The Beach Street Quick Build project team has been working with community members and local businesses to align the project with community priorities. We will be re-focusing the first phase of the project to include the following changes:
Beach Street from Polk to Columbus – Safety upgrades will include new bike infrastructure, traffic calming features and placemaking. Changes will include:
- Two-way bike facility on the north side of Beach Street between Polk and Columbus that can help to connect waterfront riders to businesses and attractions on the West end of Beach Street, to Van Ness/Ft Mason, and bikeways on Polk and North Point
- Turn lane removals at intersection of Beach and Hyde Street
- More walking time and changes to roadway striping to prioritize pedestrians and create an inviting environment for visitors to stroll and patronize local businesses
- Shared Spaces permit for temporary closures of Beach Street between Larkin and Hyde Streets on Fridays and weekends during peak tourism months, to create a new placemaking opportunity and to activate a new area between Ghirardelli Square and Aquatic Park.
- Parking and loading changes on Beach Street from Polk to Hyde streets and on Hyde Street from Jefferson to Beach streets to maximize placemaking opportunities while also recognizing parking and loading needs for Aquatic Park, the Maritime Museum, swimming and rowing clubs, and local businesses. Placemaking means creating public spaces where people want to gather. Specific curb layout design still in progress.
- Coordinating with the National Park Services (NPS) to allow for shared use of the paths for bicyclists and pedestrians to help strengthen connections through the park between Jefferson Street, Beach Street, and Van Ness/Ft Mason. Changes may include:
- Adding curb ramps on Beach and Jefferson connecting to Aquatic Park paths
- Adding wayfinding on NPS paths
Beach Street from Polk to Embarcadero – The project will include pedestrian safety improvements at intersections and changes to maximize loading and parking efficiency along the corridor. Pedestrian safety improvements are proposed at intersections on Beach from Polk to the Embarcadero and include:
- High visibility crosswalks
- Daylighting or red zones to provide better visibility of pedestrians crossing
- Painted safety zones and turn safety treatments to encourage safer turns
- Advanced limit lines or solid white lines extending across all approach lanes to indicate where vehicles must stop
- Signal timing adjustments to increase walk time for pedestrians
The SFMTA expects to finalize design for these proposals in the fall and legislate changes by the end of the year. Construction will likely be phased with pedestrian improvements installed in late 2024, and other improvements to follow in Winter/Spring 2025 after an approval/coordination process with NPS.
Jefferson Street Quick Build
In a future phase, the SFMTA will prioritize Jefferson Street between Hyde and Powell as a family-friendly and safe active transportation route for visitors. These changes will be further scoped in early 2025 and may include the following:
- Traffic calming features on Jefferson Street such as turn restrictions and additional wayfinding
- Working with the merchant community and the Port to support temporary roadway closures for night-time activation of the corridor for events and gatherings
- Potential bike connections from Jefferson Street to North Point and beyond on side streets, creating a continuous connection to the ever-popular Golden Gate Bridge through the Fisherman’s Wharf area
In the current and any subsequent phases of our work in Fisherman’s Wharf, our overall project goals remain the same. We seek to promote Fisherman’s Wharf vitality, address key pedestrian and bicycle safety concerns, connect major landmarks by filling in gaps in the bicycle and pedestrian network, and provide opportunities for placemaking.