Photo credit: SFMTA Photography Department
Introduction
The Transportation Authority is conducting the District 4 Mobility Study to explore ways to increase the use of non-automobile modes in the Outer Sunset and Parkside neighborhoods. This study aims to improve health, livability, and economic vitality in District 4 while addressing climate change at the local level.
Past studies have shown that one of the main ways residents of District 4 get around is by driving alone. Reducing single occupancy vehicle use would provide a number of benefits for the district, as decreased vehicle miles traveled correlates with increased safety for all road users and results in lower greenhouse gas emissions. More people walking, biking, and taking transit would reduce congestion and support the local economy by making it easier for residents and visitors to access commercial districts.
This study will explore how District 4 residents get around, identify trips that have high shares of single-occupancy vehicle trips, and explore short and medium-term strategies to reduce these drive-alone trips.
District 4 Supervisor and Transportation Authority Board Member Gordon Mar asked the Transportation Authority to conduct this study as part of its Neighborhood Program.
The study is part of Sunset Forward, a collaboration between the Office of District 4 Supervisor and Transportation Authority Board Member Gordon Mar, the San Francisco Planning Department, the San Francisco County Transportation Authority, and the District 4 Youth and Families Network, a coalition of non-profit community based-organizations in the Sunset District.
District 4 Mobility Study Solutions
Exploring Options for the Long-Term Future of the Great Highway
The Great Highway from Sloat Boulevard to Lincoln Way is temporarily closed to allow socially distant recreational use of the Great Highway during San Francisco’s shelter-in-place order. Visit the SFMTA’s website for more information related to the short-term temporary closure.
The Transportation Authority is exploring several long-term options for the future of this segment of the roadway. This work includes conducting data collection and traffic modeling to evaluate transportation impacts of five possible street configuration options, as well as identifying street and network changes that would complement each option.
Learn more about the Great Highway concepts under consideration
Read the Great Highway FAQs (PDF)
Neighborway Network
Another District 4 transportation solution we are exploring is a network of “neighborways” to serve the Outer Sunset and Parkside neighborhoods. Neighborway projects focus on improving residential streets by calming vehicle traffic, making streets easier to navigate and friendlier for walking and biking. Neighborways tailor solutions to each neighborhood and may include speed humps, traffic circles, crosswalk upgrades, bicycle infrastructure, or restrictions on through vehicle traffic.
Transportation Improvements in Commercial Corridors
We are exploring solutions to increase access to key commercial corridors in District 4. One of the solutions we are studying is a community shuttle that could improve access between areas that are not well-served by public transit.
Transit Improvements
As part of the city’s ConnectSF Transit Strategy, we are exploring how to provide fast, frequent service, and easy transfers on the 28, 29, and N Judah. In addition, we are exploring an Express Bus concept serving the Richmond, the Sunset, and northern Peninsula.
Safety Improvements to Lincoln Way
Many intersections along Lincoln Way have limited pedestrian safety features. We are exploring traffic calming strategies such as daylighting, painted safety zones, advanced limit lines, and a “road diet” to improve safety on Lincoln Way.
To learn more about the District 4 Mobility Study solutions, watch this video. You may provide feedback by emailing d4mobility@sfcta.org.
Project/Study Partners
The Transportation Authority will conduct the District 4 Mobility Study in partnership with SFMTA.
Timeline and Status
October 2019 - July 2020
Review past efforts, analyze data, identify goals and challenges
August 2020 - January 2021
Community outreach, develop solutions
January 2021 - Summer 2021
Evaluate Great Highway concepts, continue outreach
Summer 2021
Working with Transportation Authority Board Member Gordon Mar's Office, we have separated the Great Highway Evaluation Final Report from the District 4 Mobility Study Final Report. These will be presented for the Transportation Authority Board's consideration and approval at two upcoming meetings (sign up for our email list to be notified):
June 22, 2021 at 10 a.m. - Great Highway Evaluation Final Report will recommend long-term options for the Great Highway, based on an evaluation of five street configuration options.*
The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department and the SFMTA are the implementing agencies for any changes to the Great Highway. The agencies are considering the concepts evaluated in the District 4 Mobility Study and are developing an outreach process to gather more public input for near-term design options for the Great Highway. This began with a joint hearing of the Recreation and Park Commission and SFMTA Board of Directors on June 10, 2021.*
For information about the joint hearing for the Great Highway, please visit the Recreation and Park Department project webpage or contact rec-greathighway@sfgov.org. A final recommendation would need to be voted on by the Recreation and Park Commission, SFMTA Board of Directors, and the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.*
July 27, 2021 at 10 a.m. - District 4 Mobility Study Final Report will recommend improving walking, biking, and transit options in the Outer Sunset and Parkside neighborhoods, with solutions including neighborways, transportation improvements for commercial corridors, shuttle and transit improvements, and safety improvements to Lincoln Way.*
The neighborways recommendation will immediately advance to a design phase* led by the SFMTA, if the report is adopted by the Transportation Authority Board. Next steps for other recommendations will be identified in the District 4 Mobility Study Final Report which will be published in July 2021.
*Opportunity for public input
Cost and Funding
This project was funded by the Transportation Authority’s Neighborhood Program at the request of District 4 Supervisor and Transportation Authority Board Member Gordon Mar. SFMTA work will be supported by the General Fund.
Contact
Camille Guiriba, Senior Transportation Planner or d4mobility@sfcta.org
Great Highway Concepts Under Study
As part of the District 4 Mobility study, we are exploring the below long-term concepts for the Upper Great Highway. Learn more through our Great Highway FAQs (PDF).
For inquiries and to give feedback about the future of the Great Highway, please email rec-greathighway@sfgov.org.
Note: We refer to the Upper Great Highway as the Great Highway.
Concept 1 maintains the Great Highway as a four-lane roadway with two vehicle lanes in each direction.
Concept 2 reduces the width of the Great Highway to one vehicle lane in each direction and creates a promenade in the current southbound lanes.
Concept 3 opens the Great Highway as a promenade and closes it completely to vehicle traffic.
Concept 4 opens the Great Highway as a promenade, similar to Concept 3 above, but only during weekends/holidays and/or certain seasons.
Concept 5 reduces the width of the Great Highway to two southbound vehicle lanes in the current northbound lanes and creates a promenade in the current southbound lanes.
The District 4 Mobility Study team will work with community organizations, business groups, and the general public to develop recommendations to improve health, livability, and economic vitality in the neighborhood.
Previous Events
In partnership with the District 4 Office of Supervisor Gordon Mar, District 4 merchant leaders, and Vas Kiniris at NEXTSF, we held a community forum for District 4 merchants on May 12, 2021. We shared concepts to improve transportation options in the Outer Sunset and Parkside neighborhoods and an update on our analysis of the long-term future of the Great Highway.
- View the recording and the slide deck (PDF)
Project staff hosted a workshop for the Chinese-speaking community on April 24, 2021. We shared concepts to improve transportation options in the Outer Sunset and Parkside neighborhoods and an update on our analysis for the long-term future of the Great Highway.
- View the recording and the slide deck (PDF). To give feedback in Chinese call 415-593-1679, email d4mobility@sfcta.org, or complete this form.
In partnership with the District 4 Office of Supervisor Gordon Mar, we held a virtual open house March 27, 2021. We shared new concepts to improve transportation options in the Outer Sunset and Parkside neighborhoods and shared an update on our analysis on the multi-modal impacts and community responses for the potential concepts for the long-term future of the Great Highway. You may view the questions and comments submitted during the event here.
- View the recording and the slide deck (PDF), or watch below. To give feedback email, d4mobility@sfcta.org.
For language accessibility in Chinese, Spanish, or Filipino, email d4mobility@sfcta.org.
In partnership with the District 4 Office of Supervisor Gordon Mar, we launched a survey to gather community input on the long-term future of the Great Highway.
- View the survey questions (PDF). The survey closed on January 8, 2021.
Project staff led a virtual town hall on November 21, 2020. This event presented long-term ideas for the future of the Great Highway and collected questions from the community.
Project staff led a virtual town hall on May 23, 2020. This event introduced the District 4 Mobility Study, shared driving data, and engaged in group discussions.
Get Involved
Want to get updates about the study? Enter your email below on this page.
Want a presentation about the study? Email d4mobility@sfcta.org to request a presentation for your group.
See below for previous reports pertaining to transportation in District 4.
- Improving West Side Transit Access Strategic Analysis Report, 2016 (PDF)
- Sunset District Blueprint, 2014 (PDF)
- Ocean Beach Master Plan, 2012
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