Updated July 23, 2019
There are many intersections in San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood where freeway on- or off-ramps intersect city streets. Many of these ramps are located close to public schools, single room occupancy hotels, and senior centers, which are frequented by populations at high risk of injury from traffic collisions.
The Transportation Authority is examining ways to reduce conflicts and increase safety where the freeway system connects with our local streets in partnership with community members, SFMTA and Caltrans. Many recommendations from the first planning effort — Vision Zero Ramps Study 1, which focused on 5 high-injury intersections — are being designed or constructed. Continuing that effort, the Transportation Authority and our partners have now undertaken planning on another 10 locations, in our Vision Zero Ramps Study 2.
Over the past year, we asked people who travel in San Francisco’s SoMa neighborhood what street safety improvements they’d like to see at this second set of locations where freeway on and off-ramps meet city streets. We received feedback from nearly 1,000 residents, businesses, and community organizations through an open house, online survey, stakeholder meetings, and on-the-ground outreach.
Based on this input, a review of collision factors at each intersection and technical consultations with the SFMTA, we drafted safety proposals for each location. After sharing our recommended designs with the community, we refined and analyzed the improvements and developed cost estimates for each project, for consideration by Caltrans and local implementing agencies.
Recommended Design Improvements: Study 2
Mission Street / 13th Street / US 101 NB off-ramp
Alternative
Two-Way Otis Street
Market Street Hub Project Improvements
• Protected cycle track on 13th and Duboce Avenue
• Two-way Otis Street. Modify Mission St. median and remove U-turn from Otis St. to Mission St. to accommodate traffic to Otis St.
SoMa Freeway Ramp Intersection Safety Study Proposals
• Bulb-outs and curb ramps
• Median refuge islands for people crossing Duboce and 13th Street
• Pedestrian and traffic signal upgrades
• Brighter lighting under the bridge
• Accessible Pedestrian Signal (APS) for all crosswalks
• Crosswalk flashing beacons and signage on un-signalized off-ramp to Mission Street
• New crosswalk striping
• Bus-only lanes on Mission St. approaching the intersection
Mission Street / 13th Street / US 101 NB off-ramp
Alternative
One-Way Otis Street
Market Street Hub Project Improvements
• Protected cycle track on 13th and Duboce Avenue, channelize westbound bicycle lane and realign US 101 ramp to increase bicyclist visibility and reduce conflicts
• Remove U-turn from Otis St. to Mission St. to reduce number of traffic movements and conflicts
SoMa Freeway Ramp Intersection Safety Study Proposals
• Bulb-outs and curb ramps
• Median refuge islands for people crossing Duboce and 13th Street
• Pedestrian and traffic signal upgrades
• Brighter lighting under the bridge
• Accessible Pedestrian Signal (APS) for all crosswalks
• Crosswalk flashing beacons and signage on un-signalized off-ramp to Mission Street
• New crosswalk striping
• Bus-only lanes on Mission St. approaching the intersection
• Additional signal heads and signs for improved visibility
South Van Ness Ave / 13th St / US 101 SB on-ramp
Market Street Hub Project Improvements
• Protected cycle track on 13th Street
SoMa Freeway Ramp Intersection Safety Study Proposals
• Bulb-outs and curb ramps
• Median refuge islands across 13th Street
• Pedestrian and traffic signal upgrades
• Brighter lighting under the bridge
• Protected left-turn from S Van Ness Ave. to 13th Street
• New sidewalk on west side of S Van Ness Ave.
• New traffic signal and pedestrian crosswalk at the US 101 freeway southbound on-ramp
8th Street (midblock) / I-80 WB off-ramp
SFMTA 8th Street Safety Project Improvements
• Transit boarding island
• Protected bike lane
SoMa Freeway Ramp Intersection Safety Study Proposals
• Bulb-outs and curb ramps
• Crosswalk flashing beacons and signage
• Crosswalk striping and yield line upgrades
• Additional streetlighting
Bryant Street / 8th Street / I-80 EB on-ramp (Capital Project)
SFMTA 8th Street Safety Project Phase 2 Project Improvements
• Protected bike lane on 8th Street
• Transit boarding island
SoMa Freeway Ramp Intersection Safety Study Proposals
• New crosswalk across Bryant Street with protected signal phase and Leading Pedestrian Interval (LPI)
• New sidewalk along north side of Bryant St., new crosswalk across on-ramp with new traffic signal
• Bulb-outs and curb ramps
• Median refuge island modification
• Crosswalk striping upgrades
• Overhead lane assignment signs
• New traffic signal upgrades to improve visibility
Harrison Street / 7th Street / I-80 WB on-ramp (Capital Project)
Caltrans I-80 On-Ramp Project Improvements
• New pedestrian signal at crosswalk across the I-80 on-ramp
• Upgraded traffic signals
SFMTA 7th Street Bikeway Project Improvements
• Protected bike lane on 7th Street
• Transit boarding island
SoMa Freeway Ramp Intersection Safety Study Proposals
• New signalized pedestrian crosswalk across Harrison Street
• Median refuge islands across 7th Street
• Bulb-outs and curb ramps
• Bus bulb at south side of Harrison St. east of the intersection
7th Street (midblock) / I-80 EB off-ramp
SFMTA 7th Street Bike Lane Project Improvements
• Protected bike lane on 7th Street
• Transit boarding island
SoMa Freeway Ramp Intersection Safety Study Proposals
• Lane reduction from two to one at the I-80 off-ramp approach
• Bulb-outs and curb ramps
• Crosswalk flashing beacons and signage
• Crosswalk striping and yield line upgrades
• Recommended improvement will require Caltrans approval and Muni re-route options.
Bryant Street / 7th Street / I-80 EB off-ramp
SFMTA 7th Street Bike Lane Project Improvements
• Protected bike lane on 7th Street
SoMa Freeway Ramp Intersection Safety Study Proposals
• Lane reduction from three to two on the I-80 offramp approach (requires Caltrans approval)
• Bulb-outs and curb ramps
• Crosswalk striping upgrades
• Bus bulb
• Additional traffic signal upgrades
• Additional pedestrian level lighting
Brannan Street / 6th Street / I-280 on/off-ramp
SFMTA 6th and Brannan Road Diet Project Improvements
• Road diet and bike lanes on Brannan Street
SF Flower Mart Improvements
• Potential sidewalk widening on 6th Street
• Potential bike lane or cycle track on westbound Brannan Street
SoMa Freeway Ramp Intersection Safety Proposals
• Bulb-outs, curb ramps and median refuge islands
• New crosswalk and median refuge island across the I-280 approach
• Protected signal phase for Brannan crosswalk on east side of intersection
• Additional high-visibility crosswalks
• Traffic signal upgrades
Harrison Street / Essex Street / I-80 EB on-ramp
Improvements by Others
• Bulb-outs on Harrison Street by adjacent developments
SoMa Freeway Ramp Intersection Safety Study Proposals
• New protected crosswalks across Harrison Street and I-80 On-Ramp
• Bulb-outs and curb ramps • New sidewalk on south side of Harrison St. west of the intersection
• Additional traffic signal upgrades
Fremont Street /I-80 WB off-ramp
SoMa Freeway Ramp Intersection Safety Study Proposals
• New crosswalk and pedestrian signals across Fremont Street
• Crosswalk striping and curb ramp upgrades
• Raised traffic splitter island
Some of these upgrades, such as improved striping and signage, can be implemented within the next two years. And some improvements are already on their way: In June, the Transportation Authority Board allocated Neighborhood Program funds to implement near-term improvements along 7th and 8th Streets, at Transportation Authority Commissioner and District 6 Supervisor Matt Haney's request. Near-term improvements at the other intersections will be funded through local sources. Meanwhile, we will work with partner agencies to secure funding and Caltrans design approvals for the more significant infrastructure upgrades we’ve recommended.
We presented these proposals and a draft study report at our Citizens Advisory Committee meeting on Wednesday, June 26 and to the Transportation Authority Board for an initial reading on Tuesday, July 9 and for a final reading on Tuesday, July 23. The board gave final approval of the report on July 23.
This study was funded by a Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant and San Francisco’s half-cent sales tax for transportation.
Resources
Recommended improvements (PDF)
Draft study report (PDF)
Visit our project page to learn about improvements happening in other SoMa freeway intersections.
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