During a recent press conference, Mayor London Breed emphasized her commitment to ensuring the safety of the city’s streets and public spaces for everyone. This declaration came in the wake of a tragic accident in the West Portal neighborhood, igniting community calls for enhanced safety measures. In response, Mayor Breed, alongside Supervisor Myrna Melgar and officials from the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), jointly announced on November 11 the initiation of the West Portal Safety and Community Space Improvement Project.
As part of the project, several safety upgrades will be implemented based on extensive community engagement and social meetings facilitated by the SFMTA. These discussions aimed to identify the government’s priorities regarding transportation safety. Following the approval from the SFMTA Board in July, a range of traffic safety measures has already been set in motion. These include the installation of traffic calming features on Ulloa, Vicente, and Wawona streets, restrictions on vehicle turns, the introduction of dedicated bus lanes, and the conversion of Lenox Way to a southbound one-way street. Additionally, speed bumps and wider calming zones will be added on Wawona Street between Taraval Street and 14th Avenue to deter speeding.
New vehicle restrictions have also been established on West Portal Avenue. These measures include the prohibition of left turns from West Portal Avenue onto Ulloa Street for northbound traffic, limitations on westbound vehicles on Ulloa, and a ban on left turns from southbound West Portal Avenue onto Vicente Street. As part of the project, the semi-circular area outside the West Portal Station will undergo redesign to enhance the entryway, featuring flower beds, a shared bicycle station, and street art murals. Implementation of these improvements is scheduled to begin later this fall.
The San Francisco city government hopes these designs will facilitate smoother traffic flow in the West Portal community while reminding drivers to reduce speed near high pedestrian activity areas.
Mayor Breed described West Portal as a vibrant community, home to some of the city’s most popular and unique shops and restaurants, and a vital transit hub for many traveling to and from downtown and various neighborhoods throughout San Francisco. Notably, the city ranks among the safest urban environments for pedestrians and cyclists in the United States, and the administration remains dedicated to ensuring the city’s streets and public spaces are safe for everyone.
The area surrounding West Portal is bustling with restaurants, shops, West Portal Elementary School, parks, and the West Portal Library. The West Portal Station serves as a crucial connection point within the San Francisco transportation system, where three rail lines and two bus routes converge at the intersection of West Portal Avenue and Ulloa Street. Approximately 50,000 passengers utilize this station daily, with the Twin Peaks Tunnel linking the light rail line to the Market Street subway station. An additional 5,000 passengers board near the West Portal Station each day.
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