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This page describes various traffic calming meausres and where they have been constructed each fiscal year.


SPEED HUMPS / SPEED CUSHIONS

A speed hump is a raised area in the roadway designed to slow cars without creating the noise, vibration or safety issues associated with older speed bumps, like those found in parking lots. A speed cushion is a speed hump with slots cut out so that buses can drive through with minimal vertical deflection. This design is safer for standing customers who would would be jolted by a speed hump. Speed cushions are generally only installed on Muni routes in the City.

2008 / 2009
In 2008 / 09, the Traffic Calming Program installed 7 speed humps at the following locations:

1. Beacon Street between Diamond and Harry
2. Cerritos between Ocean and Moncada
3. Octavia Frontage Road between Haight and Page
4. Octavia Frontage Road between Page and Oak
5. Octavia Frontage Road between Oak and Fell
6. Santa Ana between Monterey and St. Francis Blvd.
7. Santa Ana between St. Francis Blvd and San Anselmo

speed hump
Speed Hump on Cerritos between Ocean and Moncada

2007 / 2008

In 2007 / 2008, the Traffic Calming Program installed 15 speed humps and 4 speed cushions at the following locations:

Speed Humps
1. Castle Street between Union and Green Streets
2. Circular Avenue between Monterey Avenue and Hearst Avenue
3. Oakdale Avenue West of Ingalls Street
4. Precita Avenue between Folsom and Coso Streets (2 locations)
5. Richland Avenue between Andover Street and Lesse Streets (2 locations)
6. 21st Street between Noe and Sanchez Streets
7. Santa Clara Avenue between Monterey Boulevard and Saint Francis Boulevard (2 locations)
8. Yerba Buena between Santa Clara and Santa Paula Avenues
9. Norfolk Street between Harrison and Folsom Streets
10. Elizabeth Street between Sanchez and Church Streets
11. Santa Ana between San Anselmo Avenue and Monterey Boulevard (2 locations)

Speed Cushions
1. Teresita Boulevard between Sequoia and Gaviota Ways
2. Oakdale Avenue east of Griffith Street
3. Moscow Street between Excelsior Brazil Avenues
4. Moscow St: between France and Russia Avenues

As with past years, most of the speed hump/cushion locations were derived from a combination of site specific and area-wide traffic calming projects.

2006 / 2007
In 2006 / 2007, the Traffic Calming Program installed 14 speed humps and 5 speed cushions at the following locations: 

Speed Humps
1. Portola Frontage Road: west of Sydney           
2. Lisbon St: between Avalon-Peru                      
3. Athens St: between France-Italy          
4. Madrid St: between Persia-Russia        
5. Madrid St: between Avalon-Peru         
6. 17th Ave: between Irving-Judah           
7. 18th Ave: between Irving-Judah           
8. Circular Ave: between Baden-Congo   
9. Circular Ave: between Judson-Congo  
10. 6th Ave between Irving-Judah             
11. 6th Ave between Kirkham-Judah        
12. McKinnon: between Lane-Keith          
13. Brompton Ave between Joost and Bosworth    

Speed Cushions
1. Circular Ave: between Monterey-Hearst 
2. Lippard Ave: between Joost and Bosworth      
3. Teresita Blvd: between Sequoia-Gaviota          
4. Ellsworth: between Alemany-Crescent (2 locations)      

Most of the locations were derived from a combination of site specific and area-wide traffic calming projects.

2004 / 2005

In 2004 / 2005 the Traffic Calming Program installed speed humps or speed cushions at 17 locations (some locations had multiple humps/cushions): 

Speed Humps
1. Tiffany                         
2. Precita                           
3. Andover                                    
4. Willow/ Larch                
5. Precita                           
6. DeLong / Plymouth      
7. Bernal Heights Boulevard           
8. Fitzgerald/ Hawes
9. Hoff                                        
10. Cervantes                               
11. Lexington                               
12. Rossi                                       
13. Clara   

Speed Cushions
1. Crescent between Porter and Bache
2. Crescent between Arnold and Roscoe
3. Crescent between Agnon and Murray
4. Crescent between Mission and Leese
5. Sunnydale between Santos and Hahn

Most of the locations were derived from a combination of site specific and area-wide traffic calming projects.                                  

Crescent Ave cushion front view

Crescent Ave cushion side view Crescent Ave cushion bus

Speed Cushions on Crescent Avenue, Bernal Heights

speed hump
Speed Humps on Bernal Heights Boulevard

Rossi Ave before Rossi Ave after

Speed humps on Rossi Avenue, Lone Mountain (before and after)

Hoff St before Hoff St after

Speed hump on Hoff Street, Mission District (before and after)

Pre- 2004

Beacon hump south of diamond Beacon Ave north of Miguel

Beacon Street, Diamond Heights

Pilot speed hump on Cervantes St
Cervantes Boulevard, Marina District

BULB-OUTS / CHANNELIZATION / MEDIAN ISLANDS

2008 / 2009

In 2008 / 09 the Traffic Calming Program installed 10 traffic islands, 2 traffic channelizations, 4 corner bulbs, and 5 median extensions.  It also assisted DPW with the placement and design of 14 pedestrian islands on Noriega Street

Traffic Islands:
1. Broad at San Jose (1)
2. Teresita at Marietta (1)
3. Flood at Circular (1)
4. Staples at Circular (1)
5. Kansas at 23rd Street (1)
6. Kansas at 24th Street (2)
7. Kansas at 25th Street (1)
8. Kansas at 26th Street (1)
9. Balboa at Funston (1)
10. Noriega at 23rd Ave (1)
11. Noriega at 26th Ave (2)
12. Noriega at 32nd Ave (2)
13. Noriega at 35th Ave (2)
14. Noriega at 38th Ave (2)
15. Noriega at 39th Ave (1)
16. Noriega at 41st Ave (2)
17. Noriega at 43rd Ave (1)
18. Noriega at 47th Ave (1)

traffic island
Traffic Island at Teresita and Marietta

traffic island
Traffic Island at Flood and Circular

traffic island
Traffic Island at Staples and Circular

traffic island
Traffic Island at Noriega and 35th Avenue

Traffic Channelizations:
1. Bella Vista at Teresita
2. Addison at Digby
3. Noe Street between 14th Street and Duboce Avenue (chicane/roadway narrowing)

traffic channelization
Traffic Channelization at Bella Vista and Teresita

Corner Bulbs:
1. Persia at Paris (SW corner)
2. Page at Webster (NW and SE corners)
3. Moscow at Excelsior (SW corner)
4. Persia at Vienna (SW corner)
5. 10th/Howard bulb (SW corner, with south crosswalk reopened)

corner bulb
Corner bulb at the southwest corner of Moscow and Excelsior

corner bulb
Corner bulb at the southwest corner of Persia and Vienna

Median Extensions:
1. Alemany at San Juan
2. Lincoln at 4th Avenue
3. Lincoln at 8th Avenue
4. Lincoln at 10th Avenue
5. Lincoln at 12th Avenue

median extension
Median Extension on Lincoln at 10th Avenue

2007 / 2008
In 2007 / 2008 the Traffic Calming Program completed 15 traffic channelization/median refuge islands and 2 bulb-outs. DPT/MTA staff coordinated efforts with DPW Bureau of Street and Sewer Repair (BSSR) and the DPT sign and paint shops. These projects incorporated streetscape amenities such as faux brick stamping and trees.

Traffic Channelization and Pedestrian Safety Islands were installed at the following locations:

  • Teresita Boulevard at Bella Vista Way
  • Broad Street at San Jose Avenue 
  • Marietta Drive at Teresita Boulevard

Traffic Channelization was installed at the following locations:

  • 4th Avenue between Parnassus Street and Irving Street
  • 5th Avenue between Parnassus Street and Irving Street
  • Hudson Street between Ingalls and Cashmere Streets
  • Kiska Road west of Dormitory
  • Quesada Avenue between Lane Street and Keith Street
  • Revere Avenue between Lane Street and Keith Street

Corner Bulbs were installed at the following locations:

  • Persia Avenue and Paris Street
  • Lisbon Street between Silver and Peru Avenues

Median Pedestrian Refuge islands were installed at the following locations:

  • Kansas Street at 23rd, 24th, 25th and 26th Streets

island        island
Teresita Boulevard at Bella Vista Way (before and after)

island         island
Teresita Boulevard at Marietta Drive (before and after)

island        island
Hudson Avenue East of Cashmere Street (before and after)

2006 / 2007
In 2006 / 7 the Traffic Calming Program completed 2 traffic channelization/median refuge islands and 4 bulb-outs. DPT/MTA staff coordinated efforts with DPW Bureau of Street and Sewer Repair (BSSR) and the DPT sign and paint shops. Some streetscape amenities, like faux brick stamping and trees, were also incorporated on all these islands. These projects include:

• Corner bulbs on the southeast and northeast corners of Golden Gate and Jones
• Corner bulbs on the southeast and northwest of 24th and Potrero
• Channelization measures at the intersection of Circular and Hearst Avenues
• A pedestrian refuge island at the intersection of Malta Drive and O’Shaughnessy Boulevard

island
Golden Gate and Jones Corner Bulbs

island
Hearst at Circular Median Island

2005 / 2006
In 2005 / 6, the Traffic Calming Program installed 13 pedestrian refuge islands on Potrero Avenue.  We also implemented the City’s first modern chicane median island on Beacon Street.  We completed the Tiffany/Duncan channelization and pedestrian improvement project; planting at least 6 trees and building a large pedestrian island for people crossing Valencia Street in front of St. Luke’s Hospital.  This project was completed at a large cost savings because of an innovative design crafted by MTA staff and DPW crews that avoided utility relocation.  The large intersection of Holly Park Circle and Elsie Street was built out to narrow the pedestrian crossing and slow turns.  At least 5 trees were planted in conjunction with this project.  We also constructed a traffic chicane on Alabama Street by alternating 90-degree parking on this wide street.  A pedestrian refuge island was installed at the bottom of the hill, adjacent to Precita Park.  This island serves park users and is a gateway treatment to announce a different roadway alignment.

island
New Duncan Street median at Tiffany Avenue

Beacon St chicane overhead view

Beacon chicane north Beacon chicane south

Beacon Street Chicane, Diamond Heights

island
The College/Mission/Crescent landscaped median

island
Rolph/Naples Traffic Island

island
Potrero Avenue Traffic Islands and New Midblock Traffic Signal in front of SFGH

2004 / 2005
DPT/MTA staff facilitated multiple community meetings and designed and installed median refuge islands at various locations. Those locations include; Jordan Avenue at Geary Boulevard, College Avenue at Mission Street, Mission Street at Murray Avenue, Beacon Street, Potrero Avenue, Santos Street and Brookdale Avenue. DPT/MTA staff has been working to develop and encourage low-cost surface texture and tinted color enhancements to improve the cosmetic appearance of these fixtures.

Many of the median islands constructed this past year have included landscaping. Trees have been planted at the Jordan/Geary location and are scheduled for installation at College Avenue at Mission Street and Beacon Street locations.

DPT/MTA staff facilitated multiple community meetings and, based on community input and engineering review, designed a number of bulb outs and channelizations at various locations. Those locations include; Baker Street at Chestnut Street, Tiffany Avenue/Duncan Street/Valencia Street, and the Alabama Street Chicanes.

As part of the Potrero Avenue Livable Streets Corridor Project, several median refuge islands were constructed in conjunction with the lane restriping.  Potrero Avenue was restriped from six traffic lanes to four through traffic lanes and bicycle lanes.  We were able to make room for median refuge islands, some as wide as 12 feet at the T-intersections, to assist pedestrians crossing this wide street.  A median island was constructed as both a gateway treatment and a slow point device at the Geary Boulevard and Jordan Avenue intersection.  Another major highlight was the construction of the City’s first traffic island chicane on Beacon Street.   Some streetscape amenities, like faux brick stamping and trees, were also incorporated on all these islands.

Construction on the permanent channelization islands at Tiffany Avenue, Duncan Street and Valencia Street began this year.   A similar island was constructed at Baker and Chestnut Streets.  The design for channelization at Holly Park Circle and Elsie Streets and for the chicanes on Alabama Street in Bernal Heights were finished this year, ready for construction in 2006.

island
Pedestrian Refuge Island at Potrero Avenue and 20th Street

island
Traffic Island at Geary Blvd and Jordan Avenue

TRAFFIC CIRCLES / INTERSECTION ISLANDS
A traffic circle is a raised island in the middle of an intersection. It helps control the right of way through the intersection and forces drivers to slow down. The circle also provides an opportunity to increase landscaping in the neighborhood.

2005 / 2006
In 2005 / 6, the Traffic Calming Program installed four traditional traffic circles at the following locations:

  • Earl/Kirkwood
  • Cambridge/Trumbull
  • College/Genebern
  • Benton/Genebern

While we had plans to construct four additional circles, intersection geometry and community preference for other treatment dictated that we implement traffic islands that in effect serve the same purpose as traffic circles in reclaiming street space for pedestrians and streetscape opportunities.  These traffic islands were installed at the following locations:

  • Harbor/Northridge
  • Virginia/Coleridge
  • Rolph/Naples
  • Fitzgerald/Ingalls

traffic circle
Planting at the College/Genebern Traffic Circle

traffic circle
Finished Traffic Circle at Benton/Genebern

traffic circle 
Earl/Kirkwood Traffic Circle

2004 / 2005
DPT/MTA staff facilitated multiple community meetings to identify the location and design of traffic circles at various locations throughout the City. Traffic circles have been installed at the following locations where large open intersections encourage higher speeds; Harbor Road at Northridge Road, Middle Point Road at West Point Road and Cambridge Street at Trumbull Street. Temporary traffic circles have been installed at Benton Avenue and Genebern Way and College Avenue, at Genebern Way, with permanent construction scheduled for early February.

Existing traffic circles were brought up to current standards at Urbano Drive at Victoria Street, Urbano Drive at Corona Street, and Excelsior Avenue at Vienna Street  This was accomplished by installing up-to-date signage and pavement markings.

Traffic circles were built at Middle Point and West Point Roads, Harbor and Northridge Roads, and Trumbull and Cambridge Streets. 

traffic circle
Traffic Circle at Middle Point and West Point Roads

Benton Ave before Benton Ave after
Geneburn Ave before Geneburn Ave after

Traffic Circle at Genebern Way and Benton Avenue, Bernal Heights

Photo of small residential traffic circles.
Urbano Drive, Ingleside Terrace

ROAD DIETS & EDGELINES

2008 / 2009
In 2008 / 09 the Traffic Calming Program implemented road diets on 2 corridors and striped edgelines on 3 corridors.

Road Diets:
1. 7th Avenue, Lincoln Way to Lawton Street
2. 25th Avenue, Fulton to Lake

road diet road diet
Road Diet on 25th Ave from Fulton to Lake Streets, before and after

Edgelines:
1. 19th Avenue
2. 4th Ave from Irving to Parnassus
3. 5th Ave from Irving to Parnassus

2007 / 2008

In 2007 / 2008, the Traffic Calming Program implemented one road diet, on Clipper Street, from Douglass to Diamond Heights Boulevard.


More information on the use of various types of traffic calming measures.


COMPLETED AREA-WIDE AND SITE-SPECIFIC PROJECTS

25th Avenue

Potrero Avenue

North Bernal Heights

South Bernal Heights

Divisadero Street

 

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