Key Takeaways: Planning accessible streets requires the perspectives and experiences of people with disabilities and older adults. The SFMTA should continue exploring effective and innovative methods to learn from the lived experience of these populations.
SFMTA staff work collaboratively to ensure that all programs and projects developed by the agency are accessible to the disability community. We also work to communicate that accessibility is a priority for the agency, recognizing that all issues are accessibility issues. As part of this process, the SFMTA seeks out and incorporates the perspectives of older adults and people with disabilities in a variety of ways.
Planning for Accessibility
Agency staff consider accessibility in agencywide initiatives like strategic planning and the budgeting process and also when developing new plans and programs. For example, During the COVID-19 pandemic, Accessible Services worked closely with colleagues on the implementation of new initiatives such as Slow Streets and Shared Spaces to make sure people with disabilities could fully participate and benefit from these new programs.
Slow Streets are low-vehicle traffic routes where walking, rolling and biking is prioritized. The SFMTA has worked with the disability community to gather feedback on Slow Streets and has heard from people with disabilities who appreciate having additional space where pedestrians are prioritized.
The Shared Spaces program allows small businesses and local organizations to repurpose street and sidewalk space, often to provide new opportunities for outdoor seating and dining. The SFMTA’s Accessible Services Section worked closely with other agency teams and city departments to develop permanent guidelines for the program. The accessibility guidelines are designed to ensure that people with disabilities can both access the Shared Spaces and navigate sidewalks around Shared Spaces. The San Francisco Planning Department has also produced public service announcements to help guide business owners in designing accessible Shared Spaces.
Another example is the Bike and Rolling Plan Technical Advisory Committee. The Biking and Rolling Plan is a 10–15 year blueprint for active mobility in San Francisco. The Technical Advisory Committee is comprised of Accessible Services staff who are able to provide technical feedback informed by the experiences of people with disabilities.
Outreach and Engagement
At the request of the community, the SFMTA has made it more convenient for people to give feedback as part of their day-to-day life. The SFMTA attends established community meetings, provides virtual feedback options, and shares materials in advance when possible.
The Agency also uses project-specific outreach as a way to get people's perspectives. The SFMTA has done this in several ways, including:
- Improving outreach and engagement for active transportation projects.
- Coordinating in-person and virtual accessibility tours.
- Fostering relationships with local disability organizations.
- Ensuring project outreach materials are accessible.
When conducting outreach to people with disabilities, staff members take past comments and concerns into account, aiming to engage in meaningful and effective discussions. The agency also priorities data transparency, ensuring that information and tools for providing feedback are publicly available and accessible online.
Finally, the public also has a regular opportunity to engage with staff on accessibility issues through the Multimodal Accessibility Advisory Committee (MAAC). MAAC is a 21-member body that provides accessibility guidance on a variety of accessibility-related initiatives at the agency, including Streets projects.