Golden Gate Avenue Slow Street
The Golden Gate Avenue Slow Street is an effort to improve safety and support active transportation on this corridor, which provides an important connection through the North of the Panhandle neighborhood to parks, schools, and the University of San Francisco. Golden Gate Avenue was initially designated as a COVID-19 Response Slow Street in June 2020, and approved by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) Board as a post-pandemic Slow Street in August 2021. On December 6, 2022, the SFMTA Board affirmed Golden Gate Avenue’s inclusion in the ongoing Slow Streets program.
Learn more about the Slow Street program
Golden Gate Avenue Slow Street Evaluation
Following the implementation of the Golden Gate Avenue Slow Street, the SFMTA Project team collected data to assess how the street is performing against the Slow Streets Program targets:
- Vehicle speeds at or below 15 mph
- Vehicle volumes less than 1,000 per day
For additional information on how this street compares to others in the Slow Streets program, or for overall program findings, please see the 2023 Evaluation Report.
Background
Golden Gate Avenue was initially introduced as a Slow Street during the pandemic response phase of the program in 2020. Following a program-wide outreach process to measure the effectiveness of COVID-19 Response Slow Streets in 2021, Golden Gate Avenue proved to have high rates of use, and vehicle speeds and volumes that met criteria for a low-stress street. Based on the outcome of that evaluation, the SFMTA Slow Streets team recommended that Golden Gate Avenue—along with Shotwell Street, Sanchez Street, and Lake Street—be made permanent Slow Streets by SFMTA Board. The Board approved the recommendation, and outreach to develop a more robust design for Golden Gate Avenue began in the Winter of 2021. This phase of outreach included a survey, two project open houses, a walk audit, and numerous community meetings.
In December 2022, the SFMTA Slow Streets team brought a plan for an ongoing Slow Streets Program to the SFMTA Board for approval. Because this represented the creation of a new program for the City, it was necessary to re-authorize the four previously- approved “post-pandemic” Slow Streets as part of the new Slow Streets Program. On December 6, 2022, the ongoing Slow Streets Program for San Francisco was approved, and Golden Gate Avenue was among the 16 initial corridors included in the Program. The ongoing Slow Streets Program establishes a set of data-driven criteria for measuring the success of Slow Streets, and includes an expanded design toolkit for implementing Slow Streets. The Slow Streets Program team will be evaluating Golden Gate Avenue to determine if the previously- implemented design needs to be refined to meet the new Program criteria for vehicle volumes and speeds following the approval of the permanent program.
Golden Gate Avenue Slow Street Design
The design for the Golden Gate Avenue Slow Street was approved on July 8, 2022 and features the following elements to calm traffic and lower vehicle volumes, in addition to Slow Streets identification materials such as pavement markings and signs, and Slow Streets delineators:
- A partial diverter at Masonic Avenue to prevent eastbound vehicles from entering the street
- A speed cushion between Masonic Avenue and Central Avenue to slow speeds
- Raised crosswalks at Baker and Broderick streets to slow speeds and improve pedestrian visibility
Next Steps
When data was collected in January 2023, Golden Gate Avenue did not meet program speed targets but did meet program volume targets, however implementation of traffic calming elements between Parker and Masonic Avenue was not yet complete. It is anticipated that with the inclusion of these elements the street will meet the program vehicle speed targets. The Slow Streets program team will continue to monitor vehicle volumes and speeds on this street.
Questions or feedback? Email SlowStreets@SFMTA.com and include "Golden Gate Avenue" in the subject line. To receive Project updates, please sign up via the link on the righthand side of this page.