Name: SF’s Slow Streets program adds 14 more roadways to free up space during pandemic
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SF’s Slow Streets program adds 14 more roadways to free up space during pandemic

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This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateFourteen more streets will be added to network, which aims to slow traffic through residential neighborhoods during the coronavirus outbreak to create more room for exercise and improve access to essential services.The city’s Municipal Transportation Agency announced the expansion of the network Thursday, adding to the streets previously identified in April and May. It nearly doubles the number of streets in the network to 30 total. The agency is also expected to approve the closure of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive on the west side of Golden Gate Park, completing a car-free path through the park to the Pacific Ocean.The idea of closing neighborhood streets has spread across the Bay Area, creating what some have called a Slow Streets movement that has now made its way to other cities around the nation. installed the first barriers in April, and since then, San Francisco, and have closed off roadways to cars. San Mateo, Berkeley and San Jose are also considering their own programs.The initiative in San Francisco followed the city’s decision to during the pandemic, prompting more people to use other modes for transportation for essential services. Some of those lines have since been restored.In addition to the Slow Streets program, other San Francisco streets — including the roads to Twin Peaks, the Great Highway and John F. Kennedy Drive through Golden Gate Park — have been closed to cars by the Recreation and Park Department to make for safer walking, biking, running and exercising.Slow Streets“In order to support further reopening of the economy, we need to make San Francisco more welcoming and accessible for people who want to travel on foot, bicycle, wheelchair, scooter, skateboard or other forms of micromobility,” said Jeffrey Tumlin, Muni’s transportation director. “Slow Streets are critical infrastructure that attracts users of the full array of neighborhood demographics — including children, older adults, people with disabilities and people of color.”Muni planners launched the Slow Streets program in April with just a handful of streets, but the list grew to 16 in May. Transit agency officials said the program has been popular with 80% of people in a recent survey expressing support for slowed neighborhood streets.Erica Kato, a Muni spokeswoman, said the additional streets were chosen not just to offer recreation, but also to encourage people to walk or bike to stores, medical facilities and other essential services.“Rather than merely being a place to exercise, it’s time to pull our Slow Streets together into a network that allows most San Franciscans to be able to access essential services and employment without being reliant on either a car or Muni,” she said.San Francisco will slow traffic on the following segments of streets as part of the Slow Streets program:More InformationSan Francisco will slow traffic on the following segments of streets as part of the Slow Streets program:20th Street from San Bruno Avenue to Pennsylvania AvenueArkansas Street from 23rd to 17th streetsArlington Street from Roanoke Street to Randall StreetCabrillo Street from 23rd to 45th avenuesCayuga Avenue from Naglee Avenue to Rousseau StreetClay Street from Arguello Boulevard to Steiner StreetDuncan Street from Diamond Heights Boulevard to Tiffany AvenueHolly Park CircleMariposa Street from Texas to Mississippi streetsMinnesota Street from Mariposa Street to 22nd StreetNoe Street from 23rd Street to Duboce StreetPacific from Steiner to Gough streetsPierce Street from Hayes to Duboce streetsTompkins Avenue from Andover Street to Peralta Avenue.• 20th Street from San Bruno Avenue to Pennsylvania Avenue• Arkansas Street from 23rd to 17th streets• Arlington Street from Roanoke Street to Randall Street• Cabrillo Street from 23rd to 45th avenues• Cayuga Avenue from Naglee Avenue to Rousseau Street• Clay Street from Arguello Boulevard to Steiner Street• Duncan Street from Diamond Heights Boulevard to Tiffany AvenueUpdated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Area’s largest water districts.• Holly Park Circle• Mariposa Street from Texas to Mississippi streets• Minnesota Street from Mariposa Street to 22nd Street• Noe Street from 23rd Street to Duboce Street• Pacific Avenue from Steiner to Gough streets• Pierce Street from Hayes to Duboce streets• Tompkins Avenue from Andover Street to Peralta Avenue.Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: Twitter:@ctuanUpdated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Area’s largest water districts.

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateFourteen more streets will be added to network, which aims to slow traffic through residential neighborhoods during the coronavirus outbreak to create more room for exercise and improve access to essential services.The city’s Municipal Transportation Agency announced the expansion of the network Thursday, adding to the streets previously identified in April and May. It nearly doubles the number of streets in the network to 30 total. The agency is also expected to approve the closure of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive on the west side...

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Michael Cabanatuan is a general assignment, breaking news reporter. He previously covered all things transportation for the San Francisco Chronicle — from BART strikes, acrobatic bridge construction and dark dirty tunnel excavations to the surging ridership on public transportation and the increasing conflict as cars, bikes and pedestrians struggle to coexist on the streets.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/author/michael-cabanatuan/

Michael Cabanatuan

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SF’s Slow Streets program adds 14 more roadways to free up space during pandemic

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