San Francisco's Lombard Street closures start this weekend

SAN FRANCISCO -- Several changes are coming for San Francisco drivers and transit riders this summer, starting with a pilot closure of the city's famous crooked street this weekend.

A pilot project designed to increase safety and reduce congestion on part of Lombard Street known as the "Crooked Street" begins this weekend.

Lombard Street between Larkin and Leavenworth streets will be closed to vehicle traffic today and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. The closures continue on June 28 and 29, and again on July 4, 5, 6, 12 and 13.

Resident vehicles, taxis and emergency vehicles will still be allowed on Lombard Street, and pedestrian, bicycle traffic and Muni service will not be restricted.

In other changes, that started Friday, all historic streetcars on the F-Market & Wharves Muni Metro line will be relocated from the Cameron Beach Yard at San Jose and Geneva avenues to operate out of the Muni Metro East light-rail maintenance facility near Third and Cesar Chavez streets.

The historic streetcars will no longer operate along the J-Church Muni Metro Line.

Beginning Saturday, the streetcars will begin pulling in and out of the Muni Metro East yard.

In addition, starting July 6, parking meters will not require payment on Sundays, except meters on San Francisco Port property.

There are exceptions to the policy, including Port of San Francisco jurisdiction meters, Fisherman's Wharf area meters and some SFMTA-managed metered parking lots.

For the first three Sundays in July, parking control officers will place informational flyers on vehicles parked at expired meters in areas where the meters will remain operational.

And lastly, starting Monday, SFMTA crews will begin constructing full-length transit bulbs on Columbus Avenue between Filbert and Union streets, affecting the 30-Stockton and 8X-Bayshore Express routes. The construction is expected to last through mid-August and will be on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Lane closures and delays should be expected during the duration of the construction project.