Yes, those are boarding "safety" islands - though somebody would occasionally drive up on one and wipe out a few people.

I think the Vehicle Code still has a provision in it somewhere that when a streetcar stops, and there is no "island" available for passengers, cars between the tracks and the curb must stop behind the rear door of the streetcar until it leaves. Wonder how that works with LRVs & LRV trains -- you'd have to stop a LONG way back from the intersection in that case!