August 2021 Slow Streets Program Update
Slow Streets continue to roll out!
Due to the success of the program, SoMa Slow Streets, 12th Avenue Slow Street, Hearst Slow Street and Lyon Slow Street have joined our list of implemented Slow Streets!
To date, 30 corridors have been implemented in San Francisco, totaling to 47 miles of Slow Streets:
- 12th Avenue from Lincoln way to Noriega Street (NEW!)
- 20th Avenue from Ortega to Judah streets
- 20th Street from Lexington Street to Potrero Avenue
- 23rd Avenue from Lake to Cabrillo streets
- 41st Avenue from Lincoln Way to Vicente Street
- Arkansas from 23rd to 17th streets
- Arlington from Roanoke to Randall streets
- Cabrillo Street from 45th to 25th avenues
- Chenery Street from Burnside Avenue to Lippard Avenue
- Clay Street from Arguello Boulevard to Steiner Street
- Duncan from Guerrero to Sanchez streets (more info below)
- Excelsior Avenue from London to Munich streets (more info below)
- Golden Gate Avenue from Masonic Avenue to Broderick Street
- Hearst Avenue from Ridgewood Avenue to Baden Street (NEW!)
- Holly Park Circle
- Kirkham Street from 7th Ave to Great Highway
- Lake Street from 28th avenue to 2nd avenue
- Lapu Lapu/Rizal/Tandang Sora/Bonafacio/Mabini streets from Folsom and Harrison streets (SoMa) (NEW!)
- Lombard between Mason and Powell streets
- Lyon Street from Turk to Haight streets (NEW!)
- Mariposa Street from Kansas to Mississippi streets
- Minnesota from Mariposa to 22nd streets
- Noe Street from Duboce to Beaver streets and 17th to 18th streets
- Ortega Street from 47th to 15th avenues
- Pacific Avenue from Steiner to Gough streets
- Page Street from Stanyan to Gough streets
- Sanchez Street from 23rd to 30th streets
- Shotwell Street from Cesar Chavez to 14th Street
- Somerset Street from Silver Avenue to Woolsey Street
- Tompkins Avenue from Andover to Putnam streets
The Slow Streets program aims to create pedestrian and bicycle priority streets that are calmer and allow for shared roadway usage between people walking, biking, rolling, exercising, or driving. The shared roadway facility is created by discouraging vehicle through traffic and encouraging slower vehicle speeds using traffic diverters and signage. Slow Streets are not full street closures and local vehicle traffic, delivery/mail services, and emergency responders can still access the Slow Street.
For updates and additional information on the SFMTA’s Slow Street Program, please visit the program webpage.
Four Slow Streets receive authorization to remain beyond the COVID-19 pandemic and associated the Mayor’s State of Emergency!
Thank you to everyone who showed up at the Board of Directors meeting on August 3rd to show support for Slow Streets!
The SFMTA’s Slow Streets program was launched as part of the Mayor’s State of Emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Slow Streets provided spaces that allowed for better socially distanced outdoor exercise, active transportation, and opportunities for recreation. Slow Streets also served as an important part of the transportation network while Muni service was reduced to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated health orders. Since that time, many community members have voiced support for continuing Slow Streets beyond the pandemic.
The SFTMA has been evaluating each Slow Street and engaging with community members and Slow Streets users about how to continue the successes of the program and what changes should be made in locations where a Slow Street didn’t work out. The following four Slow Streets have been authorized to exist beyond the pandemic and are now disassociated from the Mayor’s State of Emergency:
- Golden Gate Avenue from Masonic Avenue to Broderick Street
- Lake Street from 28th Avenue to 2nd avenue
- Sanchez Street from 23rd to 30th streets
- Shotwell Street from Cesar Chavez to 14th Street
Two of the Slow Streets, Sanchez and Shotwell streets, have already initiated community outreach and design processes to further enhance the Slow Street and respond to issues brought up by users and community members. The next step in their post-pandemic outreach and design process is to attend an SFMTA Engineering Public Hearing for final approvals.
The other two Slow Streets, Golden Gate Avenue and Lake Street, will start their community outreach and design processes later this Fall. Stay tuned for more details.
For more information on these four post-pandemic Slow Streets, please visit our Post-Pandemic Slow Streets program webpage.
Due to their low usage and lack of consistency with future planning efforts, the following Slow Streets will be removed this month:
- Duncan Street from Guerrero Street to Sanchez Street
- Excelsior Avenue from London Street to Munich Street
SFMTA’s evaluation for Duncan Slow Street revealed that the corridor was under-utilized and did not meet the criteria to be a part of the Slow Street network moving forward. The majority of 413 survey respondents did not want Duncan Slow Street to continue. Community input has guided our focus towards establishing Sanchez Slow Street as Noe Valley’s post-pandemic Slow Street.
Visit the Sanchez Slow Street virtual open house for more information.
The 52 Excelsior bus service will return this month. Due to the conflicting portions of the Excelsior Slow Street corridor that the bus route will run on, the Slow Street will be removed prior to the return of bus service. Due to the low usage of Excelsior Slow Street, SFMTA has determined that the return of bus services will provide a greater benefit than the continuation of the Slow Street.
SFMTA relies on community input to guide our planning and design process. There is an opportunity in the future for an alternative Slow Street if the community expresses a desire for a replacement for Excelsior Slow Street.
To provide feedback, access the digital comment card.