SF: This Car-Free Design on Market Street is a Game-Changer
Planners for San Francisco’s Better Market Street project are holding an ongoing set of pop-up/outreach meetings at the Strand Theater, near Civic Center station on Market.
From the project’s Q&A:
…the project proposes to restrict private vehicles on Market Street, from 10th to Spear streets. Buses, taxis, commercial vehicles and paratransit would be exempt from vehicle restrictions.
Banning private cars is probably the most stand-out element of the design for Streetsblog’s readers. But as previously reported, this will also be the first major overhaul of Market Street in nearly a half century. The $500 million project, which will re-arrange the street and repair and replace the infrastructure underneath and the surfaces on top, as well as change how Muni buses are run, is supposed to start construction next year. For now, engineering and outreach continue.
Streetsblog checked in on this first week of pop-up meetings this afternoon. Unfortunately, turnout was light, which city officials say they hope will change as more people get word of the meetings (such as through Streetsblog).
SFMTA’s Phillip Pierce, said so far people seem excited about the protected, sidewalk-level bike lanes, as seen in the lead rendering and in the diagram below.
Another visitor hoped to see more street art in the designs, said Cristina Olea of Public Works.
The pop-ups will continue through February according to the following schedule:
POP-UP SCHEDULE & TOPICS
- Tuesday, Feb. 5 10 a.m. – noon Landscape, trees and public realm
- Thursday, Feb. 7 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Loading
- Tuesday, Feb. 12 10 a.m. – noon Transit changes/transit shelters
- Thursday, Feb. 14 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Proposed sidewalk level bikeway
- Tuesday, Feb. 19 10 a.m. – noon Transit changes/transit shelters
- Thursday, Feb. 21 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Loading
- Tuesday, Feb. 26 10 a.m.-noon Transit
- Thursday, Feb. 28 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Landscape, trees and public realm
If you can’t make a pop-up, check out their newest renderings and designs online.
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