Car limits coming to Market Street
After literally decades of debate, San Francisco is about to begin a six week test of car restrictions on Market Street, including mandatory right turns at Eighth and Sixth Streets and a ban on private cars east of Fifth. The objective is to reduce auto traffic to speed up inbound transit vehicles and improve bicycle safety.
Rescue Muni has long supported this proposal due to the extremely long delays faced by Market Street Muni commuters, but we remain concerned that the city may not communicate the change well to auto drivers and transit riders alike. It is vitally important that auto drivers get clear and explicit instructions about how to get downtown from each intersection on Market Street – otherwise driver confusion will lead to anger and a quick reversal of this decision. Communication is absolutely key to this proposal being a success.
The Planning Department has some, but not much, detail about the project.
Update: Streetsblog interviewed a handful of people, including an SFBC staffer, and they seemed to like the idea.
This is only at test, but I agree this does not seem to have been well thought out or well planned. As I recall there are parking garages on one-way streets going south from Market. Those who approach the City from the south will make congestion worse north of Market.
I have taken the F line or a Market street bus in the middle of the day many times and was not delayed by traffic congestion. The problem is the mainly the commute. But then I can use Muni Metro. Maybe some non-political traffic engineering could help keep traffic moving. And what about taking bicycles off of market? They also delay transit.
Not to be cynical but could this be part of a campaign for Governor? If so, it does not make any difference if it fails in the long-run.
I’m particularly concerned about the proposal to do this 24/7. Market Street is a dangerous wasteland at night. Car traffic would be good for safety after about 9 pm.