Table Of Content

GOLD£n GATE BRIDGE, MIGIIIilfly TROniPORTflTIOn DhTRICT (inD CUMENTS DEPARTMENt SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY REFERENCE BOOK Not lo be taken fromthe Library Introduction 2 TipsforVisitors 6 Buildingthe GoldenGateBridge 8 MajorBridgeImprovements, 1937to 1994 14 ARaceAgainstTime 16 GoldenGateBridgeStatistics 20 SightsandSounds 22 50thAnniversary 26 WorkingtheSpan 28 ManagingTraffic 32 GoldenGateBridgeTollHistory 36 BirthoftheGoldenGateTransitSystem 38 GoldenGateFerry 40 GoldenGateBus 46 TransitFares SS TransitFunding 56 DistrictDivision J7 BoardofDirectors S8 NorthwesternPacificRailroadRight-of-Way 59 ImplementationoftheAmericanswithDisabilitiesAct DistrictAdvisoryCommittees 61 DatestoRemember 62 Awards,HonorsandRecognitions 68 GlossaryofTerms 70 Bibliography 71 Credits 72 TABLE OH CONTENTS • • ''elcome to the secondedition This documentchroniclesthe chal- ofHighlights, FactsandFigures lengesfacedbytheDistrictasithasful- oftheGoldenGateBridge, filleditspublictrustinrepresentingthe Highwayand Transportation citizensofsixcounties, andresponding District. Since 1937, the totheneeds ofanentireregion. THE DISTRICT TODAY Districthas servedthepublicinterest byoperatingandmaintainingthe BasedinSanFrancisco, the Golden world-famousGolden Gate Bridge GateBridge, HighwayandTransporta- acrosstheentrance toSanFrancisco tionDistrictconsists ofthreeoperating Bay. AspartofU.S. Highway 101, the divisions. Bridge, BusandFerry, andan Golden Gate Bridge servesas avital administrativeDistrictDivision. Over- transportationlinkbetweenthe Cityof seeing865 full-time employeeswho San Francisco andthevastRedwood worktogetherinthepubHcinterest, the Empiretothenorth. GeneralManagercoordinatesthe operationsofalldivisions Thesetransportationresponsibilitieswere expandedby accordingtothepoHcyanddirectionofthe DistrictBoardof the CaliforniaStateLegislaturein 1969toincludetheopera- Directors. TheDistrictBoardofDirectorsconsistsof19 tion ofsafe, efficientandcost-eflFectivepubUctransitinthe membersrepresentingsixcounties: SanFrancisco, Marin, GoldenGate Corridor, northofSanFrancisco. Since 1970, Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, andDelNorte. DuringFiscal GoldenGateBus andFerryTransithasprovidedaviable Year(FY) 1993/94,nearly41 millionvehicles crossedthe alternativetothe automobilewhile contributingtothepro- GoldenGateBridgeand 10.6millioncustomersrode Golden tectionofourenvironment. GateBus andFerryTransit. INTRODUCTION • • THE MISSION Themissionofthe Golden Gate Bridge, Highway 8C TransportationDistrictis toprovide asafe, efficient, reliable meansforthemovementofpeople, goods, andservices withinthe Highway 101, Golden Gate Corridor. Incarrying outthis missionthe Districtoperates andmaintainsthe Golden Gate Bridge in a structurallysoundcondition, pro- videspublictransitservices includingbus andferrysystems, andcarries outits activitiesin a cost-effective, fiscallyrespon- sible manner. Further, the Districtrecognizesitsresponsibili- ty toworkas aparmerwithfederal, state, regional, andlocal governments andagenciestobestmeetthe transportation needs ofthepeople, communities, andbusinesses ofSan Francisco andthe North Bay areas. The Districtcontributes totheprotectionofthe environmentbyworkingwithother publicagenciesinprovidingattractive, efficientregionalpub- lic transitservices as analternate to the automobile, and encouragingtheuseofsuchservices. Since 1937, the Districthasbeensuccessfulinfulfillingits levytaxes, theuse ofsurplus Bridge tollrevenue isthe only primarymission: maintainingandoperatinganhistoric, availablelocalmeans the Districthasto supportthe District's — man-madewonderoftheworld amagrdficentBridge transbaytransitservices. Presently, Golden Gate Transitbus spanningthe GoldenGate atthe entrance to SanFrancisco andferryoperationsarefundedapproximately49percentby Bay. This ambitiousmissionwas expandedin 1969bythe surplus GoldenGate Bridge tolls and32percentbytransit CaliforniaState Legislamre to encompass anequallyimpor- fares. The remainderismetbyfederalandstate subsidies. tantvisionsetforthbythepeople ofSan Francisco andthe North Bay, toincludewhatmanytodayconsideran even D REF 3B8.04 H537 1994 greaterchallenge: providingefficient, cost-effectivepubHc transportationinthe Highway 101 Corridor. Withthemandatefiromthe CalfforniaState Legislature to Highlights, facts & figures enterthepublictransitbusiness, theDistrictplanned, devel- / oped, andimplementedwhatistodayanationallyrenowned bus andferrysystem. The Districtis alsounique amongBay Area transitoperationsbecause itprovidestransitservices withoutsupportfromlocal salestaxmeasures ordedicated Right:OneoftheuniquefeaturesoftheGoldenGate generalfunds. As the Districtdoesnothave the authorityto BridgseouitshtheendarocfhtohveeBrrhiidsgteo.riPcaiFnotritngPobiyntC,helsolceayteBdonaetsttehlel S.F. PUBLIC LIBfiARV 3 1223 04247 9619 ES INTRODUCTION • N mhe WHAT NOT TO MISS Bridge canbe averybusy TIP$fOR VISITOR) place, particularly duringthe Thefollowingattractions arelocated summermonths. Itis estimated onthe southeastside ofthe Golden thatoverninemillionpeoplefromaroundtheworld Gate BridgeToll Plazaandmaybe reachedmosteasilyby visitthe GoldenGate Bridge eachyear. parkinginthe EastParkingLot. To accessthe EastParking WEATHER Lot: Travelingnorthbound, take thelastSanFrancisco The climateistemperate marine andgenerallymildyear- northboundexitoffHighway lOL Travelingsouthbound, round. Daytime temperaturesrange from40 degreesin the proceedthroughthe farrighttoUlane #1 (westside). Take winter, to 75 degreesinthe summer. Morningandevening animmediaterightexitingHighway lOL Make another fogroUsinduringthe summermonthsbutgenerallyburns immediaterightonto aroadwaythatpassesunderneaththe offbymidday. toUplazaanddirecdyinto the EastParkingLot. VISTAS & PARKING JOSEPH B. STRAUSS STATUE There are two mainvistapointslocatedatthe Bridge. TheJosephB. Straussstame is a constantremindertoall One onthe northeast side andthe otheris onthe southeast ofthe determinationittooktobuUdthisgreatstructure. The side. Parkingis available atbothsitesincludingparking stame representsthe District's continuedrecognitionofthe spacesforpersonswithdisabilities. Ourneighbortothe manwho refusedtogiveupuntilhisvisionbecame areality. north andsouth, the Golden Gate NationalRecreationArea, MAIN CABLE C RO S S - S E C T I O offers additionalviewingareas. Adjacenttothe Straussstatueisasectionofthe main cable ofthe Golden Gate Bridge. The cross-section demon- stratesthe magnimde ofthisincredible engineeringfeat. Var- ious construction statistics are also displayed. GLORIOUS GOLDEN GATE GARDENS Since the 1960s, the renovatedgardenareashavebeenthe backdrop showcasingthehistoricBridge tovisitorsfrom aroundtheworld. Asvisitors stepbackfromthe Straussstat- ue, theyare facedwithyetanothervisualtreat: the immacu- lategardens. Onless thanfive acres, the annual andperennial flowerbeds andmanicuredhedges accentthebrickside- walks invitinggueststoinvestigate orwanderupordowna pathto viewthe Bridge from adifferentprospective. The gardenshavebeenacclaimedinJoanS. Hockaday'sbookThe GardensofSanFrancisco andinPacificHorticulturemagazine. ROUNDHOUSE GIFT CENTER One shouldnotleavetheareawithoutavisittothe Dis- trict's GiftCenterlocatedinthehistoric "Roundhouse" HIGHLIGHTS, FACTS AND FIGURES building. Designedin 1938, the Roundhousewasoriginally a restaurantforpassingmotorists. In 1973, itbecameDistrict offices. Then, in 1987, thebuildingwas transformedintothe GiftCenter. Opensevendays a,weekbetween9 a.m. and5 p.m. and8:30 a.m. to 7:30p.m. duringsummermonths, the GiftCenteroffers avarietyofinformationandsouvenirs of the Golden Gate Bridge. SNACKS InadditiontovisitingtheRoundhouse GiftCenter, visi- torsmayenjoysnacksandbeveragesavailableatastand adjacenttothe Straussstatue. PEDESTRIAN SIDEWALK HOURS Visitorstothe GoldenGateBridge mayaccesstheeast sidewalk, nearthe Strauss statue, ft-om5:00 a.m. to 9:00p.m. sevendays aweek. TIPS FOR VISITORS • BUILDinGM GOLDERGflTCBRIDGC