Traffic Calming

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Are you annoyed by speeding cars on your street? Are you ever worried that your children might be unsafe walking home from school? Are you concerned that you'll be hit the next time you decide to ride your bike?

You're not alone. Many people are concerned about traffic safety in San Francisco. San Francisco's Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA)/Department of Parking and Traffic (DPT) is asking for your help to calm traffic in your neighborhood!

What is Traffic Calming?

SFMTA/DPT's Traffic Calming Program, part of our Livable Streets effort, is working on improving safety on San Francisco's streets. This relatively new program addresses some of the traffic problems associated with the growing number of cars in our city, and to make our neighborhood streets friendlier for pedestrians, children, bicyclists, and motorists.

The launch of Livable Streets came in 2000, thanks to the efforts of Mayor Willie L. Brown, Jr., who wanted to bring the new program to the City, and provided the resources to do so. As a result, San Francisco now has new tools to address growing traffic safety concerns.

The program addresses issues such as:

speeding
reckless driving
pedestrian safety
traffic spillover from main arterials to local roads
excessive noise and traffic levels
road rage
impact of crowded highways and main streets on driver behavior

The Traffic Calming Program uses innovative tools and methods to address these traffic problems. The goal of the Program is safer streets for everyone, without restricting access to anyone.

Traffic Calming in San Francisco

SFMTA/DPT began its Pilot Traffic Calming Project in October 2000, in Bernal Heights. SFMTA/DPT worked with a number of city agencies and the Bernal Heights community to make this project happen, and has expanded this effort to include other neighborhoods. The City's approach to Traffic Calming primarily focuses on:

1) Local Streets - site specific and area wide
2) School Areas
3) Arterial and Comercial Streets

Check out our Current Projects to see what we are doing now.
Or check out our Completed/Pilot Projects to see what we have done so far.

The Traffic Calming guidelines outline how streets, intersections and neighborhoods become eligible for traffic calming. They were developed by two working groups to provide a framework for Livable Streets efforts.

Traffic Calming Toolbox

In practice, traffic calming takes many forms. It can include very simple measures such as planting trees or installing signs. More sophisticated traffic calming projects have introduced physical measures that force motorists to slow down.

Such physical measures can be very successful when complemented with police enforcement and educational outreach. All measures in the end have the same purpose, which is to make the streets safer and more livable, and to reduce unsafe driving.

For more information on the physical tools of traffic calming, visit the Institute of Transportation Engineers Traffic Calming website. This page has a comprehensive list of the types of traffic calming measures currently available.

Informational Resources

Interested in knowing more about the San Francisco Traffic Calming program? The following materials are available to borrow for meetings and events related to the San Francisco Traffic Calming Program.
To request one of these products below for your meeting, please contact Livable Streets.

1. San Francisco Traffic Calming Program (Video). This seven-minute video is a wonderful overview on what traffic calming can mean for you and your neighborhood.

2. San Francisco Traffic Calming Program Exhibit. Our exhibit on traffic calming has been designed to give a brief and easily understood overview of traffic calming. It can be easily transported and installed in any meeting.

Request Traffic Calming in Your Neighborhood

Si Ud. quiere informacin sobre el Programa para Moderar el Trfico (Traffic Calming Program), llame a Sam Fielding a 415.701.4482.


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