Drivers in San Francisco have one less street to travel down while pedestrians, bicyclists and transit vehicles have more room to maneuver now that a 2.2-mile corridor of Market Street became car-free on Jan. 29.
The implementation of car-free Market Street is part of a broader effort in San Francisco to redesign the city’s streets to move more people on public transit and ensure those walking and biking can do so safely. These efforts are necessary to ensure San Francisco can continue to grow and help move people sustainably and efficiently.
This initial effort to improve Market Street is enabled by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency’s (SFMTA) Quick Build program, which San Francisco Mayor London Breed championed in 2019. The Quick Build program will accelerate the implementation of much needed safety improvements. The decision to make Market Street car-free was a core component of the Better Market Street Plan, which was approved by the SFMTA Board of Directors in October after a years-long design, community feedback and approval process. Half of the city’s top ten intersections for injury collisions involving people walking or biking are on Market Street, making the transition to a car-free Market especially vital and urgent.
“After years of discussion, activism and planning, 2020 is the year we will truly put people first on Market Street,” said Mayor Breed. “Starting today, San Francisco’s main civic boulevard will be returned to pedestrians, bicyclists and transit riders—making it safer for everyone who uses it and helping us make progress on our Vision Zero and climate goals.”
Market Street is now car-free eastbound from 10th to Main Streets and westbound from Steuart Street to Van Ness Avenue. In addition to restricting private vehicles, the Quick Build effort includes extending Muni-only lanes, new loading zones and much-needed intersection safety improvements.
The city notes that the switch to a car-free Market Street provides a path forward for longer-term construction improvements to make Market Street safer for those walking or on bikes, speed up Muni and improve loading and delivery for businesses. In addition to safety benefits, going car-free on Market Street will prioritize transit on a street that sees upwards of 200 buses per hour during peak times. With bus lines branching throughout San Francisco, boosting Muni’s reliability on Market Street will positively affect transit across the entire city.
“The Market Street project helps us meet two key goals: moving more people by eliminating congestion delay on our most important transit corridor, and improving safety on the street with five of our top 10, high-injury intersections,” said Jeffrey Tumlin, SFMTA director of transportation.
The Better Market Street Project is a comprehensive planning and decision-making collaboration between numerous city agencies. San Francisco Public Works is leading the multi-agency project in partnership with SFMTA, the San Francisco Planning Department, the San Francisco County Transportation Authority, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, the Office of Economic and Workforce Development and the Mayor’s Office on Disability.
