from the Santa Clara County line to Whipple Ave. in Redwood City are set to open Friday.

“This will be transformative for commuters in this corridor, make no mistake about it,” said Kevin Mullin, a California state assemblyman. Mullin said that this commuter corridor between San Francisco and San Jose is the most economically productive in the state.

The express lanes will operate from 5 am to 8 pm on weekdays but will be free for vehicles with three or more people inside. Single-occupant cars or those with two people will pay a toll and all drivers need to have FasTrak.

“Projects like this are making a difference. They’re providing significant savings to those who use the corridor to go to work, go to appointments, centers of education or wherever they need to go,” said Carolyn Gonot, general manager of the Santa Clara Valley Transit Authority.

Express lanes recently opened along a stretch of Interstate 880 between Oakland and Milpitas. The carpool lanes were converted in October, 2020 so more drivers had the option to move faster along the freeway by paying the toll.

“Moving more people in fewer cars through our most congested corridors. That’s what express lanes are all about,” said John Goodwin, public information officer for the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. “They really don’t generate that much cash. In an ideal world they don’t generate any cash at all because the lane would be filled with carpoolers or buses.”

While money is not the goal, revenue from tolls increased 23 percent from the second quarter of 2021 to the third quarter. Drivers are moving at a faster speed in the express lanes, between 16 to 18 miles per hour faster than other lanes during peak hours.

“Time spent in traffic is not time that is productively spent. Consequently, that’s a drag on the economic efficiency of the whole Bay Area,” Goodwin said. “The numbers are clear. People are voting for express lanes by using them and the usage numbers are rising steadily.”

In the most recent quarter with data available, trips on that stretch of I-880 were approaching 4 million, more than a million above the same quarter in the prior year. Express lanes will continue to expand in the Bay Area including on Highway 101, extending north later this year.

The post New Freeway 101 Specific Lanes to Open Friday on the Peninsula – CBS San Francisco appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

SONOMA COUNTY (CBS SF) – CHP issued a severe traffic warning Friday afternoon following an accident involving multiple vehicles, including two large oil rigs, that blocked both directions of State Highway 37 in Sonoma County for hours.

KCBS Traffic’s Twitter account posted about the incident around 1:24 p.m.

There’s a new crash going east 37 east of Hwy-121 that at least partially blocks the lone trail. A large team and two cars are involved and the traffic hardly moves behind them. #SonomaCounty #KCBSTraffic photo: Caltrans pic.twitter.com/XqLNQbMPH2

– KCBS Radio – The Traffic Leader (@KCBSAMFMTraffic) November 5, 2021

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The Twitter account 511.org published about the accident around 1:40 p.m. and said that traffic was blocked in both directions.

UPDATE: Traffic collision with injuries on CA-37 heading east and heading west east of CA-121 in Sonoma County. All lanes blocked in both directions. https://t.co/ITRwoLsl4h

– 511 SF Bay (@ 511SFbay) November 5, 2021

The accident on CA-37 east of CA-121 blocked traffic to both east and west, according to the CHP.

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Shortly after 2 p.m., authorities confirmed that traffic on CA-37 had been diverted east to CA-121.

UPDATE: Traffic collision with injuries on CA-37 heading east and heading west east of CA-121 in Sonoma County. All lanes remain blocked in both directions. Eastbound traffic will be diverted at CA-121. https://t.co/ITRwoLsl4h

– 511 SF Bay (@ 511SFbay) November 5, 2021

Photos released by an ambulance service showed several rescue vehicles, including a CHP helicopter at the scene. Footage captured by Chopper 5 appeared to show a lane of traffic moving past the accident.

Skaggs MVA pic.twitter.com/SbeHVWNfjW

– Paramedics Ambulance (@MedicAmbulance) November 5, 2021

Shortly after 4:30 p.m., according to KCBS Radio, the lanes of the motorway to the west were released again. The lanes to the east were still closed.

Update – #SonomaCounty – # Highway37 WB lanes are now open. 37 EB remains closed on # Hwy121. #KCBSTraffic https://t.co/3vpTT8uPJk

– KCBS Radio – The Traffic Leader (@KCBSAMFMTraffic) November 5, 2021

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Shortly before 5 p.m., CHP announced that all lanes were open again. The drivers were advised to expect residual delays.

UPDATE: Residual delays on CA-37 going east between Walnut Ave and CA-121 in Sonoma County. All lanes open.

– 511 SF Bay (@ 511SFbay) November 5, 2021

The post All Lanes Reopen After Huge-Rig Accident Shuts Down Freeway 37 for Hours – CBS San Francisco appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

let us continue

If there were a Mission District history book, those years could go down as the “Golden Age of Affordable Housing”. There has recently been a rapid fire from affordable units like La Fénix, Avanza 490, and 2060 Folsom (to name a few) that are now launching all dozen of San Franciscan families.

Dairo Romero said his organization, the Mission Economic Development Agency, has so far helped around 54 families move into these new homes since October 2020. Navigating the DAHLIA process can be difficult, he told me – for example, a missing document can imperil the whole thing. But the pandemic year created a unique harmony between the city organizations that used to lead to a lot of controversy between authorities, he said. This means that much more progress has been made at a time coinciding with a flurry of developments.

“This crisis taught us that we could face it,” said Romero. “I think we achieved more.”

The wheels turn

For Rick Girling, a Bernal Heights resident and longtime cyclist, increasing bicycle safety is an issue that is literally close at hand. His son, who was riding his bike to work in a nearby bike shop, had a “serious accident” on Cortland Avenue last year. Now, having noticed more kids on the hill, Girling is signaling the need to change.

“I just decided I wanted to do something about it,” Girling told me. “I can see some children are being killed.”

Girling launched an online petition asking the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority to add three bike lanes in its neighborhood: one from Bayshore along Cortland Avenue towards Good Life Grocery; one from Mission Street up Cortland Avenue to the New Wheel Electric Bikes Store; and one from Cesar Chavez Street to the top of the hill.

Girling argued that the steepness of the hill can affect cyclists’ ability to go straight, increasing the likelihood of collisions with cars passing by and buses taking up space on the narrow road. “Accidents wait without cycle paths to Bernal,” he wrote on the petition.

So far, the petition “Cycle paths to Bernal” has targeted 30 out of 100 signatures. He is aware that people are against it; even his own son (no, not the one who was hit; who “likes the cars”) complains about the possible loss of parking spaces. But Girling, who was on his bike 16 years ago when he was hit by a Muni bus, said he believed it was a safety issue.

“I was in the hospital for three months. I was unable to work for a year and I still have pain every day, ”said Girling. “But I’m only one of hundreds of thousands who [got hit by a car on their bike]. “

An evergreen room

Sounds like a walk in the park. The groundbreaking for the India Basin Shoreline Park in Bayview begins on June 17th. The ambitious project promises to be “the biggest project of a generation,” a spokesman for the Recreation and Parks Department told me via email. It will be equipped with riverside paths, recreation rooms and a restored tidal landscape. The addition is intended to close the gap between parking capital and access, the spokesman continued in an email. “Everyone deserves safe, beautiful parks, regardless of neighborhood.”

And it’s part of a larger project called the India Basin Mixed-Use Project. The planned plan includes around 1,250 residential units as well as commercial and parking spaces.

Increase the performance

This week the city was full of talk about the Potrero power plant project, which promised to convert the former coal plant into thousands of residential units, a hotel, a life science laboratory, commercial space, parking, entertainment and open space.

Now it turns out that the first phase, which is in progress, should be more ambitious than originally planned. Originally, the construction of 660 residential units was planned in the first phase of the project, 76 of which are 100 percent affordable. But The Chronicle reported that the construction company has now increased it to 735 units, 100 of which are completely affordable. This is thanks to the project’s partner, Associate Capital, who also agreed to increase spending on infrastructure development for parks, plazas and sidewalks by $ 200 million. An additional commercial building was also thrown into the mix.

All in all, there will be 2,601 residential units there, around 30 percent of which are reserved as affordable. But don’t hold your breath, because city planners expect up to six construction phases over 30 years.

Housekeeping: What you missed and what I’m reading

I think about parks a lot right now. A new report I covered found that San Francisco’s parking system is one of the best in the country when it comes to factors like accessibility, spending, and equity. But there are still big differences in who has access to these urban oases; And while this doesn’t seem like a big deal, studies argue that living near greenery has been shown to offer numerous mental and physical benefits. The pandemic also emphasized the important roles. There, people could safely picnic and / or take a Covid-19 swab in their noses.

In keeping with infrastructure and green issues, Bloomberg’s City Lab wrote how environmentalists urge President Biden to cut $ 10 billion on the “greenway stimulus” to repair American “greenways”. These are cycling and hiking trails that ideally – but not always – combine green spaces. One such trail that could increase funding if this goes through is the 500-mile Bay Trail that runs through San Francisco and all nine Bay Counties.

I also reread Berkeleyside’s article, “Berkeley has a ‘tree equity’ gap between richer and poorer neighborhoods,” which was originally published in March, which examined where more trees are growing and highlighting a city program aimed at planting 1,000 trees . It explains how a lack of trees can lead to “aesthetically missing roads, increased air pollution and an unpleasant heat island effect”, which can be seen as contributing to health inequalities.

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