July 21, 2023 Update:
Work completed this week:
- Curb painting has been completed on Valencia Street between 21st and 23rd streets. Supporting parking and loading regulation signs will be installed soon
- All traffic striping has been completed
Upcoming Work:
- Bus lane curbs between 18th to 19th streets still need to be installed but are on hold until the SF Water Department’s repair work at the Valencia and 19th intersection is completed. Minor traffic stripping touch-up work at this location is also expected
- Continued installation of additional K71 traffic post
- Continued implementation of the new curb management plan, including new curb paint and loading signs on project area side streets
The Valencia corridor is still an active construction zone. Over the course of the next several weeks, SFMTA crews will continue finishing the implementation of the new curb management plan and installation of additional K71 traffic post. The bikeway may be closed temporarily for some of this work.
July 14, 2023 Update:
Work completed this week:
- Bike signals at the intersections of Valencia at 15th Street and Valencia at 23rd Street have been activated
Upcoming Work:
- Continued installation of K-71 bollards to further protected the bikeway
- Continued implementation of the new curb management plan, including new curb paint and signs
People on bikes are now allowed back in the bikeway. However, when SFMTA crews are out installing the remaining K-71 bollards, they may close the bikeway temporarily to complete their work. The area is still an active construction zone, so please continue to travel through with caution.
People on bikes should only cross and transition from the center-running to curbside bikeways on a green bike signal.
While riding in the center-running protected bikeway, people on bikes will use the vehicle signals at all other intersections and should only proceed through the intersection on a vehicle northbound and southbound green light. Bike turn boxes have been installed at the intersections for both left and right turns off of the Valencia bikeway.
July 7, 2023 Update:
Work completed this week:
- Bike signals at the intersections of Valencia and 15th Street and Valencia at 23rd Street will be activated by the end of this weekend
- Rubber curbs that protect the bikeway have now been fully installed along the project area
- Crosswalks in the project area have been refreshed
Upcoming Work:
- Continued installation of K-71 bollards to further protected the bikeway
- Continued implementation of the new curb management plan, including new curb paint and signs
Bike Signal Activation
New bike signals will be installed and activated at the intersections of Valencia at 15th and Valencia at 23rd to help people on bikes transition from the center-running protected bikeway to the curbside bikeways at the northern and southern ends of the center-running bikeway. People on bikes should only cross and transition from the center-running to curbside bikeways on a green bike signal.
While riding in the center-running protected bikeway, people on bikes will use the vehicle signals at all other intersections and should only proceed through the intersection on a vehicle northbound and southbound green light. Bike turn boxes have been installed at the intersections for both left and right turns off of the Valencia bikeway.
The SFMTA is working with its parking enforcement division to increase traffic enforcement on Valencia Street, as construction continues. As a reminder to all users of Valencia Street, parking, loading, and driving in the center-running protected bikeway is prohibited. Please use the curb for all vehicle parking and loading activities. Additionally, left turns from Valencia Street onto the cross streets and U-turns, are also illegal and prohibited. Violators will be cited.
June 30, 2023 Update:
Work completed this week:
- Traffic striping for the pilot design has been completed on Valencia Street between 15th and 17th streets
- Rubber curbs that protect the bikeway have now been installed up to the intersection of Valencia at 17th Street
- Overhead signs associated with the new curb management plan have been installed between 17th and 19th streets
Upcoming Work:
- Traffic striping associated with new bike signals at the intersections on Valencia at 15th and 23rd
- Crews will refresh all crosswalks in the project area
- K-71 bollards are being installed now to further protect the bikeway and installation will continue in the coming weeks
- Curb painting work between 19th and 21st to start soon
- Bike signal activation at the intersections of 15th and 23rd to happen soon
- On Saturday 07/01, crews will be installing bus lane curbs between 15th and 16th streets
With the overhead parking signs installed, those zones will be enforceable. Reminder to follow posted restrictions.
June 22, 2023 Update:
This week's mid-Valencia pilot construction update is available via this link.
June 16, 2023 Update:
Work completed this week:
- Bikeway protective materials, rubber curbs, are being installed throughout the project area. Rubber curbs are now installed between 23rd and 20th streets
- New roadway striping for the pilot design has been completed between 17th and 19th streets
Upcoming Work:
- Removal of the existing traffic striping and cat-tracking between 17th to 15th streets
- Continued installation of rubber curbs in the bikeway buffers, crews may be out on Saturdays to complete this work
- Continued installation of overhead signs for curb changes along Valencia between 17th and 19th streets and along newly installed metered parking areas off Valencia on 19th, 20th, 21st, and 23rd
Thank you for your patience while we continue work on implementing the mid-Valencia center-running protected bikeway pilot.
June 9, 2023 Update:
Work completed this week:
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Crews began installing rubber curbs, also known as “bus lane curbs,” in the bikeway buffers on Valencia Street between 22nd and 23rd streets
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Grinding out the existing roadway striping between 17th and 19th streets
Upcoming Work:
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Continued installation of rubber curbs in the bikeway buffers, including work on Saturday, June 10th
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Installation of pilot roadway striping will start north of 19th Street and will continue to 17th Street in the coming week
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Activation of newly installed metered parking areas off of Valencia on 19th, 20th, 21st, 23rd, Liberty, and Hill streets
June 2, 2023 Update:
Work completed this week:
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New temporary no stopping anytime signs are posted and in effect on Valencia Street between 17th and 19th streets as crews actively work in the narrow roadway
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Curb painting of new colored curbs completed between 17th to 19th streets
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Cat-tracking of traffic striping for the mid-Valencia pilot installed on the blocks between 17th to 19th streets
Upcoming Work:
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Grinding out the existing roadway striping between 17th and 19th streets began this week and will continue into next week. Once grinding is completed, crews will begin installation of striping for the new pilot configuration
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Curb regulation signs are being fabricated and will be installed between 17th to 19th streets
May 24, 2023 Update:
This week's mid-Valencia pilot construction update is available via this link.
May 19, 2023 Update:
Work completed this week:
- Traffic striping for the mid-Valencia pilot installed on the blocks between 19th and 22nd streets
- Green paint for parts of the bikeway, roadway pavement messages, and intersection bike boxes were painted between 19th to 22nd streets
Upcoming work:
- Curb painting work and curb regulation signs are still being installed between 14th to 17th streets. Curb painting and parking sign installation work is expected to start on Valencia Street between 17th and 19th streets in the coming weeks
Temporary parking and loading signs for “active loading only” are still in effect where they are posted in the project area. The “active loading only” regulations help keep the work area clear for SFMTA crews and provide clearance for bikes and cars in a shared travel lane. Space at the curb also ensures minimal conflicts between loading and the shared travel lane until parking/loading changes are installed along the whole corridor. We appreciate your patience and apologize for any inconvenience.
To learn about new loading zones coming to Valencia Street, please check out our colored curb guide:
May 12, 2023 Update:
Work completed this week:
- Grinding out the existing roadway striping and cat-tracking the new pilot design has been completed between 21st and 22nd street
- New traffic signs installed throughout the project area: stop signs, no right turn on red (at specific approaches along the corridor), and ”Bike May Use Full Lane” sign. As a reminder, during construction people in cars and on bikes are expected to share the lane in each direction on Valencia Street. Please travel through slowly and with caution
- Crews implemented curb paint and parking changes along Valencia and side streets between 15th and 17th street that are associated with the mid-Valencia pilot design
Upcoming work:
- Grinding, cat-tracking, and installing roadway striping will continue north of 21st Street to 19th Street on Valencia in the coming week
- Curb painting will continue on Valencia Street south of 17th Street
- Installation of parking and loading regulation signs along Valencia and side streets between 15th and 17th streets. Signs are being fabricated and will be installed soon
Check out previous weekly construction updates to learn about the new loading zones coming to Valencia Street and other details such as what cat-tracking means.
As a reminder, vehicle left turns are no longer allowed on Valencia Street to the cross streets. Please also pay attention to all parking and loading regulations along the block. New parking regulation signs associated with the new loading zones are being installed on a rolling basis, and temporary parking and loading signs associated with project construction are still present in the area.
May 5, 2023 Update:
Rainy weather has impacted construction activities and may cause small delays in our work. We thank you for your patience while we continue to implement the mid-Valencia pilot.
Work completed this week:
- Left-turn arrows and the center left-turn lane are fully removed from the project area
- Grinding out the existing roadway striping and cat-tracking for new center-running protected bikeway between 22nd and 23rd streets is complete
- Traffic signs associated with the pilot design are being installed throughout the corridor
- Curb painting for the new curb management plan between 15th and 17th streets is complete
Over the next couple of weeks, SFMTA crews will continue to grind out existing roadway striping and cat-track for the new pilot road design. They will focus on the blocks between 19th and 22nd streets. Crews will also continue curb painting activities and move south from 17th Street down the corridor. Please pay attention to all signs to understand regulations associated with new loading zones. Temporary signs associated with construction activities continue to be in effect during construction.
What is cat-tracking? Are parts of the center-running protected bikeway open?
Cat-tracking is the pre-marking process that occurs prior to the installation of road paint for traffic lanes and other markings. The pre-marking process allows our engineers to check that lanes and markings are aligned correctly before permanent road paint is installed. At this time, the center-running protected bikeway has not been fully implemented yet and is not open for use. People on bikes will continue to share the road with vehicles along the project area during construction.
As a reminder with the pilot design, vehicle left turns are no longer allowed from Valencia onto the side streets (numbered streets) between 15th and 23rd streets. Please pay attention to all roadway signs and abide by traffic regulations.
New loading zones
As part of this project, the curb management plan uses two new loading zone types, dual use zones and general loading zones. Learn more about the zones by checking out the colored curb guide:
As the project is implemented, there will be curb paint installed before corresponding regulatory signs in some locations. For blocks with new curb paint, the regulations will be in effect once the corresponding regulatory signs are also installed. For the first week after both curb paint and signs are installed, parking enforcement will issue warnings to vehicles in violation of posted regulations After a week, parking enforcement will issue a citation for violators.
April 28, 2023 Update:
Construction on the mid-Valencia pilot started on April 24, 2023. SFMTA crews and shops have been busy this week implementing the recently approved center-running protected bikeway, new curb management plan, and pedestrian improvements on Valencia Street between 15th to 23rd streets.
Work that was started this week:
- New curb paint and zones installed starting at the northern end of the project area (Valencia and 15th Street) as part of the new curb management plan
- Grinding out the existing roadway striping and installation of no left turn signs on Valencia Street
SFMTA crews and shops will continue work throughout next week.
As a reminder, during construction:
- Construction hours will be from 7 am to 10 pm Monday through Saturday
- Between 19th & 23rd streets parking is prohibited and only active loading will be allowed at the curb on Valencia Street
- Parking or loading in the center lane on Valencia between 19th to 23rd streets will also be prohibited. Vehicles parking or loading in the center turn lane will be subject to citation or towing
- Between 15th to 23rd streets, motor vehicles and people on bikes will share the vehicle travel lane in both directions
Please pay attention to signs posted in the project area about construction impacts and travel through the area carefully.
Have a question? Email the project team: Valencia@SFMTA.com.
April 21, 2023 Update:
On April 4, 2023, the SFMTA Board of Directors approved the mid-Valencia pilot proposal, which is a 12-month pilot on Valencia Street between 15th to 23rd streets. The pilot will implement the following design changes:
- Upgrade the existing bike lane to a center-running protected bikeway
- Install pedestrian safety improvements, including:
- Left-turn restrictions (from Valencia Street onto cross streets between 15th and 23rd streets)
- No right turns on red restriction at specific cross streets
- Intersection daylighting (red curbs at the intersection to improve intersection visibility)
- Reconfigure the curb layout / parking & loading changes. Refer to the approved design plan to view specific curb changes
Access the approved pilot design here
During the 12-month pilot, project staff will evaluate the design and adjust as-needed. The project team will also provide an update to the SFMTA Board of Directors on the pilot at the end of the year. Upon conclusion of pilot, staff will provide recommendations on next steps.
Construction Start Date and Impacts
Construction activities are expected to start at the end of April 2023 and last a couple of months.
During construction:
- Construction hours will be from 7 am to 10 pm Monday through Saturday
- Between 19th & 23rd streets parking is prohibited and only active loading will be allowed at the curb on Valencia Street
- Parking or loading in the center lane on Valencia between 19th to 23rd streets will also be prohibited. Vehicles parking or loading in the center turn lane will be subject to citation or towing
- Between 15th to 23rd streets, motor vehicles and people on bikes will share the vehicle travel lane in both directions
Construction work will begin at both ends of the project area (15th to 23rd streets). On the northern end, SFMTA shops and crews will implement the approved curb changes to parking and loading. On the southern end, the SFMTA shops and crews will implement the approved center-running protected bikeway.
During construction of the pilot design, please use caution, go slow, and look out for all road users. Please be aware of constructions notices and signs.
Thank you for your patience as we move towards a safer Valencia Street.
Have a question? Email the project team: Valencia@SFMTA.com.