Popularity of cellphones in Cal. prompted transportation agency f...

use of call boxes due to proliferation of cellphones, and cost savings, as reasons. Past efforts by Bay Area Metropolitan Transportation Commission to remove roadside call boxes had to be abandoned due to outcry from upset public, but transport agency hopes opposition this time will be minimal. Three-year plan calls for removal of least- used call boxes and spacing remaining boxes farther apart. They now are about 1,700 feet apart, but later would be about half-mile apart. Agency said move would free up $14 million annually for other roadside emergency programs. Agency said over last 5 years roadside assistance requests from call boxes have fallen 60%, to 80,000 per year from 200,000, while requests from cellphone users had climbed by similar percentage. Cal. has 17,000 emergency call boxes along 6,000 miles of freeways around state, more than in all other 49 states combined. Call boxes automatically connect to local 911 dispatching center. Call box movement started in Southern Cal. in 1960s due to series of tragedies that might have been averted with roadside phones. Call box system spread statewide in 1980s after legislature authorized $1 surcharge on vehicle registrations to finance system. Some consumer groups say many drivers don’t own cellphones or may not have phone with them, so call box system should be retained. But transport agency says declining use indicates call boxes no longer may be best use for roadside program funds. Other Cal. cities and state transportation officials say they will be watching results of San Francisco’s call box removal attempt.