California Street Safety Project Leads to Reduction in Collisions
The California Street Safety Project implemented a road diet on California Street between Arguello and Park Presidio boulevards in summer 2020 to improve safety. The street is on the city’s high-injury network and also had frequent collisions involving Muni buses due to its narrow travel lanes.
The street was converted from four travel lanes to three, with a center lane for left turns. Other improvements included intersection daylighting, continental crosswalks and more time for people walking to cross the street at traffic signals.
Key Project Findings:
There was a 64% decrease in injury collisions in the year following project implementation
Collisions involving the 1 California bus declined by 89% in the 18 months after project implementation
“Close calls” when vehicles fail to yield to people walking were reduced
Vehicle travel speeds remained similar to pre-project conditions
Total daily vehicle volumes remained similar to pre-project conditions, while peak period volumes decreased somewhat