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    1. Safety & Security

    SFMTA and partners beef up Market Street safety and enforcement

    March 24, 2021
    Car-free enforcement in the corridor will resume March 29.
    Related To: San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA)
    SFMTA
    A crew member installs new signage on Market Street in January 2020.
    A crew member installs new signage on Market Street in January 2020.

    The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), with the help of SFMTA’s Parking Control Officers (PCOs) and the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD), will step up compliance and enforcement efforts to keep Market Street car-free starting March 29.

    Car-free Market Street restricts private vehicles from diving on Market Street eastbound from 10th Street to Main Street or westbound from Steuart Street to Van Ness Avenue. Traffic is still allowed to cross Market Street, but there are no turns allowed onto the street in the car-free area. These restrictions apply to all private vehicles, including Uber, Lyft, Postmates, DoorDash and other services whose drivers use personal vehicles without a commercial license plate.

    In January 2020, the SFMTA implemented the car-free Market Street project to improve transit and safety along the corridor. Market Street is the busiest multimodal corridor in San Francisco, and one of the highest injury corridors. The enforcement efforts are vital to advance the city’s Vision Zero road safety goals and ensure greater Muni efficiency as routes gradually return to service.

    SFMTA and partners are relaunching enforcement in response to increasing concerns from the community that private vehicles are using Market Street within the restricted area.

    For about a month, SFMTA Parking Control Officers at key locations along Market Street will wave on private vehicles trying to turn onto the car free area. During the first week of the campaign, the SFPD will provide warnings to drivers as SFMTA ramps up education efforts. Thereafter, they will issue citations. The SFMTA will provide handouts for Police and PCOs to share with drivers about car free Market Street.

    All vehicles are still allowed to cross Market Street, and the following vehicles can use Market Street:

    • Muni and other transit service vehicles;
    • Taxis;
    • Paratransit;
    • Licensed commercial vehicles;
    • Emergency service vehicles;
    • Bicycles; and
    • Scooters.