Keeping the Great Highway Calm

On February 9, the Board of Supervisors, acting in their role as the San Francisco County Transportation Authority (SFCTA) Board, approved major funding to bring traffic calming to the neighborhood streets surrounding the Great Highway. This is a major win for the amazing open space. With money in hand, the City can continue to address traffic concerns on nearby streets associated with closing the Great Highway to cars and ensure that parallel streets are safe for those walking and biking.

Dozens of neighbors called in to show their support and share their stories of what a people-first Great Highway has meant to them. Janelle Wong, staff member, mother, and long-time member shared why these projects for the Great Highway are so important: “These funding approvals will help us re-envision the Great Highway into a more walkable, bikeable open space for generations to come.”

When we expand our city’s open spaces, we’re creating more than just a place to walk or bike. As seen since last April, the Great Highway has become a community hub for neighbors to come together, create art, and fight for racial justice. Now it’s time to do what we can to ensure the open space stays for generations to come.

The SFCTA worked alongside Supervisor Mar, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, and the Recreation and Parks Department to come up with a comprehensive plan to slow traffic and divert it away from small neighborhood streets. The SFMTA has installed multiple traffic calming improvements since April, but this plan will bring a comprehensive approach to calm the neighborhood streets. It includes:

• • • 24 new speed cushions;
    • One additional new speed table;
    • 12 new stop signs spread along Lower Great Highway, La Playa Street, Irving Street,
    • 48th Avenue, 47th Avenue, and 46th Avenue;
    • And six new changeable message signs to help divert traffic away from residential streets to corridors like Sunset Boulevard.

As we look to the future of the Great Highway, we must plan neighborhood-wide and this is a step in the right direction. If you want to stay in the loop on the project, sign up for our mailing list today.

• Let’s transform the Great Highway!