- Completed
Project Details
Project Goals
The main goals for the Howard Street Quick-Build Project include the following:
- Improve safety for all users of Howard Street faster
- Improve loading for business and residences
- Make biking and walking more comfortable
- Inform the design of the long-term streetscape project
Vision Zero
This project is in support of the city’s commitment to Vision Zero, and its main goal is to improve traffic safety conditions and comfort for all who travel along Howard Street. In the past five years (2014 – 2018), there have been 51 crashes involving a vehicle and a bicyclist or pedestrian on Howard Street between 3rd Street and The Embarcadero, of which 4 resulted in severe injuries. On June 27, 2019, a pedestrian was struck and killed by a vehicle at Howard and 1st streets.
The proposed project will address safety concerns by upgrading the existing bike lane to a parking-protected bikeway to be more consistent with those found in the western section of Howard. Other safety improvements will provide a greater sense of safety while cycling and walking on Howard Street while supporting the City’s Vision Zero goals.
Approved Improvements
The project will implement the following quick-build improvements to improve traffic safety:
- Upgrade the existing bike lane to a parking-protected bikeway in the westbound direction to provide a more comfortable and separated space for people riding bikes
- Daylighting at intersections and driveways to improve intersection visibility
- Increase the number of yellow zones to improve loading for commercial businesses
- Traffic lane reduction to redistribute roadway space for all road users
These temporary improvements will inform the design for the Transbay Howard Streetscape Project which will further upgrade transportation safety improvements on Howard Street.
Project Outreach
Since Fall 2019, the project team has spoken to the majority of businesses and properties that front Howard Street in the project area as part of the initial outreach efforts. The project team also held a number of meetings with various stakeholders and community organizations in the area to discuss the proposed improvements.
More recently, The SFMTA held an open house/public hearing for the Howard Street Quick-Build Project in December 2019. The public had the opportunity to learn more about the project, see the proposed design, and provide input. Results and comments from the open house/public hearing can be found in the "Related Reports & Documentations" section of this project webpage.
As the project progresses towards design implementation, the project team will continue to provide updates and communicate potential roadway disruptions due to implementation activities. We encourage community members to sign up for project updates to stay in the loop.
