REMINDER: Update to San Francisco Better Market Street Project Starts Tomorrow

In September 2009, the San Francisco Better Market Street Project initiated a series of trials including an integrated package of landscaping, sidewalk cafes and storefront improvements, transit improvements, street and traffic improvements, and other physical improvements along Market Street. The project team has continued to work with community partners, including BOMA San Francisco, to gather on-the-ground data will help identify improvements for Market Street and other streets serving surrounding districts and neighborhoods.

Today, Mayor Gavin Newsom announced that the City will change one of the locations where traffic is required to turn right on eastbound Market Street from 8th Street to 10th Street as part of the Better Market Street Project pilot.  The right-turn-only regulations at 8th and 6th streets began on Sept. 29, 2009.  The regulations resulted in improved transit travel times for eastbound Market Street, and have been well received by bicyclists, taxi drivers and pedestrians.  Most of the traffic removed from eastbound Market Street has diverted to eastbound Mission and Folsom streets, where it has been accommodated.

Beginning Tuesday, January 26, private motorists traveling eastbound on Market Street will be required to turn right on 10th Street instead of at 8th Street. Motorists will continue to be diverted at 6th Street as well. Traffic flowing north and south across Market Street will be unaffected, as will cars traveling westbound on Market Street. Public transit, bicycle, emergency vehicles and delivery vehicles will continue to have full access to Market Street.  Motorists will still be able to access eastbound Market Street by turning right from northbound streets such as 9th, 7th, 6th or 5th streets, or by turning left from southbound streets such as Polk, Hyde or Stockton streets.

The change from 8th Street to 10th Street is being made in order to reduce conflicts between traffic turning right off of Market Street and pedestrians and bicycles.  Unlike the intersection of Market and 8th streets, the intersection of Market/10th streets has a continuous bike lane, made possible because it is one of the few Market Street intersections that does not have a Muni boarding island.  The Market/10th intersection also has less pedestrian traffic than the 8th Street intersection, which is directly above the Civic Center/United Nations Plaza BART/Muni Metro station.  The lower pedestrian volume at Market/10th streets makes this intersection more conducive to handling right turning traffic than 8th Street.

The right-turn-only requirement on eastbound Market Street at 10th Street will be in place for at least six weeks.  After six weeks, the impact of the change will be evaluated.  The next several months will see the continuation of other trial changes and place-making efforts in addition to diverting traffic, including concerts and other events along the street, and mini-plazas featuring outdoor seating, tables, food kiosks, landscaping and storefront art displays.

Your Feedback Counts!

Here is your opportunity to offer your perspective on what works and what needs to be improved or changed during the continued trial period. As a BOMA San Francisco member and commercial real estate professional, your perspective will inform both immediate operational decisions and the longer-term vision for Market Street and surrounding areas.

Please send your thoughts to:

• Call 311 or log onto http://sfgov.org/311
• Twitter: by typing 'd sf311' first before sending private Twitter message to 311
• Send an email to marketstreet@sfgov.org
• Comment on the Market Street Facebook page 

Please click here for more information on the San Francisco Better Market Street Project.