Larkin Street Quick-Build

The Larkin Street Quick-Build Project extent is Larkin Street from Market Street on the southern end to Sutter Street on the North end, in the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco. All the major streets in the Tenderloin are part of the High-Injury Network, the 12 percent of streets accounting for 68 percent of the City’s severe and fatal traffic injuries.

This Quick-Build project seeks to determine quick and effective design recommendations to improve traffic safety for those who walk, bike, take transit, and drive on the corridor. The proposed project timeline from planning/outreach to construction is eight months (May 2024 – December 2024). The project builds on the network of street safety improvements already implemented and planned for the Tenderloin Neighborhood.

What is a Quick-Build Project?

• Road diet (i.e., remove one or two travel lanes)
• Paint, traffic delineators, and street signs 
• Parking and loading adjustments 
• Traffic signal timing 

Existing Conditions 

The 19 Polk Bus Runs along Larkin Street from Hayes Street to Geary Boulevard, with stops at Grove Street, McAllister Street, Golden Gate Avenue, Eddy Street, and O’Farrell Street. The 31 Balboa also runs along Larkin for 1 block from Turk Street to Eddy Street, and Golden Gate Transit runs on Larkin from Market Street to McAllister Street with one outbound stop at Grove Street and Larkin Street. The posted speed limit on Larkin Street is 20 MPH, as part of an earlier community driven effort to restrict right turns on red and reduce speed limits to 20 MPH neighborhood wide. The Tenderloin is a very active and dense community with many seniors, children and residents who use modes other than driving for transportation. 

Project Evaluation 

All SFMTA quick-build projects are intended to be evaluated through our Safe Streets Evaluation Program within the initial 24 months of construction. The Safe Streets Evaluation Program will analyze the project before and after implementation to review outcomes and determine design effectiveness. Evaluations will inform near-term modifications and a longer-term design for this street.